Film Photographer Course

Lesson 1 • How Film Records Light

Explains silver halide chemistry and latent image formation. Connects light-sensitive emulsion science to exposure decisions made in the field.

Lesson 2 • Analog vs. Digital Workflow Comparison

Contrasts analog and digital capture, processing, and output pipelines. Prepares students to articulate the unique value and constraints of film-based work.

Lesson 3 • Film Formats and Camera Types

Covers 35mm, medium format, and large format distinctions. Students identify which format suits specific creative and practical goals.

Lesson 4 • Film Speed and ISO Ratings

Defines ISO sensitivity and its effect on grain, dynamic range, and exposure latitude. Students select appropriate film speed for given lighting conditions.

Lesson 1 • Aperture and Depth of Field

Covers f-stop values, aperture blades, and depth-of-field relationships. Students control background separation and sharpness zone through aperture selection.

Lesson 2 • Shutter Speed and Motion Control

Explains shutter speed values, sync speeds, and their effect on motion rendering. Students select shutter speeds to freeze or blur subject movement intentionally.

Lesson 3 • Manual Focus Techniques

Teaches split-prism, microprism, and ground-glass focusing methods. Students achieve sharp focus reliably across portrait, landscape, and action scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Anatomy of a Film Camera

Identifies every major component of SLR, rangefinder, and TLR cameras. Provides the mechanical vocabulary needed for all subsequent hands-on work.

Lesson 1 • Exposing for Highlights and Shadows

Applies the zone system concept to film exposure decisions. Students protect highlight detail in slide film and shadow detail in negative film.

Lesson 2 • Bracketing and Exposure Testing

Introduces systematic bracketing and clip-test methods to verify exposure accuracy. Students establish personal exposure workflows that minimise wasted frames.

Lesson 3 • Challenging Lighting Conditions

Addresses backlight, mixed sources, and low-light exposure strategies. Students meter and expose confidently in situations where automatic systems fail.

Lesson 4 • In-Camera and Handheld Metering

Compares TTL metering modes with handheld incident and spot meters. Students choose the right metering tool and mode for each lighting scenario.

Lesson 1 • Specialty and Expired Films

Explores infrared, lith, and expired emulsions for experimental results. Students predict and control the unpredictable qualities of non-standard film stocks.

Lesson 2 • Slide and Reversal Film Stocks

Covers the unique exposure demands and vivid colour of E-6 reversal films. Students understand when slide film's low latitude is an asset rather than a liability.

Lesson 3 • Black-and-White Film Stocks

Compares grain structure, tonal range, and contrast of major black-and-white emulsions. Students select stocks that align with their tonal and textural vision.

Lesson 4 • Film Storage and Handling

Establishes best practices for temperature, humidity, and light-safe storage. Students prevent fogging, colour shifts, and physical damage throughout a film's lifecycle.

Lesson 1 • The Development Process Step by Step

Walks through loading tanks, timing, agitation, stop bath, fixer, and wash. Students develop a roll of black-and-white film with repeatable, controlled technique.

Lesson 2 • Evaluating Negatives

Teaches density, contrast, and defect assessment on a light table. Students diagnose underdevelopment, overdevelopment, and physical handling errors.

Lesson 3 • Pushing and Pulling Film

Explains how altering development time compensates for intentional over- or underexposure. Students push and pull film to expand creative and practical options.

Lesson 4 • Darkroom Safety and Setup

Covers chemical hazard handling, ventilation, and workspace organisation. Students set up a functional, safe darkroom before touching any chemistry.

Lesson 1 • Dodging, Burning, and Local Control

Teaches manual exposure control tools to balance tonal areas within a print. Students apply dodging and burning to achieve a full tonal range in final prints.

Lesson 2 • Variable Contrast Paper and Filters

Explains multigrade paper response to coloured filtration for contrast control. Students dial in precise contrast grades to match negative characteristics.

Lesson 3 • Enlarger Setup and Alignment

Covers enlarger components, lens selection, and optical alignment for sharp prints. Students set up and align an enlarger before making any test exposures.

Lesson 4 • Print Chemistry and Processing

Covers paper developer, stop bath, fixer, and wash sequences for fibre and RC papers. Students process prints to archival standards with consistent tonal results.

Lesson 1 • Scanner Types and Resolution

Compares flatbed, dedicated film, and drum scanner capabilities and resolution limits. Students select the appropriate scanner for their format and output requirements.

Lesson 2 • Scanning Software and Settings

Covers bit depth, colour profiles, and software controls for accurate raw scans. Students configure scanning software to capture maximum tonal information.

Lesson 3 • Negative Inversion and Colour Correction

Teaches manual inversion of colour negatives and orange mask removal in post-processing. Students produce neutral, accurate colour from scanned colour negative film.

Lesson 4 • Archiving and File Management

Establishes naming conventions, folder structures, and backup strategies for film archives. Students build a sustainable digital archive alongside their physical negative collection.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Zone System Application

Extends zone system principles to full exposure-development control for fine-art printing. Students calibrate their personal film-developer combination for predictable results.

Lesson 2 • Multiple Exposure and In-Camera Techniques

Teaches intentional double exposure, lens swapping, and in-camera masking methods. Students create composite images entirely within the camera without digital manipulation.

Lesson 3 • Long Exposure and Night Photography

Covers reciprocity failure correction, light painting, and star trail techniques on film. Students execute planned long-exposure images with accurate exposure prediction.

Lesson 4 • Developing a Personal Visual Style

Guides students to identify recurring aesthetic choices and codify them into a consistent style. Students articulate their visual voice through film stock, format, and tonal choices.