Photography in the Darkroom: Black and White Processing and Print

By the end of this course, you’ll have mastered: 

• Complete film processing workflow 

• Darkroom equipment operation 

• Print exposure and development 

• Basic image manipulation techniques 

• Professional presentation methods 

After this course you will be confident in processing your own film at home and you will have the knowledge of how to print. 

Week 1: Introduction to Darkroom Fundamentals:

• Comprehensive darkroom orientation and safety procedures

• Getting to know enlargers with Photograms

• Understanding exposure principles and light

• Shoot your first roll of 35mm film

Week 2: Film Processing Essentials:

• Loading film onto spools in complete darkness

• Understanding chemical processes and timing

• Mastering proper agitation techniques

• Film development procedure from start to finish

Week 3: From Negatives to Test Strips:

• Working with processed film

• Creating and organizing test strips

• Understanding negative quality and selecting best prints

• Introduction to enlarger operation

Week 4: The Art of Printing:

• Light box techniques for image selection

• Making your first prints

• Fine-tuning exposure times

• Print evaluation and adjustment

Week 5: Advanced Techniques:

• Creating professional borders using the enlarger

• Option to process additional film rolls

• Refining print quality

• Individual project development

Week 6: Final Projects:

• Portfolio development

• Print finishing techniques

• Course completion celebration

This is a very hands-on course. You will be learning by practising yourself, with guidance from expert tutor Georgie Ringrose. She will take you through each step carefully providing examples as the course moves forward. 

You do not need to be familiar with analogue photography or the darkroom! We will be taking the processes slowly so that every learner feels confident. 

You will be provided with one roll of 35mm film. You have the option to shoot more, but you must provide any extra film required.

Georgie will advise you on how you can continue your creative journey. A wide range of creative options are available at Activate Learning.

Tutor: Georgie Ringrose 

Georgie is a photographer whose practice is based around the roots of photography. She enjoys rewinding time by using some of the first photographic techniques to record images. Her practice is based around the darkroom, exploring techniques and playing with variables.