Ever since high school I've always wanted to learn to develop my own film, but the interest was always relegated to the back of my consciousness. But a few months ago, on a trip to Charleston to visit Jessie, I spent some time talking with her friend Kevin who's got a darkroom in his house, and he really revived my enthusiasm about processing my own film. Now that the construction at home is nearing the end, and the use of my bedroom (and, more importantly, bathroom) are restored to me, I'm revisiting the idea.

On Friday morning after work I stopped by the photo lab and talked with the guy about developing photos. He explained to me how the process works, and which chemicals and equipment are necessary for each step. The first part of the process (developing the negatives themselves) is actually relatively simple, and doesn't require much equipment. Although the second part (making the actual print) is generally the more fun one, it requires more space and equipment, and I display most of my images online anyway. So I figure being able to develop my own film will be more useful, at least to start. I've been meaning to buy a nice scanner with good film scanning capabilities anyway, which, combined with my photo printer, would basically eliminate the need for an optical enlarger. Of course, scanning and printing on a computer doesn't give the rewarding experience of watching your image appaear on the paper as you drop it into the developer.

I ended up buying the three chemicals and a small developing tank, so now I can develop 35mm and 120 (medium format) roll film. Tomorrow I plan to go to a few stores and see if I can find something to cover the skylight and block the bottom of the door in the bathroom, along with some 8x10" plastic trays and a thermometer.

There seems to be a recurring idiom in my life: old people trying to discourage me from pursuing more traditional, less automated forms of an activity. When I was asking the guy at the photo lab all these questions about b&w film development, he stopped me and asked, "Why do you want to develop black-and-white film, anyway? If you shoot color film, you've got the flexibility to convert it to black and white or leave it in color." But of course, I can't develop my own color film, so I'd lose the creative control over the development process (plus it's just less fun).

It reminded me of the time several years ago when I took the Camry down to the mechanic and asked if they could convert it to a manual transmission. The guy asked me, "Why do you want to drive a manual anyway? It's just more work. When you get older you'll learn to appreciate automatics." I'd have thought someone who works with cars for a living could appreciate (or at least understand) the pleasure of taking a more direct part in the operation of the car.

It's much the same with film development — sure, shooting color and letting the photo lab convert it to black and white might be easier, but it's just not as fun to let somebody else do the actual work. It's weird to me how the people "in the business" always seem to find that sentiment foolish.