Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thank you to all those who replied to my query comcerning black and white film. Your experience and advice is greatly appreciated. Tony Salce - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Wilcox" <wilcox@tir.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 12:16 AM Subject: [Leica] Re: C 41 or conventional B & W film? > I used a similar lightproofing technique except I used some aluminum foiled > foam such is used for insulation under the siding of the house. I cut it > just slightly oversize and just forced it in. Lighttight in no time. > > Ken Wilcox > > At 11:46 -0700 11/25/0, a fine scholar, Paul Arnold wrote: > > >In my first darkroom (Chicago apartment) I solved the darkness problem by > >blocking the two large windows in my kitchen (which fortunately had a more > >or less light-proof door) with pieces of window-size plywood. I edged the > >plywood with weather-stripping projecting past the wood-edge to keep light > >out. I added a simple screen-door handle to the middle of each plywood piece > >for easy removal from the window. > > > >It worked great and I commend it for a darkroom that needs to be light when > >not a darkroom. > > > >I used the leftover plywood on my stove top (after extinguishing the pilot > >light) to hold trays. > > > >That was before I had a Leica [now this post is germane]. > > > >-- Paul > >Paul Arnold > >22 Sunrise St. > >Dillon, Montana > >Visit MY GALLERY at: > >http://www.geocities.com/osprey59725/index.html > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Vick Ko" <vick.ko@sympatico.ca> > >To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> > >Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2000 7:39 AM > >Subject: Re: [Leica] C 41 or conventional B & W film? > > > > > >> 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 > >> > > > ---- > Ken Wilcox Carolyn's Personal Touch Portraits > preferred---> <wilcox@tir.com> > <kwilcox@gfn.org> > >