With Colin Westgate. (Complete course 7 days at West Mersea, Essex. Days may be booked on an individual basis – choose any day or combination of days to suit your requirements).
Max. 3 people any one day.
Sunday 4 July  to Saturday 10 July 2010. Other days by arrangement.

Despite the rapid expansion of digital photography, the darkroom is alive and well and most photographers will agree that a traditional silver darkroom print has a unique and unequalled quality. Not only that, but the production process is much more ‘personal’ than when working on a computer and as a result, the photographer is much more involved with the image. This very comprehensive, hands on, course will cover everything from basics through to advanced printing, to specialised techniques such as lith printing and what are called ‘alternative processes’, such as cyanotype and argyrotype. It will also include toning and print presentation and mounting. It therefore caters for everyone from the newest beginner to more experienced workers wishing to improve their skills.

Colin Westgate is a very experienced printer, having worked in the darkroom for over 50 years. His tuition will enable you to get the best from your negatives, both technically and aesthetically. The full course is as follows, but any day or days can be booked separately.

Day 1. Beginners basics. Intended for workers with little or no previous experience in the darkroom.  It will cover negative development, and the mechanism of making prints, using contrast grades and simple tonal controls.

Days 2 and 3. Advanced methods, including split grade printing, flashing for highlight recovery, difficult negatives etc. It is not essential to attend both days, but will be beneficial to do so, as no two negatives are alike and every one presents a different challenge.

Day 4. Lith printing. A specialised technique capable of creating beautiful tonal and graphic effects.

Day 5. Toning. Use of various toners, such as sepia, selenium, copper, blue etc. Used tastefully, toners can greatly enhance the aesthetic qualities of a print.

Day 6. Alternative processes, such as cyanotype and argyrotype, where papers are hand coated with the appropriate solution and the pictures are ‘developed’ by sunlight or U.V.lightbox

Day 7. Print mounting and presentation. It is amazing how a well presented print can transform a picture and make it look very special. This day will cover aesthetics and techniques of mounting, and participants will cut their own window mount.

Price - any single day £75 (deposit £25). Two or more days £60 per day (deposit £20 per day).
Complete course £350 (deposit £75)