Beginners Darkroom Photography

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous photography experience required. You will require your own SLR 35mm film camera.

Special Information

Material you will need to bring for the first night

A manual SLR film camera

A roll of 35mm black and white film (preferably Ilford HP5)

Any other core materials you will require for the course

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicative tools, materials and equipment:

* A manual SLR analogue film camera

* Box (25 to 50 Sheets) Ilford Multi-grade Resin coated paper

* 5-10 rolls of 35mm black and white film (Ilford HP5 or FP4 for hand processing)

35mm film camera preferably with manual settings

Content of Course

The course teaching is delivered over weekly class sessions totalling 27.5 hours. Depending on the specific timetable of the occurrence of the course, this will either be delivered over ten weeks of 2.75 hour class sessions, eleven weeks of 2.5 hour class sessions or five weeks of 5.5 hour class sessions. Over the weeks the course will cover:

• Introduction to SLR Camera Controls; SLR Camera Check, A Presentation of Contemporary Photographers and their work. Shoot a roll of film for week 2.
• Group Film Processing Session of black-and-white 35mm film.
• Introduction to working in the darkroom. Learn how to print a the contact sheet.
• Demonstration of a photographic enlargement.
• Gain an appreciation of general darkroom procedures. Select an image to enlarge to 10”x8”.
• Refining printing techniques. Introducing filters and the ‘dodging’ and ‘burning’ techniques.
• Continue darkroom printing.
• Individual tutorials
• Opportunity to process more film and continued printing.
• Continue darkroom printing.
• Final printing session. Mounting demonstration.
• Class pin-up.

Teaching method(s)

This course will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Each week, students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor who will suggest follow up reading, research and practice to undertake each week to support their studies. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• use and handle a 35mm camera to deploy a range of picture taking techniques and genres within an art context and considering the work of professional photographers;
• understand the fundamentals of light and time in balancing an accurate exposure and show competence in processing and printing black and white photographic images;
• show competence and selection skills in print presentation.

Sources

Core Readings

Gillanders, R., 2004, The photographic portrait: techniques, strategies and thoughts on making portraits with meaning, Devon: David & Charles

Barthes, R., 1994, Camera Lucida: reflections on photography, New York: Hill and Wang

Web Sources

Web sources may be suggested during the course.

Class Handouts

Course information will provided on enrolment and class hand-outs during the course

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.