INTRODUCTORY COURSE TO B&W PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE DARKROOM
Le Trou Noir offers introductory courses in black and white film photography. This includes training in taking pictures on a 35mm film camera, developing film and enlarging some of your negatives in the darkroom.
In a series of 4 courses given over 4 consecutive weeks, you will have the opportunity to learn the physics of film, optics, the notions of contrast and exposure, the process of development and enlargement in the darkroom, manipulating mattes and filters (the 'analog photoshop'), as well as finishing your own black and white prints.
The training is 20% theory and 80% practice. Classes will take place in the darkroom of Trou Noir.
The cost of the training is $550 for the series of 4 courses (14 hours in total). All the necessary equipment is provided: camera, film, chemistry, photo paper, as well as print files and binder. It is also possible to use your own camera if you wish.
The option with a focus on the darkroom only, does not give a shooting class, and skips directly to film development. Student are expected to come to the first class with an exposed roll of black and white film*. This series costs $450.
*Ilford XP2 film cannot be processed in darkroom chemistry. We suggest using Ilford HP5 film.
Although each course is given either in French or in English depending on the teacher's preference, class notes will be available in both languages and all teachers (being bilingual) will be able to answer questions in one or the other languages
LESSON 1 - Shooting
duration : 3h
- ✭ How an SLR camera works in manual mode
- ✭ Film physics
- ✭ Optical
- ✭ Notions of depth of field, contrasts and exposure
LESSON 2 - Film development
duration : 3h
- ✭ Development of 35mm black and white films
- ✭ Uses of chemicals
- ✭ Basic darkroom practice
- ✭ Cutting and storing negatives
LESSON 3 - Enlargement I
duration : 4h
- ✭ Enlargers theory
- ✭ Uses of chemicals
- ✭ Printing a contact sheet and/or a photogram
- ✭ Test Stripe
- ✭ Printing a first photo
- ✭ Framing
LESSON 4 - Enlargement II
duration : 4h
- ✭ Retouching with contrast filters and editing masks
- ✭ Improvement and autonomy
- ✭ Final print of one of your black and white photographs
To register to our darkroom initiation class, it’s here
For more info write to us at infotrounoir@gmail.com
INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS
Each course can be created according to your interests. We invite you to write to us with your craziest photo ideas! Rates for teaching, mentoring or supervision will be determined according to the project.
OPENLABS
The “open labs” are studio blocks of a few hours supervised by one of our members in the Trou Noir collective’s darkroom. The darkroom will be shared with a maximum of 3 other people and open for enlargement (4-hour block) and development (2-hour block) in black and white. It makes the practice accessible and is aimed at our introductory courses cohorts who wish to use our facilities sporadically and to people with darkroom expertise (there is some prerequisites, contact us to check your eligibility).
- Open labs will be held twice a month
- You have to book your spot(s) in advance
- Chemicals are provided and ready to use, but you must bring your own RC or fiber paper
- Open labs for development will be held every 2-3 months.
- During open labs, the maximum enlargement size is 11 x 14
- Toning will not be available
- To enlarge to 16 x 20, open labs will be held upon request
PRICES
4 hours enlargement of 11 x 14 and less - 40$
2 hours film developpement - 20$
4 hours enlargement of 16 x 20 - 80$
RENTAL
It is possible to rent the Trou Noir darkroom per hour. Prior training is required. Write to us for more information.