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Dr.McCoy
345
Apr 5, 2018
I'm primarily a film photographer - but I live with 4 other people and only 1 bathroom. As a result, I can rarely tie it up for a long period of time - leaving me with like 60 rolls of undeveloped 35mm just hanging around.
How do you deal with developing (and drying) your film in an apartment with several roommates? Also, do you have a darkroom printing setup? What's it like?
Mantequillas
14
Apr 5, 2018
Dr.McCoyWhen I was in an apparent with similar setup I did two things 1 developed late at night (weekdays)/early AM (weekends). I did this until I buddied up to the local community college photo dept. director who would let me in the early evening ,if I provided my own supplies. After that it became more reasonable.
Dr.McCoy
345
Apr 6, 2018
MantequillasThat's good. I've tried reaching out to colleges under similar parameters before - unfortunately hasn't panned out so far. Hopefully I'll 'buddy up' with someone actually in a program soon so I don't have to cold email anymore.
Mantequillas
14
Apr 6, 2018
Dr.McCoyLuckily there were several community colleges in my area, it took 4-5 tries! I wish you luck the darkrooms are unfortunately disapearing.
Fox_Scoulder
4
Apr 15, 2018
Dr.McCoylate night or early morning developing worked out best for me. I opted to developing the film in the kitchen & using a closet to load/dry the film. if I were doing any printing the bathroom would end up being occupied for hours. Ha
Dr.McCoy
345
Apr 16, 2018
Fox_ScoulderIt's funny, I was actually planning to use my closet for drying - unfortunately the place I moved into has open closets with curtains instead of doors for some reason? Hopefully, once I get a cash flow, I can make a nice drying cabinet with a HEPA filter and fans.
kingfisher
May 10, 2018
Dr.McCoyI am deeply committed to the darkroom, and have spent a lot of my life in them for more than fifty years. I got tired of building darkrooms, and my wife frequently expresses a desire to move. My solution to this problem has been to repurpose a sixteen foot contractor’s trailer as a darkroom. It is somewhat limited, and comes with some interesting challenges, such as the need for a sewer connection. Insulation is difficult. It is very hard to make prints larger than 11x14.. But otherwise it’s great. I have two enlargers in there, can enlarge all formats up to 4x5, and I have a Wing- Lynch temperature control that keeps my water to within 1/4 degree F.
ttaubert
1
Aug 12, 2018
Dr.McCoyYou may be able to reduce printing time by making proof sheets using a digital scanner. See what the keepers look like on a photo editor. If everything looks good, go for the darkroom for the final printing.
ac12
11
Mar 31, 2019
Dr.McCoyWhere there is a will, there is a way. You can develop in the kitchen. Load the film into the tanks with a changing bag, and then you can work in the light. Although your housemates may not like the smell of some chemicals in the kitchen. You can develop in your bedroom, and go into the batch or kitchen just to wash the film. You can use a TALL garment bag as a drying cabinet. You can cut the roll in half to shorten it to fit. Put a weight on a paper clip to hold down the cut rolls. I printed in my bedroom, after dark, with a blanket over the window. Enlarger on a shelf or a microwave cart. Costco folding plastic table for developing trays, and a LARGE bucket to pour chemicals into. Best with a large tarp on the floor, under the chemical table, so any drips/spills won't damage the carpet.
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