The dying art of the photographic darkroom

[@dennyrulos7370]

I'm 19 years old and I'm picking up my first darkroom enlarger on monday, I'm building a darkroom with my grandfather. The art might've risen from the dead

[@LegenDairy89]

Can you tell me what the point of these rooms is

[@dennyrulos7370]

​@@LegenDairy89 Well, it's in the video, but a darkroom is a room for the processing of photographic film. Mainly the developing of film and the printing/ enlarging of film. Developing most films requires total darkness, so a special room has to be built. Developing some films and enlarging film onto paper to make photographs, you need a completely dark room with only red light (simplified). This is how photographs used to be made before digital cameras.

[@RCAvhstape]

Film won't die completely; it's transitioned from a mass production pro photo medium to an art medium with a smaller market. Some of the bigger companies like Kodak have had a rough time making that switch but other companies, including some new ones, are coming in to fill the demand. Once it stabilizes it'll be a bit more expensive but steadier.

[@aaditya4954]

You were right

[@RCAvhstape]

@@aaditya4954 Doesn't happen often, but happy this time I was.

[@aaditya4954]

@@RCAvhstape true wow you replied even after 6 years

[@dennyrulos7370]

Great prediction, film is at its most popular since it's 'death' right now. I'm 19 years old and I'm picking up my first darkroom enlarger on monday, I'm building a darkroom with my grandfather!

[@tonymonaghan5993]

@@dennyrulos7370 Did you get it built? I'm just putting together mine again after 20 years. I sold all my gear and recently inherited a full darkroom again. Very excited to get back. I

[@erichartke4331]

I have a darkroom in the basement. When I want to print I set it up for hours at night then put it all away. I thoroughly enjoy the whole process of shooting, processing and printing! I am 31.

[@edwardbick337]

traditional film isn't going to die. painting didn't die following photography. books haven't died following the kindle. vinyl hasn't died with mp3s. cooking hasn't died with microwave meals.............

[@jordywilliams]

vinyl has grown at a very healthy rate in recent years because of the mp3. the mp3 has caused the fall of cd's

[@jonathanjernigan3865]

Edward Bick I mean, photography can only do so much that painting can. They are fundamentally different. I do like lane's analogy, though. Once digital as we know we know it dies, and it's coming, film will stick around. It'll definitely be more expensive than it is now, though.

[@catedoge3206]

yuh

[@neilpiper9889]

Just an update from 2020. The darkroom is still going strong. Possible because of covid. There is a commercial place in Cheltenham called The Darkroom which can print from up to 10x8 inch negatives. They still teach darkroom working at Stroud college where I live. I still have a home darkroom and use film from Kodak, mainly tri x Ilford Hp5 and Foma, Rollei and am using Ilford papers and Foma for old style papers. Alas, Kodak stopped making my favourite paper, Bromesko way back, and of course Kodachrome slide film went. Just thought you might like a state of play comment. I am 75 now and have been darkroom printing since I was 11, 10 years professionally. Long live this wonderful art of taking pictures and making negatives and prints

[@reclusiveeagle4496]

No Sir, its not because of Covid. The 1990s (20-30 year old's) have arrived. Film sales have been skyrocketing since 2013. Let's just say we've become so bored with Pixels and throw away consumerism that we've been born into that literally anything retro and analogue is a world of fascination. Not just in the photography industry. You'd actually be surprised to learn even Wet plates and Daguerreotypes are being revived. Palladium prints etc. There is a reason Kodak reintroduced Ektachrome. 2015-2019 Kodaks film production *Doubled* and its been increasing 30% year on year for the past decade. And with enough investment Kodachrome will come back too. The analogue revival is here. And its here to stay. Just search "Film Photography" on KZbin and you will find people like Matt Day, Willem Verbeeck, Vuhlandes, Mike Gray and Tyler Shields with massive audiences all geared towards Film

[@matthew.maduli]

Being born into the generation of everything digital, I still think film is still here to stay. Not much teens my age know what a dark room is, or use 35mm or medium format or anything like that. But film has been making a comeback. Instant film photography has actual gotten bigger, with Fujifilm instax cameras and Impossible Project bringing back film for Polaroid 600, sx70, spectra, and 8x10 photos film. I'm not sure how darkroom developing/printing will go in the next 5 years but there are still tons of people shooting film. I wouldn't fully understand how I guess "magical" or cool it was to work in a darkroom and make prints, but I hope there still be there when Im older.

[@maximilianshootsfilm]

I'm happy to say that even 35mm is back in some way

[@esanford]

I just took down my darkroom 4 years ago. Just watching this brought back the smell of fixer. There is nothing like touching each print as you move from developer to stop bath to fixer. And yes, it required about 2 hours to make a finished print. It was a solitary spiritual experience. Thanks for posting.

[@enLARGE.darkroom]

Output times have been slashed now by the use of a new predictive enlarger exposure app called enLARGE available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad on the Apple AppStore. Saves heaps of time, paper and processing chems when making enlargements bigger than about 6x4”

[@davecarrera]

2023 update: Been enjoying learning the craft of print making using my Meopta 4 with color 3 head in my shed for the last 24 months. Develop my own 120 rolls using home made developers. Enjoying the journey.

[@ryan2stix]

2022, and I'm turning a closet into a darkroom, going with an intrepid setup.. 2022 and you can buy new/modern darkroom setups.. what a time to be alive

[@screenname88]

Same except in my bathroom. Ordering the intrepid enlarger soon. 🔨🔨🔨

[@GoldenLamb937]

I hope not. I'm a relatively new photographer, but I've fallen in love with the darkroom too. As a teenager in the digital age, I think film has a beauty different from digital, and it worth keeping alive. I really like photoshop, but the darkroom is different, and very special.

[@Notimportant1995]

It's funny to watch this as I've just completed the setup of my own colour darkroom for hand printing and processing and it's only gaining popularity and becoming more accessible than ever with the growth of the resources on the internet which were previously closely guarded secrets of master printers.

[@earthtoarir]

Where do you recommend to start?

[@DANVIIL]

Since this was made, film has had a big comeback. I can buy medium format cameras whose negatives are more than 5 times larger than any "full frame" digital camera and the images are just better in my opinion. Each type of film has its own inherent color palette which gives an image a unique look. B&W is also very distinct and its so simple to process my own B&W & color at home that it's not an issue. I prefer medium format optics over 35mm, so film will never die..

[@Cowmageddon]

This makes me want to study film photography more

[@aloyyyys]

And we're back baby! Film is here to stay!

[@MUSKLR]

When I got my first DSLR (Canon Digital Rebel) close to 10 years ago, I felt convinced that film was dead... That there was no longer any need for it. A few years ago I enrolled in the photography program at my local college and was required to take B&W film photography. I am happy to say that I was completely wrong about my belief that film was dead and not needed. I love film photography and the whole developing/printing process, perhaps even more so than digital. So, no, film is absolutely not dead!

[@dreaddennis]

i am 27 and spend 3 days in the darkroom every week, enlarging up to 4x5 and 8x10 contacts. i like this clip but its full of bs and way to melancholic about film dying... i found that enlarging from film en especially making chemical print, still and will have a quality that inktjet can't reproduce.

[@josephawatson]

man this hasnt aged well, now more people are building darkrooms than they were when this was recorded. I am working towards it as well.

[@tinoproductions]

This really saddens me. I hope the hardcore and few occasional drifters in will keep analogue alive.

[@cdl0]

They are and they will keep film alive.

[@ToddB987]

This is the art of photgraphy. I believe to be a true photographer this is how it is done. Knowing how to all the steps in the process, ending with a beautifully printed picture in a achivally mounted frame. Building on what Claude says.. I have a Rolleiflex TLR camera that is 50+ years old and shoot awesome pictures and still works? Let see where today's digital camera's will be at in 50+ years.. in the landfill.

[@koonyik]

In my part of the world, I see more newbies digging up their parents or aunties or uncles' cameras to shoot with. Guessed there is not much of an entry barrier and the nostalgic of a really old camera still functioning today makes it all fun and charming. There is a lot more people asking and looking for enlargers. Film is also more easily available nowadays.

[@jamesdunlop8704]

Film is real photorgraphy .It is a real skill. I am always happy to see young people taking to film photography. Your photos of darkrooms remind me of some I have been in. When at school I was told of a darkroom where the enlarger head ran across the floor. I had never seen one until your video. Thankfully film photography is remerging.

[@GeorgeStar]

What will be the legacy of a digital photographer - a couple of hard disks and DVDs? Will they be readable in 20, 50, 100 years? Not likely. Try reading a 5 1/4" floppy from 25 years ago. These will be the digital dark ages where the only surviving images will be those that were printed.

[@nateo200]

Great video...it was oddly relaxing to watch the process of enlarging, manipulating the print while it was still wet, etc. I could almost feel it in my hands.

[@skmerti]

this documentary is about darkroom being finished as a printing media for the world, the darkroom becomes more special, more rear and offering lot of joy yet to come to few faithful remaining

[@Vlad-1986]

I doubt it: I have been showing an interest on photography, and I shoot film. As I investigated, I saw a lot of people just like me, with a growing interest on film. I see that getting film is getting easier too... I must say that I am stuck with a 0 hour contract right now, and I am the week I bring some films to develop, is a week I have to eat porridge and rice only, even so I don't think is a waste, such is the reward of making analogic photographs can deliver. But I dream on being able to afford a darkroom kit some day. Nowdays they even offer lightproof bags to feed the film on the reels with no need of a darkroom!.

[@spawnofmunky]

They've had them for a long time, Paterson makes cheap ones. I'd say about 25 dollars. Learn to hand process, it's easy and cheap.

[@WizzRacing]

I noticed when I pullout my XK or XD in a room of picture takers I get swarmed with questions. Cameras that shot film, 30+ years old and they still work like new. Digital cameras are disposable to me like a computer. I just can't think of my art as disposable or how many frames can I shoot to get one good picture. Its hard to explain to someone unless they tried it and understand the attachment you have to the process.

[@TheDavidtweddle]

I am not a Luddite so why did I have tears in my eyes at the end of this well shown video. Well I have only ever taken two shots possibly three or four. First was B&W life sized shot of my baby nephew sucking a Rich Tea biscuit to the death. Second Colour taken of a misty landscape scene. I started aiming for one shot out of one roll of 36 exp's ended up one out of 5 meters of film (Ilford XP5 C41). after a thirty year brake from photography I have just started to get back in, fist I got a Nikon DSLR, put that to one side and got three Nikon 35 mm cameras. Good video well done, and thank you Claude you comment sums it up...

[@vixonhq3417]

Its not dying. In my city (Melbourne, Australia) i have been seeing a huge influx of film photography in the streets. 5 years ago ive seen maybe one or two film photographers here and there. now. i am seeing on average 10 a day. Film is forever immortalized as a art medium.

[@GreatGizmo74]

I'm 15 and to my Dad's annoyance our utility room is now a Darkroom. Yes, I grew up in the digital age but there is something about the analogue ways that is so much more satisfying to me!

[@AnaDias-ow6ru]

I'm 19 and fell in love with the darkroom! it won't dissapear completely and i know some people who love it too!!

[@donsemo3289]

Black and white photography is considered a unique art form. Like lithographs it will never die off as long as people still have the passion for taking and developing their own work.

[@tankmchavocproductions6907]

While film photography is here to stay, the darkroom is unfortunately dead. It seems most people today just want to scan their film and maybe print it from that, but I don’t know of a single place in my city (a huge city) that uses a real darkroom with true chemical prints.

[@jackwegener3484]

You do not state the name of your city but I will venture to say with almost 100% accuracy that it is not Savannah, Georgia (USA).

[@reclusiveeagle4496]

A Dark room doesn't physically need to be a room. A Paterson Changing bag and a dev tank are all that are needed unless you are doing sheet film processing/Large Format/Enlarging. All of which are extremely common now. I can right now buy a used enlarger and start contact printing 6x6 within a week. If I had a spare $300 I would have done it a year ago.

[@Nvananon]

Just about to complete my very first darkroom in my apartment for the development and printing of black and white film. I wasn't born in the wrong era, it's my job to keep that era alive.

[@dochertyinbc]

Great video, but things apparently are different here in Canada, for it is easy here to locate and purchase all requisite supplies: film, chemistry, papers, timers and other needs, though enlargers can only be found used, but fortunately they are somewhat readily available. I have three enlargers, all bought used, all with accessories.

[@funeralgiggle3771]

I value the art of photography and the satisfaction that comes from film photography and its process. What conflicts me is the environmental damage of the chemicals and the water that are used in the developing phase.

[@enLARGE.darkroom]

There’s pollution in the production of digital photography too. Photography is an industrial process that pollutes, and that’s part of the cost of it.

[@siypic]

Its now six years on ...............and its having a resurgance, not dying.

[@cdl0]

True!

[@vinny3908]

luckily film is starting to make a comeback. When digital came out everybody jumped on it, i guess people see now that film and digital are two different worlds.... luckily.

[@LarryManiccia]

There's nothing like making and looking at a print. I have just as much fun making prints as I do capturing the images. Inkjet prints are great, but I have a ton of respect for folks still making darkroom prints. Darkroom prints seem like another level above what it takes to make inkjet prints. Props to everyone out there still shooting film and doing it the "old fashioned" way. Sometimes new isn't always better. Lately I have had the urge to buy an old TLR and shoot 120 medium format film. I think the whole process of shooting film would make me a better photographer.

[@classicalemotion]

I started making printings this year... I am 39. I don't thing it's dying actually. Of course, people have to be interested in learning about the real photography, not just shooting automatized digital bealiving that that's art.

[@soulstart89]

I started shouting film very late. So most things are no longer available. I fully agree the process no longer is to print but to share on the internet. The thing I have with this is it just becomes lost in the millions of daily pictures on a given site. I love printing. Yes you can get more clinical dodging and burning in photoshop but it’s just not the same. I have a question what camera was Richard using?

[@outspokengenius]

Everything from film to chemicals to paper and even new developing tanks and tools along with enlargers is still available both new and used. In the time since this video was made film photography has made a huge resurgence and the industry continues to grow.

[@johncampbell5742]

Do you have any plans to publish your darkroom images? I'd love to see more of them.

[@kanwie1991]

Films are not difficult to get, at least in China, but much more expensive than before. However, darkroom equipment like enlarger is not expensive at all.

[@themadscientest]

I shoot film and know a little about the darkroom, my cousin is now shooting film and learning about the darkroom too... im probably going to build one in my basement soon too so I can shoot, process and print my own 35 and 120 and save some money since now printers charge through the ass! plus it feels better to print it your self.

[@scotty195823]

Do It! it is one of the most satisfying artistic journeys you can take. When you get it right there is nothing to compare with the feeling of "I made that". I also make my own photographic chemicals which increases my scope for artistic expression even more.

[@timothycampbell3439]

scotty195823 Developer and Stop Bath I can see, but how do you make your own fixer?

[@scotty195823]

Timothy Campbell There are recipies for fixers available on the net. The principal ingredient is either Ammonium or Sodium Thiosulphate

[@labehindthescenes]

What large format camera is being used to complete the project and shown in the video?

[@ivanguerra1260]

Hey guys, we are in 2020 and film is fashion today !!

[@post3129]

Agree, it's no dying. It's coming back. I also think color hand printing will come back. With today's neg films of such incredible detail and color, scanning them is rubbish. Ive just started RA4 printing and its easy and fast. With a good analyzer I could print an entire roll of 8x10's in a few hours max. People are now intuitively reacting to digital images having no real meaning anymore.....

[@lukebryant]

Im a student and love black and white photography in the darkroom i find that colour film is going by black and white will always be around

[@enLARGE.darkroom]

As Robert Frank famously said: ‘Black & White are the colours of Photography’

[@jcw3195]

High end galleries do not exhibit digital prints, which is great for traditional archival printmakers... like me. Bottom line is traditional archivally processed & toned fiber based prints are superior to digital output in every way.

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Excellent presentation great video. I am a professional photographer I’m also a professional film and print developer at this time I’m working on printing platinum palladium !

[@JanoUrda]

Just curious, is there anybody who knows what camera and lens he used?

[@fredthegraycatt]

It's a matter of expense and processing/lag time. I did BnW and Cibachrome back in the late 70's. I sold all my camera and darkroom equipment before digital got competitive with the quality of film in the early 1990's. I can't see ever going back to film.

[@canturgan]

And one day nobody will watch this video and it will be over.

[@cdl0]

2019 and watching . . . . .

[@anthonyperez9802]

I still own a 10x10 Caesar Saltzman Omega Enlarger. I shoot more film than sensor.

[@beauxmedia3560]

La La Land, multi oscar nominated movie 2017..... shot on film!

[@davidlide6941]

Spoke to soon lol It's back alive again.

[@RGary_Hall]

By talking about some of the no longer made films it helps push their agenda of making these images more precious. A little BS sprinkled in to raise the importance of the video. I shoot and have shot 8x10 film for more than 40 years. While it's true that film use is not what it was, it is still a viable medium to express one's self. I have no problems filling my darkroom with student when ever I fly a class. Stop marketing yourselves with FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt.)

[@terrywbreedlove]

7 years later it is September 27 2020 and everything is going Covid 19 crazy. But film is growing stronger and stronger.

[@joeyslats31]

Its young people that are shooting film now. It is no longer mass production and is more of a niche thing but seems to be growing underground rather than in the mainstream.

[@outspokengenius]

Film is certainly still mass produced by several manufacturers.

[@womankisserjermaluvr]

i love shooting film but its so expensive now, and developing labs have upped their prices a lot as well

[@b6983832]

That narrative about film and darkroom being a dying art was popular in 2014, when this video was made. Fortunately, this was not true, and is not true in the year 2022. Some people thought it is going to be all digital, but that is not the case.

[@Answersonapostcard]

This video hasn't dated well. "The dying journalism of The Guardian" would be a better title.

[@jameslane3846]

Dying art? Not likely. L Darkrooms are popping up all over the place especially in the UK as far I can tell.

[@fosterhart2013]

Well ! I would not write the obituary yet !

[@wichersham]

2022, film is doing well.

[@stuart-hayes]

I’ve been shooting film since the early 80s and I’m still shooting in now 2022.....

[@GreatGizmo74]

Have you ever shot using Kodachrome?

[@stuart-hayes]

Yes but not for many years

[@archywiseman]

It ain’t dead yet.

[@pezz677]

It’s coming back

[@tiktianchan1913]

Oh NOOO.... NOT Readyloads!!! I mean you can't just buy regular sheet film because that would take waaayyyyyyy tooooo mmuuuuuuuccccchhhhhhh effort right? except for certain emulsions being discontinued, and the lack of any new enlargers being made (not that the massive number made before isn't enough) analogue photography isn't doing too badly.

[@outspokengenius]

New enlargers are still being made but they are extraordinarily expensive compared to the used market. I got my 4x5 enlarger free from a buddy who got it from his local newspaper.

[@mofi3641]

touching chemical without a glove....well ...

[@saigonmonopoly1105]

it abour light wave energy imprint set in delay

[@AI-Hallucination]

How ironic

[@burtub]

Does Kodak still make 35mm rolls?

[@E-StudiosEU]

Kodak Portra, Kodak Tri-X, Kodak Tmax, Kodak Gold, Kodak Ektar. In all formats 35mm 120 roll film aka medium format and also 4x5 sheet film. Those are the most used ones and still being made. Not 100% sure if it's from kodak themselves but I ordered bunch of those fresh stock all from 2017 and 2018 expire date.

[@outspokengenius]

@@E-StudiosEU Kodak also makes some 5x7 and 8x10 sheet film. I believe they are also doing special order sizes like Ilford once a year or so. And yes it is really from Kodak even though with all the bankruptcy stuff it's hard to tell who Kodak really is.

[@ChristianAndrew1.4]

Jumped the gun with this one... in a big way.

[@anonymousguy7723]

Real photographers use film, not Polaroids

[@hermanvdd599]

? Dyïng ? More alive then you can imagine ;-) (y)

[@VideoSuperMaster]

It got replaced by superior technology. Get over it.

[@ChristopherHindefjord]

Digital isn't really "superior", but it has several advantages (like quick turnarounds etc), but film also has several advantages over digital (like dynamic range etc. Being limited to 35 frames per roll instead of 3600 images per card can also be seen as an advantage). Digital painting and illustration tools didn't replace real pens and paintbrushes, CAM didn't replace handcraft etc. Film is quite alive (among both hobbyists and pros), it's just something used by the masses anymore.

[@BobbyZio]

Define "superior" please. Just because it is new does not, in no way mean better. Dye Transfer color printing, Technicolor IB (actually, a "black and white" motion picture process yielding color movies) that have no current rival. Film still can kick their modern equivalents in the butt. Just a simple fact.

[@VideoSuperMaster]

Bobby Zio Like I said, get over it. No one cares about your fictional advantages of film. It's a stupid ass outdated piece of shit no one will ever miss. Shove your hipster crap up your ass.

[@CarlosFonse]

VideoSuperMaster damn so much anger you should shoot film it helps relaxing

[@Synthalog]

I'm sure you don't have a BBQ, or you don't paint on paper or play with real toys. Get over it.