Darkroom and film developing
 

I am in the process of procuring an enlarger and some darkroom equipment. It's been at least 8 years since I've done any of that stuff. Does anybody know what they are doing to give me some pointers?

Don't
The chemicals are really, really bad. I used to do all my own developing however I was forced to stop, the chemicals were negatively impacting me :(.

It's a lot of fun. I developed B&W as well as color film, both negative and transparencies from 35mm to 6 x 7 format. Be sure to have enough stuff to run before mixing up a batch of chemicals, as they have a finite shelf life, after which you're pouring $ down the drain. Depending on your living situation, keeping a steady temperature for rinse cycles can be dicey.

If you are going to keep chemistry around awhile, i'd find some of those air-evac containers. The ones that look like accordions. They'll keep the stuff fresh much longer.

I have done a lot of B&W work. It is not too dangerous (the chemicals I mean) just be sure to dispose of them carefully. If you have a septic system, do not discharge to it as the metals are bad for groundwater. If you have a sewer connection, check with your town regarding discharge restrictions that may appy (not likely for the small volumes you will be discharging).

Enjoy!

My enlarger is sitting in a box in the basement. I keep meaning to dig it out and set up a darkroom down there, but it's one of those things that keep s getting put off.

I really enjoy B/W photography, but my Nikon D80 is just too easy to pick up instead of film...

My wife and I had a darkroom in our old house. But when we switched to Canon Digital we stopped using it entirely. When we moved the stuff got donated; too much mess and fuss.

As a tip, please don't flush the waste chem down the drain, heavy metals are bad to put in water.

(we stored our waste chemicals in milk jugs and took them to the hazardous waste disposal drop off in Seattle. Once one tipped over and the cap popped off in the backseat of my car. It is still all discolored and slightly odorous).

everything you need will be found on craigslist. usually cheap. everyone's switching due to cost and time.

PLEASE realize the chemicals are dangerous. wear gloves. read all instructions. dispose properly. and dont mix anything in your kitchen. you will contaminate your foot and damage your body.

I say this only becuase I have a friend who spent 35 years in a darkroom and now he has an inoperable tumor (in his brain). and they atribute the size of it to the chemicals. its melodramatic to say, but seriously, a lot of artists die from their work (eva hesse for example).

But good luck, and learn a lot. darkroom time will make you strive to be smarter behind the camera.