Steve you forgot to mention the most important thing in your darkroom, behind your left shoulder.......a kettle to make a coffee in-between prints. Great video as always. Keep safe
Excellent video. Over the last year/18 months, I've sold all but one of my digital cameras (my M8) and purchased several film camera's, and am now in the process of converting one end of our garage into a dark room (having twisted my wife's arm). I found your video on the subject inspirational. I've hopefully cleaned out all of the spiders, and ready to plasterboard the garage ceiling 😂...if you have any other tips and tricks for my garage DR, I'd be most grateful. Keep up your brilliant work. All the best, Kit.
Glad to see you setting up a darkroom Kit. I've had a few setups over the years and surprisingly it's not always the ones with the large space and comforts which work the best. I like to have a fairly compact working area with everything to hand and most importantly an easy to clean floor, preferably concrete. It's surprising how often you spill something and even moving wet prints around soon makes a mess. I'd also make sure you have plenty of safelights to give even illumination and get a timer that turns them off when the enlarger light is on. Trying to do dodges and burns with the red lights on is a pain and a lot less accurate. Finally try and get all your lighting on pull switches and mount the enlarger on the wall so it never wobbles and allow enough space to move your easel underneath it.
For those wanting to do the safelight test, Ansel Adams suggested pre exposing the paper to a mid gray (around zone 7), and then placing the coins or cards over the paper. Silver in the paper needs a little help to show sensitivity.
It has brought back the memories when I developed my first film and went on to print it. There is just something about working in the darkroom and watching the print start to appear in the developing tray.
You could mention that the choice of enlarging lenses is important. I have a 100mm 5.6 for 6x6 and 6x7 and a 50mm 2.8 Schneider Componon S which has an illuminated aperture window on its side to see the f stops and a lever to fully open the aperture for focusing. Also my enlarger is a Condenser enlarger which gives completely different look compared to Diffuser enlargers. Brighter and more vibrant. Just my little bit of input. When I used 5x4 I had a cold cathode enlarger with an excellent Taylor Hobson lens. TTH. A good light source to hide dust and scratches on the negatives. The Meopta enlargers were very well made in Czech land and the lenses weren't bad either. I used a Nikon 50mm 2.8 enlarging lens on a Jobo 66 enlarger but sold both together recently. A very interesting and informative video. More please.
Very useful and informative Steve. Nostalgic too as I’m sure many will say. I haven’t been in a darkroom since the later ‘70’ but still remember the warmth, security and calmness it offered. And the smell of the developer too!
Great video on setting up a darkroom in the home. I set up a bathroom for occasional use as a darkroom when I was 13, and I used it until I was off to college. I had to use various school community darkrooms until 1972, then went back to an apartment bathroom in 1976. I bought my first (and only) house in 1979. I spent most of a year converting the former owner's wood working room in the basement into a fully equipped darkroom. This was the hey-day of DIY home color processing, and I had access to types of equipment and materials which are no longer available. Watching the video, I was sad to see use of that horrible Paterson focusing aid (will make you blind IMO), but the stop-clock timer is impressive. There is a tough learning curve to switch from linear timing when printing to timing in stops (F-stops), but it's worth the effort. I always wanted a Nova slot processor to save sink space, but here in the US they were out of budget for me, then I think they went out of business. (???) Problem with the heated ones required for color printing is that the heating electrics are pretty weak and seem impossible to get fixed here. Maybe in Britain, those are not issues. My only misstep in retrospect was that I should have removed a divider wall to open an extra 50% of floor space.
Hi Randall. The Nova heaters are indeed frail and if the elements don’t go then the thermostats do. My 16x12 has to be used in a manual mode where I warm it up then knock it off at the wall to stop it boiling! I love f-stop printing and wouldn’t go back, it just seems so more intuitive. All the best for 2024.
Excellent video Steve, I 've just made a pop up darkroom in our 2nd bathroom and am slowly learning. I'm really enjoying it too so seeing these videos is just more inspiring. Thank you and I look forward to seeing more!
I think it’s great that you are doing some darkroom videos, Steve. There is a gap in the market. Roger, from Shoot Film Like a Boss is the only other RUclipsr I know of who shows darkroom work. My own darkroom is only 5ft x3ft and has no running water, but I manage very well. It is my sanctuary, where time stops and (sometimes) the magic happens. Incidentally, I use a small, digital metronome as a timer, set to 60 beats per minute and simply count the beats. It’s very straightforward and takes no setting up if anyone’s interested. Thankyou Steve and I look forward to more on this theme. Take care and keep well.
Cool . . . thanks Steve . . .I've always said that once fixer gets in your blood, it never comes out . . . Like others have mentioned, it seems I could smell the fixer and the stop bath . . . I look forward to other journeys in the dark and beyond . . . Stay safe and well . . .
Watching the negative develop in a tray has always been a joy for me. It was a while after I introduced the Nova 4-slot processor that I realised that the joy of printing had diminished. I wouldn’t recommend one. For info: In the 4th slot I had water to remove the surface fixer before transferring it to a 12-slot Nova washer. By just cracking the open the exit valve, I had fresh water running through that slot.
Thanks Gary. I use slot 4 either for plain water or hypo clear. I find the Nova a lot better for reducing odors which even in tiny quantities irritate my airways.
Whenever I use fixer I end up with a red nose, less so after I fitted an extractor fan. Darkroom printmaking disassembled and sold off! But I'm preparing to start doing contact prints of 6x17. Have you done any of that and was it successful ?
Gary Row I don’t think I kept any of the 4x5’s Gary, a big clear out some years ago saw lots of prints going to the tip. I need to have another go and also try the 8x10 negatives.
Gosh, that takes me back to my college days. Excellent darkroom set up you have Steve. I was out today for my one daily walk with my Canon Canonette 28 and a roll Ilford Xp2.
Thanks for the video. Takes me back to my photojournalism days working in a large darkroom in the mid-1960's. I built my own in the early 1970s and had had the gear until a few years ago lost in a garage fire. I use to have lots of Kodak paper of all types but now I understand paper choice is much lower. Have gotten back into film photography and presently getting my film developed and scanned. I have a scanner so my start doing my own. Maybe one day will get out the chemicals and and start dodging and burning my prints again.
Sorry to hear about the fire Glenn, that must have been very upsetting. The choice of paper is a lot more limited now but we still have a full range from Ilford. Hope you get the chance to work in a darkroom again. All the best.
It brings it all back Steve, so thanks for that. I moved house about 5 years ago and sadly left my purpose-built darkroom behind. I still have the enlarger and trays etc. safely stored and your use of part of your garage looks like it could be a solution to lack of space. The trouble is all my other DIY tools and mechanical equipment is also vying for the available space. Still, you have inspired a desire to see if I can plan something over these tedious weeks ahead, so thanks again for that!
Great stuff Steve, enjoyed that. The old chap I shoot with still develops at the age of 86. He does not have all the gear you use though as he too sold most of it years ago.
Steve surely you going out on your trips is not a issue regarding the voluntary lock down exercise and self isolating are surely a given for you on a normal one man outing...Anyway great video and would love to see more of your darkroom activity virus or no virus. Great content thank you!!
Unfortunately Harry we are only to go out for exercise so I’ll not be recording any outdoor content until restrictions are lifted. Fortunately I still have two older videos to release 👍
Stop bath was my favorite chemical. A solid whiff of that would cure any cold, and remove all your nose hairs. ;-) Thanks for showing us your darkroom. I love that slot system. You are almost tempting me to get back into black and white film photography. I forgot how much I loved darkroom work.
Great video, Steve! I am slowly turning my pantry/kitchen storage/laundry room into a darkroom. Having a hard to figuring out what to do with all the cookware that has to find a new space! On the upside, since the washer and dryer is in there, it has water and a drain. May have to track down one of those print washers though, looks handy! Cheers, and looking forward to more darkroom videos to come!
Cool! I separated dry and wet sides of my darkroom due to space limitations. Didn't want to set it up in my garage since fluctuations in temperature and humidity are not beneficial for the equipment. I have the enlargers in a closet space and do the wet part in my vented bathroom without window. Two large trays in my bathtub and two on the floor. After I am done, I always put the chemicals back into the containers and rinse the trays.
I’d love more space but can manage quite well thanks to the Nova. At least the garage is a robust workspace that tolerates a bit of mess and no delicate materials to worry about.
@@SteveONions with delicate materials I referred to the enlarger and especially the enlarger lens. If you don't use it, simply remove the lens with its cover and keep it inside your home to avoid fungus getting between the lens elements.
Still using my darkroom, including 4 enlargers (can't be arsed changing condensers/lenses for the different formats). My favourite place to chill. Stay safe Steve!
Excellent Steve, brings back memories from a long time ago. I did notice a couple of areas of unused wall space that you could fit a few more clocks into.
A nice KISS DRoom Steve. Love the space saving washer idea. Seen so many archival washers on top of work surfaces that you need a step to use it. (mine included!) My new DRoom will have the washers just above surface height. Cheers Diz
@@SteveONions I was fortunate enough to come across a Zone VI 16x20 archival washer when DRoom equipment was going for reasonable loot. My RC washer is made from a 16x20 tray. Looks a bit like the Kaiser print washer Cheers Diz
Thanks for the tour Steve, looks like you have a well thought out darkroom. I must have made thousands of prints in the darkroom in my early days of photojournalism as a staff photographer for the newspaper. I though didn't miss it but now I find myself wanting to go back to printing by hand, it would probably be more enjoyable if it was for fun and not for work. :) again thanks for the tour.
Steve O'Nions for some reason I’ve held onto an old Beseler enlarger which has been in storage for many years, you’re making me think I might want to dust it off and consider hand printing again, there is something to be said for the craftsmanship and one of a kindness of hand made prints, pretty much every one is unique and a limited edition.
Riding The Edge Photography time to dig it out - doubtless it still works fine. Can’t imagine that being the case if you dug out and old digital camera and computer.
Great tour, always a shortage of good darkroom content! Look forward to your forthcoming darkroom videos. I've got my 'darkroom' in the loft, works well apart from rinsing prints!
Hi, Its very interesting video ! Nice.. This is the first time I am knowing this Darkroom secrets. When I was in child there is a little Studio in my village. That studio owner not allowed to see what's going on the Darkroom. From that age I am so eager to know what's the process to develop photos. That was at the age around 8 yrs. Now I am in 40s..ha..ha.. Funny ya.. Anyway Thanks a lot to learn.
Great video. Hope you put together a series of darkroom videos because I think there is an interest and curiosity out there to help keep this craft alive. I've been doing darkroom work since the 70's and although digital has it's place, somehow I don't get the same sense of achievement that I get from producing a quality darkroom print.
Bigger than mine, I'm in 6'x8' shed with no running water! Looking forward to the video on the timer, haven't seen an f/stop timer in use. Oh, and Ilford sent out a tweet the other day asking for people to share pictures of their darkrooms.
Hi Jeni. Thanks for the Ilford heads up, I must post mine to them. I think a shed could work well but it would be good to have running water if possible.
This was a great video. That is actually a great set up. Although, I only have a digital camera, it did make me think it would be cool to do film photography again and give it a go of printing my own prints.
Great work with your channel, Steve, I am enjoying the videos. The countryside you are shooting across looks unreal. Hopefully at one point there will be a collab with you and Roger Lowe from SFLaB, I would enjoy it! Cheers
Nothing can replace the Darkroom. I work in my darkroom and I also use enjoy using Photoshop and digital images are damn good. But there is something about working with your hands that makes a Darkroom print special. Plus prints on ilford fiber glossy have no inkjet match period end of story. :)
Great video Steve! Very interesting and informative. Being a film photographer I always wanted to see an in depth demonstration of the film developing process. Thanks for sharing.
I don't know whether it would improve the black (or at least the reliability of it) but have you considered applying the rule of thirds to your curtains instead of having the splits in the middle. Also, and I'm sure that you know this but the Black Diamond Icon head torch gas a dimmable red light setting. Stay safe.
Good point about the curtains Brian. My garage is pretty dark and even one layer is almost enough but two guarantees full darkness even for film handling. Thanks for the head torch tip, I’ve just realised I have one with a red light! Ten thumbs up for you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍. I owe you one 😀
Great video and highly informative to all the things I need to find to start darkroom work. I’m a newcomer to film photography and thoroughly enjoy your work. Keep up the good work!
Steve, that was fantastic! It’s been many years since I’ve done any type of darkroom processing. If fact, I was a teenager, mid 50s now. This was a fantastic reminder. It appears you are gearing up for some future videos regarding film processing. I’m looking forward to them. It am very curious as if the process is different for color film. I’ll have to search your older vids, perhaps you’ve already covered this subject. Be safe, and continued good health. Thank you!
I dont mean to be offtopic but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb forgot my password. I would love any tips you can offer me!
@Santino Gordon thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Love your videos Steve! There is a very pleasant calmness in them and they are informative as well. I am trying to switch over more and more to analog but am struggling to find a good way to come from a negative (being it color or BW) to a final image. Do you have a video were you tell more about turning negatives into digital images (scanning negatives or printing+scanning, etc.)? And how you choose which images to work on? Because it's sometimes hard to tell ahead of time how a negative will look in positive.
Thanks Jonathan. I have purposely steered away from a detailed look at the conversion and post processing stages just because there are so many ways to achieve it. Sadly it is also a very contentious subject with a lot of people becoming quite dogmatic and vocal in support of their methods.
Very interesting tour around your darkroom. It's very helpful, a I will be setting up my own in some time. Now at school I use a Durst enlarger (for large format, obviously) with Ilford timers and stuff. Waiting for the video covering timer differences now!
Great video Steve. I love the darkroom tour. I started printing in a community college darkroom we have here recently and love the process. Looking forward to more of your videos in the dark room.
Looking for that f. Stop procedure with your timer as I've never experimented with that. It must be quite a mental change compared to time counting. Very interested in that Thank you for all the content you are sharing with all us
Thanks Christian. I actually find f-stop printing more natural and considerably easier to visualise the dodges and burns. I’d go as far to say that after the enlarger it is the most important piece of equipment I have.
Thanks for the tour! Currently setting my darkroom back up again after 35 years with the spare time given to us by the Corona Virus lockdown. I’d like to know more about your enlarger. I have never seen one of those before.
Hi Jess. The enlarger is a Meopta (Czech made) Magnifax 4 with a Multigrade head. It is a diffuser head and can handled up to 6x9 negatives. I wish they’d made a 4x5 version to be honest.
Very informative Steve. Recently really got into Film and a darkroom does interest me but I really don't have space :( And I also feel the money would be better spent on a good inkjet as I still shoot Digital.
I was wondering about that developing tank. Never seen anything like that. Filming in the darkroom is a challenge. I've been debating on using my Nikon DSLR since it has good ISO capability. The go pro does do okay though, and I raise the exposure a bit in editing if it is too dark. I find shadows the hard part because of my light positions.
Love your videos Steve ! Hope your staying productive during these times :) wish I had a working darkroom at the moment, perfect time to make some fine prints 😩
just want to add that because of the small footprint of the Nova developing tanks and washers I'm able to comfortably work in my darkroom which is a converted coal cellar in my home. So not much space is needed to have a functioning darkroom, permanent or otherwise..
Hi Steve, really useful insight into your darkroom space. Noticed you hap a print processor sat on a low shelf in the background which looks similar to mine. As a fairly new darkroom operative I have struggled to find any RUclips instruction on these paper processors. Any chance you could be persuaded to do an operational run through for those with this type of setup. Cheers Julian
Intrepid is offering an enlarger kit for their 4x5 cameras. It seems to be more economical and practical solution for casual users. But I am wondering whether featurewise it is any good in comparison to a dedicated device?
@@SteveONions I have an Omega D2, but any of the Omega D system are pretty good and reasonably priced. Also very interchangeable. For instance swapping out heads. I have a condenser head, and have picked up a color head and hardware to switch if I decide to start getting into RA4.
Hi Steve, this video was very interesting. I have one question: I started photography just one year ago, and until now shot only on digital cameras. My Nikon Z6 allows me to do double exposures in camera but this is obviously something coming from the film age. I was wondering, how do one actually do a double exposure with film. Do you shoot multiple frames on the same negative, or you expose the same paper under the enlarger with two different negatives? Did you already do a video about double exposures? If not so, it'd be a very interesting topic to learn. Thanks for all the work you put into this channel. Keep on doing that. Cheers
I never actually do double exposures but it works pretty much the same way with all film cameras. There is often a small lever that disengages the drive sprocket so you take one frame, wind on then take another (or multiple frames). Simple 😀
Thank you for geting in touch,I have a Meopta Opemus 6 c/w meopta meograde condenser enlarger with no mannual or instructions,going by your reply this enlarger does not use ilford filters,By turning the left dial the filtration is set to a number from 0 to 5,Am i understanding you OK,Thank you again,Please let us know if you decide to do a tutorial vidio of you using your enlarger..Thanks again.
That is correct Robert, the numbers represent the contrast grade. You should also have a lever on the side to switch the filters out (white light setting) for focussing clearly.
@@SteveONions I think you should always focus with the (grading) filter on.. to avoid chromatic abberation affecting the focus. You may switch off just the ND filter for better focusing.
Scanning them at present Richard, I'm embarrassed to say I've had the Intrepid Enlarger kit for a couple of months now but never got round to making an adapter to fit onto my enlarger column - a job for 2021 methinks.
I’d like to propose an offer for you Steve. And a poll for the viewers! After all of this Covid19 is done and we can get back into nature. I would love to see you and “Shoot film like a boss” meet up and vlog for a day. A tour of each other’s labs(maybe a day to each other’s location). I would love to see a colab with the two of you! A thumbs up 👇for positive votes!
Steve you forgot to mention the most important thing in your darkroom, behind your left shoulder.......a kettle to make a coffee in-between prints. Great video as always. Keep safe
I’d have to stop printing if the kettle failed 😀
Excellent video. Over the last year/18 months, I've sold all but one of my digital cameras (my M8) and purchased several film camera's, and am now in the process of converting one end of our garage into a dark room (having twisted my wife's arm). I found your video on the subject inspirational. I've hopefully cleaned out all of the spiders, and ready to plasterboard the garage ceiling 😂...if you have any other tips and tricks for my garage DR, I'd be most grateful. Keep up your brilliant work. All the best, Kit.
Glad to see you setting up a darkroom Kit. I've had a few setups over the years and surprisingly it's not always the ones with the large space and comforts which work the best. I like to have a fairly compact working area with everything to hand and most importantly an easy to clean floor, preferably concrete. It's surprising how often you spill something and even moving wet prints around soon makes a mess.
I'd also make sure you have plenty of safelights to give even illumination and get a timer that turns them off when the enlarger light is on. Trying to do dodges and burns with the red lights on is a pain and a lot less accurate.
Finally try and get all your lighting on pull switches and mount the enlarger on the wall so it never wobbles and allow enough space to move your easel underneath it.
For those wanting to do the safelight test, Ansel Adams suggested pre exposing the paper to a mid gray (around zone 7), and then placing the coins or cards over the paper. Silver in the paper needs a little help to show sensitivity.
Thanks Patrick, the pre-flash will certainly make it easier to identify safelight issues.
The Naked Photographer has a fantastic video on how to do a good safelight test. I recommend checking it out: ruclips.net/video/ZuJrSSzpYaM/видео.html
It has brought back the memories when I developed my first film and went on to print it. There is just something about working in the darkroom and watching the print start to appear in the developing tray.
It never leaves you Peter 🙂
You could mention that the choice of enlarging lenses is important.
I have a 100mm 5.6 for 6x6 and 6x7 and a 50mm 2.8 Schneider Componon S which has an illuminated aperture window on its side to see the f stops and a lever to fully open the aperture for focusing.
Also my enlarger is a Condenser enlarger which gives completely different look compared to Diffuser enlargers. Brighter and more vibrant.
Just my little bit of input.
When I used 5x4 I had a cold cathode enlarger with an excellent Taylor Hobson lens. TTH.
A good light source to hide dust and scratches on the negatives.
The Meopta enlargers were very well made in Czech land and the lenses weren't bad either.
I used a Nikon 50mm 2.8 enlarging lens on a Jobo 66 enlarger but sold both together recently.
A very interesting and informative video. More please.
Yes, lots of things to cover in future, I just wanted to start slowly 😀👍
Thanks for putting this together. It will be online for many years to come and surely help many people interested in darkroom work.
I’ll start doing more of this, it’s not like the technology is changing 😀
Very useful and informative Steve. Nostalgic too as I’m sure many will say. I haven’t been in a darkroom since the later ‘70’ but still remember the warmth, security and calmness it offered. And the smell of the developer too!
It’s the smell of the developer that really gets on my chest Andrew 😀
You took me back to when my father taught me to print my own images. Long ago, but such a happy memory.
I haven't done darkroom work in so many years. My tiny darkroom was in a bathroom in my parent's basement. I look forward to seeing more of yours.
I bet you miss it.
I feel so stupid! I had tiny darkrooms (larder room) and Never thought of working with one dish. Brilliant. Like the photo.
It’s a great way to work Jason, even for smaller prints.
Nice Steve !
Thank you, very enlightening. Looking forward to more darkroom videos
Cheers Anders.
Great video on setting up a darkroom in the home. I set up a bathroom for occasional use as a darkroom when I was 13, and I used it until I was off to college. I had to use various school community darkrooms until 1972, then went back to an apartment bathroom in 1976. I bought my first (and only) house in 1979. I spent most of a year converting the former owner's wood working room in the basement into a fully equipped darkroom. This was the hey-day of DIY home color processing, and I had access to types of equipment and materials which are no longer available. Watching the video, I was sad to see use of that horrible Paterson focusing aid (will make you blind IMO), but the stop-clock timer is impressive. There is a tough learning curve to switch from linear timing when printing to timing in stops (F-stops), but it's worth the effort. I always wanted a Nova slot processor to save sink space, but here in the US they were out of budget for me, then I think they went out of business. (???) Problem with the heated ones required for color printing is that the heating electrics are pretty weak and seem impossible to get fixed here. Maybe in Britain, those are not issues. My only misstep in retrospect was that I should have removed a divider wall to open an extra 50% of floor space.
Hi Randall. The Nova heaters are indeed frail and if the elements don’t go then the thermostats do. My 16x12 has to be used in a manual mode where I warm it up then knock it off at the wall to stop it boiling!
I love f-stop printing and wouldn’t go back, it just seems so more intuitive.
All the best for 2024.
Very informative. Thank you. :)
Excellent video Steve, I 've just made a pop up darkroom in our 2nd bathroom and am slowly learning. I'm really enjoying it too so seeing these videos is just more inspiring. Thank you and I look forward to seeing more!
Glad you found it useful 👍
I think it’s great that you are doing some darkroom videos, Steve. There is a gap in the market. Roger, from Shoot Film Like a Boss is the only other RUclipsr I know of who shows darkroom work.
My own darkroom is only 5ft x3ft and has no running water, but I manage very well. It is my sanctuary, where time stops and (sometimes) the magic happens. Incidentally, I use a small, digital metronome as a timer, set to 60 beats per minute and simply count the beats. It’s very straightforward and takes no setting up if anyone’s interested. Thankyou Steve and I look forward to more on this theme. Take care and keep well.
Any darkroom space is a good space 🙂. I also used a digital metronome a few times but I’m totally hooked on the Stopclock pro and couldn’t go back 🙂
I’ve not heard of the stopclock pro, so look forward very much to your video about it.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It was very educational. Looking forward to more on this subject.
You’re welcome Tony.
Cool . . . thanks Steve . . .I've always said that once fixer gets in your blood, it never comes out . . . Like others have mentioned, it seems I could smell the fixer and the stop bath . . . I look forward to other journeys in the dark and beyond . . . Stay safe and well . . .
You won’t smell anything in my darkroom Jeff, it’s all odourless 😀
Watching the negative develop in a tray has always been a joy for me. It was a while after I introduced the Nova 4-slot processor that I realised that the joy of printing had diminished. I wouldn’t recommend one.
For info: In the 4th slot I had water to remove the surface fixer before transferring it to a 12-slot Nova washer. By just cracking the open the exit valve, I had fresh water running through that slot.
Thanks Gary. I use slot 4 either for plain water or hypo clear. I find the Nova a lot better for reducing odors which even in tiny quantities irritate my airways.
Whenever I use fixer I end up with a red nose, less so after I fitted an extractor fan. Darkroom printmaking disassembled and sold off! But I'm preparing to start doing contact prints of 6x17. Have you done any of that and was it successful ?
Gary Row never tried 617 but I have done 4x5 contacts and they were lovely.
Steve, have you got some to show and better still, compare with inkjet ? That would be a great episode.
Gary Row I don’t think I kept any of the 4x5’s Gary, a big clear out some years ago saw lots of prints going to the tip. I need to have another go and also try the 8x10 negatives.
Absolutely brilliant video Steve. I really enjoyed watching this and very informative.
Thanks Robin, I need to do a follow up one saying how little I sold all my kit for back in 2012 and what it’s cost to buy it all back 😢
Awesome simple overview Steve, also great practical setup you have there.
Thanks Nico, it’s not quite in the same
league as your setup 🙂
@@SteveONions still not bad, we share the same fstop clock. Its amazing.
Gosh, that takes me back to my college days. Excellent darkroom set up you have Steve. I was out today for my one daily walk with my Canon Canonette 28 and a roll Ilford Xp2.
I love XP2 Simon, don’t use it as much these days but incredible detail and excellent highlight control.
Fascinating Steve.... a different world! :-)
It is indeed Julian, like going back 100 years 🙂
Thanks for the video. Takes me back to my photojournalism days working in a large darkroom in the mid-1960's. I built my own in the early 1970s and had had the gear until a few years ago lost in a garage fire. I use to have lots of Kodak paper of all types but now I understand paper choice is much lower. Have gotten back into film photography and presently getting my film developed and scanned. I have a scanner so my start doing my own. Maybe one day will get out the chemicals and and start dodging and burning my prints again.
Sorry to hear about the fire Glenn, that must have been very upsetting.
The choice of paper is a lot more limited now but we still have a full range from Ilford.
Hope you get the chance to work in a darkroom again. All the best.
want to see how to make contact sheet, love your videos. DIY genius, haha.
It brings it all back Steve, so thanks for that. I moved house about 5 years ago and sadly left my purpose-built darkroom behind. I still have the enlarger and trays etc. safely stored and your use of part of your garage looks like it could be a solution to lack of space. The trouble is all my other DIY tools and mechanical equipment is also vying for the available space. Still, you have inspired a desire to see if I can plan something over these tedious weeks ahead, so thanks again for that!
I’m sure you could shoehorn an enlarger in somewhere David 🙂
Great stuff Steve, enjoyed that. The old chap I shoot with still develops at the age of 86. He does not have all the gear you use though as he too sold most of it years ago.
We’ve all done it Alan, sold (or dumped) all our gear and spent years regretting it.
Steve surely you going out on your trips is not a issue regarding the voluntary lock down exercise and self isolating are surely a given for you on a normal one man outing...Anyway great video and would love to see more of your darkroom activity virus or no virus. Great content thank you!!
Unfortunately Harry we are only to go out for exercise so I’ll not be recording any outdoor content until restrictions are lifted. Fortunately I still have two older videos to release 👍
Stop bath was my favorite chemical. A solid whiff of that would cure any cold, and remove all your nose hairs. ;-)
Thanks for showing us your darkroom. I love that slot system. You are almost tempting me to get back into black and white film photography. I forgot how much I loved darkroom work.
It’s funny how it never leaves you Jon, something about the massive contrast with digital equipment and modem image making.
Great video, Steve! I am slowly turning my pantry/kitchen storage/laundry room into a darkroom. Having a hard to figuring out what to do with all the cookware that has to find a new space! On the upside, since the washer and dryer is in there, it has water and a drain. May have to track down one of those print washers though, looks handy! Cheers, and looking forward to more darkroom videos to come!
The fact that you have water and drainage is a big plus. I’ve had setups without either and it’s a real pain.
Very enjoyable tour. Really brought me back to my darkroom days. The thrill of seeing the image appear in the developer tray never faded.
It never leaves you John.
It's great to see you use an enlarger from my country. They made really good stuff in the film era.
Top quality equipment, I also have one of the amazing 80mm f/2.8 enlarging lenses.
Cool! I separated dry and wet sides of my darkroom due to space limitations. Didn't want to set it up in my garage since fluctuations in temperature and humidity are not beneficial for the equipment. I have the enlargers in a closet space and do the wet part in my vented bathroom without window. Two large trays in my bathtub and two on the floor. After I am done, I always put the chemicals back into the containers and rinse the trays.
I’d love more space but can manage quite well thanks to the Nova. At least the garage is a robust workspace that tolerates a bit of mess and no delicate materials to worry about.
@@SteveONions with delicate materials I referred to the enlarger and especially the enlarger lens. If you don't use it, simply remove the lens with its cover and keep it inside your home to avoid fungus getting between the lens elements.
Martin's Analog Photo Channel excellent point Martin, totally agree.
very nostalgic - I can still smell the chemicals - in these times would be good to get lost in the darkroom again
Thankfully I can’t smell the chemicals Paul as they give me a tight chest and sore throat 😊
Still using my darkroom, including 4 enlargers (can't be arsed changing condensers/lenses for the different formats). My favourite place to chill. Stay safe Steve!
Thanks Ray.
Excellent Steve, brings back memories from a long time ago. I did notice a couple of areas of unused wall space that you could fit a few more clocks into.
Yes Joe, more clocks, more clocks!
Fascinating stuff Steve, great to see your setup and your DIY skills. Brilliant video
Cheers Lee.
Quite interesting Steve. Enjoyed it.
Thanks Philip.
A nice KISS DRoom Steve. Love the space saving washer idea. Seen so many archival washers on top of work surfaces that you need a step to use it. (mine included!) My new DRoom will have the washers just above surface height.
Cheers
Diz
Thanks Diz. I think I’ll make my own 16x12 washing system, it’s the immersion time that matters most, circulation less so.
@@SteveONions I was fortunate enough to come across a Zone VI 16x20 archival washer when DRoom equipment was going for reasonable loot. My RC washer is made from a 16x20 tray. Looks a bit like the Kaiser print washer
Cheers
Diz
Stella & Diz Disley you lucky so and so 😀
Thanks for the tour Steve, looks like you have a well thought out darkroom. I must have made thousands of prints in the darkroom in my early days of photojournalism as a staff photographer for the newspaper. I though didn't miss it but now I find myself wanting to go back to printing by hand, it would probably be more enjoyable if it was for fun and not for work. :) again thanks for the tour.
I thought I’d seen the back of it too but last year I looked through some of my old prints and within a week started buying the equipment again!
Steve O'Nions for some reason I’ve held onto an old Beseler enlarger which has been in storage for many years, you’re making me think I might want to dust it off and consider hand printing again, there is something to be said for the craftsmanship and one of a kindness of hand made prints, pretty much every one is unique and a limited edition.
Riding The Edge Photography time to dig it out - doubtless it still works fine. Can’t imagine that being the case if you dug out and old digital camera and computer.
Great tour, always a shortage of good darkroom content! Look forward to your forthcoming darkroom videos. I've got my 'darkroom' in the loft, works well apart from rinsing prints!
Water is always the biggest problem Simon. I also had ‘dry’ darkrooms but you’re obviously keen so there’s no stopping you 😀
Hi, Its very interesting video ! Nice.. This is the first time I am knowing this Darkroom secrets. When I was in child there is a little Studio in my village. That studio owner not allowed to see what's going on the Darkroom. From that age I am so eager to know what's the process to develop photos. That was at the age around 8 yrs. Now I am in 40s..ha..ha.. Funny ya.. Anyway Thanks a lot to learn.
Thanks Paraman, glad you liked it 🙂
Great video. Hope you put together a series of darkroom videos because I think there is an interest and curiosity out there to help keep this craft alive. I've been doing darkroom work since the 70's and although digital has it's place, somehow I don't get the same sense of achievement that I get from producing a quality darkroom print.
It’s certainly a way of feeling connected to photography’s roots Norbert. 👍
Thanks Steve! I always find your videos to be very instructive!
Thank you Simeon.
Hi Steve, thanks for the short visit to your darkroom. As always, looking forward to the next thrilling episode. Keep safe. Phillip.
Thanks Phillip.
Bigger than mine, I'm in 6'x8' shed with no running water! Looking forward to the video on the timer, haven't seen an f/stop timer in use.
Oh, and Ilford sent out a tweet the other day asking for people to share pictures of their darkrooms.
Hi Jeni. Thanks for the Ilford heads up, I must post mine to them. I think a shed could work well but it would be good to have running water if possible.
I have bottles of water, and for washing, I just bring prints inside. It works ok, but it could be better.
Thanks for the video, sir! Love to see how others setup their darkroom for inspiration whenever I setup mine.
Glad you liked it 😀
Haha, what a timing! I just received my first pack of photo paper today and want to try out contact printing. Looking forward to this video!
Enjoy the experience of seeing that first print come up in the developer 👍
This was a great video. That is actually a great set up. Although, I only have a digital camera, it did make me think it would be cool to do film photography again and give it a go of printing my own prints.
Glad you found it useful 🙂
What a great setup! Thanks for sharing!
Great work with your channel, Steve, I am enjoying the videos. The countryside you are shooting across looks unreal. Hopefully at one point there will be a collab with you and Roger Lowe from SFLaB, I would enjoy it! Cheers
Thank you, I’m glad you like the videos 😊
Nothing can replace the Darkroom. I work in my darkroom and I also use enjoy using Photoshop and digital images are damn good. But there is something about working with your hands that makes a Darkroom print special. Plus prints on ilford fiber glossy have no inkjet match period end of story. :)
I agree, I was making prints on Multigrade Classic last night 🙂
Great video Steve! Very interesting and informative. Being a film photographer I always wanted to see an in depth demonstration of the film developing process. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome 🙂
Nice Lab, now I miss my club's darkroom ! I hope i'll could do my prints in few weeks .
You’ll be back soon Ludovic, fingers crossed 🤞
Very helpful, thank you Steve!
I don't know whether it would improve the black (or at least the reliability of it) but have you considered applying the rule of thirds to your curtains instead of having the splits in the middle. Also, and I'm sure that you know this but the Black Diamond Icon head torch gas a dimmable red light setting. Stay safe.
Good point about the curtains Brian. My garage is pretty dark and even one layer is almost enough but two guarantees full darkness even for film handling.
Thanks for the head torch tip, I’ve just realised I have one with a red light! Ten thumbs up for you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍. I owe you one 😀
Great video
Thanks Adrian.
thanks Steve, that was really interesting to see. as a suggestion what about a video on your camera collection & ‘upstairs’ studio?
I’m thinking Darkroom v Lightroom. One is directly above the other 🙂
Great video and highly informative to all the things I need to find to start darkroom work. I’m a newcomer to film photography and thoroughly enjoy your work. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Stuart, glad you found it useful 🙂
Steve, that was fantastic! It’s been many years since I’ve done any type of darkroom processing. If fact, I was a teenager, mid 50s now. This was a fantastic reminder. It appears you are gearing up for some future videos regarding film processing. I’m looking forward to them. It am very curious as if the process is different for color film. I’ll have to search your older vids, perhaps you’ve already covered this subject. Be safe, and continued good health. Thank you!
Thanks Kent. I’ve shown a little bit of film processing in the past but never colour. It is on my todo list 🙂
I dont mean to be offtopic but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb forgot my password. I would love any tips you can offer me!
@Larry Alan instablaster :)
@Santino Gordon thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Santino Gordon It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my account!
Love your videos Steve! There is a very pleasant calmness in them and they are informative as well. I am trying to switch over more and more to analog but am struggling to find a good way to come from a negative (being it color or BW) to a final image. Do you have a video were you tell more about turning negatives into digital images (scanning negatives or printing+scanning, etc.)? And how you choose which images to work on? Because it's sometimes hard to tell ahead of time how a negative will look in positive.
Thanks Jonathan. I have purposely steered away from a detailed look at the conversion and post processing stages just because there are so many ways to achieve it. Sadly it is also a very contentious subject with a lot of people becoming quite dogmatic and vocal in support of their methods.
Very interesting tour around your darkroom. It's very helpful, a I will be setting up my own in some time. Now at school I use a Durst enlarger (for large format, obviously) with Ilford timers and stuff. Waiting for the video covering timer differences now!
Seriously though, great video
Great video Steve. I love the darkroom tour. I started printing in a community college darkroom we have here recently and love the process. Looking forward to more of your videos in the dark room.
Thanks Carlin.
Looking for that f. Stop procedure with your timer as I've never experimented with that.
It must be quite a mental change compared to time counting.
Very interested in that
Thank you for all the content you are sharing with all us
Thanks Christian. I actually find f-stop printing more natural and considerably easier to visualise the dodges and burns. I’d go as far to say that after the enlarger it is the most important piece of equipment I have.
@@SteveONions great! Thanks for your feedback, and keep up your precious content
Thanks for the tour! Currently setting my darkroom back up again after 35 years with the spare time given to us by the Corona Virus lockdown. I’d like to know more about your enlarger. I have never seen one of those before.
Hi Jess. The enlarger is a Meopta (Czech made) Magnifax 4 with a Multigrade head. It is a diffuser head and can handled up to 6x9 negatives. I wish they’d made a 4x5 version to be honest.
Lovc it. Thanks.
Very informative Steve.
Recently really got into Film and a darkroom does interest me but I really don't have space :( And I also feel the money would be better spent on a good inkjet as I still shoot Digital.
Give it time, give it time 😀
I was wondering about that developing tank. Never seen anything like that. Filming in the darkroom is a challenge. I've been debating on using my Nikon DSLR since it has good ISO capability. The go pro does do okay though, and I raise the exposure a bit in editing if it is too dark. I find shadows the hard part because of my light positions.
It’s definitely a struggle John but I’ve been giving it a lot of thought and have a few ideas 😀
Love your videos Steve ! Hope your staying productive during these times :) wish I had a working darkroom at the moment, perfect time to make some fine prints 😩
It’s definitely the time to do indoor jobs Thomas, if I didn’t have a darkroom I think I’d be champing at the bit.
Been longing to visit your darkroom for a long time now☺️
Oh, THAT sort of a darkroom.
just want to add that because of the small footprint of the Nova developing tanks and washers I'm able to comfortably work in my darkroom which is a converted coal cellar in my home. So not much space is needed to have a functioning darkroom, permanent or otherwise..
They are total life savers 👍
Hi Steve, really useful insight into your darkroom space. Noticed you hap a print processor sat on a low shelf in the background which looks similar to mine. As a fairly new darkroom operative I have struggled to find any RUclips instruction on these paper processors. Any chance you could be persuaded to do an operational run through for those with this type of setup. Cheers Julian
Thanks Julian. I assume you mean the Nova 16”x12” on the wall? I should do a few more videos on darkroom gear soon.
Intrepid is offering an enlarger kit for their 4x5 cameras. It seems to be more economical and practical solution for casual users. But I am wondering whether featurewise it is any good in comparison to a dedicated device?
I’ve looked in to that Olegs but unfortunately the timer is built into power source so I cannot use it with my Stopclock pro 😕
Enjoyed your darkroom tour. Surprised you have such a small enlarger since you shoot 4x5 and make large prints.
Take care!
I need a 4x5 one, something I’m working on.
@@SteveONions I have an Omega D2, but any of the Omega D system are pretty good and reasonably priced. Also very interchangeable. For instance swapping out heads. I have a condenser head, and have picked up a color head and hardware to switch if I decide to start getting into RA4.
Yours is bigger :( lucky you! I can only do up to 6x6 film and it's a little table space in the cellar
Any space is good James, I once used my tiny boiler room which had just enough space to lie on my side and use 1 tray! 😀
Hi Steve, When will you cover the importance of having a kettle and coffee tins for brewing up in your darkroom.
I’m sure it’s on the shelf in the background Dave, just next to the Dab radio permanently fixed to Radio 4 😀
I need some exhaust ventilation in my darkroom, I just have an AC inlet.
Problems are there to be solved Steve!
Hi Steve, this video was very interesting. I have one question: I started photography just one year ago, and until now shot only on digital cameras. My Nikon Z6 allows me to do double exposures in camera but this is obviously something coming from the film age. I was wondering, how do one actually do a double exposure with film. Do you shoot multiple frames on the same negative, or you expose the same paper under the enlarger with two different negatives? Did you already do a video about double exposures? If not so, it'd be a very interesting topic to learn. Thanks for all the work you put into this channel. Keep on doing that. Cheers
I never actually do double exposures but it works pretty much the same way with all film cameras. There is often a small lever that disengages the drive sprocket so you take one frame, wind on then take another (or multiple frames). Simple 😀
What brand timer is that. I use Nocon’s practice of F-Stop printing... but use an App to give times. Itsagood way of thinking while printing!
It’s an RH Designs model David, they have been around for many years and I find it so easy to use.
Thank you for geting in touch,I have a Meopta Opemus 6 c/w meopta meograde condenser enlarger with no mannual or instructions,going by your reply this enlarger does not use ilford filters,By turning the left dial the filtration is set to a number from 0 to 5,Am i understanding you OK,Thank you again,Please let us know if you decide to do a tutorial vidio of you using your enlarger..Thanks again.
That is correct Robert, the numbers represent the contrast grade. You should also have a lever on the side to switch the filters out (white light setting) for focussing clearly.
@@SteveONions I think you should always focus with the (grading) filter on.. to avoid chromatic abberation affecting the focus. You may switch off just the ND filter for better focusing.
👍👍👍
Steve, can you please sync your clocks. Playing havoc with my OCD. LOL.
Haha, the two small ones have no covers so I can use them as cheap timers by moving the hands with my fingers. 🙂
what ar the two white dials for on the front of your enlarger.does it have a fillter draw?
One is for adjusting the contrast and the other is an adjustable neutral density filter.
Oh, someone tried to give You thumb up, but he missed sadly giving dislike... Poor blind man.
😀
How do you enlarge your 4x5 and 10x8 negs? I'm thinking of getting the Intrepid enlarger.
Scanning them at present Richard, I'm embarrassed to say I've had the Intrepid Enlarger kit for a couple of months now but never got round to making an adapter to fit onto my enlarger column - a job for 2021 methinks.
@@SteveONions shame on you ;)
Hope to see a video about it or perhaps you can message me your thoughts once you've given it a go.
I’d like to propose an offer for you Steve. And a poll for the viewers! After all of this Covid19 is done and we can get back into nature. I would love to see you and “Shoot film like a boss” meet up and vlog for a day. A tour of each other’s labs(maybe a day to each other’s location). I would love to see a colab with the two of you! A thumbs up
👇for positive votes!
Haha, I’m not really a colab sort of person Adam, I like to control the edit and I’d probably say something rude 😀
I need a garage.... :/
A big one!
@@SteveONions with curtains 😊
You have two trays of stop bath and claim that the second stop actually fixes the print. Hmm... that was confusing! 🤔
Dev, stop, fix ……..that’s it.
@@SteveONions Ahhh! THAT'S what you meant!
What...no gray-lab round timer.................................
Need access to a washroom. Running water makes you want to pee.
When I retire...
😊
You said dev, fix, stop. It's dev, stop, fix. The stop, well, stops development. The fix removes the excess silver. Putting stop last does nothing.
Thanks for correcting me Dominic.