Workshop Registration

Hand Processing Black and White Film

In this introduction to photochemical image-making, hand processing and darkroom practices you will understand how light energy and chemistry work to create images. In the darkroom, you'll expose photograms on short clips of high contrast black and white film stock, rendering them as both negative and reversal (positive) images. We'll then expose longer strips in a 16mm Bolex camera and process them in buckets and a Lomo tank. Various developers and chemical manipulation techniques will be introduced so you'll understand how fun darkroom processing is and how it can render a huge variety of looks to the same shot. To finish, we'll splice together your work and screen it on a 16mm projector.

This workshop includes all film, darkroom chemistry, and supplies for use during the workshop. The Camera Theory workshop is recommended as a prerequisite. This workshop is recommended as a companion to the Super 8 Filmmaking Intensive​, Bolex, Arri SRII 16mm and Aaton XTR Prod Super 16mm Cameras, Darkroom Play with 16mm Colour Film and Hand Processing Colour Film workshops.

Sat 15 August 2026, 10 am - 6 pm   
(Registration deadline is Fri 14 August 5:00 pm)

Instructor: Sandy McLennan

Sandy McLennan loves wandering just outside his darkroom door with cameras and sound recorders. Hand-processing and printing motion pictures via chemistry and chance reveals memory of personal and state-of-the-world emotions. Specializing in Double 8mm and 16mm print film, he often includes audio improvised from location field recordings, self-talk and the physical sound of assembling. He leads workshops giving the experience of slow-hand time and revelation. He has received production and travel grants from Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council.



Location: 1137 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2A3
Category: Creative Practises
Maximum Capacity: 4
8 hours of instruction $160 /member$185 /nonmember