Darkroom Photography Basics

With the advent of digital technology you may be wondering why you would need to read about a seemingly outdated technique as the darkroom? It may seem outdated and complicated in this day and age of increasing digital capabilities and software options, but many photography enthusiasts wouldn’t do it any other way. There is simply something fun about getting “down and dirty” in the darkroom developing your own perfect print and hanging it on the wall. If you are unfamiliar with the darkroom, this article will be your guide to understanding the basic darkroom terminology you need to know.

Enlarger

The machine in the darkroom is called an Enlarger because that is what it does. It makes your tiny squares of film into large, printed photographs. It works by projecting light through your film onto the surface of your photo paper and exposing the light sensitive chemicals within.

To print your photo, line the frame up with the enlarger’s light source. Then, project it onto the blank mat and be sure it is correctly focused. To adjust there is usually a knob on the side. Darkrooms usually have magnifying glasses so you can make sure the grain of your image can be seen clearly. You can fiddle with the exposure timing so that the photograph looks good.

Chemicals

This is where you get down and dirty in the darkroom once you’ve decided on the correct timing and have exposed a full photograph. Darkroom chemicals not only have a distinct odor, but they will ruin any article of clothing they touch. Be sure to wear an apron to help protect your clothes.

Here are four basic steps to the chemical process:

• Developer - Your photo paper, that will be completely white, is soaked in the developer. The chemical in the developer will activate the photo paper and after a few minutes your image will start to come through. At this point, if you are unhappy with either the contrast or exposure levels, you can go back to the enlarger and adjust your timing. Once the image is what you want and is fully developed, the next step is the stop bath.

• Stop Bath - The stop bath prevents your image from over-developing. This step neutralizes the chemicals found in the developer. The odor mentioned previously comes from the chemicals in the stop bath. The way to tell if your image is ready for the next step is to feel it. When photo paper has been properly stopped, it will squeak when you rub it with your fingers.. This step only takes a few minutes.

• Fixer - At this point your paper will still be sensitive to light exposure, even though the stop bath has stopped the effects of the developer chemicals. Fixer is the final chemical in the process and allows the paper to be exposed to light without ruining the image. This step shouldn’t take too long, depending on the chemicals and paper. Soak your images in the fixer about 5-10 minutes to be on the safe side.

• Rinse - You’ll want to rinse your photos of all the harsh chemicals they were soaked in, and that is why darkrooms have a sink that keeps a continually flowing tub of water for rinsing. You can’t rinse too long, so it is fine to leave the images in the rinse as you continue working. Remember to rinse well as one of the main reasons photographs turn brown over time is because chemicals are not completely rinsed off.

Now that your images have been enlarged, developed, stopped, fixed and rinsed they are ready to be set in a safe place to dry. Once they are completely dry the edges could have a little curling. This is easy to fix. Just place them in a heavy book and that will straighten them out. Now they are ready to frame and hang.

Once you understand the darkroom process, you will feel more confident and willing to try it for yourself. It is a great way to be by yourself to focus on your photography and your artistic talents. You have more control over the final images and will have the satisfaction of doing it all yourself, from snapping the perfect shot to hanging it on the wall to share with friends.