Essentials.

[Ironage]

I have been contemplating this for over a decade, and been playing around with equipment and processes and having fun ever since, but eventually desire to pare down to absolute minimum for use while traveling the continent in a RV. This is my retirement plan for a few years!

My absolute necessity is to do my own lab work. I hate sending anything out.

1 lightweight 5x7 camera.
240mm lens (still working on which one, but small and light and fast for shallow depth of field in portraits)
2 film holders.
focusing cloth.
Berlibach Reporter Tripod with no head.
1 box of 5x7 Tri-X
2 5x7 trays.
1 Paterson orbital processor
1 kodak tray thermometer.
1 250ml graduate
2 film clips
Bottle of Rodinal
1 liter bottle of TF-4 fixer
1 5x7 contact printing frame
Chemicals for Platinotypes
5x7 water color paper
A little storage bin to put it all.

I'm not there yet because I got sidetracked with a super deal on a nice medium format color enlarger and having a great time playing around in the darkroom, and trying out medium format cameras. eBay doesn't help me!

[John Kasaian]

I have been contemplating this for over a decade, and been playing around with equipment and processes and having fun ever since, but eventually desire to pare down to absolute minimum for use while traveling the continent in a RV. This is my retirement plan for a few years!

My absolute necessity is to do my own lab work. I hate sending anything out.

1 lightweight 5x7 camera.
240mm lens (still working on which one, but small and light and fast for shallow depth of field in portraits)
2 film holders.
focusing cloth.
Berlibach Reporter Tripod with no head.
1 box of 5x7 Tri-X
2 5x7 trays.
1 Paterson orbital processor
1 kodak tray thermometer.
1 250ml graduate
2 film clips
Bottle of Rodinal
1 liter bottle of TF-4 fixer
1 5x7 contact printing frame
Chemicals for Platinotypes
5x7 water color paper
A little storage bin to put it all.

I'm not there yet because I got sidetracked with a super deal on a nice medium format color enlarger and having a great time playing around in the darkroom, and trying out medium format cameras. eBay doesn't help me!

Wouldn't you want 8x10 trays for 5x7 format?

[bob carnie]

I would not get rid of any of my darkroom gear.....Essential for my well being.

Sound system and lots of thomas safelights to bath me in the golden glow, while I print and listen to Blues, Rock and Motown

No jazz or classical for this Boy

[Bruce Barlow]

I cannot remember if it was Picker or Adams who said that you should start with a 4x5 field camera and a 121 (now 120/115/110) and a 210. While I am partial to extreme wides, I shot for a while with just a 120 when all my other lenses were stolen. Except for some interiors, I suspect I could do most everything with these two, and the discipline might be good.

Picker.

[StoneNYC]

Here you go! http://www.artnet.com/artists/francesca-woodman/

Oh she's cool! I've never heard of her but I'm glad you have this is some neat work.

[Alan Gales]

Oh she's cool! I've never heard of her but I'm glad you have this is some neat work.

I have heard that many young aspiring photographers today ask their instructors about her at photography school.

Francesca Woodman was definitely ahead of her time.

[Jmarmck]

camera of choice
film of choice
dark room or changing bag
developer of choice and fixer of choice with lotsa water
daylight developing tank and reels
lenses, hmmm probably a slight wide and a mid tele though I like playing with the medium wides.
film holders, at least 2 the fewer holder the more important is a changing bag or a dark room.
dark cloth
cable release
tripod, lightweight
loupe, though not necessary
spot light meter
one red, one yellow, one green, one orange filters
a vehicle
marker, pencil, scissors, string, cloths pins, tape (maybe more that one kind)
someway to clean, store, and carry all this stuff

from there decide on either scanning or silver printing

When I was traveling I had two tripods in the bathroom holding up the string and cloths pins.

[mdm]

Camera lens tripod film holders Harrison changing tent btzs tubes contact printing frame tray clothes pins and string film water chems thermometer incident light meter cable release. Digital is much less trouble, camera, lens, memory card, much more boring.