I used to love the darkroom (Page 2): I still have a (very well ventilated) darkroom and have color facilities, but only do B&W since the demise of Cibachrome prints. I really like the...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I still have a (very well ventilated) darkroom and have color facilities, but only do B&W since the demise of Cibachrome prints. I really like the magic of seeing the print come up in the developing tray, but I use tongs and typically do mixing involving powders outdoors, and I typically don’t use Selenium toners or ferricyanide based bleaches. (not saying those chemicals can’t be handled safely, just not my thing).

Blues Dude

Waaay back last century, I had a B&W darkroom in my parents' basement when I was a teenager. Then I got married and never had the space for it. But I kept all the gear... so I'm seriously thinking about setting up a color darkroom in our second bathroom before they put me in a nursing home and take away all my toys. 🙂

Jack B Loc: Mount Pleasant, SC

billnikon wrote:

Many of my friends died from cancer caused from darkroom work. I can do more in 30 seconds in photoshop than I could do in 5 hours in the darkroom.

Being an avid photographer for many years, many hours were spent in the dark room. These hours were spent developing E6 slide film and printing many slides. Many rolls of B&W were developed and printed. Being a chemist, PPE was always worn in a very well ventilated darkroom. Glad Digital Photography came along but do miss (a little) the darkroom.
Jack B

JD750 Loc: SoCal

wasataxman wrote:

68. I am actually on career number 5

Well that is admirable! Enjoying life after “retiring”. 😀

fhayes Loc: Madison, Tennessee

rmalarz wrote:

E.L., rest assured that my darkroom techniques are akin to a surgical theatre. That was my dad's instructions to me when he taught me the basics of film and print work. I have never messed with color, and probably, unfortunately, never will. I would love to develop at least one roll of color film just to say I have. I have two Jobo processors and use them for black and white film only.

I do like the smell of fixer, though.
--Bob

On color processing, Cinestill has a kit for developing C-41 color and/or B&W that is reasonably priced. One kit can process 16-20 rolls of film in either 35 or 120mm. I have been using it and the results are terrific! The negatives do have a magenta cast that is easily removed in PS.
Frank Hayes

fhayes Loc: Madison, Tennessee

I shoot film and digital. I develop film and have a decent darkroom with three enlargers with the capability to process 35mm, 120mm and 4X5 into prints. I find the darkroom therapeutic, I have plenty of time on my hands so speed is not an issue. I also have photoshop for digital pics. As the discussion goes, speed in processing via PS has it's own advantages.
Both mediums have their own merit that I enjoy without saying one is better than the other.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

I find with the work that I make, the darkroom works better and quicker for me. Alt-process work takes more time to replicate in photoshop and lacks the tactility and serendipity.

However, there are things that while they could be done in the darkroom (Jerry Ulesmann), photoshop takes less time and effort for those things.

I haven't done full darkroom work in a while and I miss it. Most of the recent work I've made has been hybrid, film input with an inkjet output or using cameraless alt-processes.

After doing darkroom work for several years, some of those as a professional darkroom printer, I walked away from it sort of but it has been pulling me back slowly.

spaceytracey Loc: East Glacier Park, MT

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

I spent many hours in the darkroom. As a professional photographer and studio owner, I ran a fully equipped colour lab and 3 black and white darkrooms- film processing and custom printing. To maximize quality and expedite production, I always prefered in-house facilities and outsourced very little of my lab work.

Of course, darkrooms harbour many health hazards but all industrial-related diseases can be avoided with strict protocols as to the handling of chemicals, mixing and preparation of chemistries, proper protective gear and good ventilation. Illness occurs when folk get sloppy and too familiar with dangerous chemicals- they dip their hands in trays and tanks, inhale harmful vapours and gasses and get flippant with what amounts to poisonous substances. They DONT READ THE WARNING LABElS AND HEED THE ADVICE!

Many of the caustic and corrosive chemicals are diluted to the point where the won't burn your skin off upon contact but the are harmful nonetheless so folks get sloppy. There are bleaching agents that can liberate poisonous gasses if mixed with acids- it ain't exactly the gas chamber but the are indeed harmful. Selenium toner smell like ammoniated detergent but it can diffuse through your skin, enter your bloodstream and cause serious illness.

So...simply stated- this is why there are tongs, gloves, protective clothing, masks and exhaust fans. The powdered chemical can become airborne and inhaled so respirator type masks are used during mixing large qualities of stock solutions. Surgical gloves are used during all mixing procedures and handling of films and prints in chemicals. Adequate ventilation is supplied to all darkroom and mixing areas. Cleanliness is always maintained. Many chemicals cause contact dermatitis- that's good because it teaches folks to protect themselves. It's prolonged and constant exposure that causes cancer and other serious health ramifications.

I often hear folks pining for the "smell" of Dektol or Hypo- Gotta say, that is just plain dumb!

I do not miss the darkroom! I can replicate any and all of the results I achieved in the darkroom and colour lab in digital production. Many of the custom printing techniques I practised on a daily bases can be easily adapted to digital post-processing and print production.

If you still want to shoot film and maintain a darkroom, just be careful! Sloppy darkroom work causes illness and stains your prints! Mask up- wash your hands! Sounds familiar (lately)?

I spent many hours in the darkroom. As a professi... (show quote)

I guess I'm dumb then. I do miss the smells. Selenium toner is probably deadly but Ahh!

adm

I still do love the darkroom but just for black and white. As pointed out above, there is something about the physicality and "hands on" nature of darkroom work that makes it fun and satisfying. Also, black and white chemicals are far less toxic than color darkroom chemicals. You have to be a little careful with the developers but other black and white chemicals are relatively harmless.

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

I spent twenty five years printing colour prints before my doctor said.... give it away before it kills you!

Bill_de Loc: US

I did color and black and white processing in my home darkroom for many years. Maybe the chemicals were dangerous, even though I had good ventilation. It might be that working with those chemicals had a plus side. I never, not even once, heard of a darkroom worker contracting Covid-19.

Where can I buy some film and chemicals to keep me safe? I still have an FM2 sitting in the cabinet.

---

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Bill_de wrote:

I did color and black and white processing in my home darkroom for many years. Maybe the chemicals were dangerous, even though I had good ventilation. It might be that working with those chemicals had a plus side. I never, not even once, heard of a darkroom worker contracting Covid-19.

Where can I buy some film and chemicals to keep me safe? I still have an FM2 sitting in the cabinet.

---

B&H, Adorama, Freestyle Photographic, Photographer's Formulary

Tom Moore Loc: Ojai, CA

My sentiments exactly. I did a ton of darkroom work for over 30 years, all black and white, and I loved it.
Sitting at my computer in light and comfort, I don't miss it, but I'm really glad to have had the experience.
I do think everyone should see a beautiful black and white print come up in a developer tray at least once, though.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

rmalarz wrote:

E.L., rest assured that my darkroom techniques are akin to a surgical theatre. That was my dad's instructions to me when he taught me the basics of film and print work. I have never messed with color, and probably, unfortunately, never will. I would love to develop at least one roll of color film just to say I have. I have two Jobo processors and use them for black and white film only.

I do like the smell of fixer, though.
--Bob

Bob, the C-41 process today is literally as simple as traditional B/W.

Well worth the limited investment of time and chemistry.

Andy

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

billnikon wrote:

Many of my friends died from cancer caused from darkroom work. I can do more in 30 seconds in photoshop than I could do in 5 hours in the darkroom.

The two people who ran our C41 film lab at Delmar Studios and then Herff Jones (both defunct school portrait labs) for 25 and 35 years BOTH died of cancer.

Thank God for digital imaging!