Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Black and white darkroom is very easy, and a wonderful way to complete the circle of activities to create a photograph. Some of the things that intimidated me with darkroom is the need for a real dark room. For film developing, you can use a changing bag, so no need for a dark room. For the enlarger, now you need a dark room. I don't know any way around it. For print developing, trays are easiest - and again - need that dark room. But trays are so easy - and with a safelight, you even get good at "judging" the work while it is in progress. And for all the other annoyances, eg. dust, drying, curled prints, well - you develop good technique and all those things get managed. I am trying to learn colour - and all of the above are scaring me. But - the one other big thing - how to find time between work, family, stuff, to take pictures, and to make pictures. Finally, my wife really hates the quality of prints that our local processors provide, so - I've got nothing to lose if I make even one better print than they can. Good luck. Vick Tony Salce wrote: > This question has little to do with Leica. I hope it is not too > inappropriate for this list. I use a Leica IIIa and a 50mm Summar. It's a > wonderful camera and lens. My photography is centred on family and travel. I > would shoot only say 40- 50 rolls of film a year. I love blalk and white and > am tossing up whether to plunge into setting up a darkroom. The cost of > laboratory printed black and white is exorbitant here in Australia and the > results( in my vew) are average. > > Given the amount of shooting I do is it worth setting up a darkroom or are > the C41 films, TCN and XP2, the better way to go. How do these films > iffer( apart from archival qualities)from their more conventional > counterparts in respect of the final printed image ? > > Why is it that your Tri-X and HP5, appear to be favoured as against Plus X > or FP4 ? > > Your replies would be greatly appreciated. > > King Regards, > > Tony Salce