what you need:
– a changing bag $12.95
– a pair of scissors
– a can opener
– a developing tank $26.75
– a thermometer $5
– 3 measuring cups $4 X 3
– developer 14.99
– stop bath 7.95
– fixer 9.25
Hi, this is Matt here and i’m going to share with you my experience with developing black and white film at home. Steffy asked me to share some things about photography with you guys, so i thought this would be a fun intro post.
I never took photography in high school or college, so i didn’t get the experience of developing or printing in a darkroom, but i became interested because a friend gave me a holga back when i was 20 and i have loved shooting film ever since . It was fun and different, and ever since i have tried to shoot as much film as i can. However, recently it has gotten costly since so many people shoot digital. Most photo stores and film labs have closed, and the ones that do take film ship it out. It got to a point where i was spending $5 on a roll of film + $14 per roll for developing! Buying the supplies is a one time investment of about $90 that will last a long time if taken care of well (I left links to all the products I used above). I now only need to buy developer when i run out.
Working with chemicals and exact times seemed like a daunting task to me, and i wont lie, i read and re read a bunch of articles to make sure i got it right. In the end I had a blast and wish i would have started doing this a lot earlier! It takes time and patience, but there’s something about being involved in every step of the process that gives you a real sense of accomplishment. Stay tuned to see how the scans turn out and for more posts on how i create!
P.S. i didn’t want to steal the credit or leave you with a never ending step-by-step process, so here is the site i found to be the most helpful in mixing the chemicals, and for the process. there’s a really useful video, and feel free to ask me any questions in the comments!