Home Film Development Debut!

Finally got it going- just 2 rolls so far- Fuji Acros 100 and Fuji Neopan 400 both with Diafine and Kodak Rapid Fixer and dried with Rexton Flash Dry. I also used the Arista old-school style development tank with apron which left marks on the sides and also may have led to the visible streaking on these pictures! Better luck next time! The Acros came out great and that is what you see here but the Neopan is too poor to show so I am going to experiment with the development method on that film. At least I am started ;)

First Hollywood Style Shoot

Ok no Film developed yet- I won't be able to for a few weeks as I am in the boonies now- bring on my darkroom!!! But here are some digital captures from shoot 1. Thanks Melissa!!

And color:

First Test: Self

Using a small focusing fresnel to left of my position with barn doors in horizontal plane and then some very mild flood light from rear right of the camera. The camera was my old trusty Olmypus 5050z digital set to monotone and operated by remote. looking promising!!! Now a Model please!!! :)

Light Blockers Created and Hung!

Okay so here is what you get if you combine black foam core bought on ebay, painters tape, a box cutter, a ruler, wall hooks from Walmart and a couple of picture hooks:

Wall Hook detail.

Two foam core sheets joined to hang in front of long window. Can also be interchanageably hung in front of outer door window.

Here is the system I taped together for the 2 large sheet windows (45" by 48"):


Overall view of hanging foamcore blocker.

Detail of hooks- made from picture hangers!

And the side windows:

So now I can hang and rearrange these blockers for privacy during shoots or to precisely control incoming daylight! Now last thing I need is to set up intial lighting test and get some 'prop' furniture!!

Darkroom Separated from Studio!

A temporary set-up but I think it will be effective to allow me a dark-room space and a functioning stuido until I can build a proper wall between them. I maybe should have made the dark curtain longer but I did not want it touching the ground so I'll probably load film in the developing reels after dark just to be sure! But I am most excited that i will be able to start shooting now! Last project today is to start working on the foam core window blocks and maybe start setting up some lights! I guess I need furniture too! Tricks!

Darkroom side:

It will do!

With just daylight- considerably more dark! :D

Painting done!

Finally I am ready to block off the darkroom windows and doorway and set up my studio for real:

I will use black paper which i am measuring and cutting to go around the duct work and wiring. I will use tape and black foam core to make hinged and foldable light-blockers for all the windows to control daylight and privacy.

Starting to organize my equipment to other room- lighting equipment on top and cameras and back-drops, assessories on the bottom at the doorway bench:

Painting: Halfway

This was the scene this morning:

Then by this evening:

Definitely needs a 2nd coat- probably tomorrow evening if the weather holds. That side wall is very porous but it will be eventually covered with drywall anyway ;) Almost there!

Ready to Paint!

So I just finished sanding and tomorrow after a damp wipe-down I should be able to paint the black section of my studio- I am doing 2 walls in matte black and 2 in matte white to give me some flexibility and so i don't have to always rely on backdrops.

Then I can block out the 'windows' (marked with green X's in the photo below) into my planned darkroom area with black paper for now (permanent new walls later). I am going to use a system of homemade hinged window covers made from black foamcore board(just bought a case of 10) to control light from all the windows. I may put up a curtain at the entrance to the darkroom temporarily before I put in a dividing wall to split the darkroom froma corridor back and up to the house above. I will post again once painted and windows are blocked! Then hopefully a first test shoot!

Huffing and Puffing

So here is what a small hammer and a lot of determination will do in 30 mins- but I gota few scrapes along the way. - I have now removed the debris and wood as well as swept and mopped- more to follow!

Studio: Beginnings

So here are the initial pictures of the studio to be, which was a specially built walk-out basement for a print-maker who was friend of the family- first thing is to remove the pesky built in work-bench, shelving and large plywood pin-up board so I can paint the walls! See next post for the destruction wrought!!