Who here abosultly love thier darkroom.. ?

[ToddB]

Sounds like obvious question. Last night I was printing out some 5x7 on RC paper. Some family pic to put in photo album, as I was watching my image come up, I stood back and looked at what I had in my darkroom, and what I was doing. Listening to my music, occationally sip a glass of wine. knowing my family will benefit from my labor of love. We all have a wonderful skill on what and how we do photography. I feel so blessed.

ToddB

 

[eclarke]

No Brainer, I do!!

 

[Rick A]

Umm... for the last 50 years and counting...

 

[hdeyong]

I certainly used to, and when I get my new darkroom up and running soon, I will again!

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I love darkrooms!

Jeff

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Me too. Space for a darkroom was a major criteria to me when buying my house. If/when I sell my house, it will again be a criteria in its replacement's selection.

 

[agnosticnikon]

I love the darkroom I have now, as it was designed in the plan when we had our house built. I'm old enough now to know I'll never move to another place. (can't afford to anyway). I've had a darkroom in every place I've lived since my first in 1973. Even if it was in a bathroom as a temporary set up, or made with black plastic sheeting in a garage. I've always loved having a place to go make pictures, relax, and learn new things.

 

[ToddB]

Some awesome responces.

ToddB

 

[cjbecker]

Whenever I get a house there will be a dedicated, running water, temp adjuster, and plastic sink, darkroom.

 

[ToddB]

I remember a while back I went to this local camera store when I was getting stuff together for my darkroom. I was talking with sales guy, must of been in his 60's. I told him that I was getting together a darkroom and discussion led to him saying "I used to have a darkroom..I dont miss it". I was thinking "how sad". I can understand that some people don't liketo toil over stuff when easier take photos and drop on a computers and look. I don't know.. there is something special about something being hand made. There is something theraputic being in that room.

 

[heterolysis]

I love working in the darkroom and find it incredibly therapeutic.

But just as I'm not cut out to be a wedding photographer running around dealing with strangers all day, some people aren't happy to be left alone in a quiet red glow, waiting patiently as white pages turn into (sometimes) spectacular images. I feel like the only person on the planet when I lock myself up in the darkroom. I forget about everything else and just take my time.

 

[tal bedrack]

just had a six hours darkroom session this morning, celebrating a day off
mine is just a shed outside the house with a metal roof, so it gets h-o-t quite early in our local mediterranean summer... that didn't keep me from having a great time! i love my little cave!

 

[ToddB]

just had a six hours darkroom session this morning, celebrating a day off

Sounds wonderful!!!

Todd

 

[Aron]

I love mine, I'm actually thinking about installing black curtains and other light-blocking material for the kitchen too, so that I can use the kitchen as an extension.

If I'll ever have to live in a single room with minimal space for any reason, however small it would be, I would convert it to a permanent darkroom. It's possible to work around the water or temperature problems if one is willing to. Convenience in a darkroom is like coverage for LF lenses: it's good to have plenty of it, but in reality just barely enough is good enough for a good number of tasks.

 

[rjs003]

Just finishing the job of building my first dedicated darkroom, befor this it was alway make shift.
I now have 200 square feet of space, that is light tight and can be used anytime of the day.
First run of prints scheduled for May 15th.

 

[Klainmeister]

If it wasn't for it, I might make news headlines someday! Working IT really makes appreciate anything that requires taking your time and quiet. It has dramatically made me respect the darkroom a lot more.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

My stinky, smelly, too small, and often too cold little darkroom is one of the best things of my life. I love it in there, warts and all!

 

[one90guy]

I have a very basic darkroom with no running water and love it. Its magic watching the paper in the developer, my favorite part of the experience.. Just received a new bottle of Ilford fixer, a roll of Tmax 120 and a roll of Tmax 35mm ready, develop tonight and print in the morning.

 

[winger]

I'm waiting for my prints to wash. Today was a daycare-day so I spent most of it printing. It's been so long since I did 11x14, too. Such a cool feeling when you lift out your first try at a new image and it looks right.

 

[Alex Muir]

I have a darkroom in a wooden shed. It doesn't have running water, but I can work around that. It looks a mess with the lights on, but takes on a beautiful, calm glow with lights out and safelight on. I use a Nova, but all this talk of seeing images magically appear has made me think about getting the trays out again. I deal with other people's problems at work every day, so my darkroom is a welcome retreat in the evenings. I don't know what I would do without it. Thanks, Todd, for encouraging everyone to share their love of the darkroom! Alex.

 

[tony lockerbie]

Kind of, I'm relegated to the laundry these days ): Takes a while to get it up and going but I love the time spent in there...even if the space is a bit dodgy.

 

[cliveh]

My current darkroom is a wonderful space and I remember when making it I also wanted it to be a thinking room, which it has become.

 

[Clay2]

Love it indeed! Many enjoyable hours spent in there. Best was my first day learning to print Cibachromes from

Kodachrome slides. Felt like wonderful magic. (1970's), had darkrooms since 1950's.

Best regards,

/Clay

 

[sepiareverb]

Me!

 

[paul_c5x4]

Idle conversation with a female work colleague on Tuesday:
Q) "What did you do over the Bank Holiday weekend ?"
A) "Spent most of the time hidden away in a dark room."

"Awww... poor lad, not feeling well.." <Big Hug>