Topic: Help, I'm considering getting rid of darkroom!

[sausage100uk]

 

I have been in a photograsphic rut recently with nary a shutter click to be heard. I have even got to the point of thinking about dismantling my garage darkroom (which has become an impromptue storeroom over winter). I'm wondering wether just deving and scanning will get me through or will i miss smelly solutions and the red glow.... 

edited to remove shiraz powered spelling mistakes

[Francois]

Mine's become a store room too... and I get all my stuff done outside since I now shoot only color.
I still have all the equipment and plan on shrinking things to the size of a large closet while trying to maintain functionality.
Even if I don't enlarge, it'll be at least a good storage for all my gear.

[snewbery]

Can't speak for anyone else of course, but if I gave up my darkroom, I'd feel like I'd lost an arm... Doesn't prevent me from shooting color, digital, etc., etc. It's just a wonderful way of working that I keep coming back to.

[sapata]

This world is so unfair ! 

How I wish I could have a space to do some  alternative photography... things like collodion or other stuff that requires a place where you wouldn't bother if gets messy...

[gregor]

you'll regret it. To have space and set-up is something only a minority has.  Pressing the shutter is only half the photo - that darkroom is the other half. And public darkrooms are not cheap....

[LT]

you'll regret it. To have space and set-up is something only a minority has.  Pressing the shutter is only half the photo - that darkroom is the other half. And public darkrooms are not cheap....

gregor's on the money there.  if you're not using it, but there's no pressing need to get rid, then just leave it be for now and see how things look or feel in 6 months or so.

[vicky slater]

"Pressing the shutter is only half the photo - that darkroom is the other half."

but does this mean i only ever take half a picture?

[Heather]

I've not used my B&W darkroom since November I think...

But I use polaroid and make cyanotypes that don't require a darkroom.

[Phil Bebbington]

Glad you said that, Vicky. I have had a darkroom for over 10 years, custom made in a loft space and much to my wife's disgust I have never used it. I have always seen them as two hobbies. Sure, I can see how they compliment each other and how it would be very fulfilling to be in control of the whole process, but, they are very different things.

I had a makeshift darkroom for years and so thought making a proper darkroom would be just wonderful and yet even before it was finished I realised how much I disliked messing around with chemicals. Yes, it was magical seeing the image appear before my eyes, but, I realised that it was taking photos I was in love with and the processing just took me away  from that.

I have a huge respect for those that do the whole thing, I really do, but, I don't think that JUST taking photos is only half the process (although oddly it is!) -although, I'm sure that Leon didn't mean it made us camera only photographers were half the photographers that we could be!

Addressing the question though - I agree, if there is no need to  dismantle then don't. My darkroom sits waiting for the day that I change my mind - or Jan decides she wants  to start farming puppies in the space!

[mikeg]

I feel guilty every time I look at my poor old enlarger sat on the floor covered by a dust cloth. It's been replaced on the workbench by an A3+ printer. I haven't used the enlarger properly for just over a year now, and I keep on saying I'll fire it up especially to do some lith printing, but my main problem is time. I just don't have a full day or a series of full days to spend in the dark. It's so much easier to quickly process an image in Lightroom and print it out.

In a way I feel like I'm cheating, but I know that if I only had the darkroom I wouldn't get anything done. So don't worry about the darkroom. Life is too short, move on.

As far as getting you out of a rut. Difficult one. I'm sure we've all been there. Try and find something that inspires or encourages you.

1. A new camera?

2. Go and see some exhibitions

3. Read a few books, for example some ones that help me are
Art and Fear http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Fear-Observations-Rewards-Artmaking/dp/0961454733/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270118018&sr=8-1
On Being a Photographer http://shop.lenswork.com/onbeingaphotographerbydavidhurnmagnumandbilljay.aspx

4. Listen to some podcasts. Many podcasts focus on technique, hardware, Photoshop etc but the following don't and are more inspiring and motivational.
Brooks Jensen, Jeff Curto's Camera Position, Thoughts on Photography.

5. Join a local group, camera club, photographic society.

6. Join a print exchange, postcard exchange etc.

Hope that helps

Mike

[LT]

I don't think that JUST taking photos is only half the process (although oddly it is!) -although, I'm sure that Leon didn't mean it made us camera only photographers were half the photographers that we could be!

to be fair, It was gregor who said that 

I was referring to the first sentiment in his post 

[Phil Bebbington]

Leon, my apologies, although I assumed that nothing was meant in the comment! I ponder the darkroom side often so it was a subject I was pleased to see mentioned. It's odd because for a while I almost felt guilty for not  doing the lot ( take photo, develop film and print) but realised it was taking photos that I love, much like my love of cooking doesn't motivate me to breed my own pork. Poor example, but, I'm sure you know what I mean. Anyway, the darkroom sits idle, but, I shall not dismantle until I retire when I have more time and can make a balanced decision of whether I want to do more.

[LT]

. Anyway, the darkroom sits idle, but, I shall not dismantle until I retire when I have more time and can make a balanced decision of whether I want to do more.

No worries Phil.  I was only jesting.  But this point you make is what I was aiming it in my original post.  Make no Rash Decisions.  leave it for a while and let it brew then if after you've given things enough time to either reemerge or die completely, then you'll know what the right thing to do is. 

I have to say that I do agree with Gregors statement on a personal level though - my enjoyment from photography is in knowing that I made the print from start to finish.  But I dont think that lessens the importance of other's work if they dont subscribe to my way of doing things.

[Phil Bebbington]

Leon, I have huge respect  for those that do the whole process - I wish I had the desire and the motivation. Perhaps my reluctance to dismantle the darkroom speaks volumes in its own way.

[Mike (happyforest)]

Join in with the latest collaboration.

My photography is very much limited (family, close friends and attempts to do something different on holiday's), although I am trying to expand it.

So I find the collaborations simulating and they make me try and do something outside the norm.

I haven't had access to a darkroom for 20 plus years but still have the enlarger etc for when the kids leave home or I retire, which ever comes first. So keep it while you can.

My daughters gone to university but it's local so she's still here.

Mike

[Francois]

Could very well be something that would help getting out of that rut. Especially since this is a particularly hard theme... it definitely gets my brain working overtime!

[christopher walrath]

Do not get rid of it.  Pack it up.  Store it.  FEEL NO OBLIGATION as a photographer TO USE IT.  When I am in a rut and click not, I feel guilty in that I am not using what God gave me.  But that's not true.  We all need a reset sometimes.  Don't rush it.  Dig out your first photographs and try to remember how they made you feel and perhaps why you got into this thing in the first place.  Don't feel obligated and DO NOT RUSH IT.  Only serves to make things worse.