Photography: Introduction to the Darkroom

Tutor John-Christian Jacques  will teach you about resources and materials you'll need to develop traditional analogue black & white negatives in a spiral-type developing tank, make a contact sheet from them and then a photographic print using an enlarger in the darkroom.

You'll learn about different types of enlargers, films, chemicals and printing papers available to photographers. At the end of the workshop, you'll have developed a roll of film, a contact sheet of images and at least one image printed to 10" x 8".

You'll learn:

• To place the undeveloped film in a developing tank correctly
• To mix developing and fixing chemicals for film and prints 
• To safely develop the film and make exposure test trips and contact sheets
• To load, focus and set apertures on an enlarger
• To place paper in the enlarging easel and develop, fix and dry a print
• Health & safety/good practice in the darkroom

You'll need:

• To bring along an undeveloped film of black and white images that you've shot. Use a film such as Ilford's HP5 or FP4 or Kodak's Tri-X. Please ensure that it is NOT C41 colour process B/W film. 
• To wear old clothes or wear an apron or lab coat just in case of spillages/splashes.
• 10 x 8 Multigrade (or similar) printing paper