Re: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves

["morris" <morris@xxxxxxx>]

Ansel was only one of many  photographers that lived very long lives.

It seems that the only real concern with photo chemicals that has been
documented by true professionals, not a bunch of eco-freaks is skin problems
from the developers.  This includes color chemicals..

ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Dave King <kingphoto@mindspring.com>
To: <scan@leben.com>
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 8:48 AM
Subject: Re: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves


> Artist beware isn't about photography, if I recall, photo chemicals only
get
> passing mention.  It's about materials that sculptors and painters use,
some
> of which are extremely hazardous.  Significant numbers of artists have
been
> severely injured before even knowing the potential dangers.  Perhaps
you're
> thinking of "Over Exposure", which is about photography specifically?
Which
> book are you referring to that came out after Ansel died?
>
> Whether the information is correct to the point of scientific certainty
> isn't the deal here.  It's to alert people to the dangers, and help them
be
> avoided.  My memory of the book (it's not at hand) is that information was
> presented as it existed, some anecdotal, some from controlled tests as
they
> existed.  If I recall, caveats about accuracy were given.
>
> Most darkroom chemicals aren't terribly dangerous in the short term, but
> neither is smoking, and my grandmother who smoked all her life lived to
80+.
> The inference using Ansel as example is absurd.
>
> Dave
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: morris <morris@jps.net>
> To: <scan@leben.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 12:29 PM
> Subject: Re: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves
>
>
> > Thats why Ansel only lived to be 80+.
> > "Artest Beware" is a lot of BS from people that don't have any
background
> in
> > medicine or bio-chemistry.
> > The same people that felt BTFE in our gasoline would be good.
> > Read the book that came out after Ansel died, which was reviewed by both
> > Harvard and RIT.
> > Ron
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Dave King <kingphoto@mindspring.com>
> > To: <scan@leben.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 7:43 AM
> > Subject: Darkroom hazards, was Levels & Curves
> >
> >
> > > I was taught this in art school college level photo classes 30 years
ago
> > > too.  By cracky:)  Let's hope this isn't still being taught - ever
> wonder
> > > why so many old photographers develop Parkinson's?
> > >
> > > I haven't used my darkroom since investing in Profiler Pro and an
X-Rite
> > > DTP-41:), but I had become somewhat chemically sensitive over the
years
> > and
> > > found a book called "Artist Beware" very helpful in the design of my
> last
> > > darkroom ventilation system.  (Another book called "Over Exposure"
gives
> > > hazard analysis for photographic chemicals specifically.  Don't know
if
> > > either is still in print.)
> > >
> > > Using what I learned in Artist Beware, I built a shallow but wide box
> onto
> > > the wall the sink is against and the intake slot is the bottom edge of
> > that
> > > box.  This box feeds into a larger volume mixing chamber that is
> connected
> > > by standard vent pipe materials to an exterior mounted *restaurant
size*
> > > kitchen exhaust fan (available at Grainer).  This puppy works, the
slot
> is
> > > well below head level so fumes are routed away, and the pull is strong
> > > enough that small children and pets get sucked into the vent slot when
> > they
> > > get too close:)  The stuff they market specifically as darkroom
> > ventilation
> > > products is a pathetic, and perhaps even dangerous, joke - they don't
> > work.
> > >
> > > Dave
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: gary <gsellani@accesscom.com>
> > > To: <scan@leben.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 1:23 AM
> > > Subject: RE: Levels & Curves
> > >
> > >
> > > > I've seen the motorized vents and Keeble and Schucat. If you haven't
> > been
> > > to
> > > > the SF Bay area, that is the "bring lots of cash but we have the
best"
> > > > camera store. It is one of the few lens rental places in the area.
The
> > > have
> > > > the Jobo AT1500 there as well.
> > > >
> > > > Getting back to the darkroom, I remember in high school handling the
> > > prints
> > > > with bare hands. Even worse, one trick we learned was to rub the
areas
> > on
> > > > the print you wanted to get developed a bit more because the
friction
> > > would
> > > > heat up the area, which in turn speeded up development. I'm guessing
> > today
> > > > nobody puts their fingers in the chemical baths.
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: owner-scan@leben.com [mailto:owner-scan@leben.com]On Behalf
Of
> > > > > byard pidgeon
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 5:38 PM
> > > > > To: scan@leben.com
> > > > > Subject: Re: Levels & Curves
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > When you're putting in that "small darkroom", be sure you learn
how
> to
> > > > > ventilate it properly so you don't poison yourself.
> > > > > The American Lung Association may have some info for you on this.
> > > > >
> > > > > on 12/26/2001 11:11 AM, gary at gsellani@accesscom.com wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > No argument that the digital manipulation is better than what
> > > > > you can do by
> > > > > > hand in a chemical process.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > That said, I have a house in design stage and will put in a
> > > > > small darkroom,
> > > > > > something I always wanted. We may reach a point in history
> > > > > where I am the
> > > > > > last guy in America doing wet photography. ;-) I notice lots of
> > > > > enlargers
> > > > > > showing up on the used market. Hmmm.....
> > >
> > > -
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