http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/ APUG.ORG is an international on-line community, completely devoted to traditional (non-digital) photographic processes. en Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:56:53 GMT vBulletin 5 http://www.apug.org/forums/images/apug4/misc/rss.jpg http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/ http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/291-thank-heavens-small-mercies.html Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:10:01 GMT So, this is my first blog post in a while and it begins with a warning as well as an introductory story. So here we go... The warning is that I... So, this is my first blog post in a while and it begins with a warning as well as an introductory story. So here we go...

The warning is that I am an idiot, and I am occasionally a bit forgetful in ways of darkroom procedure. It comes with the ADHD. So, for those of you who are hyper anal about darkroom perfection, look away NOW!

The story is this: I recently finished high school (praise JESUS, even if I am a Jew), but with crunch time approaching, there was little time to myself to do anything enjoyable, like take photos or develop my ever increasing backlog of B&W film. Promptly after the end of school, it was off to New York to relax for a little. Now I am back and finally starting to clear out the film backlog, starting yesterday. I set everything up. I got my changing bag and spooled up a roll of Ilford SFX 120, I cooled down my water to 68 degrees (20C for those of you in the civilized world), I mixed up a batch of Rodinal, poured a beaker of 500mL of Rapid Fix. I did my pre-wash and developer, and everything was going rather splendidly. But then, in the final minutes, the shit hit the fan. Having realized I forgot to check my fixer, I dropped in a small piece of 35mm film and panicked while pouring out the dev and pouring in the stop bath. Of course, Murphy's Law being in play, the damn Rapid Fix was dead. There's my panic story. I told you hyper-anal darkroom people to look away!

The part where small mercies come into play is that, because I use pyro developers a lot and believe that using an alkali fix is genuinely better for pyro, I had a jug of TF-4 in my closet. I checked it while doing my stop and it was fine, and while I didn't have time to cool it down to 68 degrees, at least my film got fixed and therefore saved. But, I have learned several lessons from this.

1) TF-4 keeps longer than Ilford Rapid Fix, as both were mixed on the same day and used on a more or less 50/50 basis. So, while it may or may not be needed for pyro devs, it certainly saved my ass.
2) Never develop film five minutes after waking up from a nap, while jet-lagged. There simply aren't enough concentration juices in your brain to work with chemicals and do processes that are time and temperature based.
3) FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHECK YOUR FIXER EVERY TIME!!!!!!

Lessons learned, sorry film. ]]> sidearm613 http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/291-thank-heavens-small-mercies.html http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/178-anything-hasselblad.html Wed, 13 May 2009 06:40:03 GMT So, very quickly, I figured I would bloggify. This is a much better outlet than twitting on Twitter. So...(omg, I went to the mall, like, today, and... So, very quickly, I figured I would bloggify. This is a much better outlet than twitting on Twitter. So...(omg, I went to the mall, like, today, and i like, saw the cutest shoes, omg!!!!)

On a more, mature note, putting aside my mocking of many women my age (16), I find that my love of analog photography has me coveting expensive cameras and lenses in a manner that is unhealthy to both mind and wallet. People my age are supposed to waste their days smoking or getting a driver's license or something to that effect, but all I find myself doing is browsing eBay for a Hasselblad 503cx and a 60mm Distagon. (one of my favorite lens manes, by the way) Then, I go to the Samy's Camera down the block from my house to find that Canon L lens I really want to photograph with. Deary me, heroin is no addiction compared to pretty cameras!

As e.e. cummings said:"by gorry by jingo by gee by gosh by gum!" ]]> sidearm613 http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/178-anything-hasselblad.html http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/124-i-am-pondering.html Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:42:22 GMT So, I am trying to come u with ideas for photographic assignments for myself to do. If anybody wants to give me a suggestion they should give one,... So, I am trying to come u with ideas for photographic assignments for myself to do. If anybody wants to give me a suggestion they should give one, but here is what i have thought about so far:

Putting my camera on self timer and, as the timer runs down, i throw a large paper plane into the frame of the image, a bit of a chance image type-thingermagigger.

still thinking. As with my creative writing stuff, every time I sit down to write a blog I get writer's block. :(

Nevertheless, post a comment with ideas, or words of wisdom, or instructions on how to do pt/pd printing ]]> sidearm613 http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/124-i-am-pondering.html http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/118-bringing-all.html Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:43:17 GMT Happy New Years all. I just returned from a road trip from my hometown LA to San Francisco, the scenic route. I saw wonderful sights and... Happy New Years all.
I just returned from a road trip from my hometown LA to San Francisco, the scenic route. I saw wonderful sights and reconnected with my father, despite the fact that we still share a home. Along for the ride was my trusty 35mm camera and several rolls of film, all black and white (and some IR :)) Well, I have returned! And in my house I find that I have become as addicted to APUG as I used to be to Facebook. Who knew? It's been a great past few weeks, and a good year overall. Best wishes to all in 09! ]]> sidearm613 http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/sidearm613/118-bringing-all.html