My son is developing his first roll of Tri-X!

SchwinnParamount · Feb 24, 2005

Even as I type this, he's agitating film in a Kinderman stainless steel canister. The boy is only 16 and I've started him on a sordid life of Tri-X grain, chemicals, and paper. Oh, and I've got him using XTOL!

Just today during my anual physical, my doctor told me about the 'playing with digital' he's been doing. He said he was intrigued by LF and actual film photography. I directed him here of course. Now he wants to see an 8x10 contact print. I'm going to have to make a brilliant one to show him. Next thing will be to help him find a convenient lake to toss the plastic camera in. Then off to the races... We'll get them both into LF before they know what's hit them.

Two down, a gazillion to go

Kevin Caulfield · Feb 24, 2005

So, how did he go, how did he go???? The negs must be drying by now.
So, steel tank and reels too?
Well done on both counts and we look forward to hearing about their progress.

SchwinnParamount · Feb 24, 2005

Kevin Caulfield said:
So, how did he go, how did he go???? The negs must be drying by now.
So, steel tank and reels too?
Well done on both counts and we look forward to hearing about their progress.

He's sitting here now watching his film dry and asking me "how do I know when its dry?" I told him to watch for that funny partial dry curve shape that the strip takes even when there's a weight at the bottom. He's excited as am I!

Jorge · Feb 24, 2005

Well good for you!

modafoto · Feb 24, 2005

SchwinnParamount said:
The boy is only 16 and I've started him on a sordid life of Tri-X grain, chemicals, and paper. Oh, and I've got him using XTOL!

tsk tsk....XTOL....

Send him off to 19 months of hard training in Church of Rodinal's boot camp and we'll teach him to use the holy soup

Congrats to you for having led your kid on the right track for the future. Tri-X rocks...!

donbga · Feb 24, 2005

SchwinnParamount said:
Even as I type this, he's agitating film in a Kinderman stainless steel canister. The boy is only 16 and I've started him on a sordid life of Tri-X grain, chemicals, and paper. Oh, and I've got him using XTOL!

Just today during my anual physical, my doctor told me about the 'playing with digital' he's been doing. He said he was intrigued by LF and actual film photography. I directed him here of course. Now he wants to see an 8x10 contact print. I'm going to have to make a brilliant one to show him. Next thing will be to help him find a convenient lake to toss the plastic camera in. Then off to the races... We'll get them both into LF before they know what's hit them.

Two down, a gazillion to go

Exposure of a child to dangerous chemicals could be grounds for child abuse in some states. Be careful what you ask for.

Don Bryant

Digidurst · Feb 24, 2005

Gee, I hope my 8 year old gets into photography. Right now, he likes to go on walks with me and he'll take pictures with my little Pentax digital but he seems pretty fascinated with my Graflex 22. Keep your fingers crossed Oh and tell your boy congrats on his first roll of TriX - You must be so proud!

BWGirl · Feb 24, 2005

How very cool!!! I remember well, the feeling. Wait til he sees a print emerge! He'll be eternally hooked!

I can't wait to hear the 'conversion' story for your doctor!

Donald Qualls · Feb 24, 2005

donbga said:
Exposure of a child to dangerous chemicals could be grounds for child abuse in some states.

Absolutely correct. Smokers who expose their children to the effluent of their habit should do hard jail time.

Fortunately, most photo chemicals are sufficiently benign that decades of putting their hands in the stuff has done no harm to the vast majority of photographers (who are, statistically, no more prone to early death than accountants, less so than lawyers), even before it became fashionable to wear latex or nitrile gloves and goggles in the darkroom. When I was in high school, I found that either Dektol or fixer healed up my cuticles (or perhaps it was the taste on my fingers that kept me from chewing on them).

Ronald Moravec · Feb 24, 2005

Woold that be anything like watching paint dry?

Natron · Feb 24, 2005

modafoto said:
tsk tsk....XTOL....

Send him off to 19 months of hard training in Church of Rodinal's boot camp and we'll teach him to use the holy soup

Now now... there's nothing wrong with Xtol.

No, seriously, it's my main developer. I should probably ask the experts here which speed-enhancing developer they suggest over Xtol for Tri-X since I'm a relative beginner since I've only been doing this for about two years and haven't experimented nearly as much as you guys.

mikeb_z5 · Feb 24, 2005

Rock on!

Actually XTOL is probably one of the safest developers out there.

Mike

Ian Grant · Feb 24, 2005

modafoto said:
tsk tsk....XTOL....

He's a growng lad, he needs his Vitamin C

Xtol's a good choice, I only switched from Rodinal after 15 years because it's equally as good. For me it has one major advantage, because I use it on a replenishment basis, its always ready for use, no chemicals to mix up.

scootermm · Feb 24, 2005

I really hope that Don Bryant and Donald Qualls are being sarcastic/funny in their respective posts....?.....

Schwinn thats just plain awesome you have him usin triX. I myself have just recently been enamoured with it and loved every single roll so far.

Dean Williams · Feb 24, 2005

Excellent! A new pair of breeches in the gene pool. He'll be teaching us things before we know it! "Start 'em young and start 'em right", I always say.

Stock up on paper!

fhovie · Feb 24, 2005

I always drink my XTOL when I am done - good source of vitamin C. Looking for a Dorf for him now are ya?

SchwinnParamount · Feb 24, 2005

I was worried that I might be labelled a blasphemer until I asked Andrew what he wanted. "Andrew, speed and fine grain or golfballs and acutance?" He responded "Dude, what the frog (or some f type word) are you talking about" My son is funny that way. Every once in a while I have to say "Andrew, I'm your DAD, not one of your hoodlum friends "... I digress. Anyway, after explaining what all that meant, he decided he wanted the advantages of XTOL... He's already called me at work today after he got home from school and wants to set up the darkroom to print his negs. I said he's to hold his horses, dang it. I'll scan one of his prints and put it in my meagre gallery later on. Watch, you all will like his stuff much more than mine!

donbga · Feb 24, 2005

scootermm said:
I really hope that Don Bryant and Donald Qualls are being sarcastic/funny in their respective posts....?.....

Schwinn thats just plain awesome you have him usin triX. I myself have just recently been enamoured with it and loved every single roll so far.

Although I wrote child abuse I should have written child endangerment.

My comment was sort of tounge in cheek but at the same time never under estimate governments ability to intrude into your privacy.

Case in point, a local municipality, in my local metro area now has home inspectors. They have the force of law to enter your home and inspect your house to check your living habits. If the inspector finds a dirty floor or stove, etc. they can issue a citation.

It is also my fear that some government beauraucrat <sp?> could challenge the legality of maintaining a home darkroom. Consequently I don't openly discuss my darkroom with my neighbors or even my co-workers.

2 years ago I received a citation from the county because I had a ladder leaning against the side of my home for 4 days that was visible from the street.

I don't want to sound paranoid but private property rights and personal freedom seems to be slipping by the way side and you never know when the way you live your life could be found to be politically incorrect.

Don Bryant

colrehogan · Feb 24, 2005

SchwinnParamount said:
I was worried that I might be labelled a blasphemer until I asked Andrew what he wanted. "Andrew, speed and fine grain or golfballs and acutance?" He responded "Dude, what the frog (or some f type word) are you talking about" My son is funny that way. Every once in a while I have to say "Andrew, I'm your DAD, not one of your hoodlum friends "... I digress. Anyway, after explaining what all that meant, he decided he wanted the advantages of XTOL... He's already called me at work today after he got home from school and wants to set up the darkroom to print his negs. I said he's to hold his horses, dang it. I'll scan one of his prints and put it in my meagre gallery later on. Watch, you all will like his stuff much more than mine!

LOL!

Glad to see that he's having fun! Let us know when the stuff is posted.

johndeere · Feb 24, 2005

Great job Dad. I read this thread and had a big smile on my face. I just intorduced my 8 & 13 year old daughters to the darkroom. I had posted it on another site a few days prior to yours. We don't have the enlarger in place yet so we are only doing the film processing then scanning.

It is never to early to get them away from all those digital things like games, TV and the PC. Plus it is a great way to spend time together.

If you would like to see her first picture and read a little about it follow the link.

http://www.photochimps.com/gallery/forums/index.php?showtopic=1527&st=0&#entry8696

Strange if you copy & paste the link works, oh well just thought I would share the same story.

Digidurst · Feb 24, 2005

donbga said:
Although I wrote child abuse I should have written child endangerment.

My comment was sort of tounge in cheek but at the same time never under estimate governments ability to intrude into your privacy.

Case in point, a local municipality, in my local metro area now has home inspectors. They have the force of law to enter your home and inspect your house to check your living habits. If the inspector finds a dirty floor or stove, etc. they can issue a citation.

It is also my fear that some government beauraucrat <sp?> could challenge the legality of maintaining a home darkroom. Consequently I don't openly discuss my darkroom with my neighbors or even my co-workers.

2 years ago I received a citation from the county because I had a ladder leaning against the side of my home for 4 days that was visible from the street.

I don't want to sound paranoid but private property rights and personal freedom seems to be slipping by the way side and you never know when the way you live your life could be found to be politically incorrect.

Don Bryant

Goodness, where do you live?!

SchwinnParamount · Feb 24, 2005

johndeere said:
I just intorduced my 8 & 13 year old daughters to the darkroom. ...If you would like to see her first picture and read a little about it follow the link.

Nice picture! good contrast and tones. You have to love that TRI-X!

SchwinnParamount · Feb 24, 2005

Dean Williams said:
Excellent! A new pair of breeches in the gene pool. He'll be teaching us things before we know it! "Start 'em young and start 'em right", I always say.

Stock up on paper!

That's for sure. He's got an eye for this photography thing. The picture I posted for him just now is of a flower in one of our local parks. It was a sunny day but we were in deep shade. I'm a little surprised how well he did with it. You should see the camera he's using at the moment. It's a Bell&Howell range finder with a Canon lens. The same lens Canon used on their QL-16 rangefinders. fairly sharp and contasty lens.

He refuses to use the paper I bought him. He's been into my supply of good stuff today. I guess he has taste.

donbga · Feb 24, 2005

Digidurst said:
Goodness, where do you live?!

Georgia.

Don

L Gebhardt · Feb 25, 2005

donbga said:
Georgia.

Don

Last I heard we still respected the Forth Amendment in this country. How is this home inspector getting around this?

My son is developing his first roll of Tri-X!

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