AboutMartin Seymour Expertise I have worked in most aspects of still photography, using film and the wet process for 50 years. Employing all film formats 35mm to 8x10 sizes, I went over partly to digital cameras in 02, also PC editing of pictures.
I still find film work more demanding , as you have to get it right at the start with no auto settings on the camera to cover my mistakes.
Pictorial work is my personal interest.
Its is not a good idea for me to suggest a particular make of equipment just a type, and its uses.
Experience
Past/Present clients Ricardo eng. watercraft, IBM
100,000 members of the public.
Question Hello
It's been many years since I used a darkroom, but I use 5x4 regularly (or would do if the cost of processing wasn't so high!) I'm thinking of processing b&w 5x4 in a tank in the utility room attached to the kitchen. We do have a member of the family who suffers allergies, and I am anxious to know how toxic/lingering modern b&w chemical smells are. We also have a dog who lives in this room. I just can't remember how pungent the chemicals are, and whether they will be easy to clear with an open window! I'd like to use LF more, and this seems the best way to get round the prohibitive £2 min cost per sheet for commercial processing!
Answer Hi Russell
How about that 5x4 great stuff real photography. It would certainly pay you to process you own opening the window could be difficult as to security and temperature etc also keeping it dark inside!!!.
As to smell I cant honestly say how strong they are as I have got used to them over the years.BUT ITS NOT MUCH IAM SURE.
Have you considered an extractor fan in the window itself the kitchen type may do the trick? Or you could make a wooden panel that fits in the window aperture with the fan fixed to it, open the window a bit. And switch on the fan
Do you have your own 5x4 tanks etc should be able to pick these up cheap as most people have gone digital!
Or you could consider using roll film backs on 5x4 camera! To bring down the cost. 9x6 format!
good luck.
Martin
