P51 Mustang much like one my dad flew from Iwo Jima in WWII

Why even do this…

As most of you already know, I’ve been interested in photography pretty keenly for about the last 50 years. Over that time so much of the process has changed dramatically. In the past year I made a “minor” investment in a used/refurbished DSLR camera that would enable me to work with RAW images that can be “developed” in a manner similar to what in times past could only be done in a darkroom.

Over these many years I moved from 35mm photography to early digital and now to RAW. In a day where so much photography (even excellent images) takes place with smart phones I’ve wanted to see how my “old skills” translate to new opportunities.

Why a blog/gallery site…

I decided on this format so I can record my experiences along the path and share a few images related to the journey. As with my other past times/endeavors one of the challenges I enjoy the most is finding a way to pursue them without getting caught up in the most expensive/elaborate equipment and methods that can often carry one into caring more about the equipment than the actual experience itself.

To that end I’m developing the site with an open source site development app called Publii on a somewhat behind the times computer running Linux Mint OS. And I’ll be publishing the site on a free hosting service, Cloudflare. So… sticking to the basics as websites go in 2026.

What you’ll find…

Darkroom to Digital is about experiences and insights from the past fifty years. So you’ll find stories mostly. And you’ll find images and images galleries to illustrate those stories.

What you won’t find…

There are so many resources on the internet these days it can make one’s head spin and eyes cross (at least in my experience). The information on cameras, accessories, software applications and “how to make money” is ubiquitous. Some of it excellent and much of it less so. While I will likely include a few external links in time, what you won’t find here will be:

• Camera reviews and comparisons

• Editing applications reviews

• Suggestions or evaluations of computers used for digital photography

• Critiques of images or their use across media

How you can help…

I’ve asked you to have a look at “Darkroom to Digital” because each of you have insights I value and rely on from time to time. You’ll find comment sections at the bottom of each post and page. Please use them freely as they are reasonably secure and don’t require you to login or sign up to some service that asks you for personal information. Also Cloudflare is a well known and trusted hosting service.

And don’t hesitate to email or call me too. Time seems to pass so quickly these days that I know I don’t take the time to stay in touch the way I want to. If this site makes that happen more often, then it will have been worth a great deal aside from sharing experiences and images.

Thanks, and have some fun with it.

All the film was developed in my darkroom and 5x7 prints were made there as well.  These images are from recent scans (@300dpi) of a selection of those prints.  They were edited in GIMP open source software to address and spotting or fading over the years.

The Autumn of My Life
by Trish Joyner 8/16/2001

If I am to think I’ll live to be a 100, then I am approaching the autumn of my life. Recognizing 50, I am in the highlight, as it seems – a sweet delight, a comfortable pose, filled with so many rewards from my past. Looking beyond this reminds me never to hesitate for the opportunity that each new day introduces. And when I do, I panic when I think I may have missed or passed up an opportunity to pay attention to what is really important in life. It has sometimes happened and I yearn to have another chance.

I swept the porch today in the autumn of my life. The flowers begged for water, although their life is near an end. After yielding to this need, I began to sweep the remaining traces of withering summer leaves falling – not to many now, but enough that reminded me of what is to come. I swept and swept under every little crevice, until soon, I saw the clean porch that reminded me of the warmth and youthful beginning of the season’s promises, as if to bring it back.

As I turned to put the broom away – another leaf fell, then another. Somewhere in my head I heard, “You know this will not go away.” Each day I continued to sweep, but the leaves continue to fall, more and more…and faster too.

It was during this silent conversation that I am reminded how I was swept away by my youth – naïve to the autumn approaching. And yet, autumn is around the corner and will soon be here. It waits for no one.

One day I will have a conversation with the winter and what comes with it. It, as I believe, is the most important part of the process – the end, the part that closes the circle, which perpetuates the everlasting loop, a new beginning – but,….it’s a new beginning that is unknown. It beckons me – looms in a distance, I know it is there waiting for me. It will not go away – just like the leaves, even if I ignore it or try to sweep them away.

It is a season that can make folks sad with feelings of uncertainty and yet, each day I find myself preparing for it, wanting, dreading, excited and willing to confront it and in the same sense – be comforted by it. I want to be ready and yet, I want to forget about it for a while longer – I believe I may have more time, but I know that another leaf is falling. It makes me nervous sometimes.

The autumn of my life has spoken to me about the winter through the lives of my loved ones. This conversation too, is a silent one. Their winter came and some were ready and willing to accept the end and some fought hard thinking they could keep it away. Sometimes, from a distance and sometimes close up, I watched… wondering what they must be feeling. I saw their transitions. One day, it will be my time and I believe it was meant to be for me to witness this gradual change and acceptance. I believe it is a divine preparation for what is to come – for everyone.

So... on this autumn day, once again, I reflect with a sweet, sad sigh, and know the leaves will continue to fall – you cannot sweep them away forever.