Dark Room v/s photo editing software (Page 2): In the darkroom I felt like an alchemist and I had this arcane knowledge that impressed others. I know that's pretty childish but it was...

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

In the darkroom I felt like an alchemist and I had this arcane knowledge that impressed others.
I know that's pretty childish but it was good for the ego. Kind of like the Unix guys that insisted on doing everything via command line.
Somehow knowing how to use Lightroom just isn't the same.
On the other hand.......it's great to be able to actually see what you're doing while you're doing it and......when you're done there are no "dishes" to do.
If I has the option of setting up another darkroom, I wouldn't.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Ah, the smell of DK-76 and fixer running through the veins, it just doesn't get better than this.

tramsey wrote:

I can remember the days I spent in the dark room transfixed watching the photo appear out of seemingly nowhere. I can be transfixed by watching the blotch disappear in Photoshop. I think I prefer todays P/P over the dark room. which do you prefer and if you can put your finger on it, why?

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Cdouthitt wrote:

If it takes 12 hours to pp edit your photos, we need to talk about your workflow :-)

Or about how many films he's developing and how many photos he's printing, fixing, rinsing and drying in one session?

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

I too remember the film days and dark room. But I much prefer digital and Photo Shop. I can do so much more with PS. I restore old photos and don't think I could do the pixel by pixel restorations in the dark room.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I have very fond memories of the many hours spent in a little darkroom I built in a corner of my parents garage. Lightroom and Elements are a different kind of magic and I'm able to do things I could only dream about in the darkroom so I'm happy with the computer and the magic of digital. ;)

jgitomer Loc: Skippack Pennsylvania

I prefer digital processing for a reason no one else has mentioned (so far).

Once I have edited the image and am satisfied with it I can make as many exact copies as I want/need with the press of a button.

Also, although I enjoyed seeing images appear on blank paper as though by magic I certainly didn't care for inhaling the fumes of the chemicals.

Jerry

jgordon Loc: Boulder CO

The darkroom had one especially great feature: I put up a sign and NO ONE entered. It was alone time, and that might have been as important to me as the photos I created.

It is not the same when working on the computer. That is a real loss. But computer processing allows for a lot more tricks. So, I guess that is a tradeoff. And I recall having some concern about the health and environmental impacts of the chemicals I with which I used to work.

But I loved the darkroom!

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

GoofyNewfie wrote:

I miss the magic of the real darkroom vs the virtual one but I don't miss the chemicals and the time needed to crank out an image.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

This discussion on darkroom vs digital editing reminded me of a device categorized as "a dark room in a box" that I purchased and used briefly in the early 1980s. My memory may be off, but I think it was made by Vivitar. I was so excited to develop my first print - an 8X10 color pic of one of my prized possessions, a 1947 Wurlitzer jukebox. By sheer luck, my first (and only) effort was successful. But I never developed a serious interest in continuing with this method (too much hassle for my liking), as I did not like the smell of the chemicals, plus there was chemical storage and eventually chemical disposal. If memory serves me, the chemicals had a shelf life.

When digital imaging era arrived, I never looked back.

One curiosity question: is there any aspect of traditional dark room image development that is superior to digital image processing? By the way, I thought Adobe's Lightroom naming was clever. It could have been a boring "Digital Darkroom Elements".

Bill

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

jgordon wrote:

The darkroom had one especially great feature: I put up a sign and NO ONE entered. It was alone time, and that might have been as important to me as the photos I created.

It is not the same when working on the computer. That is a real loss. But computer processing allows for a lot more tricks. So, I guess that is a tradeoff. And I recall having some concern about the health and environmental impacts of the chemicals I with which I used to work.

But I loved the darkroom!

I had a light outside the door that went on when the red lights inside were turned on that acted as a "do not disturb" sign and like you I enjoyed the solitude. Shame is I couldn't soundproof this little room so when my Mom would call me to dinner I had no recourse but to quit what I was doing and leave my work and thoughts behind. ;)

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Why is immediacy needed? I love digital in this respect because as a photojournalist I need my images out quickly. If you do not have a client what is the rush? When I am making my art I have no need for it to be done quickly.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

rebride wrote:

For color I prefer digital, but black and white a darkroom.
I have even been contemplating putting my darkroom back together since the kids are out of the house (for now anyhow).
Also I can lock myself in for hours, whereas there are too many distractions when at my computer.

There is just something about a silver halide print.

I agree. At least in the darkroom there were no distractions. No phone no tv, no interuptions. I even had a sign on the door. Must remain closed or the dark will leak out.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

tramsey wrote:

I can remember the days I spent in the dark room transfixed watching the photo appear out of seemingly nowhere. I can be transfixed by watching the blotch disappear in Photoshop. I think I prefer todays P/P over the dark room. which do you prefer and if you can put your finger on it, why?

I know my wife does. I was using the bathroom!!

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

tramsey wrote:

I can remember the days I spent in the dark room transfixed watching the photo appear out of seemingly nowhere. I can be transfixed by watching the blotch disappear in Photoshop. I think I prefer todays P/P over the dark room. which do you prefer and if you can put your finger on it, why?

I totally agree with you. I did the darkroom for 60 years, developed B&W and color film myself including the printing. Limited time for dodging and burning, color filtration trials even with an analyzer, how can anybody miss that. The good old days in photography I am happy to forget.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

jaymatt wrote:

I'll agree with today's methodology. I never enjoyed breathing those chemical fumes.

Love your comment, after printing Cibachrome even the dog would stay away from me.