![]() ![]() The photography trainer was a really decent bloke and definitely taught us some useful skills about how to frame shots and make good use of focus and exposure, etc, but I later heard that he left a year or two later to become a crime scene photographer with the police (I think more because although the media centre job was enjoyable, the pay wasn't so great - I can't imagine there would have been so much creative freedom in his new job, however, and I'm sure some of it would have been rather grim!). It was all rather good fun (and I took quite a few shots that I'm fairly proud of), but the whole darkroom kerfuffle is not something that I'd particularly want to have to do on an ongoing basis - kudos to those who do enjoy it, however. Yes, long enough ago that there was no D in SLR, and we were also trained in how to develop the shots we had taken, in a darkroom. I once did a media training course (one of those get naïve-and-lost young graduates people off the dole figures things (and it was genuinely useful, I hasten to add (and probably much more of a confidence boost and help to find my feet than my university had been, where we were very much treated just like fodder))), and one of things we got trained up in was photography. (Yes, I am retired and have oodles of time, and a bit of spare money.) Her still life photographs are amazing (link too long, just search) Now, admittedly I'm unlikely ever to make images as wonderful as Evelyn Hofer (current exhibition at the Photographers' Gallery in London well worth a visit) but hey, it is good fun. The stop bath does help to preserve the efficacy of the fix solution. ![]() So I load up the tank, pre-wash the film ( Ilford HP5+) develop, stop, fix and wash, while saving the chemicals for another round. I heard on a YouTube presentation that the standard chemicals will process two 8x10 sheets of film, or their equivalent, which means that my two developing tanks (one for roll film and one for 4x5 sheet film) will actually process twice their capacity. I use a stop bath for film developing and processing. And would I even look at that one good photo again? No, it'd stay on the device to languish with the other photos I took in the heat of the moment that never get looked at again. Before I got in to film again I would happily snap away on my digital camera and I would get maybe 1 good photo and the rest would be garbage. Plus, given you have 36 chances to get a photo right it forces you to look at something and decide if it's worth it. But given we live a life of being in a rush and having instant gratification, film photography offers something different. Only reason I scan them is because I don't have enough room for a dark room, but if I did I would probably do that as well. Then stick them in the scanner while taking a sneak peak of your shots looking at the negatives. Load the film in to the container, mix the developer, swirl it at set intervals (or just leave it for 1 hour for interesting results), stop bath, rinse, leave them to dry. Don't get me wrong, I whip my iPhone out to take a photo if I have to, but if I am on holiday or just fancy a day of taking photos, I will use film. I've not used a digital camera since for serious photography. Until 4 years ago, where I bought a cheap russian 35mm camera and a roll of Ilford XP2 (black and white, but can be developed with the colour process). Then digital cameras happened and I didn't bother with film. I don't have a grey beard, but I remember having to go to Boots with a disposable camera or a roll of 35mm (actually my first film camera was a disc format!) and handing it in, waiting days to get it back. ![]()
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