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A NEW SERIES OF B&W PHOTO DARKROOM workshops in the MAUD/Dart will take place in November – details and bookings will be available soon…

Irena processing film in the darkroom

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Irena, the gallery director, has a passion for the world of analogue photography. We have all been working together to develop a focus of fine art photography for Maud Gallery.  Last year we presented some introductory workshops in black and white darkroom titled  ‘ALCHEMY and the Dark Arts’ where we had a lot of fun with a small enthusiastic group.

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Analogue film group shoot-out

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Recently Irena has re-vamped her darkroom at the gallery transforming it to provide a facility for other enthusiasts to hone their photography craft. As part of this new initiative we have designed a series of workshops to re-invigorate the analogue world. The workshops are for small numbers to provide hands-on practical experience for participants. Additionally the darkroom will be available for hire and Maud Gallery has linked with ILFORD to supply those hard to get papers and chemicals.

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The workshops are for small groups and are suitable for people wanting to learn about the art of processing and printing black and white photographs in the darkroom. These workshops may be of interest to you or you may know of someone who has an interest in this area – please feel free to pass on this email.

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Here’s a video of working in the darkroom…

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The workshops are:

Series 1 SEEING WHAT DEVELOPS: FILM PROCESSING

Limited number of 6 participants (min 4 to run) – Demonstration + Practical

This session will provide you with an opportunity to experience the dark art of B&W FILM PROCESSING. Importantly this session is intended as a ‘see how it’s done’ as well as a ‘do it yourself’ activity. You will be invited to bring along a 35mm-24 exposure or 120 black and white film that will be processed by you as part of the workshop.

Who would benefit from this session:

• People with no previous practical processing or printing experience including those who might have seen darkroom work done but not engaged with it at any significant level
• Those who may have done darkroom work some time ago and are seeking a refresh program to update them on the contemporary process.

TOPICS: Film processing

• The workspace
• Chemicals – preparation/storage/ disposal/Safety
• Processing tanks
• Loading spirals
• The processing sequence – time/temperature/agitation/wash/dry/sleeve
• What can go wrong
• Do I have good negs…?

This session links with Darkroom Series Parts 2 & 3.

Times: To be advised

Cost: $55 per person (Includes chemicals and negative sleeve)

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Series 2 PRINTING B&W NEGS: DEMO SESSION

Limited number of 6 participants (min 4) – Demonstration + Practical

In this session you will encounter and experience the Dark Art of PRINTING B&W NEGATIVES. The topics will cover all of the key information required to setup and work in a darkroom making your own prints. If you processed negatives in series 1 you will have a contact sheet made.

This session is a ‘show and tell’ of the following topics. Handouts and URL links to useful sites are included in the session notes provided.

Who would benefit from this session:

• People with no previous practical printing experience including those who might have seen darkroom work done but not engaged with it at any significant level
• Those who may have done darkroom work some time ago and are seeking a refresh program to update them on the contemporary process.

TOPICS: Printing and darkroom

• Darkroom design for workflow – Wet/Dry
• Chemicals and handling / Safety
• Enlargers – What is a good one…?
• Preparing the darkroom for print-making
• Making contact and test prints
• Making the print
• Density and contrast / using filters
• Dodge and burn – localised density and contrast control
• How to minumise spots, marks and scratches
• Process / wash / dry
• Using plastic (RC) paper
• Setting up an impromptu darkroom in a bathroom or laundry

This session links with Darkroom Series Parts 3: DIY PRINTING.

DATE: To be advised

Cost: $55 per person (includes 1 contact sheet size 10×8 + chemicals)

Series 3 DIY PRINTING: SUPERVISED PRACTICAL

2 groups of 3 participants – Practical

A supervised printmaking session using your negatives. After being introduced to an enlarger for the session you will make test prints, select the appropriate contrast grade and use basic print enhancement techniques to produce your own prints.

You will work with a specialist darkroom practitioner to direct and support the printing session enabling you to make the most of this special opportunity.

This session will include a critique of the work created.

After completion of this series participants will be able to hire the Maud Gallery darkroom either as an individual or with mentored support.

DATE: To be advised.

NOTE: This session has a maximum of 3 participants – The first three bookings will be in the first time slot 1.00 – 3.30pm. The next bookings will be in the 3.30 – 6.00pm time slot.

Cost: $115 per person – includes 10 sheets 24x30cm (9.5”x12”) paper valued @ $32 + chemicals

Minimum number of participats to run the workshop is 2.

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Series 4 PRINTING A FINE ART MASTERPIECE

Doug and an award winning print

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A full day of working with a darkroom master to create a ‘Fine Art’ print from one of their negatives. At the end of the day the print will be ready for framing.

Soon details of the Maud Gallery Darkroom hire will be available as well as the availability of photographic chemistries and papers. Mentored darkroom sessions will be available as well for those developing their skills in the Dark Arts.

So, do check out the details in each of the Eventbrite events above and don’t hesitate to contact us should you want some more information.

Cheers
Doug+Vicky