Though I've probably spent years of my life in darkrooms, (or perhaps because..) I was never very bothered about details of technique, being far more interested in just getting an image.

I'd never do test prints, rather just guess the exposure, and developing negatives I was inclined to stew them a bit to make sure, as I was often re-using and re-using chemicals, rather than risk lose a hard-won picture.

The result however is that many of my negatives are very contrasty ang grainy, and the lifelong lack of cash meant I was loath to dump less-than-perfect prints.