the first two things i've learned....

JimEA

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• Aug 31, 2020

• #1

These are the first two test strips I've ever exposed and developed. It's the beginning of an annotated scrapbook. Good reminder of lessons learned and all that....

 

Nige

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• Aug 31, 2020

• #2

Get a large scrapbook... say 96 pages!

 

jimjm

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• Aug 31, 2020

• #3

I still make both of those mistakes occasionally, when I try to hurry things.

 

ic-racer

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• Aug 31, 2020

• #4

Unfortunately, after years of darkroom work, one can still learn those...

 

gijsbert

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• Aug 31, 2020

• #5

He he, been there done that, well, euh, still do that once in a while

 

Donald Qualls

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #6

And strangely, those exact same lessons will apply again when you learn to make large format negatives. Don't ask me how I know...

 

pentaxuser

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #7

My sympathies There seems so much to think about when starting. Glossy and even Pearl or so called Semi-Matt in RC papers aren't too bad to spot the emulsion side from the back side but frankly in the case of Ilford Satin it really does take a bit of inspection to get it right. It is a great paper surface for some kinds of shots but I found that great care is needed to make sure which is the emulsion side. There is just slightly more sheen but I usually have to angle the paper to get the tell-tale refection

pentaxuser

 

bdial

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #8

I could fill a scrapbook with just those.

 

Donald Qualls

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #9

I have wondered, from time to time, why enlarging lenses don't have quick-set apertures -- like the white light lever on color heads. A quick flick to get bright light for focusing, and another to close down for exposure. Of course, you'd still have to remember to flick the lever.

 

MattKing

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #10

Donald Qualls said:

I have wondered, from time to time, why enlarging lenses don't have quick-set apertures -- like the white light lever on color heads. A quick flick to get bright light for focusing, and another to close down for exposure. Of course, you'd still have to remember to flick the lever.

Click to expand...

Many do - modern Componon S ones come to mind.

 

Donald Qualls

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #11

MattKing said:

Many do - modern Componon S ones come to mind.

Click to expand...

Yep, my mistake -- on my budget, new or modern enlarging lenses don't appear. For instance, I have a take-out Anastar, still in shutter from a Kodak Reflex II, as my 80mm enlarging lens. Cost me ten bucks, as I recall.

 

MattKing

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #12

My modern 50mm Componon S came with a current model variable contrast LPL 6x7 enlarger for $65 CDN - the result of a Craigslist ad.

 

radiant

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #13

Donald Qualls said:

I have wondered, from time to time, why enlarging lenses don't have quick-set apertures

Click to expand...

All my lenses have steps for apertures too. My method of measuring aperture is "stops from full aperture" because I cannot remember from which aperture the lens start. Usually I print with "-2 stops"

 

winger

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• Sep 1, 2020

• #14

Donald Qualls said:

I have wondered, from time to time, why enlarging lenses don't have quick-set apertures -- like the white light lever on color heads. A quick flick to get bright light for focusing, and another to close down for exposure. Of course, you'd still have to remember to flick the lever.

Click to expand...

I have Componon S lenses - believe me, it's still possible to forget to close it down after focusing. I frequently don't open up to focus if I'm using a grain focuser. That way I don't get blinded and I can't forget what I didn't move.

There will always be ways to mess up. I've been printing for a decently long time and still screw stuff up.

 

Donald Qualls

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• Sep 2, 2020

• #15

winger said:

There will always be ways to mess up.

Click to expand...

This is a universal truth.

 

Sirius Glass

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• Sep 2, 2020

• #16

winger said:

There will always be ways to mess up. I've been printing for a decently long time and still screw stuff up.

Click to expand...

Since large format cameras lack the interlocks of the smaller formats, I can always find innovative ways to screw stuff up. If one uses a press camera with a lens shutter and a focal plane shutter the world of screw ups has no end. Set lens shutter open, focus, set aperture, pull dark slide, crank focal plane shutter and voilà ==> a diagonal fogging across the whole sheet of film!