Re: [APML]: 1-Hour Photo Lab Capabilities

[joneil@obs.empath.on.ca (Joseph O'Neil)]

aa6g@aa6g.org (Chuck Vaughn) writes:
> I know they have a machine that makes these prints. Can these machines do
> what I want and the people don't know how to operate them or are they not
> this flexible? If they did manage to figure it out they wanted more money
> because it was a bigger enlargement. Huh? As far as I'm concerned an 8x10
> is an 8x10. We all know it's no more difficult to make a 16X print than it
> is an 8X print.

Hi Chuck;
    With some notable exceptions, most of these labs are run by people 
who know little if anythign about photography.  Weird, but true.

   A few years ago before my son was bord and my wife was looking for a 
job, i suggested she try applying for a job at some of the chain photo 
stores opening up some of these labs.  After all, she had expereince in 
my home darkroom, and her uncle was a professional photographer back 
overseas, so she actually had some experiece with photo processing.

   That experience actually worked AGAINST her.  Seems these companies 
wanted people who they could train from sratch, like filling a blank 
slate.  There are probally several reasons for that, but I am not sure 
myself why.

  Odds are, the people you are/were tlaking too had no idea of how or 
what you were talkig about.

  It can be done.  Down the street form me is a family run photo store, 
been around for 3-4 generations.  They also sell a couple fo smaller 
telescopes.  I can go in there, tell them what I have, and they will do 
darned near anything.  it will take some time, as they do it after thier 
regualr run of picutres, but it can be done.

  The only drawback is I ahve to tlak to either the owner or his son, or 
one other clerk.  The rest of them are aware of what I am tlaking about, 
but not really sure how to do it.

good luck - keep looking.
joe