I lost ALL of my darkroom gear in my move - but now it's found again!

[Ai Print]

I lost my darkroom, studio and most of my negatives to a wildfire started by tourists in 2016.

The OP's story is heartbreaking, especially losing all those negatives. But this is my worst fear and we had a wildfire started by idiots shooting tracer rounds in high fire danger come within a 1/2 mile of our house in 2018.

I told my wife if we lose the house and I lose all this, I am out of photography permanently and completely.

 

[What About Bob]

This hits hard. As others have all ready noted: it wouldn't hurt to go back and contact that moving service and also spread the information out there onto other online outlets and see where this takes you.

Hang in there. Take your time to collect your thoughts and ideas. As you progress with gaining new pieces of equipment and materials chances are you might eventually come across what was lost.

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Oh, it appears that I've lost 35 years worth of negatives too. I am upset.

That's awful, as bad as it is, the cameras and darkroom items can be replaced albeit at a considerable expense.
Those lost negatives are irreplaceable.

So sorry to read this.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

My boxes have been located in Atlanta, GA. What the heck? That's east of Ky! Washington is west of Ky. I have no idea how they got there and the shipping company is making no promises with regards to the condition of the boxes or even if they will ship them to me. I guess it's time to either lawyer up or contact my local FBI office.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

Oh, and I bought a Canon P with a 50mm and 100mm lens. Because I believe I won't walk away from photography. Also, my Leica M6 is among the missing gear.

 

[Vaughn]

Good to hear that the boxes have been located, and best of luck getting them safely back into your procession!

 

[Daniela]

My boxes have been located in Atlanta, GA.

Wonderful news!

the shipping company is making no promises with regards to the condition of the boxes or even if they will ship them to me.

What? That's ridiculous...hope they do the right thing without the need of a lawyer...

 

[Guillaume Zuili]

What a rollercoaster of emotions !
Wish you the fast recovery of your archives.
All best,
G

 

[loccdor]

Glad they've located your items.

However, I've known some artists to completely "start over" every now and then, and I can imagine how liberating and simplifying that could feel. Maybe you felt tied to a particular way of doing things and it frees you up for innovation. If I lost all my photography equipment and negatives, I think I would continue and start over, but with a greatly reduced kit because I would know much better what I want out of it than when I first started.

 

[Kino]

My boxes have been located in Atlanta, GA. What the heck? That's east of Ky! Washington is west of Ky. I have no idea how they got there and the shipping company is making no promises with regards to the condition of the boxes or even if they will ship them to me. I guess it's time to either lawyer up or contact my local FBI office.

I have heard so many first-hand disaster stories from relatives and co-workers about moving companies in the USA; entire households lost, smashed or pillaged.

I would never hire a moving company in the USA.

 

[Hassasin]

I have heard so many first-hand disaster stories from relatives and co-workers about moving companies in the USA; entire households lost, smashed or pillaged.

I would never hire a moving company in the USA.

They are the best in the world, and best at what they do ... move your stuff. Destination is not part of the deal. Ought to be honoured by having them agree to pick up your boxes.

 

[What About Bob]

Why the shipping company would not to want make it right is disturbing to me. Under the circumstance it sounds to me like legal help might be in order if the company doesn't follow through with bringing back your property.

Look up the company and check out reviews and any customer complaints against them. These reviews can be real eye-openers.

I don't have any personal experiences with moving companies and neither did any of the people and friends that I helped move stuff for in the past. I was told that it came down to either cost or trust issues. Nobody is perfect, I get it, but having to go through something like what you are going through is unnecessary.

Good luck with this.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am hopeful that in the end, the waiting will be the hardest part.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

I was just looking through the inventory of stuff that may be lost. Among my things is a Contax IIIa, Canon F-1 (new), Pentax Spotmatic, and lenses for all of these. Shoot. I have many other competent cameras (I drove west with a car load of stuff before the big return) but the loss of these three cameras hurts, not as much as my entire body of work... but still hurts.
Meanwhile, the moving company has shipped the boxes and furniture it found in Atlanta. That should be here tomorrow. From what they said about what they have, about half of my boxes have gone missing.

 

[Kino]

I was just looking through the inventory of stuff that may be lost. Among my things is a Contax IIIa, Canon F-1 (new), Pentax Spotmatic, and lenses for all of these. Shoot. I have many other competent cameras (I drove west with a car load of stuff before the big return) but the loss of these three cameras hurts, not as much as my entire body of work... but still hurts.
Meanwhile, the moving company has shipped the boxes and furniture it found in Atlanta. That should be here tomorrow. From what they said about what they have, about half of my boxes have gone missing.

Some progress. Hope they keep looking and that your cameras are in the first found set of boxes!

 

[SchwinnParamount]

The truck arrived with 96% of my stuff. Negatives actually made it!!! Darkroom gear did not. My Traeger did not. I haven't been through many of the boxes yet but I bet my Contax and Canon F-1 are in a box at the bottom of the pile. Another positive note: It looks like all 500 of my LPs arrived along with my books.

 

[Kino]

 

[Disconnekt]

The truck arrived with 96% of my stuff. Negatives actually made it!!! Darkroom gear did not. My Traeger did not. I haven't been through many of the boxes yet but I bet my Contax and Canon F-1 are in a box at the bottom of the pile. Another positive note: It looks like all 500 of my LPs arrived along with my books.

Glad that the negatives made it.

 

[Chuck1]

Good news about the negatives, but the grill/smoker ouch

 

[Daniela]

Wow, yay for the negatives!

 

[What About Bob]

Glad to hear you got your negatives back! Bummer about the darkroom stuff. Maybe some of it could be packed in with the other boxes?

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am glad that you found the negatives. Now to continue your quest for the darkroom equipment which will show up in the last place that you look for them. Best of luck with that.

 

[MTGseattle]

@SchwinnParamount

If it comes down to it(if you can use it), I have a Beseler "adjus-table" and main support hoop left over from a 45mcx enlarger. If it's something you can use, you now have first right of refusal. Feel free to hit me with a private message.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The truck arrived with 96% of my stuff. Negatives actually made it!!! Darkroom gear did not. My Traeger did not. I haven't been through many of the boxes yet but I bet my Contax and Canon F-1 are in a box at the bottom of the pile. Another positive note: It looks like all 500 of my LPs arrived along with my books.

That's wonderful news! The stuff that can't be replaced, you got back. Losing the darkroom gear is a pain in the ass, but nothing so exotic that a few dollars and a few days/weeks trolling ebay/thrift stores can't get back.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

Still missing about 30 rolls of exposed but undeveloped film. This represents about 6 months of my most recent work. I suspect it is in one of the missing boxes.