Darkroom Facilities and Equipment
The Margate School Darkroom is open to TMS studio holders, students, fellows and the general public.
We have two fully equipped darkrooms with enlargers set up for black and white film development and photographic printing.
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5 enlargers for 35mm and 120 film
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Sink and trays for up to 16x12 inch prints (bigger prints can be accommodated)
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Film changing bags, Paterson tanks and spirals
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Ilford print dryer
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Epson Flatbed film scanner for film and prints
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Large format facilities are available on request
Hire the Darkroom
To book the darkroom for independent use, you will need to have had previous experience in a darkroom and had a health and safety induction. This can be arranged on your first visit and is included in your initial hire price. Chemicals are provided at a small additional cost. There is also a small range of Ilford black & white films and photographic paper available to purchase.
Solo-use / Group Darkroom Booking
Full day
£50
Book the darkroom at The Margate School for black and white film development and/or photographic printing from 10am - 5pm
Solo-use / Group Darkroom Booking
Half day
£30
Book the darkroom at The Margate School for black and white film development and/or photographic printing from either 10am - 2pm or 1pm-5pm
Tuition and Workshops
1:1 Tuition - Film Development
3 Hours
£150
Book a 1:1 black and white film development workshop with professional photographer and TMS Studio Holder David Babaian. During this workshop you will learn how to develop your own black and white photographic film, whether that be 35mm or 120, and gain the knowledge and skills to be able to continue doing this at home or in a darkroom.
Darkroom hire, chemistry and equipment are all included within the price.
1:1 Tuition - Darkroom Printing
5 Hours
£275
Book a 1:1 photographic printing workshop with professional photographer and TMS Studio Holder David Babaian. During this workshop you will work with your own black and white negatives (35mm or 120) and produce your very own prints using the traditional darkroom process, printing onto photographic paper and learning darkroom printing skills such as dodging and burning, and using contrast filters.
At the end of the workshop you will leave with a selection of your very own handmade prints.
Darkroom hire, chemistry and equipment are all included within the price.
Gathering Processes & Plant-based Developers
£65
As part of Across Landscapes Exhibition, Jess Holdengarde and Melanie King have come together to provide an exciting spring weekend workshop on natural-based developers for analogue film processing.
Dates: 20th April and 21st April
Times: 4-7pm & 9-12pm
Workshop cost: £65
Margate Photo Walk & Film Processing Workshop
£40 (max 8 participants)
During this half day course you will discover the joys of analogue photography & learn the process for developing your black and white film.
Date: 27 April
Time: 10:15am – 1:45pm
Environmental Statement
The Margate School aims to be as sustainable as possible within our limits as a not-for-profit organisation and our Darkroom facility is no different. We acknowledge the effect that darkroom usage has on the environment and we approach this issue with experimental and open mindsets.
We have previously held a series of sustainable photography workshops that seek input from nature to inform the creative process. We aim to repurpose darkroom materials and all of our equipment has been donated by the community.
We are open to collaboration with photographers, scientists, and environmentalists - we’d love to hear new ideas or your experience with sustainable darkroom practices and work together in developing a more sustainable approach to traditional methods.
At The Margate School, we aim to extend learning potential, we seek to do this in the expanded field, through art practice, philosophical reflection, scientific exploration, technological enquiry, engagement in today’s environmental challenges and sociological investigations.
