COBBLER'S
PAGE
TAKING STOCK: A flurry
of photographic activities since returning from our long
holiday has made me realise what a lot of my time is
committed to the hobby. I am a member of three
photographic postal folios, a longstanding member of
Batley Camera Club, member of CRC, and a member of an AV
Group. This diversity involves me in producing b&w
prints, colour slides, and colour prints: organising a
yearly syllabus for the CC, looking after the CRC library, as well as taking an active part in the
production of an annual AV show and showing the same at
different venues throughout the year,and writing four
articles for this magazine. Lots of side projects
originate from these activities. The CRC library is under
used but I do get queries about colour processing now and
again usually from the newer members. I am involved a lot
with the darkroom and colour processing and this has lead
to interesting exchanges of experiences and information
with members of CRC and even the testing of films and
chemicals.
A recent visit to Lawrence Edwards, our
technical advisor, resulted in a very informative
afternoon for me as well as a show of home processed
slides which technically left trade processed standing.I
came away with a lot of advice and formulas for every
type of process, all based on sound principles. I was in
touch with Albert (AR Chemicals) and, via John
Batty,another CRC member, Raymond (Rayco Chemicals) to
get stocked up on the necessary chemicals to try out some
of the Edwards processes. Needless to say the suppliers
were efficient and the results so far have been good. How
many of our members make use of these excellent services?
Not many I suspect.
I hear from my contacts within the club
and the suppliers that sales among our members are
'slow'. Surely it still makes sense to buy the excellent
Konica film in bulk and home process it using the club
formula or a Rayco kit. Certainly it is also a big saving
if you do your own colour printing to use the RA paper
and a club formula especially on sizes other than
postcard. If you don't do any of these things or maybe
you did but now prefer to spend less time processing
perhaps it is time the Colour Reversal Club changed its
remit and found out what members want now from the club
and what you are prepared to put into it. What do you
expect from the Magazine, the Library, the Folios? Maybe
it is time the club took stock as well as the members. I
still find it a good organisation and enjoy being part of
it. The officials work hard to make it tick within the
limitation of monthly contact and the AGM. Local contact
is limited but I do make good use of all thats on offer
because I am a darkroom photographer. ÑPerhaps we are a
dying breed. What do you think?
LIBRARY UPDATE: The club no longer buys
a magazine. For five years the library subscribed to the
American magazine 'DARKROOM TECHNIQUES' and the British
magazine 'DARKROOM USER' (no longer published). They
contain some excellent articles though some are now
dated. The magazines are available from the library to be
borrowed or specific pages can be photo copied. I can
supply a contents page for this purpose. I have continued
to buy the American magazine myself though it is not
quite as good. Contributors have changed and technical
articles are not as prevalent now. Of course there is a
limit to what you can write about before you start to
repeat yourself.
We also have a video about HMS Warrior
which is a production by club members with an excellent
narration by Tony Chuter. This is well worth a look as an
example of what can be done with the club film and
formula and lots of skill.
There is plenty of technical stuff from
manufacturers and past members which can be sent out to
you for the cost of return postage.
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