Darkroom Etiquette

DARKROOM ETIQUETTE

Working in the Darkroom at Poway High is a privilege. Being thoughtful to fellow workers is a NECESSITY if harmony is to exist. The following are some absolute musts of proper behavior. It is easily understood that in the beginning, some of these may be forgotten.

1)  DO NOT use enlarger light (turn it on) for any reason other than getting your negative focused and cropped on the easel, or making an exposure. ALL OTHER Times IT MUST BE OFF. Do no read instructions under the light, or look for negative’s carrier by turning on the white light. If the white light is to be turned on “raw”, without a negative in the negative carrier, for one of the reasons above, it should be stopped all the way down, the smallest opening, so the least amount of light is emitted. This prevents fogging other workers’ paper.

2)  DO NOT put your fingers, hands, feet, tongue, or any other part of your body into the chemical trays! USE THE TONGS provided. No matter what method you have used in other darkrooms, or at home, or how you have seen “professionals” develop, this is the proper procedure here at PHS.

3)  DO NOT mix chemicals by using the same tong between trays.

4)  DO NOT use any tong to push on prints in the chemical or water baths. PULL your prints under the water or fix, do not POKE at yours or any other prints. This can cause sever damage to prints, BE GENTLE with the photographs… THEY ARE ONLY PAPER!

5)  When you are through printing, clean up any trash that may be around your enlarger station.

6)  DO NOT carry any wet prints ANYWHERE without having it in a tray. If there are no print examination trays available, WAIT until one comes back… or see an instructor.

THE lab is a fun place to be and work. Please follow the rules and THINK before you act. Be considerate to other workers and we will all have a great time making visual images.