My exploits with film and printing in the darkroom.

[TomMcDonald]

Hi guys,
Over the last 5 years or so I've become very interested with the traditional methods of photography.
I've started printing my own colour negatives in the darkroom and it's extremely easy. A lot easier for me than sitting on a computer for hours.

As some of you know, I've got a new baby so she gets most of the attention lately





I'll post more later.

Jeff, they are too big to add to the site, but if you want me to add smaller ones I will.

[tracker]

Gorgeous!

Mick.

[Stickbow Hunter]

Great shots mate and interesting colour. I look forward to seeing more.

Jeff

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks guys,
Jeff that second one I used some extremely expired AGFA paper from at least the 1980s. It has a cool reto feel to it. I'm saving the rest for a special occassion!
I'll post some more as I find and scan them

[Stickbow Hunter]

Jeff that second one I used some extremely expired AGFA paper from at least the 1980s.

Wow that old! Agfa always tended to have warmer tones. I used pretty much only used Fuji Pro films and Reala but printed on Kodak Pro paper mostly. I never tried printing my own though.

Jeff

[TomMcDonald]

Jeff, they were shot on Fuji films, the first Fuji Pro400H, the second the consumer one from Big W, Xtra it's called.
I print on Fuji paper too, but it's not as thick as the AGFA so doesn't feel as nice.

It's really quite easy but has to be done in total darkness!

[Stickbow Hunter]

It's really quite easy but has to be done in total darkness!

Not for me.

I'm sure you must get great satisfaction from printing them yourself.

Jeff

[TomMcDonald]

Yep, definitely.

One last baby one

[TomMcDonald]

A couple of black and whites:

[jindydiver]

Great stuff Tom.
I used to do a lot of B&W and I still have all the gear stored in boxes here. It would be nice to have a darkroom again.

[TomMcDonald]

Great stuff Tom.
I used to do a lot of B&W and I still have all the gear stored in boxes here. It would be nice to have a darkroom again.

Pics or it didn't happen

[jindydiver]

The only one I have scanned

[TomMcDonald]

I'd love to be canoeing down there. Where is it exactly?

[jindydiver]

The Cotter river. It is above Vanities crossing
AG66
55h 670495 6085022

The area has been locked off for many years

[Stickbow Hunter]

What beautiful big bright eyes on your bubs Tom!!!

I like that beach shot too.

That B&W of yours looks good to Jindy.

Jeff

[Gringa Bows]

Nice pics Tom

[Nephew]

They're excellent to this laymans eyes, Tom! I had forgotten how warm and textured film can look. Your daughter is so cute matey.
I love the one with the dog, he seems to be thinking "Hmmh! I used to get all Toms attention until SHE came along!"

[hazard]

They're excellent to this laymans eyes, Tom! I had forgotten how warm and textured film can look. Your daughter is so cute matey.
I love the one with the dog, he seems to be thinking "Hmmh! I used to get all Toms attention until SHE came along!"

Hey Tom
Great work mate, but I too am a layman on the photography side, but these are very nice pictures cute bubs too.

Hazard

[GrahameA]

Evening Tom.

Are you doing your own plates yet??

On a personal basis I prefer a Digital Darkroom and a good printer. You can modify negatives during the developing process and Chemical prints during the printing process. Similarly you can modify digital stuff.

However the downside of modifying negatives is the change is permanent.

Doing some dodging or burning on chemical prints is a diificult process to master - in the Digital Darroom you can learn a lot faster and always go backwards.

[TomMcDonald]

thanks y'all, yeah film has something special.

Hi Grahame,
I could never get along with the computer when it came to photos.
It's sometimes hard work doing it the old way but I feel more satisfaction and amazement when I switch on the lights and there's a perfectly nice picture sitting in the bottom of a tray full of murky chemicals