Photography Film & Darkroom Course

Welcome to analog photography! Get an overview of the entire workflow from camera to final print. Learn about essential film camera components, the film development process (tank, spool, developer, stop, fix, wash, drying), and darkroom printing equipment (enlarger, lens, contact sheets, test strips, and the complete printing workflow).

Develop your first roll of 35mm black & white film and create contact sheets. Master loading film reels in darkness, the four-chemical process (developer, stop bath, fixer, wash), and critical development variables (time, temperature, agitation). Learn darkroom safety protocols and troubleshoot common development faults.

Transform negatives into stunning darkroom prints. Master contact sheets, test strips, and your first enlargements. Dive deep into exposure theory, the Zone System, understanding 18% middle grey, metering techniques, and the golden rule: "Expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights." Apply exposure compensation and complete a practical Zone System project.

Master variable contrast paper and multigrade printing techniques. Learn how to use the LPL 7451 color head to select contrast grades from 00 to 5. Diagnose and compensate for problematic negatives (thin/dense) using grade selection strategies. Understand how reflected light meters can be fooled by white and black subjects, and practice bracketing exposures to test film latitude.

Master local exposure control in the darkroom. Learn dodging (lightening areas), burning (darkening areas), and print mapping techniques. Create balanced prints by compressing tonal range to fit paper limitations. Practice rescuing challenging negatives and explore advanced pre-flashing techniques. Study master printers like Pablo Inirio and understand digital scanning for archiving analog work.

Master the Pentax K1000's reflective meter and understand its 18% grey bias. Learn precision masking techniques for burning skies and creating image maps for print planning. Conduct systematic studio experiments testing meter behavior with white, grey, and black subjects across 36 frames. Calibrate your camera using the grey card technique and develop film to analyze metering decisions.

Prepare your best print for display. Learn acid-free materials, board types, and the three mounting approaches. Master measuring, marking, and cutting the 45° bevel with a mount cutter. Explore abstraction as a way of seeing through the camera theme exercise.

Master the three essential printing skills: contact sheets, test strips, and your first enlargement. Learn the theory behind middle grey and the Zone System — understanding how tones are placed and controlled to produce expressive darkroom prints.