It's officially................

[480sparky]

..... my first wet print in 30-some years.

Yesterday, I was given a near-complete darkroom kit. Replete with a 70's-era Beseler 45 enlarger (motorized!), lens, negative carriers, timer, contrast filters (set of 12, perfect condition!), grain focuser, safelight...... the whole 8½ yards. I took stock of it, and today went out and bought what was missing.

Stuffed a couple blankets into the bathroom window tonight, set everything up, tossed a towel against the bottom of the door and started inhaling all those terrible fumes.

But damn, was it fun!





Oh, yeah,........... And I guess this is officially my first post!

 

[Kevin Harding]

Yay! Congrats.

 

[summicron1]

nice job, too. Welcome home.

 

[John Bragg]

So pleased for you. I am envious, as my Kaiser has been in mothballs for far too long. Congratulations, enjoy your re-discovered passion !

 

[NedL]

I went 30+ years too. Glad we found our way back! It's still as fun and satisfying and magic as ever!

 

[Terry Breedlove]

Awesome

 

[Steve Smith]

That's far too good. You're supposed to mess up a few sheets first!!


Steve.

 

[TheToadMen]

And a great entry it is ...

Welcome (back) to the analogue world and to APUG.

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl

 

[Molli]

That is a seriously nice print you have there. What a way to start back in the dark again after your "brief" hiatus! Congratulations and welcome to APUG.

 

[fotch]

Congratts

 

[480sparky]

That's far too good. You're supposed to mess up a few sheets first!!


Steve.

First test strip was too dark.

Second test strip was too light.

Third test strip pretty much nailed it.

First print showed I needed a bit of dodging.

Second print........... um........... well............... can I claim the Fifth Amendment? *

Third print is what you see.
































* OK, rookie mistake, I'll admit. I forgot to stop the lens down. After 2 seconds, I realized the paper was shot.

 

[Bill Burk]

Welcome to APUG 480sparky,

Way to go!

 

[resummerfield]

Congrats, 480sparky, and welcome to APUG!

 

[pbromaghin]

Great story. Great job!

 

[OptiKen]

Welcome Home

 

[Sirius Glass]

I took a three year hiatus from the darkroom and started up my darkroom last week. How sweet it is!

enjoy!

 

[images39]

Great re-entry, and welcome back. Is that an 11x14 print? Regarding the fumes, I recently discovered odorless stop bath and found that it noticeably reduced the odor in my darkroom. I'm using the one by Arista, but I'm sure there are others too.

Dale

 

[480sparky]

8x10.

 

[Sirius Glass]

A departed member, I do not recall his name said like, "There is nothing more wonderful than the smell of hypo in the morning."

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

May you make many more prints. I love my 30 year old Beseler 45mx. It's still working great. Periodic alignment is required.

 

[scheimfluger_77]

A departed member, I do not recall his name said like, "There is nothing more wonderful than the smell of hypo in the morning."

That's similar to something a high school friend of mine on the F/295 forum said, he was paraphrasing Patton. Fortunately he has not departed yet.

480sparky, congrats on the darkroom. I was hit and miss for 30 years with the entire photography thing so welcome back. I feel your joy.

Steve

 

[MattKing]

A departed member, I do not recall his name said like, "There is nothing more wonderful than the smell of hypo in the morning."

That was one of the first members of APUG: dr bob

His Signature was: "I love the smell of fixer in the morning. It smells like...creativity!
Truly, dr bob."

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Inspiring.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That was one of the first members of APUG: dr bob

His Signature was: "I love the smell of fixer in the morning. It smells like...creativity!
Truly, dr bob."

His screen name was Flotsam ... Neil Williams

That is called grain. It is supposed to be there.
=Neal W.=​

 

[MattKing]

His screen name was Flotsam ... Neil Williams

That is called grain. It is supposed to be there.
=Neal W.=​

Sadly, Flotsam - Neil Williams is another valued member of the APUG community who passed away. dr bob was the source for the saying about fixer, and was in fact the first person listed in the "In Memoriam" sub-forum.