Huemaxx is now Film Foto Forever

Huemax, the High Point, NC analog/mechanical camera seller and service center, has re-branded itself as "Film Foto Forever."

They are still the same mecca for central North Carolina film photographers, and continue to be owned and operated by Ken Toda. But are now taking steps towards classes, workshops, darkroom, and studio services.

I have gotten a lot of good advice and done a lot of business with these guys over the years and am very happy to see them continuing to do what they do.

Huemaxx Film Foto Forever is located at:

2313 Geddie Pl
High Point, NC 27260

They are open Monday through Friday by appointment only.

Contact them by phone at (336) 885-2000, or email at filmfotoforever@yahoo.com

Visit their website at filmfotoforever.com

Keep up with their blog at filmfotoforever.com/blog

And, if you talk to Ken Toda, tell him mattbellphoto says "Hi!"

My DIY Darkroom

My "darkroom" where I develop my black and white film is a bathroom I share with three other people. So, my set-up has to be easily put together and taken apart every time I develop film. The only things that are (semi-)permanent are my DIY film wash hose that's attached the the left-hand sink and the bathroom window blacked out with construction-grade black trash bags and painter's tape. And those both could be taken down and put back up without too much trouble. The room is 99% dark once I black-out the bathroom door (from the inside) with a large black sheet made of the same black trash bags, hung with painter's tape, and secured to the floor with a rolled-up bath mat. My chemical jugs are stored in a cardboard box on the floor to the left of the sinks, the tanks and equipment go into a duffel bag that sits on top of the box, and my stool folds up and fits in the corner. Altogether taking up about 3ftx2ft of out-of-the-way floor space.

At the moment I use mostly Kodak photo chemicals: Kodak Xtol Developer, Kodak Indicator Stop Bath, Kodak Rapid Fixer, Kodak Hypo Clearing Agent, Kodak Photo Flo. Occasionally, I develop using Agfa/Adox Rodinal Developer or Photographer's Formulary PMK Pyro Developer with Photographer's Formulary TF-4 Archival Fixer. My equipment is a mixture of professional stainless steal tanks and reels, and DIY plastic and Tupperware/Rubbermaid containers and pitchers.

I develop film using the lift-rod method. While processing film (dev, stop, fix) I work in total darkness with film in open containers. Each chemical has it's own container. The developing film is transferred from chemical to chemical using a lift-rod. To agitate I use the lift-rod to lift, lower, and rotate the film reels within their containers. To keep track of my film, chemistry, and equipment in total darkness I keep to a strict routine and place all tanks in the exact same order and locations each time. Afterwards, I hang my film under a ceiling fan to dry.

Unfortunately, I do not have enough space for an enlarger or photo paper trays, so printing is out of the question. Instead, I scan my film straight from the darkroom and either print digitally or through a professional photo/print lab. 

More photos and technical info after the jump.

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Late Night B&W Processing

Nikon F2
Nikon Ai 16mm f/2.8 lens
Kodak Plus-X 125 35mm film