Darkroom Stuff Question.... (Page 2): Sell, it, donate it or re purpose it. Numerous photographers have made this a perfect macro/replicator or base.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Sell, it, donate it or re purpose it.

Numerous photographers have made this a perfect macro/replicator or base.

turp77 Loc: Connecticut, Plainfield

burkphoto wrote:

[Warning: Off topic rant follows...]

It's just as well that your school does not offer "darkroom (film) photography" any longer. The modern world has mostly moved on from film.

Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything intrinsically wrong with using film, but there's this irrational, persistent myth: that learning film photography first somehow makes one a better photographer, or forces one to learn more quickly. It doesn't. Set an adjustable digital camera on full manual (manual focus, manual ISO, manual shutter, manual aperture...) and record raw images... It's the same as using color negative film, but better, because you can process the images any way you like. And the EXIF table is proof that your student didn't cheat! Plus, using digital tools prepares students for the real world, where unless you are a starving artist or hobbyist, you use digital cameras, smart phones, computers, software, the Internet, social media, and other digital devices to communicate.

I have three kids. In 2006, when I was still doing training and training content development for a large school portrait company, my daughter wanted to take photography at her high school in Charlotte. When she found out it was all film-based, she asked me, "Dad, didn't your company just throw out millions of dollars worth of film cameras and darkroom equipment?" I answered truthfully, "Yes. And we're ripping out the film processors as soon as this school year is over!" She said, "They won't teach digital photography at my high school. The teacher says it's just a fad." She signed up anyway, but told me later on that they cancelled the course because there was not enough interest! She was the only prospective student.

My twins are 18. They grew up with mice in their hands. They were making videos and using digital cameras for school work when they were seven. They went to an arts magnet school here in High Point. They've made a couple of serious short films in the last year or so, and one of them is going to stage and screen school at Western Carolina University for a BFA. When we went for his audition and got to interview a panel of current students, I asked the guys from the film school, "Do you still use film?" The answer was, "Aw, heck no. We still have the cameras, but no one has used them in years. Digital video is so much more efficient." That sealed the deal for us.

I still have all my film gear from high school, and all of it still works fine, but I don't use it. A couple of months ago, I took the negative carrier off the B22XL enlarger and put it on a device I made from scrap wood and old parts from my garage. I'm refining it a bit, and will soon begin digitizing my old negative collection...

Warning: Off topic rant follows... br br It's j... (show quote)

Very good point. I see where there can be two more things to add to your use digital camera is 1 black out the LCD and the other is use a small card to limit the number of shots like film. The old make every shot count vice spray and pray. My teacher only allowed us 12 shots for our practical.

Also getting rid of chemicals is hard and developing the negatives is sooo boring but nothing is like watching a wet print come to life.

I still have two enlargers and carriers up to 4x5 and I think I will copy you. I have been putting my 4x5 on a light box on my copy stand but if I can enlarge the image. Cool thanks

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

A tragedy. Had all my darkroom stuff--bessler 23C2 and all the goodies with it-even a foot switch, boxed up in my basement. With the intention of donating it to a local school. Had a pipe leak, 18 inches of water. Of course the box was on the floor. wound up throwing the whole mess out. I moved and have more empty space in my new basement than I can use, would love to build a new dark room, but was told that the chemicals could damage all the "plastic" pipes. Oh well.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

boberic wrote:

A tragedy. Had all my darkroom stuff--bessler 23C2 and all the goodies with it-even a foot switch, boxed up in my basement. With the intention of donating it to a local school. Had a pipe leak, 18 inches of water. Of course the box was on the floor. wound up throwing the whole mess out. I moved and have more empty space in my new basement than I can use, would love to build a new dark room, but was told that the chemicals could damage all the "plastic" pipes. Oh well.

Build the darkroom. The small amount of chemicals that you wash down the sink will have no effect on your plastic (PVC) drain piping.

coullone Loc: Paynesville, Victoria, Australia

boberic said, " was told that the chemicals could damage all the "plastic" pipes. Oh well."

Compared with drain cleaners that is absolutely rubbish.

flashbang

I posted a rant of sorts on my own blog a while ago about the demise of darkrooms and the 'loss' of mine in particular. One day I may post a bit about those final days. Anyway, here in New York City we have this local shop called B&H. Actually it is fair sized photo operation. There was a time when the darkroom department at B&H was sizable. Whole bunch of folks worked there. I don't know what the square footage of the dedicated floor space was, but it was big. Lots of enlargers, shelves full of paper and chemicals and all the rest. Today, it is a single counter and 3 (I think) shelves. The same counter also sells film. And at last year's PhotoExpo (the one held here), there was exactly 1 darkroom exhibitor. One guy at a table with a single enlarger. And a bunch of us 'old' guys standing around it.........

Rongnongno Loc: FL

flashbang wrote:

I posted a rant of sorts on my own blog a while ag... (show quote)

I just had an end of the world scenario where only one guy sells water in a desert to the few elderly survivors...

flashbang

Rongnongno wrote:

I just had an end of the world scenario where only one guy sells water in a desert to the few elderly survivors...

............and I have the last package of Dektol powder!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

flashbang wrote:

............and I have the last package of Dektol powder!

Nope - I have several also 😈.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

A year ago I put my darkroom out for anyone wanting a complete setup. Even in my smallish town (Juneau,Alaska), everything was snapped up in one day. I think there are a lot of people out there still interested in the dark ages.

Shipwreck wrote:

For some absolutely unknown reason, I have just mo... (show quote)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

flashbang wrote:

............and I have the last package of Dektol powder!

Enjoy, whatever that maybe.

blackest Loc: Ireland

Was talking to one of the local photography shops said a while back a lot of darkroom stuff was ending up in skips, but there now is a demand for it and prices are increasing.

Shipwreck Loc: Michigan

Thanks, all, for your comments and suggestions. I appreciate your help.
Shipwreck

blackest Loc: Ireland

Shipwreck wrote:

Thanks, all, for your comments and suggestions. I appreciate your help.
Shipwreck

this might be interesting

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/using-your-enlarger-for-scanning-negs.478663/

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

coullone wrote:

boberic said, " was told that the chemicals could damage all the "plastic" pipes. Oh well."

Compared with drain cleaners that is absolutely rubbish.

Darkroom chemicals don't damage pipes, but they can damage the environment. The silver washed down the drain in bleach, fixer, and wash water is the main culprit. It is a poisonous heavy metal that is very highly reactive and dangerous to plants and animals.

When I worked in the lab, we had a triple cascading electrolytic silver recovery system that removed 99.5% of the silver from our lab's effluent. It paid for itself several times over every year, as we sold the silver flake back to silver refiners. It also kept the EPA and the City of Charlotte and other regulatory agencies happy.

Even small darkroom operations can harm the environment. When I was 15, and souping film and prints in my mother's powder room (which could be darkened, had enough counter space, and two sinks), I managed to pour enough fixer down the drain to kill all the good bacteria in the septic tank. We had to have it dug up and pumped out. Fortunately, a few months later, the city annexed our neighborhood and connected us to their sewer system. But that episode was my first "aha" environmental impact moment.