Darkroom Introduction

The first commercially available silver gelatin photographic paper was made in 1874, and this rapidly became the normal material/process for printing photographic images right up until digital cameras.

Silver gelatin printing passes light through a negative, exposing light sensitive photographic paper. This paper is then "developed" in a chemical bath, before being "fixed" to ensure that it is no longer light sensitive.

The image contrast and exposure can be selectively manipulated - in fact the tools offered by products such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are modelled on darkroom techniques.
Printing this way allows deeper blacks than modern inkjet and laser printing, offering a different aesthetic.

In this workshop, you will learn to:

* prepare the chemistry
* make contact prints - showing a positive version of the negative strip
* make a test strip to determine exposure
* make a print
* change image contrast
* selectively change exposure by "dodging" and "burning".

Participants must bring their own developed negatives to the workshop. This workshop will not be focusing on the development of a film roll.