Making a start with home developing

Making a start with home developing

My plan for the next few days is to set out the steps you need to take to start developing your own films, and maybe going on to print them. Is this looking backwards (like Kasia in the window at Bodyline Studio)?

To help you decide, I’ll be doing this in terms of the lowest cost possible, and you can get all the kit that you need either new or secondhand, and I’ll be suggesting a source for new stuff. Then you can find out for yourself.

Today, why. Tomorrow, the basic kit for developing films, and on Monday, how to do that in easy steps.

Stuff to follow on printing and the digital alternative (that’s not REALLY cheating, honest), and even choosing a camera, if you don’t already own one. With the wonders of modern online ordering, you can do all of this during lockdown!

But why would you want to do any of this in the first place? You don’t have to, and the quality of results will, broadly, not better those from a 24mp digital camera. Nonetheless, a lot of people are trying this for the first time, and the majority of photographic courses in colleges require at least a little ‘wet work’ along the way.

First, because it’s there. It’s a craft, and some people will find any craft a worthwhile challenge.

Second, because it teaches you patient, methodical working. You can’t rush it, and you can’t cut corners without paying a heavy price, usually in the form of a wasted film. That’s wasted money, time, and effort. You will emerge with a more philosophical approach to your pictures, and may even learn patience!

Thirdly, the results can be absolutely beautiful, especially if you progress to making your own prints.

Fourth, you will gain greater understanding of and insight into the whole of the photographic process.

And finally, the very best moment in photography can be yours, if you make your own prints. Watching the sheet of white paper in the developing dish as the image appears, slowly, and faintly at first is something that continues to delight me every time, even after more than 50 years of darkroom work.

That’s the peak of Everest, photographically. You may not want to go there every day, but you will be glad that you went there, even once. And some people have to go back again and again.

Tomorrow, I’ll go through the basic kit for developing.