Going back to basics.

[IanAlton]

Greetings all. Newbie Alert! I am Ian from Shropshire.

I have just put aside my expensive digital SLR camera gear and bought myself a £30 Minolta SLR 35mm film camera. When I learned photography from my old Dad, I had a £10 Zenit E and developed the films in our kitchen and printed the images on our old Durst enlarger in our specially prepped attic. Seriously it was heaven when my sisters moved out and we converted the spare room into a proper 'wet' dark room.

See, I think digital has taken some of the fun out of photography for me and of the 200-300 or so images I take, I very rarely print any off. OK I have the versatility of programs like Photoshop and so forth the manipulate the images but I think its made me lazy. Basically I know I can go out with £000's worth of digital Nikon gear, shoot off images till my hearts content but it doesn't matter if they're crap because I know I can sort it in photo editing later.
What Im planning to do is buy myself a developing tank, a cheap enlarger and the chemicals etc required and equip myself with a darkroom, thus bringing some of the interest back.
I have entered lots of photo competitions in the past, but the prize that made me the most proud, was the shot that 'I' took with 'my' Zenit. 'I' developed the negatives and 'I' printed the images before 'I' put the picture in a frame.
I can't wait to stink of acutol again and spend hours in a darkened room with only my red light for company! Bring it on I say

[sey]

All I can say is "Go For IT, Ian!!!!!"

[OneTen]

Have fun Ian. I know exactly what you mean and used to lose days in the darkroom. I was never that good but really enjoyed it and it's definately something I miss. I resisted going digital for a long time but realised I'd actually stopped taking any pictures because I didn't have a darkroom. If I ever have the space again, I'd have a wet darkroom like a shot, but for now I'm loving being digital, fickle!

[Manofolympus]

It will be well worth your effort-there's nothing quite like working in a wet darkroom

[benji]

Good for you Ian.

I relate to what you're saying.

I shoot digital for stock libraries, or for the odd assignment, because that's what they require.

Other than that, photography for me is about using film (esp. colour transparency).

I'll say it again: "That IS photography for me".

Benji

[Mark101]

mmmmm I can still smell those chemical that I mixed in my loft darkroom and the time I snipped my finger instead of the film leader under cover of darkness.

[taxor]

mmmmm I can still smell those chemical that I mixed in my loft darkroom and the time I snipped my finger instead of the film leader under cover of darkness.

Good job you weren't working in the buff!! Hey, Ian; always glad to welcome a Born-Again-Darkroom-Dabbler back to the fold. Have fun!

[IanAlton]

Thanks for the positive comments, just waiting now for my camera to turn up. Classic car show this weekend may be the perfect chance for me to give it a blast. Will take digital as well just in case! Classic cars and a retro camera, life is good!

[Wheelu]

Hope you enjoy it!

I shoot digital for money, work and family occasions, but film for pleasure.

Re your car shoot, I would recommend EITHER digital or film, as, if you are like me, procrastination will mean that nothing of any worth gets shot!

[JJM74]

You're not alone.

I've a collection of film cameras and have been getting frustrated with using labs, so as it's my birthday shortly, I've just written a shopping list for my wife.

I haven't printed my own for about fifteen years, and even then I didn't often do it. Looking forward to starting again now.

Seems to be on the increase. Was talking to someone at work earlier this week, her husband is just starting too.

[benji]

Was talking to someone at work earlier this week, her husband is just starting too.

Chatting the women up at work, are we? eh!!



Benji

[JJM74]

Was talking to someone at work earlier this week, her husband is just starting too.

Chatting the women up at work, are we? eh!!



Benji

Oh yeah!