coatachrome

Last month I had some perspective clients at the house. We were discussing some photo-ops for their new magazine when one of them noticed the large red and green lights over a closed door in my office. He inquired about them and when I told him that was my dark room he became very interested and asked if he could peek inside. After a quick tour he asked me how often I used the room and equipment. When I said that I don’t use it very often any more, most of my shooting has been digital for several years, he became much more interested and inquired if I would be interested in selling any of it.

When I told my wife she did a quick inventory and pointed out that the only two “film” cameras we owned that were listed as “still working” were an old Hasselbald 1600F that I bought used in 1968 and a Pentax P30T I purchased in 1990. So a week later, when they made me “an offer I couldn’t refuse” for pretty much everything in that room, and after some long discussions with my wife, I accepted. And they took everything, trays, heaters, tables, lights, clamps, timers, old boxes of paper, old bottles of chemicals; I think they would have scrapped the paint off the walls if I offered. Last evening I was cleaning up what was left, not much, but there was an old radio with a red LED display on a shelf over where my benches used to be and behind it was an old, generic, quart sized, brown bottle. It had a generic white label that I had made who knows how long ago that simply said, “Kodak Ektacolor Fixer.” I opened the bottle and took a sniff. I know you old “wet guys” will appreciate this. That odor, to a developer, is like cocaine to an addict. I cannot tell you the memories that one sniff evoked.

Now I am not complaining, I sold that equipment for a fair price and I can keep myself in McDonalds 99 cent burgers for the rest of my expected life. But, this evening I am sitting here, in what used to be my darkroom, with a 15 year old bottle of cabernet and a who knows how old bottle of fixer alternating between sips and sniffs, really feeling my age and wondering if it was worth it. However, in the immortal lyrics of Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, “The sun will come out tomorrow”, but tonight I feel like I just shot my best horse.

Just thought I’d share this with you folks.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Reminds me of that nostalgic smell that drifts by every time someone drives down the road in an old big block Chevy with a 850 Holley on top! Or a 409 with dual quads, always makes me want to go out and spend $100 on a tank of gas to burn up.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

feel like I just shot my best horse... lol that bad... but opened that room door to a new venue

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

I've been where you are, Mr. Chrome...just don't get the sniffs and sips mixed up!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

As part of my externship at LAC-USC Hospital, Department of Medical Imaging in 1979, I had to operate the E-4 film processor for weeks on end. I HATED that job, and hated the associated odor of developers & fixers.

I can't say that I am glad someone is nostalgic about chemical aromas (aka reek), because that is far from my experience.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

A well ventilated darkroom -- and it's not a good idea to have any other sort -- is a familiar, comforting smell to many. And NOTHING brings back memories as fast as smells. We use the darkroom far less than we used to, but we still use it.

And you've probably made someone very happy.

Cheers,

R.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

How about the smell of a wet dog? Everyone can relate to that.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Very true. I'd go for the darkroom every time...

Cheers,

R.

bhfranklin Loc: Boston Area / Cape Cod

As they say "thanks for the memiories"

fcrawley Loc: Melbourne, FL

I still do my own B&W processing, and the smell of fixer and stop bath is very comforting. I do love going to the track and smelling that leaded gas too.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Thank you. That was a touching moment to share with us.

randymoe

I agree, obviously someone wanted all of it. I have not bought an entire darkroom, but I have cleaned out some film photographers. Once they let go, they can be very generous and really want their hard earned material goods to find a good home. A wet darkroom is a quickly disappearing technology. While I embrace the old, I am also trying miserably to keep up with the faster and faster digital race. There is no free ride.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

just in case you did not know this...as a studier of psychobabble and other related things...I can assure you
that smell is the sense that most connects us to our memories and the emotions attached to them.

Realtors know this....and will ask home owners to bake chocolate chip cookies before an open house....almost everyone has fine home kitchen memories attached to that smell and the realtors think it helps put potential buyers in a happy mood.....No kidding here

so it was good that you had a moment where you could enjoy and reflect on your past joys in that darkroom....
NOW IM GUESSING your memories are probably worth more than the equipment you sold.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

DK76 runs through my veins and I will give it up when they pry the jug from my cold dead hands. :)

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

Been there Done that! Digital changes camera a little.
Photoshop (Darkroom) changed a lot. New age - New challenges.Enjoy.