Allow the dark, theatrical lighting to enhance your darkroom experience.
Homemade darkrooms are an affordable alternative to purchasing a costly professional kit. Most items can be easily purchased and assembled in just about any area you would like to dedicate to photo developing. With a bit of ingenuity you can build your own special place to work on your precious photographs.
Convenience
Whether you plan on utilizing a big closet space or transforming a private area in the basement, keep in mind that a darkroom requires access to running water, an electrical outlet and the ability to block out natural light. Having your own dark room is convenient -- it means no more trips to the photo lab when your darkroom is available to you at any time of day.
Quality
Developing your own pictures enriches your artistic journey.
While office ink jet and laser printers can deliver instant gratification, the photo quality is often lacking. Those faded, old vintage Polaroid pictures can certainly testify that speedy development techniques are not favorable for archival purposes. That extra time you spend in your private darkroom perfecting your artistic vision ensures that the photos will be enjoyed for decades. Just as homemade chili tastes worlds better than the canned variety, an original photo processed by the artist himself is automatically richer in content and quality.
Materials
It's absolutely necessary to be prepared with all of the necessary equipment and processing supplies before you begin. To ensure you can complete your developing process uninterrupted, you will need to lay out your materials in a manner that you can readily access, preferably in the order in which they are used. For example, there are four processing trays; the first is for the developer, the second the stop bath, the third the fixer and finally, the fourth is the wash. Developer, stop bath and fixer are standard chemicals that should be clearly labeled and properly stored. The same should be done for photographic paper, which is light sensitive. An enlarger with timer, safe light, easel for exposing photos, tongs, thermometer and a squeegee are part of the laundry list necessary for your darkroom. After your initial investment, you can be assured that it's inexpensive to stay stocked with processing solutions and paper.
Pride
Tinkering with a variety of chemical levels and processing techniques makes every print a one-of-a-kind work of art. There is a sense of pride knowing that every image you've created was carried out from beginning to end by your own two hands. As you submerge yourself in the artistic process and witness your images slowly transforming in the dim lighting of your own private darkroom, it becomes apparent that the reward goes well beyond the finished photograph.
