Black & White Film Processing Workshop – Learn the Magic of the Darkroom

Step into the magic of analogue photography with our hands-on black & white film processing workshop. Held in our darkroom in Brisbane, this session is designed for beginners and creatives who want to experience the tactile, rewarding process of developing their own film.

This is more than just a technical workshop — it’s a dive into the soul of photography. You’ll leave with a set of developed negatives, practical darkroom skills, and a renewed appreciation for the craft behind the image. Whether you’re a total beginner or returning to film after a break, this workshop is the perfect place to reconnect with analogue photography.

What You’ll Learn:

• Equipment needed: developing tanks, spirals, beakers, and more
• How to load 35mm or 120 film onto spirals for processing
• How to safely handle, mix, store, and dispose of darkroom chemicals, with step-by-step guidance through using the developer, stop bath, and fixer
• Timing, agitation, and temperature control techniques for optimal results

• How to assess your negatives for exposure, contrast, and clarity and best practices for storing your negatives

Interested in learning the basics of film processing? Our workshop on Film Processing is a great way to get hands-on experience while learning essential skills in a guided environment. You’ll develop your own black and white film and gain confidence in traditional darkroom practices.

Who Should Attend Our Beginners’ Darkroom Workshop?

• Absolute beginners with no prior darkroom experience.

• Those who have observed darkroom work but want hands-on experience.

• Anyone who previously worked in a darkroom and wants a refresher on current techniques.

Participants are encouraged to bring a 35mm (24-exposure) or 120-format exposed black and white film. You’ll process this film yourself during the session.

• 1 roll of exposed film, 35mm – 24 exposures, or 120 film
• We provide disposable aprons, however we suggest you wear old clothes in case of an accidental chemical splash onto you
• A note pad

Queensland Centre for Photography, 

6, Maud Street, Newstead, Q 4006

• Street parking
• NO wheelchair access

The Tutors:

Our tutors are professionally 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.

Pete Law – Pete’s photographic journey began deep in the analogue era, nurtured from a young age in darkrooms where the alchemy of film first captured his imagination. His early career was rooted in the demanding world of cartographic mapping photography, working in both Government and private sector laboratories where precision and technical expertise were paramount.

Over the years, Pete has worn many hats—technician, teacher, consultant, and manager. A career highlight was his role as Photographic Consultant and Installation Manager for the Queensland Pavilion at EXPO 88, where he oversaw the production of some of the world’s largest photographic murals. He later led the Photographic Group at Media and Information Service, Queensland Government, managing a state-of-the-art lab at SunMap in Woolloongabba.

Pete also holds formal qualifications in TAFE teaching and served as a full-time Instructor in Photography, guiding students through every step of the darkroom process—from film processing to fine silver gelatin prints. His hands-on teaching style is known for being encouraging, practical, and generous in spirit.

Today, Pete continues to shoot on both film and digital, though his heart remains firmly rooted in the traditions of analogue photography. His current passion is Street Photography, where the spontaneity of the street meets the timeless magic of film.

Whether you’re just beginning your darkroom journey or rediscovering the joys of film, Pete brings not only deep expertise but also a love for sharing knowledge and inspiring others to find their voice through the craft of photography.

I cannot recommend the BW film processing workshop highly enough. I’m new to the world of film processing and I’d been searching for something like this workshop for a long time.
Shehab was a fantastic tutor and I felt really lucky to have one-on-one access to his experience and knowledge. Shehab’s guidance was informative and patient, allowing me to go at my own pace and process information comfortably.
Most importantly, the workshop was both relaxing and enjoyable and my only regret is not leaving enough time in Brisbane to do more of the other great workshops put on by Maud Street.

Ben, 2024