Tiny Darkroom Project
 

I'm building my daughter a darkroom in the basement, using the space under the basement stairs plus a little bumpout into the rest of the basement.

The space is essentially an "L". Imagine you have a piece of graph paper. Draw a rectangle, appx 36" wide x 36" high, with a 30" door at the bottom edge. This is the core of the darkroom, where the person stands or sits on a high stool. On the upper edge, add a rectangle about 36" wide x 39" high. That is the space under the stairs, we have two stacked and staggered counters for developing trays, the lower counter extends about 10" closer to the person than the upper. On the right edge, add a rectangle appx 28" wide x 36" high. That is a little bump out, and where the enlarger will go.

Yeah, it will be a cozy space. When she has lots of printing to do, she can use the nearby rental darkroom, it has a print developing machine, print dryers, light tables, long sinks, 12 enlargers, etc. I should add that she develops film at the rental darkroom too, because they have all the chemicals freshly mixed, temp controlled water, negative drying closet, and it costs like $2/roll. This home darkroom will be for small projects and getting away from the family.

Question is , anyone have ideas or suggestions for what I should add "while I'm in there"?

Things I've considered:
- Running water or a drain. The laundry sink is only about 10' away so I could install some flexible or PVC lines to bring water to a tap above the tray counters. A proper drain would be tough. I'm not sure why we need water in there: seems the trays can simply be filled and dumped at the laundry sink.
- Electricity: of course. There is an unused overhead light fixture under the stairs so tapping power is simple. I figure I need outlets for one or two safelights, the enlarger and timer, a radio or iPhone dock; and a normal switched overhead light. Isn't there usually also a red light outside the darkroom that comes on when the normal light inside is switched on?
- Ventilation: I'm probably going to use a bathroom vent fan to pull air from over the tray counters, through a duct leading to the nearest basement window. She'll open the window when using the darkroom. I don't want to make a hole in the siding for a permanent duct.
- Print drying rack: I could build some mesh racks under the tray counters, for prints to dry. It might be a dusty spot though.
- Computer: she currently monopolizes the family Mac when she is doing her digital photography. I'm considering trying to squeeze a Mac mini and monitor/keyboard somewhere in this tiny space.
- Storage: we 'll need storage for chemicals, paper, negative carriers, etc. There will a large-ish unused space under the enlarger counter. Maybe I can find a drawer unit that will fit there.
- Light sealing: I haven't given this much thought. I'm assuming that weather stripping the door will do it. The space is windowless, of course.

Any thoughts, tips, ideas, warnings?

Running water and a drain for sure, the bigger the sink, the better; lots of counter space for trays and a decent enlarger. Also space for chemicals and supplies, lots of sockets to plug things into. Room to mix chemicals and work. B/W or color? It makes a difference.

Paper seems to like cool, so maybe a small fridge. I should think a light socket, for a red bulb, above the door outside, with a switch inside, so she can signal when she's inside working. And the door needs to be lightproof. Obviously.

How much space? Need to know the size of the prints she anticipates. 11 x 14? 16 x 20? Bigger? Need to plan accordingly for trays and enlarger.

Hard for me to see why a darkroom needs space for a computer, since they don't care what the light around them is like, but what do I know?

Film is dead....spend the money on some nice lenses for a quality digital camera and a good photo printer.

Processing of film and papers yields hazardous waste that your local waste water management facility may or may not be able to deal with.

In CA it's likely highly illegal to let it run off into the public supply.

If you are on a septic tank you may want to consider some type of Silver recovery system.

Fixer is the only problematic waste. Developer, stop, etc can all go down the drain.

Wow - a thread about darkrooms - and NO PICTURES!?

Dust will be an issue particularly under a staircase.

Do you have the equipment to process film? I have an old enlarger, stuff to process cibachrome, trays etc.

Wanna make a deal?

For the papers, once you load the paper into the processing drum, you can do the rest in your kitchen table top.

All you really need is a slop bucket and somewhere else to do the rinsing. I spent 8 years doing the wet work in a closet that I built a bench large enough to hold five paper trays. This was on a bedroom/office that I blacked out and had enlargers on a desk.

Just had to get the rinsing gear out of the guest bathroom before company came...

I had a darkroom in a side building when I was in high school. Accordingly, I imagine it is still full of my trays, stainless tanks, Durst color and B&W enlargers/lenses, timers, et al. They are at my Dad's home in Los Altos.

You are welcome to take all of it (please).

Jyl:

I am relatively close if you are in the SF Bay area. I have a complete darkroom sitting in storage, all kinds of good stuff - I have been holding on to this stuff waiting for someone who could make good use of this equipment.

If you are interested feel free to PM me, I would be glad to donate it all to a good cause.

Otherwise, I would add to the other responses by saying make sure you have good ventilation, it can get 'harsh' in a darkroom after a bit.

mike

Good for you; your daughter's a lucky girl. Good advice above. I'd add:

1) Make the enlarger table as absolutely stable as possible; even slight vibrations will blur prints. Separate from developing tables if at all possible. Think 'wet' side and 'dry' side
2) +1 on the drain and vent
3) Some kind of hard floor that's easy to mop if necessary; no carpet (dust)
4) Keep the drying racks high (dust); I've had success making wood frames & stapling window screen to them (prints face up to dry, face down for matte look)
5) If basement is un- (or semi-) finished, insulation and drywall -- no open studs, underside of stairs, etc.

All I can think of at the moment; good luck and keep us posted.

Basement is indeed unfinished, but warm and livable - her photo studio, wife's art studio, laundry, mini home gym, are all down there.

I was thinking that cleaning all surfaces, caulking cracks, then painting the studs and sheathing and underside of stairs, everything (which I need to do anyway, to make it black) would serve as dust control? Idea being, a painted stud would be as dust free as a drywalled stud?

Floor will be painted concrete with a rubber mat.

Enlarger table will be heavy wood construction, bolted into the studs.

Drying racks, keep them high - got it.

Hanging the door tonight.

I understand drywall is a PITA for such a small project, but even w/primer & paint open framing and backside of sheathing will gather much dust.

Just thinking out loud, but maybe staple & seam tape plastic sheeting to the framing? Fast, easy, cheap, and creates a dust-free barrier that's easy to wipe down? Might even be able to find some thick (2-3 mil) in black. Just a thought.

Wow! Developing film the old fashion way :) Thats pretty cool. I love to hear it when an artist mixes their own paint, or a carpenter harvests their own wood.

Hmm, thinking about it, to skip drywalling would be lazy/cutting corners. I really only need to drywall the bumpout I framed for the enlarger, the underside of the stairs, and the ceiling. Okay, I will probably do the drywall.

There is no better way to LEARN the basics of photography. Watching a image appear on the paper as it develops is just cool. She will learn more about how to make a good photo with B&W printing and processing the film herself than all the books she can ever read.

Have her turn of the automatic exposure feature on the camera. Learn to gauge the exposure on film by bracketing the exposure. See the difference of 1/2 stop under or over exposed. It can be a ton of fun and great learning.

Once that is "burned in" to her brain move on to good digital cameras. All of that core learning will make he a better photographer.

I really hope she has a different career path. Very few professional photographers can make any money. Find something else to pay the mortgage. The would has gone to the "good enough" standard. My cell phone will shoot a picture better than my film camera from the 70s.

I used to bulk roll my own B/W film into 35mm film canisters, bought it at 250' a roll if I remember right.


I'm just curious though, she already has full access to a large rental darkroom with 12 enlargers and all sinks/chems/trays? An you want to put her in a closet with no room to work?

I'm scared of the darkrooms.

Me too; Alden 74 IIRC.

Agree w/Glen that watching an image appear in the dark before your eyes is magical. But the 'print/film vs. digital' question typically focuses on output -- quality of the final image.

Film typically has greater dynamic range than most consumer image sensors, even when exposed and/or developed less than perfectly.

But to me the bigger issue is how technology -- any technology -- fundamentally changes the creative/artistic/technical experience.

For example, most of us communicate differently -- different content, different tone, different expectations -- depending on whether we're texting, tweeting, e-mailing, using a word processor (?!?), typewriter, pen, pencil, chalk, or fountain pen. Not only is the outcome/product different, so is the process and the nature of human engagement in communication.

Same thing happens w/photography. The fundamental nature of human creative experience (not to mention the vast difference in technical understanding of how images are made and what makes for a compelling image vs. not) is very different with a phone camera, SLR, digital SLR, view camera, point-n-shoot, film negative, film positive, 35mm, Minox, medium- or large format, or instant. You want photographic magic and wonderment? Get a Polaroid pack camera and some Fuji B&W instant film -- you'll see the world very differently.

Same reason many here prefer analog to digital or air-cooled vs. liquid-cooled. To me, Porsche is an experience; Miata is an appliance.

Sorry to get OT and sideways on you, JYL. I applaud and appreciate that you're supporting your daughter's interests in this way; her interest in film photography can have some far-reaching effects.

The room will have a fair amount of humidity from the trays. Why not use a vinyl-coated hardboard? It's easier to work with, you won't have to tape and mud (plus the dust), and you could simply use drywall screws to mount and caulk in the corners?

The local rental darkroom is great, and they host exhibits, offer classes, etc. But it is less convenient than popping down to the basement, plus they aren't open all the time and it does cost $ to use.

Vinyl-coated hardboard - I don't know this stuff, but it sounds good, so i will check it out.

She does various different arts - drawing, film, digital. I seriously doubt it will be a career, her academic interests are in biology, genetics, etc.

After she goes off to college, it will be my darkroom, hopefully I will get back into photography myself.

Seriously, while not doing a whole lot of work flow, I just set up mine in a downstairs bathroom for the day with a red light and towels taped over the door jamb.

sink and bathtub and some folding TV trays in the tub and you're set.

Yes watching the image appear is awesome, as are Contact Sheets to preview each frame before enlarging.

Ask 98% of people today what ISO/ASA film is, or shutter speed or f-stops are, and you'll get a dumb deer in the headlights look back at you.

Glen,

Don't get me wrong. I spent lots of time in a darkroom with b&w and color film. I loved darkrooms! Learned a lot about chemicals, paper, film, etc. Didn't learn much about actually photography from that experience though.

The art of taking photos is a lot different than the science of developing film and making slides and prints. Sure, there is art in burning a dodging prints. But that pales in comparison to what you can with digital photos and the right software.

Film is dead. The art happens when you are behind the camera. DSLR or film SLR doesn't change that. You aren't going to learn more or take better photos with film and you aren't going to learn more about photography or get better results in a darkroom.

Scott

Could say the same thing about painting. Why use brushes and paint and canvas. Why not simply use digital tools to simulate paint, with the infinite flexibility that computers provide?

Because the medium, including its limitations, is a part of the art.

Similar reason for riding a bicycle instead of a motorcycle, playing a piano and not a synthesizer, etc.

Of course, film is dead from a commercial standpoint. Advertising, news, fashion, sports, snapshots, every functional use of photography is 100% digital. But painting died centuries ago from a commercial standpoint, and it remains an art form. I think something similar will happen with film.

No you can't...because painting is 95% of the art......the subject is far less important than the artist's interpretation along with the technique with the brush and with mixing the paint. You can't get the texture with a computer.

Photography is quite different. It's all about the image. No one cares of if it was shot with a DSLR, SLR, etc. or what lens was used. \

Film is dying an inglorious death and it will not survive. Kodak is gone.....the hobby market can't sustain film. It's not like painting supplies. People still love to paint. It's quite popular. Darkrooms and the required supplies? The writing is on the wall....

Film supplies and chemicals are pretty low tech. The lines to make the emulsion are fully depreciated, they get bought, moved to low-cost countries, operations scaled down to the current market size, and selling a roll of film for $5 is pretty darned profitable. Ilford, FujiFilm, Kodak (the film business), Lomography are all profitable.

The equipment - cameras, lenses, etc - is in essentially endless supply.

As long as there is a solid niche of demand, there will be film and the means to make art with it.

Remember how record players and tube amplifiers were going to disappear?

Film is not dead
 

Pinhole photography. I'm not into it, but I know people who are. A guy in PDX builds the wooden cameras (975 a copy) and a guy in Korea builds the brass ones (watch-works for timing the shutter!)

Making satisfying images takes time and imagination to learn.

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Cool, h_o; thanks for posting.

Project coming along. Built the walls, hung the door. Wired up the outlets. Painting the interior a flat medium gray. Basic enlarger and tray shelving is built, it will be a lighter gray. Still need a supplies storage shelf and a print drying rack. It will be a pretty basic and small, but usable, darkroom. I used something of similar size in the college darkroom back when, and it was fine.