Another 16 year old at risk of going to the dark side [Archive]

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SchwinnParamount

01-02-2006, 08:46 PM

I had the pleasure to meet a fine young man last night and take him on a tour of my darkroom. I printed an 11x14 from tri-x 35mm of a couple of wrestlers on the mat at a tournament. The kid was excited to say the least when he saw the image come up in the developer.

David has been in foster care for the last couple of years because of a difficult home situation. Life has been tough but is getting better for him.

My cousin is his foster parent and tells me that David has really settled down and become serious about his schooling and sports. David is a really fine half back for his high school football team but his acedemics are so-so. We believe it is because he hasn't found much to interest him in school... until now.

The school he goes to is 1 year old. It was built in rural Washington state, south east of Seattle. The district had good intentions with the building and built a room in the photo department which is plumbed and wired for a darkroom. Unfortunately, that is as far as it got. The photo instructor had to entirely re-work her curriculum for digital as she was told that she wouldn't get any traditional equipment for the darkroom. David has been in her class since September and has taken a real interest in using a camera.

After last night, David really wants to learn photography. He's bored silly by digital and wants nothing to do with it. This is the problem. The only real darkroom he has access to is mine. I'm happy to teach him everything I know and let him use it any time he wants. I live 45 minutes away by car and David does not have a way to get here unless my cousin drives him.

He asked me what it would take ($$) to set up a darkroom at my cousin's house. I told David that used equipment for processing and printing 35mm could be had easily enough. As cheap as things can be had these days, David does not have the money to equip his darkroom. I can help a little but cannot do it all.

Which brings me to you folks. What is the possibility that someone has spare darkroom equipment (pans, tongs, timer, enlarger....) which they might be willing to donate? It does not have to be top notch... functional will due nicely. I can set up a darkroom for David and the other 2 foster children at my cousin's house but need a little help.

Craig

01-02-2006, 09:01 PM

I've got a 35mm Durst enlarger with a 50mm Schneider lens in the original box that you can have for the cost of postage.

Anupam Basu

01-02-2006, 09:07 PM

I am a grad student on a tight budget. But in spite of that I managed to put together a pretty complete darkroom setup in my bathroom. You need to be really patient on EBAY for second hand - perhaps slightly damaged equipment.

Here's a list - prices include shipping:

Durst F30 - $20 - Well it went for $8 because the top cover/radiator was missing - an hour's tweaking and I made a nice replacement with a metal biscuit can.

A set of filters - about $18 from freestyle

4 trays, Tongs, thermometer etc, 2 reel tank - $35 or so from B&H

So, if you help him with the enlarger and get a good deal its really not much to set up a darkroom - I'd bet it can be done easily for $75 to $100.

I spend about $25 a month on chemicals and bulk film.

-A

SchwinnParamount

01-02-2006, 09:44 PM

I've got a 35mm Durst enlarger with a 50mm Schneider lens in the original box that you can have for the cost of postage.

Thank you Craig! That will be a big help... I've pm'd you on this too.

John Bartley

01-02-2006, 09:59 PM

Which brings me to you folks. What is the possibility that someone has spare darkroom equipment (pans, tongs, timer, enlarger....) which they might be willing to donate? It does not have to be top notch... functional will due nicely. I can set up a darkroom for David and the other 2 foster children at my cousin's house but need a little help.

Unfortunately I do not have any darkroom equipment here spare, but I am going through my Dad's camera stuff and in the cameras is a Ricoh 35ZF camera and case, which my dad bought new and which works fine as far as I know. I'd be happy to donate that as a starter camera and pay the postage if that helps at all. I'm pretty sure that I have a spare working flash around here some where also ...

cheers

SchwinnParamount

01-02-2006, 10:27 PM

Unfortunately I do not have any darkroom equipment here spare, but I am going through my Dad's camera stuff and in the cameras is a Ricoh 35ZF camera and case, which my dad bought new and which works fine as far as I know. I'd be happy to donate that as a starter camera and pay the postage if that helps at all. I'm pretty sure that I have a spare working flash around here some where also ...

cheers

John, that will help very much. Presently David is using a borrowed camera which he will have to return shortly. I'll pay the postage to send it here if you let me know how much it will cost to send it to the Tacoma, WA area.

You guys are the greatest!

Jim Edmond

01-02-2006, 10:32 PM

I have a decent 8x10 easel that yours for the shipping cost.

SchwinnParamount

01-02-2006, 10:36 PM

I have a decent 8x10 easel that yours for the shipping cost.
consider it done. PM me with the cost to ship to zipcode 98466

Jim Moore

01-02-2006, 11:16 PM

I'll go through my stuff when I get home from work. I'm sure I can come up with some items. I know that I at least have some paper that I can send.

Jim

Peter Schrager

01-02-2006, 11:53 PM

I have a film developing tank;blotter rolls for drying paper and can throw in some other stuff.....
Peter

david b

01-03-2006, 12:27 AM

Is he still looking for a camera?

SchwinnParamount

01-03-2006, 02:10 AM

I'll go through my stuff when I get home from work. I'm sure I can come up with some items. I know that I at least have some paper that I can send.

Jim

That would help a whole bunch. David was surprised that photo paper is more expensive than computer paper. I could see from his expression when I told him how much I pay for paper that he was thinking "Oh crud, I can't afford to print!"

I made that print last night on Ilford Multicontrast Premium FB in 11x14 size and he really loved it. I believe however that whatever paper he gets to use will be wonderful enough to allow him to produce the magic we all love.

SchwinnParamount

01-03-2006, 02:17 AM

Is he still looking for a camera?

Hi David!

John Bartley is sending a camera from his fathers estate. (Thanks John). I appreciate your thinking about us. I am giving David a bulk film loader and a few casettes. I have an unopened 100' roll of Plus X which I'm also bringing him. As far as the basics are concerned, we still need an enlarger timer, trays and a set of contrast filters.

APUG'ers... nobody beats them in the generousity department!

SchwinnParamount

01-03-2006, 02:25 AM

I have a film developing tank;blotter rolls for drying paper and can throw in some other stuff.....
Peter

Great! He will get to learn how to develop his own film now. Thank you Peter, you 'da man!

Eric Mac

01-03-2006, 02:44 AM

Daniel Lawton

01-03-2006, 02:46 AM

Jim,

I have a set of 3.5x3.5 inch Ilford multigrade filters, a Beseler 50mm enlarging lens and a couple of packs of Dektol (in date) that are available. PM me if any of this helps.

SchwinnParamount

01-03-2006, 02:54 AM

What else do you need? I have a timer, safelight, and a couple other goodies. My price is steeper than the other guys. He has to work for it. I would like two of his favorite prints (signed) at summers end. This will give him time to shoot and experiment.

PM me and I'll see what I have to help him out.

Eric

PS I hope he doesn't go to the darkslide, I don't have anything to help out there.

Hi Eric,

Yep those things will make a huge difference! I will also tell David that he will need to make good prints for all of you who contribute. He's a good kid and will definitely honor your request. I don't know if they have internet access out there but if they do then I'll get David set up with an APUG userID when he starts producing work. The house is on septic and propane. Oh and you drive a couple of miles down a gravel road before getting to the house deep in the forest. Sweet location for photography in my humble opinion.

SchwinnParamount

01-03-2006, 02:55 AM

Jim,

I have a set of 3.5x3.5 inch Ilford multigrade filters, a Beseler 50mm enlarging lens and a couple of packs of Dektol (in date) that are available. PM me if any of this helps.
Perfect Daniel! I'll pm you

Thomassauerwein

01-03-2006, 02:57 AM

SchwinnParamount

01-03-2006, 03:05 AM

I have a bunch of stuff also. Lots of entry level stuff including a enlarger that prints up to 6x7. Proofers 8x10 and 5x7 easles, paper safe, darkroom light, trays just all kinds of stuff I'm happy to share. It is all packed right now till march but if he is still interested it is all his for the price of a print and shipping.

They should be finished enclosing a space for the darkroom around March so that would be a great timeframe. We have a 35mm enlarger coming along with a timer, darkroom light, 8x10 easel, developing tank, paper, dektol, bulk film loader, film... did I miss anything?

We don't have a paper safe, trays, 5x7 easel or some other stuff for his darkroom yet... Oh shoot, I also have a second print dryer which I'm not using. I'll send that over too.