zenlibra
Crazy Leica Fox
My first time was February 2009, and I usually do a roll every Saturday. I remember feeling nervous/excited, I re-read how to's and watched videos over and over trying to make sure I had it down before I started. After setting everything up and pouring in the developer I realized I forgot my timer. Everything was fine and I still look forward to souping a roll or two and getting that rush. It's all part of my process.
damien.murphy
Damien
Ah, the nervous apprehension of those first rolls, I remember it well. From loading the film onto the reels to mixing up a strange concoction of chemistry. Lot of hit and miss rolls at first, and the process of developing your own can be a humbling one in the beginning.
To be honest though, I can't say I don't enjoy it overly though, and I find the process of somewhat of a chore. It is a well learned one now though, and with the use of larger tanks something I can crank out 4/ 5 rolls of film in about half an hour (after I've set up and mixed the chemistry).
The process is important to me though, and as one who has come to film from shooting digital, I appreciate the structure the process offers along with the freedom from the computer. Likewise, I can understand film shooters who have embraced digital and the freedom it offers them.
I intend to begin wet printing in the next few weeks, having pigeonholed myself a dedicated darkroom space, and that I do not see as a chore. Perhaps my attitude to film developing will seem less chore-like as I will be developing in that same space, and won't have the additional task of setup that I have at present.
It's funny, with the hassle many film shooters associate with developing their own film, you would think there would be a decent market niche to support a company who made film processors. If the present used market for film processors was not so fraught with risk, I have no doubt I would have automated my own film developing by now.
To be honest though, I can't say I don't enjoy it overly though, and I find the process of somewhat of a chore. It is a well learned one now though, and with the use of larger tanks something I can crank out 4/ 5 rolls of film in about half an hour (after I've set up and mixed the chemistry).
The process is important to me though, and as one who has come to film from shooting digital, I appreciate the structure the process offers along with the freedom from the computer. Likewise, I can understand film shooters who have embraced digital and the freedom it offers them.
I intend to begin wet printing in the next few weeks, having pigeonholed myself a dedicated darkroom space, and that I do not see as a chore. Perhaps my attitude to film developing will seem less chore-like as I will be developing in that same space, and won't have the additional task of setup that I have at present.
It's funny, with the hassle many film shooters associate with developing their own film, you would think there would be a decent market niche to support a company who made film processors. If the present used market for film processors was not so fraught with risk, I have no doubt I would have automated my own film developing by now.
rapsquared
Member
Yes, as well as the sense of fulfillment after hanging your first negs
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
The process of light hitting a surface coated in siver halide crystals for a fraction of a second and leaving it's invisible imprint to be realised by a fairly simple chemical reaction still blows me away ... and the process is still surviving in it's third century which makes it even more remarkable to me.
Electronic image recording (ie ... digital) really is in it's infancy!
Electronic image recording (ie ... digital) really is in it's infancy!
Sparrow
Mentor
I was 12 the first time, I still get that feeling of relief when I pull the first few frames off the spirals and find images on them ... prints appearing in a tray in that dim red light, now that is something I miss
Sparrow
Mentor
Well OK, but in my opinion one cannot be counted a proper photographer without developing at least one roll in fixer, as Bailey say's "the art is in the errors"
B.J.Scharp
Film fanatic
If you're doing it right, you might be able to combine some of those
I've certainly combined developing and Rock and Roll.
If you choose your songs right, you can do without a timer...
"Ah, the second chorus, time to pour in the fixer!"
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Ahh ... I did that for the first time a few weeks ago and wouldn't you know it ... it was a film that was shot over a two thousand kilometre two day drive and contained twenty four very carefully considered exposures! :bang:
Kolame
Established
Hope I may tell you in a few days, when I’ve developed my first film
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
And what a rush it was when you first saw those negatives as you anxiously took them out of the tank and carefully hung them to dry?
My very first film was HP5+ in D-76 well over two years ago now ... but I'll never forget that feeling ... and amazingly every roll I develop still gives me a bit of that initial high!
I was about to say... wait until you start getting into darkroom printing
Developing for me now is just another step to get it over with, that's why I stick with one developer and only two or three different film types.
The real challenge and thrill is figuring out how to print a frame to my satisfaction in the darkroom.
And the real satisfaction is to be able to say these words...
"No... Computers"
Sparrow
Mentor
My last one, about a year back, was risking some oldish Acufine, it looked and smelled OK'ish, and .. I ended up with two completely blank films
valdas
Mentor
I was 13 or 14 years old when I developed my first film (shot with Smena 8m). I was curious and excited, not really nervous. There was a carbon copy feeling several years ago when I developed my first color slide film at home. If/when C41 will get too expensive, I'll probably try this one as well.
This was almost 30 years ago and I did not know how to properly archive films so that they are not scratched (from one of first rolls):
This was almost 30 years ago and I did not know how to properly archive films so that they are not scratched (from one of first rolls):
Attachments
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rolleistef
Well-known
oh yeah... it's only after the film got out of the tank as an uniform light blue roll of plastic that I realised I had mistaken ml and cl. 2ml of Ilfosol is no way near 2cl...