Darkroom Day

I was in the darkroom day before yesterday, and again today, finishing the last print of the iris. Now it's the same quality as the one I posted! I also printed out a rose that was among that B&W series of photos taken at the Sunset Garden somewhere in the bay area, can't remember for sure where. Then I also started some prints of oaks and I found one that wasn't visible as a 'viable' photo from the negative, but 'wow' after I printed it - it revealed great possibilities! I'm anxious to try that one at a larger size.

Also, just as an fyi, my original thermometer wasn't broken after all. So if you're in the darkroom and your thermometer accidentally gets submerged and filled with water, and the needle acts like it is stuck - try letting it dry out first, then maybe gently hit it against the counter too, and it may very well come back to life. Well, at least that's what mine did. So now I have two which is a good thing as I needed a backup!

I also went down to the camera store late this afternoon. Took in two Minolta SRT 201 bodies that I have that needed to be worked on. The felt in the first one was falling apart and it shows up on the mirror and eventually the photo; the second one I think it had gotten dropped and the shutter release button was stuck! I have four bodies of the 201, and two of the 101s. My original camera is now just a 'knick knack' of wonderful days gone by, and the others I've bought and/or friends have given me as they moved up to digital. I also looked for and found a 50 mm lens for the Minolta, as the one I have is still good, but not as clean as it used to be. This new one I bought was used, but in pretty pristine condition. I also have a 55mm lens that came with one of the SRT 101s, but it's made out of heavy metal and doesn't really have a good connection with the 201s. So, yeah, I'm keeping busy!