Modified My Darkroom...

[Andrew O'Neill]

Since I rarely make silver gelatin enlargements, I decided to modify my darkroom down to what is really necessary for me. That meant removing my 8x10, and 4x5 enlargers. The 8x10 was an old copy camera that I modified to take a 1212 Aristo head (an awesome piece of kit with the V54 tube), and Schneider 240 lens. Eventually, I'll sell the light head, and lens. The copy camera will most likely be scrapped...although I may save the bellows! The 4x5 was my first enlarger (purchased in '92) that I brought back from Japan. It's a Fujimoto, modified to take an Aristo 4500 VC head. Loved using that. I'll be keeping it in storage in case the urge comes back to make enlargements one day!
The space I gave up (which was about a third of my darkroom) is now storage for my lawnmower, pressure washer, and other yard related stuff. My wife is happy as it freed up space in the garage.
I have my two exposure tables. A BLB I use for kallitype, and gum printing, and a1000W halogen unit for carbon transfer printing. Lots of chemicals, large sink, radio, a few books... an A/C, and dehumidifier. I'm going to figure out how to squeeze in a stool, and a tiny bar fridge at some point... for film!

 

[J 3]

Congratulations on the new refined setup! Your idea for using a modified copy camera as a LF enlarger has definitely got me thinking as 8x10's are hard to find.

 

[Luis-F-S]

8x10 enlargers are a matter of luck and location. If you'd post where you're located, it would help.

 

[awty]

Looks great, this is how a DR should look like, used and abused. Just needs a load sound system to muffle the swearing.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Congratulations on the new refined setup! Your idea for using a modified copy camera as a LF enlarger has definitely got me thinking as 8x10's are hard to find.

It was sitting in mothballs at my high school back in 2003. It was going to get chucked but not if I could help it. It was pretty easy to convert over to an 8x10 enlarger. The only hard part was mounting it to the wall! I'll bet if you look around, you can still find them sitting unused and dusty.

 

[logan2z]

Looks great, this is how a DR should look like, used and abused. Just needs a load sound system to muffle the swearing.

You mean I'm not the only one who drops the occasional F-bomb in the darkroom when things don't go as planned?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Looks great, this is how a DR should look like, used and abused. Just needs a load sound system to muffle the swearing.

Ya my ghetto blaster just ain't cutting it!

 

[mshchem]

Looks great. I put a small sign in my darkroom "This is not a museum! " . I cleared out silly stuff that's cool, but can be in one of my other 3 or 4 rooms full of camera junk.
I need to get back in the dark but the weather is nice.
Simplification is a great way to focus on your work. I have a tendency to curate rather than create if I don't stay tuned in.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Simplification is a great way to focus on your work. I have a tendency to curate rather than create if I don't stay tuned in.

A good point. However whenever I think of simplifying something photographic I come up with a reason or need to use whatever I was thinking of ignoring...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Looks great. I put a small sign in my darkroom "This is not a museum! " . I cleared out silly stuff that's cool, but can be in one of my other 3 or 4 rooms full of camera junk.
I need to get back in the dark but the weather is nice.
Simplification is a great way to focus on your work. I have a tendency to curate rather than create if I don't stay tuned in.

Definitely working in a simplified space, with no clutter, is way better for my mind. I only have what I need. I also prefer this smaller, cozier space. It was how I originally set it up 18 years ago.