Self Film Development.. The Journey

So a few nights ago I was filled with great anticipation.. I was excited.. but afraid.. and nervous as I poured out the last of the water from the developing tank. It only took 9 and a half minutes but it felt like 3 hours in total. I had just completed my first home development (as a complete film novice), with the help of my father. It is hard to describe how it feels.. its a new experience for an old technology. A technology which whilst accurate.. is not an exact science.. and much like looking at the black back of a film camera, when you first remove the film from the tank you just dont really know how it has turned out.So here I was.. around 10:00pm on a hot and humid night in Sydney. Out of the tank comes a strip of film.. albeit not an entire roll (due to a school boy error when rolling the film back..) but 17 useable and now developed shots. Which shots of the 36 would they be? I knew it was the end of the roll.. but I had rushed that roll through to test two things.

1) My newly acquired Olympus OM-1 with Zuiko 50mm 1.4 lens.

2) To complete a roll of Lucky SHD100 as fast as possible to try the developing equipment I was so kindly given for my birthday.

The process whilst daunting, is in fact very logical and forgiving. There is no need to rush, there is no need to be frantic.. just precise.

My good friend George said it well.. “Jack there is no need to rush.. sometimes you might have trouble getting it on the reel, or the temperature wont drop.. but take a few deep breaths and just remember… unless you are exposed to light.. or the chemicals are in the tank.. you have all the time in the world”

Wise words, although now that I think about it the light factor was a polite way of George telling me if I get to that point I am up the creek without a developer.

Ok ok so enough of the rambling.. where is the results you say?! Well here they are.. would love some feedback.