The friendly darkroom workshop – black and white film developing and printing
Join our Friendly Darkroom Workshop, a welcoming course designed for practising artists, photographers, beginners, and those looking to refresh their skills. Whether you are returning to the darkroom, developing existing work, or learning the process for the first time, this course offers dedicated time and space to explore black and white darkroom printing and film development.
Working in a small, shared darkroom environment, you will build confidence in developing photographic film from your camera and producing your own hand‑printed images. With access to traditional and vintage equipment, you can experiment, refine techniques, and work at your own pace.
Supported by a specialist tutor, and with gentle guidance and refresher demonstrations available throughout, the workshop provides a friendly, creative learning environment where all levels feel comfortable, supported, and inspired.
Course fees
Or call us: Call this number: 020 8314 3300
Monday - Friday 10am-3pm
The friendly darkroom workshop – black and white film developing and printing
Join our Friendly Darkroom Workshop, a welcoming course designed for practising artists, photographers, beginners, and those looking to refresh their skills. Whether you are returning to the darkroom, developing existing work, or learning the process for the first time, this course offers dedicated time and space to explore black and white darkroom printing and film development.
Working in a small, shared darkroom environment, you will build confidence in developing photographic film from your camera and producing your own hand‑printed images. With access to traditional and vintage equipment, you can experiment, refine techniques, and work at your own pace.
Supported by a specialist tutor, and with gentle guidance and refresher demonstrations available throughout, the workshop provides a friendly, creative learning environment where all levels feel comfortable, supported, and inspired.
Course fees
Or call us: Call this number: 020 8314 3300
Monday - Friday 10am-3pm
How to enrol
After you’ve chosen which course you want to do, you need to enrol. You should enrol before the course starts to make sure you get a place.
You can enrol up to three weeks after the start date if there are spaces available.
Enrolment
You can enrol online for most courses on the course page.
Phone: 020 8314 3300
Monday to Friday: 10am-3pm
Evening and Saturday mornings:
Phone: 020 8314 3300
Monday to Thursday: 4.30-7.30pm
Saturday: 9am-1pm
For enrolments during term time only.
You can also enrol in person at any one of our adult learning centres.
We can only accept debit or credit card payments.
Requirements
If this is your first enrolment you’ll need to provide proof of identity. We will accept a photo of one of the following:
- passport
- driving licence
- national ID card
- birth or adoption certificate
- National Insurance card
- credit or debit card
- recent utility bills or bank statements
- Freedom Pass
How to enrol if you get reduced fees
Find out whether you’re entitled to reduced fees when paying for your course.
If you’re entitled to reduced fees, you can enrol online, but you’ll need to pay for the course then claim a partial refund – you can do so by sending copies of any benefits you’ve claimed in the last three months to adultlearning@lewisham.gov.uk.
The friendly darkroom workshop – black and white film developing and printing
Course information popup. Press Escape to close. Tab to move through the content.
Learning aims
- To gain confidence and develop practical skills in black and white film developing and darkroom printing
- To refresh, build, and extend their photographic knowledge, whether new to the darkroom or returning to practice
- To experiment creatively in an inclusive environment and produce a range of high‑quality hand‑printed photographs, including at least one photogram as an introduction to darkroom processes
What prior knowledge do I need
No prior knowledge or experience is necessary to enrol on this course. Please be advised that some learners who enrol will have more experience than others.
A basic level of English, Maths and computer skills would be useful.
What teaching methods
The tutor will use a range of teaching methods during the class, including demonstration (both group and individual), one to one tuition, group work, progress assessments, observation, discussion and question and answer sessions.
What assessment methods
The tutor will use various methods to assess your progress during the course. These may include observation, completion of an Individual Learning Plan which will be updated regularly, evaluation of work samples, question and answer sessions, and photos of projects to record your achievements in our virtual learning environment (VLE).
Extra work
You will be expected to take full advantage of our virtual learning environment and log in at least 24 hours before the course begins to prepare in advance for the day https://all.lewisham.gov.uk/ (VLE). Signing into our course Moodle site will enable you to access information about the centres, enrolment dates, take part in course forums, messaging, and other various online activities. For this course it is preferred that you sign up to a gmail google account. This will provide an easier and more positive experience to the course when accessing google sites/classroom, where your course will be posted. Please provide digital photographs of your work by sending them to the tutor after the course. Don’t forget that homework exercises are set to enhance and develop techniques learnt during the session.
Materials needed
The course fee includes a small charge for basic materials (chemicals used in the photo development process) and use of any specialist equipment.
We do not provide paper for your projects however 8x A4 sheets of photographic paper will be available to get you started.
If you're a newcomer, please contact the curriculum leader to discuss your project and needs.
Experienced learners will need to bring any of the following depending on your choice of project: photographic paper, photographic film to process and negatives to print from.
Please don't purchase anything before your first lesson unless requested to do so. No liability can be accepted for expenses incurred for a course cancelled or altered at short notice.
What to bring
Come to the first class with your found items to use in your ice-breaker photogram eg. Tooth brush, leaf, keys, etc. All small enough to fit and A5 or A4 sheet. If you have used this dark room previously bring your personal project to get started on.
Small objects work best. Otherwise, you can play around with objects found in the classroom.
If you have accessed our dark room before, please make the tutor aware that you will be attending with your own project (paper will not be supplied for this).
Please wear enclosed shoes.
After completion
The department offers a wide variety of design, media, music and food courses at different levels. Information about these courses is available through the tutor, the curriculum leader or the ALL programme.
Contact details
Maria Turner
Curriculum Leader for: Design, Media, Music, Food and Family Learning
Phone:
020 8314 3986
Email:
maria.turner@lewisham.gov.uk
The friendly darkroom workshop – black and white film developing and printing
Course information popup. Press Escape to close. Tab to move through the content.
Learning aims
- To gain confidence and develop practical skills in black and white film developing and darkroom printing
- To refresh, build, and extend their photographic knowledge, whether new to the darkroom or returning to practice
- To experiment creatively in an inclusive environment and produce a range of high‑quality hand‑printed photographs, including at least one photogram as an introduction to darkroom processes
What prior knowledge do I need
No prior knowledge or experience is necessary to enrol on this course. Please be advised that some learners who enrol will have more experience than others.
A basic level of English, Maths and computer skills would be useful.
What teaching methods
The tutor will use a range of teaching methods during the class, including demonstration (both group and individual), one to one tuition, group work, progress assessments, observation, discussion and question and answer sessions.
What assessment methods
The tutor will use various methods to assess your progress during the course. These may include observation, completion of an Individual Learning Plan which will be updated regularly, evaluation of work samples, question and answer sessions, and photos of projects to record your achievements in our virtual learning environment (VLE).
Extra work
You will be expected to take full advantage of our virtual learning environment and log in at least 24 hours before the course begins to prepare in advance for the day https://all.lewisham.gov.uk/ (VLE). Signing into our course Moodle site will enable you to access information about the centres, enrolment dates, take part in course forums, messaging, and other various online activities. For this course it is preferred that you sign up to a gmail google account. This will provide an easier and more positive experience to the course when accessing google sites/classroom, where your course will be posted. Please provide digital photographs of your work by sending them to the tutor after the course. Don’t forget that homework exercises are set to enhance and develop techniques learnt during the session.
Materials needed
The course fee includes a small charge for basic materials (chemicals used in the photo development process) and use of any specialist equipment.
We do not provide paper for your projects however 8x A4 sheets of photographic paper will be available to get you started.
If you're a newcomer, please contact the curriculum leader to discuss your project and needs.
Experienced learners will need to bring any of the following depending on your choice of project: photographic paper, photographic film to process and negatives to print from.
Please don't purchase anything before your first lesson unless requested to do so. No liability can be accepted for expenses incurred for a course cancelled or altered at short notice.
What to bring
Come to the first class with your found items to use in your ice-breaker photogram eg. Tooth brush, leaf, keys, etc. All small enough to fit and A5 or A4 sheet. If you have used this dark room previously bring your personal project to get started on.
Small objects work best. Otherwise, you can play around with objects found in the classroom.
If you have accessed our dark room before, please make the tutor aware that you will be attending with your own project (paper will not be supplied for this).
Please wear enclosed shoes.
After completion
The department offers a wide variety of design, media, music and food courses at different levels. Information about these courses is available through the tutor, the curriculum leader or the ALL programme.
Contact details
Maria Turner
Curriculum Leader for: Design, Media, Music, Food and Family Learning
Phone:
020 8314 3986
Email:
maria.turner@lewisham.gov.uk