Looking for darkroom share in Seattle for Azo work

[bennoj]

I hope this is in the right forum....

I'm eager to start printing on Azo but have no space in my house for a darkroom. I've done enlargements at Photographic Center Northwest in the past, but their setup is not conducive for the lighting needed for Azo exposures. I've looked into a few darkroom shares, but again it would not be a good situation.

Is there anyone reading who is in the Seattle area and is set up for Azo? I am willing to pay for darkroom time, buy and use my own chemistry (or share in the purchase of shared chemistry), clean up after myself, etc. I also will be developing 8x10 film (hopefully larger in the future) so that is another thing to take into consideration.

I'm just starting out with Azo (I have a box of Grade 2 8x10 and several contact printing frames, otherwise I'm at square 1), and constructive criticism is always welcome.

Thanks,
Benno Jones

 

[John Bartley]

I'm eager to start printing on Azo but have no space in my house for a darkroom.

Hi there,

I'm an amateur also, and less than a year ago, I had never done a paper exposure much less developed one. I learned very quickly that you can do everything you need in your home bathroom.
If you can put a sheet of plywood over your tub to set developing trays on and block the crack under the door with a towel, you can expose contact prints with a gooseneck lamp.
That's all it takes.

I know that this doesn't answer your original question and I'm sorry for that, but you should know that you don't need a formal darkroom to start doing contact prints

 

[eric]

Hi there,

block the crack under the door with a towel, you can expose contact prints with a gooseneck lamp.

Man! I love resourcefullness. There's a picture of Weston's lightbulb somewhere...maybe in a book or someone scanned the pix and on the web somewhere...but its the lightbulb he used to contact print with. It was just dangling from a cord.

 

[mikewhi]

I used to do the same thing. A piece of wood over the tub and a bare bulb is all it takes. EW had little more than that. You can save some rental $$. Home Depot will even cut the plywood down to size for you for free. You could turn the sink into a flat surface, dangle a bulb above it and set the contact frame on it. When you,done, the bathtub becomes the sink to hold the print washer. You can dry on screens or use the microwave. Just be sure to standardize the height of the bulb. EW wore a bankers green visor cap. Make it a strong bulb as AZO needs lots of light 250w or 500w.

You'd be surprised at the quality of work you'd be able to produce in such a modest setup.

You can also develop 8x10 negs in trays this way.

-Mike

 

[bennoj]

The bathroom is out, I'd have done it if it was possible. We only have 1 bathroom and it's barely big enough to move around in (very old house). Barely any counterspace. And if I were to tie it up for several hours my wife would not be pleased...

The basement is also out as the only sink is right next to the cat box.....

 

[Brook]

My ex wife said no darkroom in the house. I now have a darkroom in the house. Not the cheapest way to get there.

But the cats dont mind the darkroom, litter box or not.

 

[Dug]

Benno: I just completed my darkroom setup in Seattle (Genessee neighborhood). I am getting rid of the last of the pesky light leaks and should be ready to roll next week. I'm not sure what you mean by "set up for Azo": There is the dry side where we could hang a lamp to shine on the contact frame and the wet side with the sink for tray development. Send me a message and we can get rolling.

 

[msage]

Man! I love resourcefullness. There's a picture of Weston's lightbulb somewhere...maybe in a book or someone scanned the pix and on the web somewhere...but its the lightbulb he used to contact print with. It was just dangling from a cord.

Eric
There is a chapter in the book Darkroom 2 that Cole Weston was printing his Dads negatives in the late 70's(?) using his Dads darkroon setup. I bet thats where you saw that.

Bennoj
Maybe you should get rid of the cat! OK, just kidding.

 

[bennoj]

Bennoj
Maybe you should get rid of the cat! OK, just kidding.

3 cats... and my wife would not find that funny....

Doug - Thanks for the offer, but I've already found a space to work in very close to my house (Maple Leaf/Northgate).