Great Darkroom in Boston

[patrick_owen]

I don't post much, partly because I don't have a scanner and partly because most people here have WAY

more knowledge than me, but I thought I should post in this case. I know alot of people on this forum are

from Boston so this is particularly relevant. Last week I had a great experience at Bill LaPete's darkroom in

Southie. Bill's a great guy who's been at it a long time. He has a beautiful darkroom for rent, just across

the bridge from South Station. If you're looking for a trad. darkroom at $30 a day this is the place! He is

also a B&W lab and the work he had out while I was there was really nice.

 

I know that most people in Boston can't afford a full darkroom in their 500 sq./ft. apartments, so, if you

don't have a scanner, or, even if you do and want to make some wet prints, Bill's place is great.

 

P

[gwebster]

Thanks for that post Patrick, that's good to know. I actually develop and scan my own B&W and then use an all digital workflow thereafter, but it would be great to actually make some prints again, the traditional way.

 

Hope you had a great St. Paddy's Day!

[peter_n1664876959]

Thanks for posting Patrick!

[david_werbeloff1]

Patrick, thanks for the heads-up. Not that I'm one to talk, but post some of the fruits of your darkroom time.

 

David

[patrick_owen]

I'd love to David but I don't have a scanner. Maybe later today I can scan something at a

friends place.

 

P

[engelgrafik]

I just want to send a hearty second on Patrick's recommendation of Bill LaPete's place. I was there for a 2-day workshop just recently. I have prior darkroom experience in the early '90s but it's been a while and you DO forget some of it, especially if you never had to mix your own chemistry. Bill taught me and two other people for two full 8 hour days the ins and outs of the darkroom and I can say now that I'm so addicted that I will probably be going back at least once a month.

 

The thing about Bill is that he is a font of knowledge on anything related to the darkroom. And he will teach you things you can do with enlargers and chemistry that few people know or are willing to try out on their own. He's got two cold light head enlargers which can get you amazing results that are *not* achievable with more typical common enlargers.

 

He always says that you can get a great print from what the negative will give you, but then he will show you great tricks (and I'm not talking about the stuff everybody knows about like dodging and burning) that will make the print pop even more.

 

His theory is that he will leave you alone if you want, but if you ask a question, he will take the time to explain the answer. So if you're the impatient type, you may miss out on his amazing quantity and quality of knowledge.

[engelgrafik]

BTW, here's an list of his services: http://files.meetup.com/120095/DarkRoom%20And%20Studio%20Rental.PDF

[bill_lapete]

<p>Hello Guys,<br>

I was just looking around online tonight, and stumbled across this thread. I know I'm a couple years slow, but better late than never as they say - and I just wanted to let you know I really appreciate the kind words. I had to take a couple months off at the end of last year to fix a little medical problem of sorts, but it's amazing what those thoracic surgeons can do these days.<br>

I also wanted to let you know that after several years, I finally took your advice and put up that website. You can find us at lapetelabs.com. The phone number has also changed to 617-459-9209.<br>

I'm making plans to get some more workshops going over the next couple months with Walter, our resident lith-printing specialist. Feel free to call or drop me at email at bill@lapetelabs.com if you'd like to join in.<br>

Thanks again, and see you around the lab.<br>

Bill</p>