Photography Thailand Forum

[Bill Young]

As well as digital, I like to use 35mm b&w film. I am in Chiang Mai for a while and would like to develop and print my own shots - does anyone know of darkroom facilities for hire here in Chiang Mai or even BKK?

My favourite films are TMax and Tri-X but they don't seem to be available in Chiang Mai - do they have to be sourced abroad?

I also scan negs and convert digital to b&w (greyscale) but commercially made prints here have a colour tinge. Does anyone know of a lab that can print true b&w?

Thanks for any advice.

[epixx]

I don't  know of any darkroom facilities for hire, but here are a couple of other answers:

- TMax is easy to find, at least in Bangkok, ISO 100 as well as 400. Tri-X is available too, but harder to find. I usually buy at Foto Hobby, Silom Center, But Camera Collection at Charn Issara (Rama IV) (www.cameracollection.net) and Fotofile at MBK would also be able to help you. Camera Collection also does darkroom work, including b&w. I've never tried them, but the guy who's running the shop is a photographer and seems reliable. I see more and more Ilford films around btw. Except for Tri-X, which is rather unique and cannot really be replaced by anything, I would give that a try as well.

- The colour tinge is a well known problem. My safest bet for b&w prints is IQ Lab (www.iqlab.co.th), but I haven't used them in a while, since I mostly print myself nowadays.

[Bill Young]

Dear epixx,

Thanks for your input. I expect to be in CM for the next three months before I get down to BKK, so some local sources would be useful.