I have begun to build a new darkroom. There is nothing wrong with my current darkroom;
it is peaceful and has plenty of character as well as history. I could not imagine a better
space to work in. Never... or so I thought.

Several months ago, a giant of an enlarger fell into my lap, so to speak. A 400 pound
behemoth named Durst 184. This enlarger would allow me to explore new
possibilities, allowing me to work with different formats, such as 8"x10" negatives.
I could also print larger photographs and explore multiple negative diptychs and
triptychs on a single piece of photographic paper. I am very excited!

Below some snapshots of my current darkroom and some snaps of the new
darkroom as construction begins.

My current darkroom was remodeled about 10 years ago from this Japanese style "teahouse",
which was originally built as a workshop to restore and polish antique Japanese swords.

Looking from the doorway into my current darkroom. Nothing fancy, but I was able to
custom make tables and drying racks and such. The center scroll on the back wall reads,
"'Shin Jo Sui", May your heart be pure like water. Calligraphy by Mrs. Ishiwata.

Looking out from the the back wall, notice the intricate bracing in the ceiling,
inspired by traditional Japanese houses. At the upper left of the door is the
original building permit from 1960 tacked to the ceiling.

The table for the enlarger and other bits is built over an old fire pit used for forging
tamahagane (traditional Japanese steel used for swordmaking) into blades.

Looking at the sink and the print washers. Notice the sliding glass doors behind
the washers and custom opaque shade to block the light in the daytime. In the summer on
a hot night, I'd open the shade and door to let the cool breeze flow through the room.


The new darkroom space was originally a carport, which housed many vintage Bentleys,
Jaguars and Rolls Royces over the years, which were restored and/or repaired. Somewhere
along the way, in about 1980, it was turned into the "dacha" (a second home in Russian),
complete with a kitchenette, bathroom and shower; a new carport was added.


The entrance to the new darkroom (highlighted) is at the back of the current carport,
not quite as serene as the "teahouse" darkroom, but it is attached to where I live.
I have to take a small hike to get to the "teahouse", about 70 yards or so away. The
carport junk came from inside the "dacha" and will be sorted for recycling or landfill.

The new space is inside the four doors on the right, above the trampoline. The
glass doors will be cleaned and I will construct a shoji type screen to block light,
so looking in from the outside will have a pleasant feeling.

Looking in from front the door at a mockup of the 3' x 9' sink needed to make 20" x 24"
prints in trays. It will also able to handle 50" paper in trays using the roll method
of developing. The emply space to the right will contain the two print washers.

The big Durst enlarger given to me by Keith Gidlund. This enlarger was originally used
at the Alameda Naval Base in California to print aerial reconnaissance photos, while
Keith used it to print Ruth Bernhard's stunning photographs. This enlarger has
quite a history.... it would never fit in the "teahouse" darkroom.

Mocking up the the tracks for horizontal projection. I have to pour a super level
concrete pad at 90 degrees to the wall. This will allow me to make big prints, if
I so choose. A wooden floor will be built around the tracks to make a flush fit.

Looking at the mockup table for my 4" x 5" enlargers. My current Omega enlarger
as well as a new Beseler 45 unit will fit nicely in this space. This room was used as a
closet/study in the dacha, but in the Bentley and Rolls days the room held the washer
and dryer, so there is easy access to hot and cold water and a sewage drain for my sink.

Front view scale drawing of the enlarger table, with room for easels,
enlarging paper and negative printing data binders.

A quick pic of the shower and toilet. Now I can scrub the darkroom
scent off of me before I go back into the house.
It is across from my 4" x 5" enlarger room.

I shall try to update this page when I make progress on the darkroom so you can
see how I am getting along. Thank you for your support, and if you have
any questions, feel free to email me.