Finding analog again

Pitotshock · Jul 7, 2021

Realize I have not yet introduced myself!

James here from Canada, a bit west of the capital (Ottawa) and living out in the countryside. I have dove into the world of developing film myself and printing in the darkroom. I did film stuff just like everyone else and happily switched to digital in the early 2000's, got sick of the technology rat race that is digital and restarted film late last year.

Analog photography, and in particular the darkroom, is giving me the opportunity to learn an enormous amount of new stuff and I'm kind'of addicted to buying the darkroom stuff at pennies on the dollar compared to new. It also is far more physically gratifying than my digital photography work as it is a tangible art form and not a virtual one.

BrianShaw · Jul 7, 2021

Welcome to Photrio, and welcome back to film!

MattKing · Jul 7, 2021

Thanks for the introduction!

Valerie · Jul 7, 2021

Welcome from a cool, dark room in Texas

John Bragg · Jul 7, 2021

Welcome back to film. I never left it, but it is great to see the return of many others. I personally utilise a hybrid workflow these days and I really wish I could set up my enlarger again. I am very envious of you and I bet you feel like a child in a candy store every time you find a bargain. Great to see you here and continuing your film journey. I love my days processing film and would not like to ever be without it.

gone · Jul 7, 2021

Thanks to COVID, I've been spending more time than ever in the darkroom. It's had an odd, and unexpected, side effect. Now I often begin by imagining how the print should look, then go out and try to get the negative to make that happen. Before, and usually, I saw the shot as I came upon it, then tried to print it as best I could. Somehow things got switched 180 degrees.

removed account4 · Jul 7, 2021

Hi James
Welcome home!
John

guangong · Jul 8, 2021

A wise decision. Doing any art requires employing body along with mind, which in itself gives pleasure and satisfaction. Sitting at a computer is a pain, beginning with the computer in the digital camera. I have a friend who is an architect. He bemoans the substitution of drawing with ink to computer design. Drawing was fun, computer is a drudge.

Pitotshock · Jul 8, 2021

Thanks for the warm welcomes everybody!

One of the cameras I now use, is the Canon AE-1 that my dad had around the house, and that I got to use when growing up. Still works great after all these years, but definitely could use a new mirror cushion foam as it has started to crumble, as they do.

Ko.Fe. · Jul 8, 2021

It is never late to try film. I switched to film in 2012 and started to print couple of years later on.
Did it all in nine years.
Make sure you have time for learning of what-ether you want to try with film. It is very time consuming if you want results.

faberryman · Jul 8, 2021

Ko.Fe. said:
It is never late to try film. I switched to film in 2012 and started to print couple of years later on. Did it all in nine years.
Make sure you have time for learning of what-ether you want to try with film. It is very time consuming if you want results.

Did it all in nine years?

I learned in an afternoon. Shot a roll of film, and a friend showed me how to develop it, and we made 3x5s of the "good" ones. I have been working on the "all" part for about five decades. I'm starting to worry I am going to run out of time.

Chan Tran · Jul 8, 2021

Good that you get back to analog but also want to put the blame on you for abandoning it since the early 2000. Film was plenty and cheap then and because people like you now we don't have much choice in film.

Chan Tran · Jul 8, 2021

faberryman said:
Did it all in nine years?

I learned in an afternoon. Shot a roll of film, and a friend showed me how to develop it, and we made 3x5s of the "good" ones. I have been working on the "all" part for about five decades. I'm starting to worry I am going to run out of time.

You didn't do color right?

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 8, 2021

Chan Tran said:
Good that you get back to analog but also want to put the blame on you for abandoning it since the early 2000. Film was plenty and cheap then and because people like you now we don't have much choice in film.

People like you?? That's a bit harsh.

Welcome back to film, pitotshock.

eddie · Jul 8, 2021

Welcome back to film and Photrio. I hope your time here is long lasting and worthwhile.

Sirius Glass · Jul 8, 2021

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio!!

faberryman · Jul 8, 2021

Chan Tran said:
You didn't do color right?

I have done both slides and color negatives in the distant past. Printed both. Stopped doing that to focus on black and white. For the past few years I have been doing mostly platinum/palladium. I have done some color work recently - platinum over pigment. I have taken a workshop in gum bichromate, though I have yet to do any serious work in the medium. Like I said, I am beginning to worry I am running out of time.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not claiming I am good at any of it. I derive satisfaction from doing it, which is all I deem important.

Ko.Fe. · Jul 8, 2021

Country side and analog photography is very good match, IMO.

faberryman said:
Did it all in nine years?

I learned in an afternoon. Shot a roll of film, and a friend showed me how to develop it, and we made 3x5s of the "good" ones. I have been working on the "all" part for about five decades. I'm starting to worry I am going to run out of time.

Between 2012 and 2020 to be exact. By 2021 it is next to none.
I rearmed bw film developing and bulk loading. At some point I asked family friend to show how to print, as well. Did lith printing and contact printing from dr paper negative. Did C-41, ECN-2 and E6 developing at home. Went LF, MF and Minox. Including matching enlargers, which I have to service and add missing components. I CLA'd and fixed dozens of film cameras as well. Few of my prints went to Ruissia, Belgium, USA and Australia. I teached some young ones how use, develop film.

faberryman · Jul 8, 2021

Ko.Fe. said:
Between 2012 and 2020 to be exact. By 2021 it is next to none.
I rearmed bw film developing and bulk loading. At some point I asked family friend to show how to print, as well. Did lith printing and contact printing from dr paper negative. Did C-41, ECN-2 and E6 developing at home. Went LF, MF and Minox. Including matching enlargers, which I have to service and add missing components. I CLA'd and fixed dozens of film cameras as well. Few of my prints went to Ruissia, Belgium, USA and Australia. I teached some young ones how use, develop film.

I'd suggest that you haven't "done it all" as you claimed. Few people have, certainly myself included.

Ko.Fe. · Jul 8, 2021

faberryman said:
I'd suggest that you haven't "done it all" as you claimed. Few people have, certainly myself included.

I suggest to keep your judgement on me to yourself from now. This is last time you'll see my reply from me. No times for trolls. Sorry.

Chan Tran · Jul 8, 2021

faberryman said:
I have done both slides and color negatives in the distant past. Printed both. Stopped doing that to focus on black and white. For the past few years I have been doing mostly platinum/palladium, though I did do a detour through lith printing. I have done some color work recently - platinum over pigment. I have taken a workshop in gum bichromate, though I have yet to do any serious work in the medium. Like I said, I am beginning to worry I am running out of time.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not claiming I am good at any of it. I derive satisfaction from doing it, which is all I deem important.

No you can learn to develop and print B&W in an afternoon but not color that what's my opinon.

Chan Tran · Jul 8, 2021

Andrew O'Neill said:
People like you?? That's a bit harsh.

Welcome back to film, pitotshock.

I am sorry but I feel hurt when people stopped using film in strove. I generally don't care about what others do but something like stopped using something will make it scare. Unlike digital film depends on the availability of consumables.

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 8, 2021

Chan Tran said:
I am sorry but I feel hurt when people stopped using film in strove. I generally don't care about what others do but something like stopped using something will make it scare. Unlike digital film depends on the availability of consumables.

People who went digital are coming back in droves. Even people who never used film and only know digital a world, are checking out film. Still are many film choices out there.

Chan Tran · Jul 8, 2021

Andrew O'Neill said:
People who went digital are coming back in droves. Even people who never used film and only know digital a world, are checking out film. Still are many film choices out there.

Actually the choices are not bad as I don't feel we need a lot of choices like before. But prices is very high and processing is getting hard to come by. It's hard to get chemicals too.

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 8, 2021

Chan Tran said:
Actually the choices are not bad as I don't feel we need a lot of choices like before. But prices is very high and processing is getting hard to come by. It's hard to get chemicals too.

Yes, I suppose that's true, if you work with colour, and process your own.

Finding analog again

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