Topic: A nice short film from the Guardian about Hippies and Darkrooms

[LT]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/video/2011/jan/14/photographing-death-darkroom-video?CMP=twt_gu

Enjoy! 

[Phil Bebbington]

Thank you, Leon. I found it very gentle, very nice.

[CarlRadford]

Need some hair extensions

[sapata]

Very sad...

[original_ann]

Ooo, I love that.  The only thing I didn't like was his assertion that enlargers are going to go away... (perish the thought). 

[Nigel]

Great, I must go and see that exhibition - it runs until 7 March.

[Dave Elden]

Very sad...

I have to partly disagree because I believe, to almost quote Mark Twain, that reports of the death of the darkroom are greatly (OK, somehwat) exaggerated. Yes, many (most?) commercial darkrooms have closed but I believe there is sufficient interest in the artist/hobbyist/educational segments to support a darkroom/wet printing ecosystem for the foreseeable future.
Anecdotal eveidence:  I'm teaching 3 multi-week darkroom courses this winter and they are all full, in some cases with wait lists.  Mostly with photographers in the 20-30 age range (i.e. photographers to whom the term digital camera is redundant - it's just a camera).

PS thanks to the OP for posting the link - it's a great description of the project and the value of actually making a print.

[sapata]

Very sad...

I have to partly disagree because I believe, to almost quote Mark Twain, that reports of the death of the darkroom are greatly (OK, somehwat) exaggerated. Yes, many (most?) commercial darkrooms have closed but I believe there is sufficient interest in the artist/hobbyist/educational segments to support a darkroom/wet printing ecosystem for the foreseeable future.
Anecdotal eveidence:  I'm teaching 3 multi-week darkroom courses this winter and they are all full, in some cases with wait lists.  Mostly with photographers in the 20-30 age range (i.e. photographers to whom the term digital camera is redundant - it's just a camera).

PS thanks to the OP for posting the link - it's a great description of the project and the value of actually making a print.

Hi Dave,

I can see your point of view and I also agree with you, but until when this is going to be possible? There will be a time when the material will be no longer available or so expensive that a very few would be able to afford, this is sad for me.

[Francois]

Somehow, this project reminds me of the one of a local photographer called Michel Campeau.
To further emphasize the obsolescence of the darkroom, he shot a ton of them using a small digital point&shoot and it's built-in flash...

here's the link...
http://www.agencered.ca/campeau/Darkroom/index.htm

somehow, it just isn't the same... it lacks the tactile element.