Wayne Olson
Member
This may be a bit off topic but I just had to relate it to the silver halide addict group here.
I went down to the local BIG photo retailer in these parts, Samy's, and went to the ever diminishing darkroom supply section. You know, the section that isn't jammed with yammering digital nincompoops. I just wanted a bottle of selenium toner. Simple, common darkroom item. Or so one would think.
None on the shelf. Odds and ends. True, a few bags of Dektol, some fixers, some HCA, even a forlorn looking bag of Farmer's Reducer! But no selenium toner. Neither Berg's or KRST.
Of couse, what one does in this case is ask the clerk, right? Nope. He was maybe early twenties and, judging by the mostly incorrect information he was giving some doubtful looking young ladies, he fancied himself a digital expert. I listened for a few minutes and realized that he was full of &#* as a Christmas turkey.
So, he asks if I had a question. Indeed I did. I asked if they had any selenium toner. I got the RCA Victor dog look. You know, the old logo with the dog looking at the phonograph with his head cocked to the side. The "I have no idea what you're talking about" look.
"What's it for?" he asks rather condescendingly.
"
"It's for toning black and white prints and rendering them more archival."
Still the puzzled look. Then, the light comes on.
"Why don't you just do it in Photoshop?"
I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. But being the consummate smarta** that I am (on top of getting to be a cranky old man), I couldn't help myself. I just had to say it.
"Nope," I replied, "the damned computer just won't fit into the developing tray!". With that I left, my hope for the young and creative component of the culture just that much more eroded.
This is true. I couldn't possibly make something like this up. Oh well, it's off to Freestyle Photo in Hollyweird tomorrow. I generally avoid L.A. and it's immediate environs (whoopee, I live in Orange County, CA - draw your own conclusions) but it seems like it's the only place left in this part of the world that remembers the core and soul of the art.
Anyone else have such a delightful experience or is my age and cynicism showing?
Good light to all and may your darkroom never have a light leak!
Wayne
I went down to the local BIG photo retailer in these parts, Samy's, and went to the ever diminishing darkroom supply section. You know, the section that isn't jammed with yammering digital nincompoops. I just wanted a bottle of selenium toner. Simple, common darkroom item. Or so one would think.
None on the shelf. Odds and ends. True, a few bags of Dektol, some fixers, some HCA, even a forlorn looking bag of Farmer's Reducer! But no selenium toner. Neither Berg's or KRST.
Of couse, what one does in this case is ask the clerk, right? Nope. He was maybe early twenties and, judging by the mostly incorrect information he was giving some doubtful looking young ladies, he fancied himself a digital expert. I listened for a few minutes and realized that he was full of &#* as a Christmas turkey.
So, he asks if I had a question. Indeed I did. I asked if they had any selenium toner. I got the RCA Victor dog look. You know, the old logo with the dog looking at the phonograph with his head cocked to the side. The "I have no idea what you're talking about" look.
"What's it for?" he asks rather condescendingly.
"
"It's for toning black and white prints and rendering them more archival."
Still the puzzled look. Then, the light comes on.
"Why don't you just do it in Photoshop?"
I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. But being the consummate smarta** that I am (on top of getting to be a cranky old man), I couldn't help myself. I just had to say it.
"Nope," I replied, "the damned computer just won't fit into the developing tray!". With that I left, my hope for the young and creative component of the culture just that much more eroded.
This is true. I couldn't possibly make something like this up. Oh well, it's off to Freestyle Photo in Hollyweird tomorrow. I generally avoid L.A. and it's immediate environs (whoopee, I live in Orange County, CA - draw your own conclusions) but it seems like it's the only place left in this part of the world that remembers the core and soul of the art.
Anyone else have such a delightful experience or is my age and cynicism showing?
Good light to all and may your darkroom never have a light leak!
Wayne