First print after 17 years

bshimmin · Oct 29, 2006

Hi folks,

After a very long hiatus, I've finally put together a humble darkroom, and here's the first print. It's a random grab from a recent rip to Disney World.

I've tried the digiprint road for the past two years, and I've got to say that this is so much more satisfying for two fundamental reasons: 1) the feeling of accomplishment and of creating something lasting and 2) finally (finally) getting a print without a green hue.

The chemistry details, if anyone's interested include: neopan 400 in Rodinal 1:200 stand dev for 2 hrs, printed on freestyle RC/VC grade 2, developed in fotospeed PD5 1:10.

Oh, I decided to attach the second shot as well showing some ironwork, which has a development quirk (I think I didn't dunk it fully right off).

What a blast!

Cheers,
brad.

JBrunner · Oct 29, 2006

Nice going Brad. Rumors of your demise those 17 years ago were greatly exaggerated!

digiconvert · Oct 30, 2006

Lovely work , I am just beginning this road and I agree that it beats digi by a mile.

Cheers CJB

FrankB · Oct 30, 2006

Welcome back, Brad!

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 30, 2006

Welcome back to the darkslide

ijsbeer · Oct 30, 2006

welcome back, good to hear someone enjoys the darkside so much again.
I like the first picture a lot.

cheers

juan · Oct 30, 2006

Welcome, you'll find there are a number of us who came back after long layoffs.
juan

ricksplace · Oct 30, 2006

Welcome back. I was without a darkroom for a while too. Your pics look good. Keep it up and show us more.

papagene · Oct 31, 2006

It's good to welcome anothe back to the fold. keep up the good work.

gene

Ranger Bob · Oct 31, 2006

I hear ya. I too toyed with the pixel polishing for about a year and a half. Still did film but not the four or five rolls a week I had been doing since 96. Then a week ago, because I got to speak briefly with Alan Ross and it made me think, WTF have I been doing? I got the HBlad out of the bag when I got home, set it on the tripod and let it ream me out for the next couple of hours for being neglectful, mixed some chemicals, and spent all night in the darkroom, which is my living room, but it's always been that way. Next day, I "dropped" my ex girlfriends 3 MP digital off the tower as an experiment then promptly sold my Olympus 8 mp. Freed up some harddrive space on the PowerBook by removing PS but kept elements for use on my new website when I get around to it. I feel so much better.

bshimmin · Oct 31, 2006

What a great story Ranger Bob. Now that's taking action. I've still got my scanner around for the larger negatives...after I get the hang of my focomat, I perhaps I'll be brave enough to go all the way and pick up a D2 or some other 4x5 enlarger, kissing photoshop goodbye in the process.

As a postscript on my continuing learning curve, I've now identified what appears to be a chip or some other flaw in the condenser, which puts a lovely spot in the same spot in all of my prints. I'll pull it out for a cleaning tomorrow and try again. Wish me luck!

b.

Ranger Bob · Oct 31, 2006

Now that I don't have a small camera, I am coveting a Leica IIIc with a 50...just for those quick trips to Vegas.

roy · Nov 1, 2006

Well done Brad. I hope you stay with it ! I have started up again after a 2year lay-off because of hip replacements and it is amazing how quickly the addiction to b&w reasserts itself.

Jim Chinn · Nov 1, 2006

Doesn't look like you lost anything after 17 years. Those images look great and I imagine the prints are even better.

Awhile back I got past the whole digital vs. traditional debate. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. What it comes down to is which process brings the most enjoyment in achieving the final result. For myself, I could probably make excellent prints in a more simplified way through digital means, but it always seems like drudgery sitting in front of a computer instead of being in the darkroom.

mtbbrian · Nov 1, 2006

I rather envious!
I am attempting to gather up the necessary items and build a darkroom of my own.
One day I will be making a post like this of my own.
Keep at it!
Brian

David A. Belew · Nov 5, 2006

Hi,
Very nice image. I have just now been able to resume film processing after 8 years per my
MD, provided I only use my Jobo processor and don't have open trays. So, I am developing film and scanning the negs. I am using TMY and Delta 400 in 120 for the time being. Here is an image I developed and scanned a few days ago.

Dead Link Removed

MattKing · Nov 5, 2006

David A. Belew said:
Hi,
Very nice image. I have just now been able to resume film processing after 8 years per my MD, provided I only use my Jobo processor and don't have open trays. So, I am developing film and scanning the negs. I am using TMY and Delta 400 in 120 for the time being.

Dave:

The Jobo tubes, or even Beseler or Unicolour tubes, do a great job on prints as well.

You lose the benefit of seeing the image appearing in the tray , but you gain the benefit of doing all the "wet" part of the process in the light and with an open window (and in my case, I have a great view through the kitchen window).

The prints are just as exciting (or just as disappointing, if I did them wrong) when they come out of the tubes.

If your concern is standing for long periods of time, I know I have worked in darkrooms using chairs or stools.

Just some suggestions that might help you continue the fun.

Matt

David A. Belew · Nov 6, 2006

Hi Matt,
I was a Jobo/Ilford/Kodak beta tester for several years and also had a custom (pro-mainly fashion photographers) lab for nearly 20 years before retiring. The exposure to the various chemical processes caused the deteriation of the skin on my hands to the point that nearly anything I touched would peel the skin on my hands, even though I normally wore rubber gloves at the end.

So now I can develop film, scan and print (shudder) with an ink jet Epson 1270. I sold all my Chromega D5 XL's several years ago, plus my 8 x 10 Elwood. I did keep one of my
Jobo CPP2's and finally fired it up a week ago. MD will monitor me periodically to see how I am doing to make sure I am OK.

Yes, I do have and use a swivel chair--my darkroom is now also my computer room.

Earl Dunbar · Nov 6, 2006

This evening I had a conversationwith my wife (2nd marriage for both of us, 4 years ago) about how much I miss the darkroom. She just didn't realize what it meant to me as I haven't had it since we've been married. So I can really appreciate the pleasure you guys are getting out of this.

BTW, Brad, I really like the stuff you're posting on flickr.

First print after 17 years

bshimmin

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First print after 17 years

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