Darkroom techniques and analogue photography for beginners
Starting from $220

These flexible and very personalised workshops introduce you to the fascinating world of analogue photography and the magic of Alchemy and the Dark Arts.
The workshop duration is from 10 am – 1 pm.
Individually designed for one or a maximum of two people, the workshop will be tailored towards your specific skill level and interest.
Dates and content are finalized after individual consultation.
Examples of the topics for the beginners’ workshop:
- Introduction to the B/W darkroom set-up
- An overview of the history of analogue photography
- How to use a film camera
- Darkroom health and safety, chemicals and their proper use
- Darkroom equipment, i.e. enlargers, developing tanks, etc
- Loading film into processing tanks
- Basic film processing
- Contact sheet print
Our workshop is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to learn about analogue photography, with a duration of three hours from 10 am to 1 pm. This workshop is structured for one or a maximum of two students, providing a personalized learning experience.
We believe that the best way to learn is by tailoring the workshop to the specific skill level and interests of the participant. To ensure that you get the most out of the workshop, we will finalize the dates and content after consulting with you. This consultation allows us to create a bespoke workshop that will focus on the areas you want to learn.
For beginners, we offer a range of topics that will give you a solid foundation in analogue photography. The topics include an introduction to the B/W darkroom, which includes setting up a darkroom and its essential components, such as safelights, timers, and trays.
We also provide an overview of the history of analogue photography, which includes the origins of photography, and the evolution of film cameras and darkroom technology. We also cover darkroom health and safety, including proper chemical handling and use.
Our workshop will also cover darkroom equipment, including enlargers, developing tanks, and other essential tools. We will guide you on loading film into processing tanks, basic film processing, and how to make contact sheet prints.
The workshop aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of analogue photography. Whether you are interested in photography as a hobby or a career, this workshop is perfect for anyone looking to learn or enhance their skills and knowledge.
Overall, this workshop provides a unique and engaging learning experience that focuses on your interests and skills, providing an opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of analogue photography.
- analogue camera
- exposed film
- notebook if you would like to take notes
Darkroom chemicals and one sheet of paper for contact print are provided.
Paper for printing your images can be purchased from The Centre.
Queensland Centre for Photography,
6, Maud Street, Newstead, Q 4006
- Street parking
- Wheelchair access
The Tutors:
Our tutors are internationally recognized practitioners and experienced educators who have taught photography at all levels from community workshops to university degrees.
Joachim Froese is an art photographer and educator who lives and works in Brisbane and Berlin. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Art at Launceston, University of Tasmania (1996), a Master of Visual Arts from the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University (2002), and a Ph.D. from RMIT in Melbourne (2017). Joachim uses digital as well as historical processes and his photographs are equally renowned for their technical brilliance and a conceptual approach. His standing as an acclaimed international photographer is reflected in his extensive track record of public displays. Since 1992 he has shown his work in major solo, group, and traveling exhibitions in institutions and art events across Australia, Europe, Asia, and North America and is featured in many national and international art publications. A number of his works are held in public collections such as the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, and the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). Joachim is a highly experienced educator who has held regular teaching appointments and guest lectures on photography at universities in Australia and Germany since 2001. He teaches from a practitioner’s point of view and enjoys sharing his unique knowledge across a broad spectrum of photographic processes
Shehab Uddin is a visual artist, educator, and documentary photographer from Bangladesh who completed his Doctor of Visual Arts at the Queensland College of Art (QCA), Griffith University in 2017. His key interests lie in socio-political documentation which he translates into highly emotive visual stories. Shehab has worked as a leading photographer for Drik photo agency and Daily Sangbad, the oldest newspaper in Bangladesh, as well as several corporate and non-profit organizations. His work has been exhibited around the world and won numerous awards, including the Magnum Foundation Emergency Fund, Alexia Foundation Professional Grant, All Roads (HM) National Geographic, WHO, and Asahi Shimbun. Shehab’s images have been published regularly in major international news magazines including The New York Times, Der Spiegel, Time Journal of Photography, The Politiken, The Guardian, Times Daily, New Internationalist, and Nepali Times. His work is held in the collections of the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts (Japan), State Library of Queensland (Australia), Dhaka Nagar Jadughar (Dhaka City Museum), and Liberation War Museum (Bangladesh). In 2005 Shehab was named a Panos Media Fellow and he has taught at numerous institutions, including QCA; Sunshine Coast University; Pathshala South Asian Media Institute Dhaka, and the College of Journalism and Mass Communication Kathmandu.s