Photo Lab 2 (Or "Panic In The Darkroom")

Last night in photo lab we developed our first rolls of film. While it was nowhere close to MY first roll of film, it was still just as exciting as the first.

Unless you've experienced it, there really is no way it can be explained. I'm gonna try though.

You load a roll of film into a camera, (hopefully) take some pictures, rewind the roll and pop it out.

You walk into a COMPLETELY black room, pop the film can open, load the film into a reel, and cut the end of the negative off without cutting off your finger. Then you load the reel into a tank which will protect the film from light while its being developed, turn on the light and have a minor heart attack thinking that your tank wasn't completely closed. (It was.)

You pour a diluted chemical (developer) into the tank, let it work for a set number of minutes, rinse the tank with water (stop bath) then fill your tank with fixer.

After 10 minutes, you pour out your fixer and open up your tanks to see your film for the first time. Without touching the film, you try as hard as you can to see any image on the film, then panic when you can't.

So, you cross your fingers, pray under your breath, and drop your reel into a "wash" for 15 minutes. You nervously comment on how some of the film, including yours, look purple instead of gray like everyone else's.

Finally, you retrieve your reel (hopefully yours and not some stranger's) and drop it into the Photo Flo (a bubble bath for film) for a minute and a half, then RUN out to the other room, pop your film out of the reel and squeal when you see your images for the first time.

Seriously, no matter how many rolls of film I develop, I will ALWAYS squeal the first time I see pictures on my negatives. Always.

Unfortunately, you can't get a good look yet because wet negatives are very delicate and prone to scratching, so you carefully hang the long strip of negatives in the dryer, squeegee the excess Photo Flo off the film and tap your fingers anxiously on the counter waiting for them to dry.

After what seems like an eternity, your film is dry and you can gently pry it from the dryer, place it on the backlit counters and squeal again when you see how COOL some of your photos came out.

You cut your negatives into smaller strips and attempt to slide them into negative protectors, then sit down because you are absolutely exhausted from the anxiety, trauma, stress and panic you just endured developing that precious roll of film.

If you guys want to see what the reels loaded with the film look like, check out Choleesa's World. She was a good blogger and took a picture.

Next week we are actually printing photos from this roll of film. Hopefully I'll have time to scan some of the images in and share with you. I'm also working on getting my prints from last week scanned for you guys too. I want you all to share this journey with me!

Back to School

As if my life wasn't busy enough already, I've gone and added yet another item.

But this one's good, baby.

I'm taking a Photography Class!

And it gets even better.

I'm taking a Photography Class with my crazy (in the best way possible) friend Choleesa!

It's just an introductory class, but covers both film and digital photography. I've actually taken this class once before, but this time I have a different instructor, so it will be a whole new experience. Also, the class syllabus is way different (studio portraits, anyone?).

And now, I have a confession.

I have an obsession with Black and White Film Photography.

When I took this class the first time, I shot 10 rolls of film. It's only a 16 week class. I have a binder with 15 sleeves of negatives.

And none of you have ever seen any of these images.

Sucks for you.

See, some of my film images are my favorite shots EVER. And they're all beautiful, moody, dramatic Black and White. And they've all been developed and printed, one by one, by my very own hands.

I hope to remedy this situation in the near future, but I can't promise anything. I can promise that I will be hosting more giveaways (not necessarily in the near future), this time for some of my film prints. And the great thing about those is they truly are one of a kind. No two film prints are the same, especially when they are developed and printed by hand.

Anyway, what I was really trying to say is I'm a college student again! And its oh-so fun! Plus, that student ID really helps out at the movies.

We've already had our first two classes, and developed our first prints. Next week we'll actually be shooting some film, then developing it and printing the images. I'll try to post projects as they are completed, but can't guarantee anything. In the mean time, I'm going to do a Happy Dance.

A Giddy Happy Oh-My-Gosh-I-Love-Film-Photography Dance!

P.S. As I write this, it is POURING down rain. Again. I'm pretty sure we haven't had this much rain since 2005. Everyone, please cross your fingers, cross your toes, hold your breathe, close your eyes, pray out loud, do a dance, do whatever it takes to ensure that the rain stops before tomorrow. We've got a big date planned with the Desert Rose and the rain would just ruin my hair. Maria's too.