Back in 2007, just months before I got pregnant, Egan and I took a B&W photography class. I really had no expectations, and when it came to the class having to share our expectations, I don't even think I answered the question. I took it to learn the basics of photography, because I knew I wanted to get into digital. I figure I should learn film first. Glad I took the class, and I took notes and all but I forgot a lot of what was taught. But well, as I re-learned them since them, things began to focus again and I remembered exactly (or most) of what was taught.
The darkroom experience was great. Actually, I was lost. I relied on Egan to get me through it. Then one class, he couldn't make it. So I was alone, and tried to make a friend to ask questions to. Good thing there weren't snobs in that class. But because Egan wasn't there, I actually learned how to use the freaking dark room. So much that I have been wanting to take that same exact class just to use it. I'm glad I was able to use the "real" photo shop.
The best part I found about dark room printing is how technical it was. Taking a photo was the creative part, but having to print your own photo was a whole different world. I made so many mistakes that I actually learned a few tricks (double exposure, weird effects). And is it too weird to admit that I liked to pretend being blind so I could load the roll of film and practice getting it into the metal reel with perfection? It took several tries in the black closet but I did it without a hitch a couple of times.
One of these days, when we have a real house that is big enough, I still want to have a dark room. Film photography would be fun (expensive) to do just for fine art stuff, and possibly for some paid portrait sessions. As it is, the Minolta GX7 I bought for the class died -- Egan and I were out shooting with our film cameras and I think we were at St. Ignatius church in SF when I was in the back trying to take a picture of the altar. Seems Jesus didn't want his cross photographed and that was when my shutter button just died. Didn't think it was worth fixing, so I still have it stored away. I would be interested in getting another film camera just for the heck of it, but that's for another time when I have time. (Sorry for the Jesus comment -- I am a Catholic making a harmless joke)
Egan and I each still have our portfolio albums we put together from the class. That was perhaps, the last big thing I did for myself before settling down. I am very grateful for the time I invested in it.
