Black and White Darkroom Course - In-Person Course

In this course we will guide you through the use and handling of traditional black and white materials. Students will learn how to process their own film, make their own contact sheets, how to work an enlarger in the darkroom, develop their own images, and work selectively with filters whilst learning how to dodge and burn in order to create the best possible printed image. You will produce a selection of 6-10 finely printed black and white photographs while on the course.

Lesson Layout

Lesson 1
An Introduction to the Darkroom, Black and White Film and Resin Coated Paper. In Lesson 1 we will explore black and white photographic materials and the darkroom and related equipment. This class will focus on preparing you for photographing your first roll of film and for developing that film in the next session. We will alos use this opportunity for some creative play to help familiarise you with the darkroom and chemical processes.
Requirements for Lesson One: Bring your camera along to the session so that we can double check functions and make sure your film is correctly loaded for your first shoot.

Lesson 2
Processing your first roll of film and making a contact sheet. In Lesson 2 we will systematically work through the developing of your roll of film. We will recap all the relevant equipment and chemistry and walk you through the process step by step. We will follow by making a contact sheet from which we can assess which negatives to print in the next session
Requirements for Lesson Two: An exposed roll of film to be processed in class.

Lesson 3
In Lesson 3 we will evaluate our negatives and contact sheets and learn how to assess these to determine which negatives will yield the best prints. We will look also look more carefully at the relationship between our camera work and the making of good negatives. During this session we make our first print, and so you will learn how to set up and use the enlarger and easel, process and wash prints, and how to use multigrade filters.

Lesson 4
This week we will further develop our printing skills by introducing burning and dodging, split filtration, and print maps. We will also prepare for shooting your second roll of film.

Lesson 5
Processing of a second roll of film and exploring different film speeds. By using a different kind of film for our second shoot we’ll be able to look into the differences between film stocks and their handling and assess the impact this has on our final photographs.

Lesson 6
Advanced printing techniques. In this session we will explore a range of more advanced printing techniques including pre-flashing, solarisation, combination printing, texture screens etc.

Materials provided:

• Two rolls of Black and White film
• Film storage sleeves
• One box of 25 sheets resin coated photographic paper
• Access to all chemistry required to process film and paper
• Access to the darkroom and all required equipment for the duration of the course
• Free access to the darkroom for 2 months after completing your course*

*EXCLUDES MATERIALS AND CONSUMABLES, BOOKING ESSENTIAL

The course is presented in weekly sessions of 3 hours each, over a period of 6 weeks. Practical darkroom work will be combined with theory lectures, slide shows and demonstrations. Students are expected to complete a number of practical assignments in their own time. To do this course you will require a film camera, the ability to use it and an interest in black and white photography.

Course Outcomes - What You'll Take Away

• Understanding the characteristics of traditional black and white materials
• Photograph with and process Black and White Film
• Using traditional black and white chemistry
• Make Contact sheets from your processed negatives
• Burn and Dodge
• Print manipulation