Coming back to my roots

Danielle · Dec 8, 2011

I have been an ex student of phography studies college in southbank (melbourne), however that was years ago. I kind of left photography behind even though I did get some published work.

Anyway, Im coming back. After recovering from shell shock from where digifail has gone (ok, its far better now... in fact usable!), Im going to do all of the above. More to the point get myself back into a darkroom and using my beloved film again.

I shoot 35mm and 6x7. I might even look at 5x4 in the future somewhere.

M.A.Longmore · Dec 8, 2011

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Welcome Home Danielle !

Ron
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Bateleur · Dec 8, 2011

Welcome to APUG, Danielle, you'll soon feel at home.

daleeman · Dec 8, 2011

Great to have you here Danielle, the touch and feel of film will certainly bring you joy and new motivations. ~ Lee ~

Jeff Kubach · Dec 8, 2011

Welcome to APUG Danielle! I hope you enjoy being here.

Jeff

Danielle · Dec 8, 2011

Thank you. I will enjoy it, and or am actually.

Need to find a darkroom now. - I'll join our local camera club I think, plus I'll likely learn more there too. Everyone can always learn a thing of two.

papagene · Dec 8, 2011

Danielle - hello and welcome to APUG... it's good to have you back among us film users.

Molli · Dec 8, 2011

It's lovely to have another local girl here Welcome, Danielle!
My darkroom is my 2metre by 1metre laundry... it's do-able... and no travel time to get there! I hope you find somewhere to get back into printing soon.

Danielle · Dec 9, 2011

I'd love to have my own darkroom. I ALWAYS wanted my own for printing. But rental properties and no room says a huge no to that idea.

However Im quite interested in like minded people around melb. Im going to have to find out if Melb camera club has a darkroom to suit my application, Im sure they do. If they have equipment to do at least medium format up to at least 20x24, Im sold. I can do film processing at my home, that's not a drama. I just need to re-buy the crap to do it with. Vanbars has it all.

Molli · Dec 9, 2011

Yes, I've got the rental restriction as well but I have the fortune (? :confused of living on my own so I'm not bothering anyone when I take over the laundry. Décor by GladBag with a whiff of Eau de Kodak Rapid Fix Then again, I'm only doing 35mm up to 8x10 so the trays just fit across the washing machine. 6x7 format and larger prints might present a bit more of a challenge!
There are some innovative ideas in this thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists).
Also, there are a few people amongst the Australian Forums who are part of the Melbourne Camera Club and they would probably know what formats they're able to accommodate. The local lads and lasses can be found here: (there was a url link here which no longer exists).
Hope this helps.
Molli

Danielle · Dec 9, 2011

Some newer properties however are practically shoeboxes. Our bathroom certainly is and the main bathroom has what? ... a skylight. There's practically no laundry, its just off to the side of the main bathroom. We have a housemate who uses that bathroom. But space for a darkroom is certainly something we don't have. Its a pity, so many newer properties are like that. I was told once the best way to have a darkroom, if you expect to do large printing/alternative processes etc etc etc is build a house with a darkroom in it. You'll get exactly what you want that way. Unfortunately Im sure only the .01% of us actually can do that. So for me, and so many others, it means finding one elsewhere and just doing film developing here.

Im not implying however there's anything wrong with good old 8x10 prints though, certainly not. A lot more cost efficient than 16x20+, that's for sure.

Im going to check out those forums though. Thanks. Maybe not this place Im living in right this second, but I may find a method of temporary darkrooms actually do-able in the future.

Thank you.

Rick A · Dec 9, 2011

Welcome to the family Danielle. Wish you were closer to where I live, I could set you up with a decent dark room for super cheap.

mooseontheloose · Dec 9, 2011

Welcome to APUG Danielle! I feel your pain about the darkroom, still trying to figure it out here in Japan where apartments are much smaller than in the West! Good luck, and looking forward to seeing some of your work.

Toffle · Dec 9, 2011

Welcome to APUG. There is a very active Australian contingent here.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Dec 9, 2011

Welcome to APUG , Danielle.

Australian friends complains about the high taxes and freights for importing film , chemicals from abroad. I think you will face with that problem.
So the solution : Some of australians comes together and share the expenses here. So , its profitable to be part of this community also. You can buy sell whatever you need photographically here also. I suggest you to be an subscriber and see whats going on at galleries. Some of the works are really amazing And there is www.dpug.org also to visit .

Cheers ,
Umut
Istanbul

Danielle · Dec 9, 2011

I was going to register with dpug too. I'll do that.

Yeah, import cost is just that. If I can share cost with other's I'll do so, if I don't it does seem that most things are available here if one knows where to look. All of ilford's stuff is available for instance. We don't tend to get foma, efke etc though, but Im not sure if I want those products so badly. We'll see yet.

I am quite interested in galleries, in fact I want my fine art work to be put in one later down the track. There's also competitions at Melbourne Camera Club which I'll likely participate in too.

Cheers to you too (all of you).

Tony Egan · Dec 9, 2011

Hello from north of the border from someone who joined as a 35mm devotee and now has 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10, two more enlargers and a bigger mortgage after the darkroom construction. Be careful, be very careful! But how else would you want to waste your life and resources I ask? A warm 20/68 degree welcome.

wotalegend · Dec 9, 2011

Hi Danielle, and welcome to APUG, also from Melbourne.

With regard to supplies, we have been known to do group orders here on APUG to either Freestyle or B&H. Keep your eye open for the next one. There are some internet mail order suppliers in Australia who, while not as cheap as the US suppliers, can send you small quantities without disproportionate shipping charges. For example, www.blanconegrosupplies.com.au in Sydney seem to have a reasonable stock of Foma film, papers, and chemicals. For film from several manufacturers you could try www.lofico.com.au. I have bought small quantities from both of those in the past, with the obvious advantage that you receive your order usually within two days (although I did once receive an order from Freestyle in four days!).

Cheers, Peter.

Danielle · Dec 9, 2011

Thanks for those links. I will, I'll keep my eye out on what's going on. Hey that lofico site wasn't badly priced actually. The rollei films have gotten my interest too, especially the iso25 and 80s film. They'd likely do really well in my mamiya rb.

@ Tony, I'll be as careful as one can be. As long as I get the results I want and or need. Oooh, an 8x10 enlarger.... You could print from 6x17 negs in that with a mask too. Wicked.

Coming back to my roots

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