The Smell of a Well-Equipped Darkroom - alluring, or no?
Mar 2, 2019 17:18:57 #
The "niff" of a darkroom was less significant to me than its sociability. Back when I was a Boston Globe photographer, the darkroom was a social vortex that accommodated up to half a dozen at a time and as we printed, we conversed on countless subjects. "I've been watching your work!" Charlie "Reindeer" Carey used to say to me. "FANTASTIC!" Boy did that feel good! Charlie was so sweet. The coming of digital spelled the end of the wet darkroom, the accompanying photo department, and the camaraderie it fostered. Now I'm at the Los Angeles Times. I get my assignments online and turn them in the same way, from home. I've never met my editor or set foot in the office, and rarely work with reporters as I did routinely at the Globe. True, the quality and flexibility I get with digital far exceeds what I had with film, but the human element is sadly compromised. 40 years in a wet darkroom left me with flat feet but a lot of happy memories.
Mar 2, 2019 17:34:40 #
Chris, yes. I loved the smell of fixer and still do. For me, it's not in the past, as I still shoot and process film.
--Bob
--Bob
Chris T wrote:
Aaaaah … yes - I remember it well … Dektol, Acetic... (show quote)
Mar 2, 2019 17:37:51 #
Chris T wrote:
Aaaaah … yes - I remember it well … Dektol, Acetic... (show quote)
I also used to find it pleasant too, but I now know some of the chemicals and their aromas were toxic.
Mar 2, 2019 17:42:14 #
Besides the vinegar odor, the other main "darkroom smell" of
B&W processing is ammonia vapor.
Fast fixer (ammonium thiosulfate) evolves ammonia (and trace
of sulfer dioxide) as it breaks down.
If you don't like that, you can use slow fixer---hypo (sodium thiosulfate--
for mostfilms and all papers. It's almost odorless and has a longer
shelf life and doesn't degrade as quickly in the tray. (But
it won't adequately fix tabular grain films like Kodak T-MAX.)
When I do use fast fixer, I use plain water stop, or a quick
water bath between the stop and acid fixer, which keeps the
acid from contaminating the fixer and extends the working life.
Lots of options in the darkroom---many ways to skin a cat.
B&W processing is ammonia vapor.
Fast fixer (ammonium thiosulfate) evolves ammonia (and trace
of sulfer dioxide) as it breaks down.
If you don't like that, you can use slow fixer---hypo (sodium thiosulfate--
for mostfilms and all papers. It's almost odorless and has a longer
shelf life and doesn't degrade as quickly in the tray. (But
it won't adequately fix tabular grain films like Kodak T-MAX.)
When I do use fast fixer, I use plain water stop, or a quick
water bath between the stop and acid fixer, which keeps the
acid from contaminating the fixer and extends the working life.
Lots of options in the darkroom---many ways to skin a cat.
Mar 2, 2019 17:47:32 #
Bipod wrote:
Besides the vinegar odor, the other main "dar... (show quote)
===================
Emogene Cuttiingham is quoted in saying that Ansel Adams "ALWAYS smelled of FIXER."
LOL!!!
Good reason was that he spent anywhere from 4 to 14 hours in his darkroom.
:-)
Mar 2, 2019 17:52:15 #
nadelewitz wrote:
The "smell" of photo chemicals was/is not a problem if diluted properly and you are standing up and your nose is a good working distance from the trays.
Concentrated chemicals have to be handled as recommended, always. Did you ever get your nose too close to a bottle of Kodak Indicator Stop Bath concentrate? You'd remember the burn.
Used PROPERLY, photo chemicals are not a danger. Problem is, people don't exercise good procedures or follow instructions.
Concentrated chemicals have to be handled as recommended, always. Did you ever get your nose too close to a bottle of Kodak Indicator Stop Bath concentrate? You'd remember the burn.
Used PROPERLY, photo chemicals are not a danger. Problem is, people don't exercise good procedures or follow instructions.
==================
YEP!
Key Word - PROPERLY. And to follow Good Procedures in the handling of ALL chemicals --- Following instructions....
And NOT the ones that are of the like from IKEA.
=0=
Mar 2, 2019 17:57:07 #
James R wrote:
===================
Emogene Cuttiingham is quoted in saying that Ansel Adams "ALWAYS smelled of FIXER."
LOL!!!
Good reason was that he spent anywhere from 4 to 14 hours in his darkroom.
:-)
Emogene Cuttiingham is quoted in saying that Ansel Adams "ALWAYS smelled of FIXER."
LOL!!!
Good reason was that he spent anywhere from 4 to 14 hours in his darkroom.
:-)
That's a lot of time for him to spend with his photographs and think about how to
do better.
The other big benefit of the darkroom--besides control--is focus (the mental kind).
Edward Weston's fingers were always stained black by amidol, according to
people who knew him. After he moved to Carmel, he only developed at night
(in his living room, with the windows open): a darkroom nocturne. I think
one can sense that stillness and silence in his prints: no distractions.
The black fingers were a sign of (a dangerous!) closeness to his materials.
Control, focus and being hands-on with materials are a recipe for good art.
Mar 2, 2019 18:06:40 #
It was never alluring for me because I've been in and out of one for about 60 years, and
I found it sort of stinky.
I found it sort of stinky.
Mar 2, 2019 18:18:50 #
I used to convert my bathroom on weekends and batch process. I enjoyed it at the time and the magic of the image appearing in the developer. There was always anticipation when opening the film canister to see if I messed up putting the film on the roll. Nothing worse than stuck together film and streaky negatives. My wife does not miss the loss of the bathroom and prints hanging all over the house... I enjoyed it at the time, but I am perfectly happy in the digital world which more than anything else saves a lot of time while allowing endless experimentation without the cost of paper and chemicals. I still forget sometimes I can actually see the shot on the display...smh. I have the enamel trays, film canisters, beakers, dryers, etc still stored somewhere, but got rid of the enlarger years ago. So, I guess I remember it fondly, but don't miss it or wish to go back to it.
Mar 2, 2019 19:04:30 #
Ansel Adams' darkroom in Carmel:
http://www.alanrossphotography.com/ansel-adams/in-the-darkroom-with-ansel-adams/
Quote:
In use, with the door closed on the long, narrow room, with white lights off, amber safelights on, water running,
exhaust fans on and the rhythmic beep of the metronome, it had all the feeling of being in a fantasy submarine!
In use, with the door closed on the long, narrow room, with white lights off, amber safelights on, water running,
exhaust fans on and the rhythmic beep of the metronome, it had all the feeling of being in a fantasy submarine!
http://www.alanrossphotography.com/ansel-adams/in-the-darkroom-with-ansel-adams/
Mar 2, 2019 19:12:03 #
James R wrote:
==================
YEP!
Key Word - PROPERLY. And to follow Good Procedures in the handling of ALL chemicals --- Following instructions....
And NOT the ones that are of the like from IKEA.
=0=
YEP!
Key Word - PROPERLY. And to follow Good Procedures in the handling of ALL chemicals --- Following instructions....
And NOT the ones that are of the like from IKEA.
=0=
What's IKEA got to do with it, James?
Mar 2, 2019 19:39:47 #
Mar 2, 2019 20:09:25 #
Dikdik
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
spaceylb wrote:
Ahhh, I love the smell of DEKTOL in the morning...
Smells like victory...
Dik
Mar 2, 2019 20:25:39 #
Mar 2, 2019 20:36:45 #
Almostageezer
Loc: USA
In 1961 I loved it. It was my only way to get the results that I wanted.
Now, I like the newer ways, and the darkroom will remain a happy memory for me.
Now, I like the newer ways, and the darkroom will remain a happy memory for me.
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