New to Photography

Mars · Aug 21, 2017

Hi! I am new to Photography. I am a teacher, and want to revive the dark room that is in my classroom. I really need a timer and other misc. things that went missing when the darkroom went neglected. Also, 4 out of 10 of the enlargers work, is it most likely the bulb? Can I easily fix that? My question is : 1) where can I buy inexpensive dark room equipment? 2) Tips on the Beseler. 3) Resources that will help a beginner dark room person.

Thank you!

winger · Aug 21, 2017

Welcome! It makes me very happy to read what you're hoping to do. I'm pretty sure this site can help (lots of great advice here and plenty of experience). As far as resources - here and Ilfordphoto.com can both help. Ilford makes fantastic B&W film, paper, and chemicals (they aren't the only ones who do, but their stuff is very consistent). Their website has info areas with lots of basic info. Lots of info here, too, of course. Source for "stuff" - if you're in the US (not sure where Eastbay Area is), freestylephoto.biz is great. Once you compare what Ilford says you need to what you actually have, Freestyle can probably fill in the rest. Or the classifieds here.
As for whether it's the bulbs, that's tough to say without looking at them, but that's a pretty good first guess. And Freestyle carries bulbs. You mention Beseler, but which model? I have a 23CIII and a 45MX and the instruction books for both, I think.

If you're lucky, there might be a member here who can stop by and help you out. I know I would if you were close enough.

Max lisch · Aug 22, 2017

Hi mars,
I'm primarily a large format film landscape photographer. I am based out of the east bay as well. I have worked fairly extensively with darkroom wet printing over the last couple years and would be glad to help.
Are you teaching photography in an east bay high school?

Mars · Aug 22, 2017

winger said:
Welcome! It makes me very happy to read what you're hoping to do. I'm pretty sure this site can help (lots of great advice here and plenty of experience). As far as resources - here and Ilfordphoto.com can both help. Ilford makes fantastic B&W film, paper, and chemicals (they aren't the only ones who do, but their stuff is very consistent). Their website has info areas with lots of basic info. Lots of info here, too, of course. Source for "stuff" - if you're in the US (not sure where Eastbay Area is), freestylephoto.biz is great. Once you compare what Ilford says you need to what you actually have, Freestyle can probably fill in the rest. Or the classifieds here.
As for whether it's the bulbs, that's tough to say without looking at them, but that's a pretty good first guess. And Freestyle carries bulbs. You mention Beseler, but which model? I have a 23CIII and a 45MX and the instruction books for both, I think.

If you're lucky, there might be a member here who can stop by and help you out. I know I would if you were close enough.

Thank you for the warm welcome and the helpful tips! I live in California, the East bay Area. I feel lucky to have found this forum. The Beseler I have is a 23CIII model.

Mars · Aug 22, 2017

Max lisch said:
Hi mars,
I'm primarily a large format film landscape photographer. I am based out of the east bay as well. I have worked fairly extensively with darkroom wet printing over the last couple years and would be glad to help.
Are you teaching photography in an east bay high school?

Hi! Yes, I am teaching in an Eastbay High School. I would love the help, as this seems pretty technical.

AgX · Aug 22, 2017

Welcome to Apug!
Concern yourself lucky even with some things lacking, compared to my part of the world were school darkrooms vanished long ago.

removed account4 · Aug 22, 2017

hi mars
this book https://www.amazon.com/Black-White-...399262&sr=8-1&keywords=photography+horenstein
is a great hands on guide for darkroom and camera work. the author is a long time photography professor at RISD and the book has been used by photo teachers for 30+ years.
it not only has how-to info ( darkroom and camera work ), but it has pages of common mistakes so when your darkroom is up and running you have a reference book.

good luck !
john

Sirius Glass · Aug 22, 2017

Welcome to APUG

JWMster · Aug 22, 2017

Welcome! Hornstein's "Beyond Basic Photography" is also good. Good luck!

John Koehrer · Aug 22, 2017

Just another plug for the Horenstein books.

Mars · Aug 23, 2017

Thanks for the tips! I am having trouble posting keeps saying "spam-like" messages contact administrator.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 23, 2017

Welcome to APUG. As a new user, the system is probably just picking up on short posts that spammers sometimes use to meet the minimum post number to get past the spam filter. Keep posting in a substantive way, and you should be fine.

WilmarcoImaging · Aug 23, 2017

Mars, welcome! Lots of good people here with lots of experience to help you.

Mars · Aug 23, 2017

WilmarcoImaging said:
Mars, welcome! Lots of good people here with lots of experience to help you.

Thank you!!

AgX · Aug 24, 2017

Yes, do not let you kept off by some anti-spam filtering directed at new members. In the end you will as we enjoy a practically spam-free Apug.
In case you yourselve see a weird, harrasing post or a post that is just in the wrong forum etc. use the "Report this post" button, left under a post.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 24, 2017

Mars said:
Hi! I am new to Photography. I am a teacher, and want to revive the dark room that is in my classroom. I really need a timer and other misc. things that went missing when the darkroom went neglected. Also, 4 out of 10 of the enlargers work, is it most likely the bulb? Can I easily fix that? My question is : 1) where can I buy inexpensive dark room equipment? 2) Tips on the Beseler. 3) Resources that will help a beginner dark room person.

Thank you!

are you willing to pay for the shipping if we send you free stuff?

John Koehrer · Aug 24, 2017

Bulbs are easy to replace. On the 23C* I believe there's a screw at the front of the lamp housing. To check the other enlargers swap bulbs from one you know works.

* All 23C's are the same unless it has a dichro color head.

Hatchetman · Aug 24, 2017

Toughest part might be getting a gross of developing trays! How is that part usually done in a group setting?

winger · Aug 24, 2017

Hatchetman said:
Toughest part might be getting a gross of developing trays! How is that part usually done in a group setting?

When I've taken classes, there is usually a long sink with access from both sides or extra long. There will usually be two sets of chemicals with the hope that everyone will be at slightly different spots in the process so they aren't all trying to put a print in the developer at the same time. In one school darkroom, it was long with the wash tray in the middle and you could go L-R to it or R-L from the other end. At RISD, there were two sets of L-R trays on either side of a huge sink. The toughest part was keeping people from contaminating the tongs.

wiltw · Aug 24, 2017

Hi, I am on the west side of the San Mateo bridge, 3 mi. south of it. I have considerable darkroom experience, going back to when I was about 11 years old, with both B&W and color darkroom, and processing of 135 film thru 4x5 sheet film, and both color neg and color transparency printing including Cibachrome. Have professional photography experience in my history from 135 camera thru monorial view camera. I also have experience as the teaching assistant of a college level course, including darkroom instruction. So if you want/need advice or consultation, I would be happy to make myself available to you...now retired. Many of the chemistries used today are identical to the ones in use back in the 1980s and 1990s (less the ones that are no longer available!), but darkroom processes are pretty generally applicable, with documentation that comes with chemistry providing specifics of capacity, time vs. temp for various emulsions. Start a private conversation with me, and I can send you my mobile number and we can chat with more specifics.

--Wilt

Mars · Aug 24, 2017

RalphLambrecht said:
are you willing to pay for the shipping if we send you free stuff?

Yes, depends on how much shipping would be, but most likely yes. Thank you!

Mars · Aug 24, 2017

winger said:
When I've taken classes, there is usually a long sink with access from both sides or extra long. There will usually be two sets of chemicals with the hope that everyone will be at slightly different spots in the process so they aren't all trying to put a print in the developer at the same time. In one school darkroom, it was long with the wash tray in the middle and you could go L-R to it or R-L from the other end. At RISD, there were two sets of L-R trays on either side of a huge sink. The toughest part was keeping people from contaminating the tongs.

We have a good amount of trays. We have the long sink setup, only big enough for 1 set of trays, though.

Mars · Aug 24, 2017

wiltw said:
Hi, I am on the west side of the San Mateo bridge, 3 mi. south of it. I have considerable darkroom experience, going back to when I was about 11 years old, with both B&W and color darkroom, and processing of 135 film thru 4x5 sheet film, and both color neg and color transparency printing including Cibachrome. Have professional photography experience in my history from 135 camera thru monorial view camera. I also have experience as the teaching assistant of a college level course, including darkroom instruction. So if you want/need advice or consultation, I would be happy to make myself available to you...now retired. Many of the chemistries used today are identical to the ones in use back in the 1980s and 1990s (less the ones that are no longer available!), but darkroom processes are pretty generally applicable, with documentation that comes with chemistry providing specifics of capacity, time vs. temp for various emulsions. Start a private conversation with me, and I can send you my mobile number and we can chat with more specifics.

--Wilt

Sent you a message Wilt.

Mars · Aug 24, 2017

John Koehrer said:
Bulbs are easy to replace. On the 23C* I believe there's a screw at the front of the lamp housing. To check the other enlargers swap bulbs from one you know works.

* All 23C's are the same unless it has a dichro color head.

Mars · Aug 24, 2017

Figured out how to change it on the beseler, 23c III. Was pretty easy. Could I just pick up those light bulbs at home depot?

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