synthsound asked: I'm thinking of setting up my own dark room, in my spare bedroom.
What'd your reckon I need to get. I have quite a large budget.(For someone my age, at least.)
Well, it’s not at all a small endeavor…. first you’d need to seal up the entire room and make sure it’s light tight (completely dark). Then you’ll need:
- - 2 counter tops for a “wet side” and “dry side”
- - an enlarger (diffusion or condenser)
- - chemical trays for developing
- - negative carriers (35mm or medium format depending on what you’re working with)
- - a cropping easel (for printing)
- - a safelight
- - running water
- - chemicals for film & paper (developer, stop, fixer, photo flo, perma wash, and water bath)
- - paper (RC or Fiber, I prefer fiber)
- - tongs (DO NOT stick your fingers in the chemicals!)
- - orange cloth and spray air for dust
- - paper safe
- - drying rack for prints
- - film clips (for hanging film to dry)
- - timer (for printing)
- - grain focuser
- - I’m sure I’m forgetting something…
Have a look at http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/darkroom-equipment—accessories-67-c.asp
Even if you’re not in the UK or don’t want to buy from them, everything on their website is split up into handy little lists like “wet side essentials,” “dry side essentials,” “paper developing,” etc.
You will also need to find a way to dispose of your used fixer, since it is totally illegal to pour it down the drain as is and is considered hazardous material. If your budget is gigantically huge, buy a silver separator… if not see if you can find a local lab that will let you dump your fix (they should be MORE than happy to get the free silver.)
Good luck and let me know how it goes :)
ten-years-gone asked: Hello
I was wondering if you could possibly inform me about I camera I recently inherited. It's a Voigtlander Vito Automatic 1 and I'm quite clueless as to how it functions, but am keen in being able to use it.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but you were the first person that came to mind that could help.
I don’t actually know anything about that particular model, but I looked a little online and it appears to be from around 1960’s, takes 35mm film, and has an automatic exposure function that I think is probably similar to my Dacora-matic - on which the shutter speed cannot be changed. I found this little snipped on marriottcameras.co.uk:
“The Vito Automatic I first appears in Great Britain in the early 1960’s. It is fitted with an f/2.8 Lanthar lens in a synchronised, steplessly variable Prontor Lux shutter (1/30-1/500, B), and has a 1:1 brightline finder, lever wind, accessory shoe and a cable release socket. There is a three-zone rapid-focusing scale. A green/red signal in the viewfinder indicates whether an exposure is possible, and the aperture is selected automatically to suit the shutter speed set. If the indicator shows red, the shutter is not locked so that the photographer may choose to make the exposure, even if the light conditions are not good. A frame counter is fitted in the base of the camera. It cost about £32.
In about 1964 the camera specification was changed and later models have a Prontormatic 125 (1/30, 1/60, 1/125, B, X-sync) shutter which permits the automatic facility to be disconnected. The selected aperture is displayed in the viewfinder.
In about 1965 the lens was changed to the 50 mm. f/2.8 Color Lanthar 3-element lens, in the Prontormatic 125 shutter. This specification appears to remain constant until about 1968, when the camera appears to have been discontinued.”
There are also several Vito manuals available for free download at orphancameras.com: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/voigtlander_pdf/voigtlander_pdf_manuals.htm
I had the same issue with my Dacora-matic, which now seems to be controlled by a dead selenium light meter, so I can only change the f-stop… I basically shot with it to learn how to use it. I would try bracketing at first until you understand the exposure on it a little more. Good luck :)
Here’s the second batch - these appear to be from a road trip to Mexico.
2057 asked: your grandparents are adorable! i recently found a box of slides my grandfather took, & i'm hoping they turn out as well as yours did. :)
Thanks! I have always been obsessed with old photos of my grandparents… let me know when you post yours :)
Here’s the first box of slides that I’ve scanned, which means I only have about 15 more boxes and a future of scanning forever. This box has a date on it that says either 1953 or 1959 - my husband and I are leaning towards ‘59, but the slides have been mixed up anyway so I can’t necessarily guarantee that they are from a specific year.
My beautiful grandmother passed away a year ago in July, so I thought it would be nice to start off with a medley of her being cute and glamorous on a trip with my grandfather.
gemerald asked: I would just like to say that I've looked at some of your portraits and my life has officially been changed. You capture beauty in such an amazing way. I myself am somewhat of a photographer and I would be lucky to develop a talent similar to yours. Oh, and where do you find your cameras? Antique stores? :) Thanks.
Wow thank you so much, that’s so sweet :)
I find cameras at flea markets, thrift shops, other people’s houses, ebay, pretty much all over the place.
j0anne asked: hi! i'm an avid follower, and i've gotten into shooting film with your help. i just have a question: what do you think of the kwikflex rectus? any idea if it's any good? i'm just looking for an inexpensive medium format camera, and its all i've found so far
Yay! I’m glad you’re shooting film :)
I actually don’t know anything at all about the kwikflex rectus, so I googled it but didn’t find a whole lot… I am assuming it’s a TLR. It depends on white kind of medium format camera you are looking for - in the TLR (twin lens relflex family) you actually have a few options for non-plastic systems that aren’t bank breakers, like the Rolleiflex, a Lubitel, or the Mamiya C series. If you’re looking for an SLR you could try a Kiev 88 or a Kiev 60.
