Dark Room - Stand up or sit down

[michaelbsc]

I have a low ceiling, so the enlarger table is low. I have a very short stool that I use sometimes and not others. At the dry table and sink I have a cheap wood bar stool that moves easily. I probably stand 70% of the time and sit the rest.

 

[2F/2F]

I do both, depending on how I feel. I have two stools in the darkroom. One is at the enlarger and the other is in front of the trays. I will often stand to expose the print and sit to process the print. I will sit the whole time if exposing a series of copies that don't need any detailed manipulation. Anti-fatique mats sound nice. I should look into getting one.

 

[Europan]

Stood for years and will always want to be able to move around freely. Nothing must be allowed to be in the way in the darkroom. Our last commercial lab darkroom measured 20' x 30'. Admittedly labour took place there, hard work for hours and hours, so I can only advise that the room be as spacious as possible and as quickly aired as possible. We opened the windows wide during breaks which is better than a ventilation. Silence during worktime, no distracting noises. Noise I had with one of our movie film printers, an early 1920s Matipo. For me, photography and cinematography are to be kept quiet businesses. Concentration is most vital.

 

[Existing Light]

Silence during worktime, no distracting noises. Noise I had with one of our movie film printers, an early 1920s Matipo. For me, photography and cinematography are to be kept quiet businesses. Concentration is most vital.

I've found silence to be distracting. Long periods of time with nobody to talk to or music/talk radio to listen to makes me tired and causes me to lose focus. Someone to talk to or sing along with (badly out of tune) keeps me awake and focused. To each his own, though

 

[michaelbsc]

I've found silence to be distracting. Long periods of time with nobody to talk to or music/talk radio to listen to makes me tired and causes me to lose focus. Someone to talk to or sing along with (badly out of tune) keeps me awake and focused. To each his own, though

To each his own. I personally happen to LIKE the silence. It's part of the little time I get to hear no one.

 

[bvaughn4]

i use a office swivel chair on wheels i glide around my darkroom. cant imagine a darkroom without one. i usually stand when printing and sit for development.

Ditto

 

[Martin Aislabie]

To each his own. I personally happen to LIKE the silence. It's part of the little time I get to hear no one.

If I am only doing a single day printing, I too enjoy the silence.

However, if I am doing 3 or 4 straight days printing, I find I start to need something to listen too - I think it’s a bit of sensory depravation creeping in.

Martin

 

[michaelbsc]

If I am only doing a single day printing, I too enjoy the silence.

However, if I am doing 3 or 4 straight days printing, I find I start to need something to listen too - I think it’s a bit of sensory depravation creeping in.

Martin

I could see that might be possible. I'm lucky to ever get an entire weekend. I settle for occasional all day Sunday sessions.

 

[guitstik]

I will often stand to expose the print.

I find it easier to stand and expose as well, the raincoat doesn't bunch up.

 

[2F/2F]

I find it easier to stand and expose as well, the raincoat doesn't bunch up.

The question is, is it better to flash the paper pre exposure or post exposure?

 

[dpurdy]

Sitting down makes me yawn. I built the counters and sink to allow me to stand up straight. Sometimes while processing I throw darts at a dart board lighted in red. Sometimes I stand and stare at the print coming up. If I am feeling really good I sometimes dance on my concrete floor. No one knows what a good dancer I am. Sometimes I do small weight lifting while I wait. Sometimes I do yoga. It is great to have a solid floor. I can do anything. I have a padded bar stool off to the side but if I sit I instantly get tired.
Dennis

 

[23mjm]

My darkroom is a windowless bathroom so I sit--The enlargers (Beseler 67) sits on the toilet and the trays sit in the bath tub on a rack to get them off the bottom. I just put a throw pillow on the floor and sit in front of the enlarger--make the print--spin 90 degrees and pop the print in the developer. It's actual a cool little set up, I can tear down the darkroom in about 15-20 minutes to convert it back to a bathroom when guests come to town. All it needs is a little air freshener or a candle to get rid of that sweet darkroom smell. Plus the fart fan helps ventilate it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I find it easier to stand and expose as well, the raincoat doesn't bunch up.

But then I get caught with my pants down!

 

[JW PHOTO]

I went sit-down on wheels, but for different reasons than most here. I have no inner ear balance(equilibrium problems), which means that when the lights go out I go down. I was told at Mayo Clinic that we have three senses of balance. 1. Is site. 2. Is feel. 3. is inner ear. You can get by fairly well without one, but not so well without two. So, when it gets dark I have lost both my inner ear and sight and that spells trouble. When I designed my 8'x11' darkroom I put in a linoleum floor and "bar" height counter, sink and enlarger shelf. I now use a cushioned bar stool on wheels and it works perfect. I have two 4x5 and one 6x7 enlargers along one side and the sink in on the end and it works just about perfect for me, but like I said earlier, I have no choice. I have two pull long pull cords for my lights, one by the enlargers and one above the sink. When I pull the cord for lights out a sensor on my safe-light automatically kicks the safe-lights on. The only time I stand is to focus my 4x5 enlargers and all I have to do is hold onto the counter with my left hand while I focus for a few seconds and I'm fine. I think I would go this route even if I didn't have my medical problems as it makes my time in the dark much less fatiqueing. Just MHO of course.

 

[Existing Light]

To each his own. I personally happen to LIKE the silence. It's part of the little time I get to hear no one.

When I took darkroom classes in college, I found it entertaining to be in the darkroom with people that wanted music and the people that wanted silence. There would be a quiet war over the volume control of the radio. Every time someone would get over to the processing sink with a sheet of paper, the volume would either go up or down

For me, there's also a creepiness factor in being the dark with nothing to listen to or nobody to talk to. My overactive imagination makes me think I'm gonna turn around and see Jason or Slenderman (assuming mt darkroom is tall enough for Slenderman to walk around in ). I dont know why REM, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, or one of my friends is going to keep some fictitional character out of my darkroom

 

[MattKing]

I went sit-down on wheels, but for different reasons than most here. I have no inner ear balance(equilibrium problems), which means that when the lights go out I go down. I was told at Mayo Clinic that we have three senses of balance. 1. Is site. 2. Is feel. 3. is inner ear. You can get by fairly well without one, but not so well without two. So, when it gets dark I have lost both my inner ear and sight and that spells trouble. When I designed my 8'x11' darkroom I put in a linoleum floor and "bar" height counter, sink and enlarger shelf. I now use a cushioned bar stool on wheels and it works perfect. I have two 4x5 and one 6x7 enlargers along one side and the sink in on the end and it works just about perfect for me, but like I said earlier, I have no choice. I have two pull long pull cords for my lights, one by the enlargers and one above the sink. When I pull the cord for lights out a sensor on my safe-light automatically kicks the safe-lights on. The only time I stand is to focus my 4x5 enlargers and all I have to do is hold onto the counter with my left hand while I focus for a few seconds and I'm fine. I think I would go this route even if I didn't have my medical problems as it makes my time in the dark much less fatiqueing. Just MHO of course.

Thanks for posting this. It really highlights the fact that these choices are very personal. IMHO, one of the great qualities of analogue photography is how adaptable it is to each our particular circumstances.

As an aside, I notice that you have been a member here on APUG for more than four years, but this is your first post. I'm glad you joined in.

 

[mike c]

Depending on how much coffee or sleep I have determines a stand or sitting position.

Mike

 

[JW PHOTO]

Thanks for posting this. It really highlights the fact that these choices are very personal. IMHO, one of the great qualities of analogue photography is how adaptable it is to each our particular circumstances.

As an aside, I notice that you have been a member here on APUG for more than four years, but this is your first post. I'm glad you joined in.

Matt,
I noticed it shows I have 1 post, but the fact is I have posted several times here, on several different forums, but thanks for the warm welcome. I also enjoy hanging out here and learning. Heck, I might even contribute once in a while. Oh, and I have a camera collection in my darkroom along with a Marantz receiver, Gemini CDX 601 DJ CD player and a pair of Yammy speakers. So, the answer is yes to music in the dark.

 

[clayne]

Who the heck doesn't listen to music in the darkroom?

 

[2F/2F]

I generally do not...and I am a music lover and a musician. I like the sounds of the darkroom.

 

[Jim Jones]

The low ceiling in my present darkroom makes sitting at the enlarger almost a necessity, but I like it. It's an improvement over a 5x7 Elwood sitting on the floor of the previous darkroom. If I had been designed to stand rather than sit, my feet would be as big as my butt. Obviously I should sit.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Who the heck doesn't listen to music in the darkroom?

Not me! I am too high on the hypo fumes!

 

[archer]

Hey Jim Jones I love your logic and I quite agree. Steve you need a new fixer formula if the fumes are that strong. The only time I listen to music in the darkroom is Friday night between 8 and 12, that's "Friday Night at the Opera" and I never miss it.
Denise Libby

 

[Sirius Glass]

Steve you need a new fixer formula if the fumes are that strong.

Denise, did you notice that one of you legs became longer after you read that post?

Steve

 

[Martin Aislabie]

Who the heck doesn't listen to music in the darkroom?

I don't most of the time

I too like the sounds of the darkroom

For me its a happy, relaxing and rewarding place to be

I like music but I like to listen to the music and not just have it on as if some background wallpaper

Martin