My first attempt at developing my own film.

[brian_kieffer]

So I finally got brave enough to attempt developing my own film. I loaded up

the Tri-X in my M3 and shot two rolls this afternoon. Then tonight I broke out

the changing bag, tank, and chemicals.

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<br />

The first roll was a disastrous failure. Does that make me a real photographer

now? :D I don't know what happened, but I think I spooled the film wrong and it

was touching. Thankfully it was just a lot of test shots. With the second roll,

I finally got everything figured out.

<br />

<br />

My next big purchase will be a decent film scanner. So I can stop subjecting you

nice people to bad scans from my old flatbed scanner.

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<br />

Anyway, here's my favorite shot from the successful roll.

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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/1502386122_6b188fe6cb.jpg" />

[blowingsky]

That's a great shot. A real classic. Is there anyone alive who couldn't understand her feelings?

[Alex_Es]

A very, very good shot. Brave soul, Brian, in doing your own black and white. I'm still

chicken.

[sw12dz]

Nice shot, mate.

[joel aron]

awesome shot! ....fantastic tones... and honestly, the scan is pretty good!

 

well done! keep it up!

[paul_nelson2]

no matter how many rolls you put through, you will still have some that have the flaw, film touching, or something else, warm water, who knows what. but if you can get 90% right, you are on the right track. looks good to me. cheers, P N

[luis triguez]

Carry on Brian. That shoot is great!

[mattalofs]

"don't know what happened, but I think I spooled the film wrong and it was touching."

 

Get a set of the plastic auto loading reels. You'll never load film wrong again.

 

BTW, nice shot.

[michael s.]

Very good photo, Brian.

[richam]

If you're using stainless steel reels, the secret is to guide the film as you roll it on the reel,

without squeezing it. Good luck and don't give up. And that's a very impressive shot you

posted.

[john_shriver]

If your stainless steel reel isn't bent, loading it will become second nature after a few more rolls, and it will be like riding a bicycle, you'll never forget how.

[noah]

Really nice photograph, Brian.

 

I thought I would never get the hang of loading steel reels when I started in High School,

but now it's second nature, even for 220 film, and it really is like riding a bike, once you

get it down you should be set for life.

 

It's important that if you use steel reels, that they are straight and have no serious bends.

There is a trick, it's sort of hard to describe, but if you have a flat tabletop to load your

film on, you get the film started on the reel in the normal fashion, and then sort of let the

reel roll along the table guided by one hand as you push the film into it with your other

hand, keeping a slight curl across the width of the film. It works, since if the film starts to

go crooked, the reel will stop rolling straight.

 

Also, the thicker kinderman-style reels really are easier to load than the thinner cheapo

reels. Personally, I could never figure out the plastic reels, but it's best to use whatever

you're comfortable with.

 

Good luck, and keep shooting. Now that you can process your own film, there's no excuse

not to shoot a lot.

[vics]

I liked the Hewes reels very much. They are regular SS reels except for the way the film attaches at the center. I couldn't describe it if I tried. Suffice to say that the film hooks at the sprocket holes rather than springing in at the end of the film. You might like that. I tried one and liked it so much I bought three more!

Fine photo there. C'mon and join us in the WET darkroom! You'll love the Zen of printing the pics yourself, and the prints will scan well on the flatbed. Just ask Ralph Gibson!

[SolaresLarrave]

Wow... very good, eloquent photo, Brian. Congratulations!