help i am a beginner

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HELP ME PLEASE! I AM A BEGINNER. i LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND I WOULD LIKE TO START DEVELOPING MY OWN FILM. BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW. COULD YOU PLEASE E-MAIL SOME TECHNIQUES SO I CAN DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND A LOT OF TERMS PHOTOGRAPHERS USE. SO IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY GUIDANCE PLEASE MAKE IT AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE. I REALLY WOULD APRECIATE YOUR HELP. ALSO IF YOU COULD RECOMEND ANY GOOD BOOKS OR MAGIZINES IT WOULD REALLY HELP, THANK YOU. THOMAS

-- thomas andeson (notafraid2cri@juno.com), June 03, 2000

Answers

1st bit of advice.. find that CAPS LOCK button...

Next, find a book.. that will explains things way better than we could hope to! Kodak have a book called "Basic Darkroom Techniques" or something like that... I found it quite good but don't know where I've hidden it! Also, as long as you are careful to observe what the book tells you (dilutions, temps and times) b&w films are easy to process.

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@eisa.net.au), June 04, 2000.


You might check out this web site.

http://www.agfaphoto.com/library/bwcourse/index.html

Scroll down to the lessions. You will find some step by step directions there.

If you can find a local colledge that offers a beginning course in B&W processing you should give it a try. Generally it is cheaper because you don't have to buy equipment and chemicals.

Have fun, and enjoy learning.

Ken

-- Ken Heflinger (khefling@ichips.intel.com), June 05, 2000.


Well, a book is a good idea, but hey, here's some of the little I know. You don't need a sink. I use big old coke bottles and let the sink sit over night till it hits room temperature -- that way you don't need a thermometer. Once you get a tank -- Peterson (Paterson?) makes a nice one that is plastic and is like a ratchet -- you don't need a darkroom either. I don't do much 35mm, but I used an old Photocopier Paper box cut two holes in it just as big as my wrists, put the tank and a bottle opener in the box, sat under the blankets in the middle of the night, and wound the film on the spool.

You don't need running water to wash the film either. Once it is developed, and fixed, just fill it with room temp.water and dump, and repeat 10 times. Then hang to dry.

This is the chemistry I use: Ilfosol S (Developer), Kodak Indicator Stop Bath, Ilford Universal Fixer, Hustler Wash Agent, and Photoflow wetting agent.

What is really easiest is to go to your photo-store -- a big one with lots of used equipment and people who look like they are there because they are addicted to film. And ask one of them. Don't go on a Saturday because they are busy. Go on a weekday when it's slow so they have lots of time. I learned all I needed to know from the guy behind the counter.

Good luck. Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), June 06, 2000.


Just had one further idea. Honestly, 35mm film is really tough to handle -- at least for a big clumsy guy like me. For your learning curve -- learning developing that is -- 120 film is way better. You can develop it in open trays or soup bowls, and you don't need an enlarger because you can contact print it to make nice 2" x 3" photos. What you have to do is look in junk shops, used camera stores, flea markets, or Salvation Army stores and find an old KODAK Brownie Box camera, or some other brand that takes 120 film (stamped right on it in the metal) -- you should spend $5.00 on it, or maybe $10, but no more. I think it is the easiest way, so if you find said camera, post something and I'll talk you through the first bit. Then you can move up to 35mm. Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), June 06, 2000.

heck, It's so easy I got three datasheets from the kodak web site, bought my chemicals, and followed the directions on the back labels, but developing prints from the negatives was even easier, so I let my 7 year old beagle try the "bessy" out and sure enough, my prints and films are done before I get home from work,

...Now where did the dog put the newspaper...

-- Jason Tuck (jtuck80@csi.com), July 06, 2000.



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