Developing Film At Home
The Process Is Important
Working through a creative process that’s unique to you is one of the most beautiful parts of making art. Taking the time to enjoy the motions and actions of creating helps build your artistic identity. Having a specific process is essential to shaping the way you work.
Using an analog camera connects me to my images on a deeper level. Going through the motions of loading film, metering for light, composing a shot, and finally taking an image all of it is part of the ritual. The repeated actions of post production developing and scanning have also become a meditative process for me. What excites me most is the connection it brings me back to: the roots of photography.
Loading film onto a reel in the dark, readying it to be developed, makes me truly appreciate the images I’m about to bring into the world. Developing film feels like a form of meditation putting on some music and zoning in on the process of bringing those images to life.
Making art is all about the process the motions, the rituals, and the actions that bring your ideas to completion. Developing film can actually be fun and easy once you get past the initial fears of mixing chemicals.
List of Supplies
Patterson tank with reels included (reels adjust from 35mm to 120)
Dark bag or makeshift dark closet
B&W or color chemicals (companies like Ilford or Cinestill make easy-to-use kits!)
Thermometer and beaker for mixing chemicals (about 32 ounces)
Opaque bottles to store chemicals (1 liter is the typical amount from most kits)
Bucket to heat chemicals to the temperature directed in the kit
Hanger and binder clips to hang-dry film for a few hours
Tips
If you’re having trouble loading your 35mm or 120 film onto the reel, take a moment to breathe and watch a quick YouTube video. I’ve spent over 20 minutes with my hands in a dark bag, sweating because I couldn’t get the film on the reel!
Tip: Soak your reels in hot water a day before and let them dry for 24 hours—this helps loosen the joints and makes loading easier.Get a sous vide to heat your water it’ll save you so much time. You can find a regular cooking one on Amazon or eBay. Place your bottles of chemicals in a bucket of water and heat the water until the chemicals reach the required temperature. (Or, if you’re on a budget, just use a bucket and hot tap water to adjust the temperature manually.)
During the agitation steps, make sure to tap your tank on the counter a few times to avoid bubbles forming on your film. I made this mistake often when I first started!
If a roll comes out blank or has an issue to it this website is great for figuring out the issue: