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IN-HOME (BATHROOM) DARKROOM! I developed, successfully, two negatives at home. It took longer than developing these 4x5 negatives in the darkroom 4x5 tank. That tank, by the way, is supposed to hold TEN negatives, but the slots are so close together --and my first try already resulted in two sticking together a bit-- that I will only load the tank with a maximum of four 4x5 negatives! OK, back to home/bathroom darkroom. It had to be COMPLETELY DARK by the way. I have an interior bathroom so I began by putting an old beach towel at the lowest seam of the inside of the door. Then, just to be sure no light was leaking, I taped (gaffer-tape, of course) strips of black poster board all around the seams of the door. Check. No light seepage. Next, I assembled my chemicals and trays. Keep in mind, when developing 4x5's without a tank, you must develop them ONE AT A TIME and it took 9 minutes of developing time alone (then 2 min of stop-bath and 5 min of fix). That is a lot of time in complete darkness. I noticed that I would lose equilibrium after a while, but once I went about timing and agitating with my eyes closed, that set my body right again and everything continued as normal. (LOL, for a few minutes, however, I almost fell over and bumped into a wall I lost track of and almost took the entire operation down.) I can't wait to develop just a simple roll of regular film at home now. Here are the two prized negatives..(below).. I am still in-process on this assignment because more than a few of my inside shots on the pinhole were not exposed long enough to bring anything up to work with in printing....Final results pending! 
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Go shoot "NOSTALGIA." --This one was particularly challenging for me.-- I feel like I did get one "lightning" picture...but...I got stuck along the way. My first shoot of 10 photos, I felt like I knew exactly what to go out and hunt for.. My second try was abysmal. My third was a little better. Until I spoke with one of the greats in darkroom. !BAM! I was telling him about the assignment and he had a different perspective and said, "Ah! Shoot a moldy apple!" WHOA. That's fantastic. I never would have thought of old moldy food under the label of NOSTALGIA. But I have great window light and will definitely try this idea for later. This is what I love about hanging out with other photographers in darkroom. The different perspectives. The different experiments everyone tries - with different developers, to different film, different cameras, filters, gels, lighting, etc. LOVE IT! See my best image from this assignment below...(My next THREE assignments rock so hard I don't know if I can live up to them, but I'm very excited.)  The assignment: To shoot "3" - 10 exposures - 3 different times - on same 3 blocks. Must stay on sidewalk. No deviating.  This was the best one out of the whole lot. -THESE WORKERS DESERVE OUR RESPECT- I had chosen three food-cart blocks in downtown, where there was sure to be plenty of people and activity. I went back three times. Once at noon, once at 2pm, and then once around 5pm when the light (it being winter) began to fade. THE POINT IS... I would never have been out photographing these subjects at these times, in this place on my own. ( !) It is a practice of taking my own perspective to different "places." I am loving the practice and the learning. Added to my practice of photography: I thoughtfully pack a camera with me WHEREVER I GO. it is akin to a religious ritual for me now. It's a practice of honoring "What Reveals." An added way to honor spontaneity, skill in the moment, and bon chance. If there is light present - a photograph can be taken. let there be light! |
AuthorOnce in awhile, well, BAM! Categories |
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