NEGATIVES MAKE ME HAPPY
The room was dark except for the glowing red light in the corner under the stairs. I don’t know how it smelled both dusty and damp at the same time. I could hardly breathe from being so excited. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I had wanted to come here for a long time so when I was finally invited I was thrilled.
But for some reason a little nervous too. I knew that I wasn't expected to know anything right now, or to do anything, but I felt that somehow this was a huge step in my life. Like a path was going to be lit up in the darkness. It was kind of funny then, that I was, standing in the dark, waiting.
Waiting for a light to turn on. Waiting for something to happen. Waiting for the “magic.” That’s what Marlen said, “It’s like MAGIC, You have to come see it!”
And I believed him.
When the light came on it was focused on the table top on a sheet of paper. The faint beam scattered light throughout the little room and I could see it. The photograph he had taken just yesterday was projected onto the easel. A timer hummed as seconds went by until it made a loud click!
He removed the piece of paper and placed it into a metal tray filled with a clear liquid. The developer. “This will take 90 seconds, come here and watch!” So I watched. Nothing so far. He turned the paper over and wiggled the tray. Still nothing. The next thing I saw was a faint shadow forming on the paper, then a shape, and finally the photo appeared just as promised, magically!
That was SO cool. I want to see it again! We made several prints that night and I even got to do one by myself. I was totally hooked.
“Let’s pick this one.” Pointing to the small photo on the proof sheet. We laughed at the difficult time we had to try and match the negative. It’s so different than looking at the photo. We finally got the hang of it though. I wanted to make a BIG one.
I finally talked him into printing an 8x10. We chose the only image I had taken, and we decided that I would get to see if I could do it all by myself. The pressure was on. I went through all the steps. Carefully placing the negative into the carrier. Blowing off the dust with a can of compressed air. Sliding the carrier into the enlarger. Turning on the light to adjust the size and focus. Checking the focus again.
But for some reason a little nervous too. I knew that I wasn't expected to know anything right now, or to do anything, but I felt that somehow this was a huge step in my life. Like a path was going to be lit up in the darkness. It was kind of funny then, that I was, standing in the dark, waiting.
Waiting for a light to turn on. Waiting for something to happen. Waiting for the “magic.” That’s what Marlen said, “It’s like MAGIC, You have to come see it!”
And I believed him.
When the light came on it was focused on the table top on a sheet of paper. The faint beam scattered light throughout the little room and I could see it. The photograph he had taken just yesterday was projected onto the easel. A timer hummed as seconds went by until it made a loud click!
He removed the piece of paper and placed it into a metal tray filled with a clear liquid. The developer. “This will take 90 seconds, come here and watch!” So I watched. Nothing so far. He turned the paper over and wiggled the tray. Still nothing. The next thing I saw was a faint shadow forming on the paper, then a shape, and finally the photo appeared just as promised, magically!
That was SO cool. I want to see it again! We made several prints that night and I even got to do one by myself. I was totally hooked.
“Let’s pick this one.” Pointing to the small photo on the proof sheet. We laughed at the difficult time we had to try and match the negative. It’s so different than looking at the photo. We finally got the hang of it though. I wanted to make a BIG one.
I finally talked him into printing an 8x10. We chose the only image I had taken, and we decided that I would get to see if I could do it all by myself. The pressure was on. I went through all the steps. Carefully placing the negative into the carrier. Blowing off the dust with a can of compressed air. Sliding the carrier into the enlarger. Turning on the light to adjust the size and focus. Checking the focus again.
Then again. I had to be sure! This was going to be awesome! It had to be really sharp. I checked the exposure and set the timer. After stopping down to an aperture f8 and it was all ready. But I wasn’t. I wasn’t sure. Did I miss anything? I went down the checklist again. Check. Check. Check. OKAY, now I’m ready.
“Hmmmmm” The timer seemed so loud. “Click!” –Moment of truth. Grab the tongs and slide the paper into the tray. I’m shaking. It’s a good thing I need to agitate so it covers up my excitement. Here it comes… I still have that print. |