Darkroom Services

 

Our fully equipped black and white darkroom in eastern Tokyo is available both for rent, and for printing lessons.

Darkroom Rental

Available in half day and full day time slots.

  • Half Day - Any 3 hour block between 10am-11pm (pending availability) - ¥5,500 including tax

  • Full Day - Any 7 hour block between 10am-11pm (pending availability) - ¥11,000 including tax

Darkroom rental supports black and white prints either RC or FB, includes all chemicals and tools, and we will deal with the final wash and dry of your prints if needed so you can use your full time printing rather than finishing. Prints can be collected at a later date or mailed to you for a small fee.

We have a condenser enlarger, and trays which support prints up to 20x24.

Darkroom rental does NOT include paper, so please bring your own. If you run out, you may be able to purchase some from our on site supply.

Our closest station is Ojima on the Toei Shinjuku line.

Please contact us to reserve a timeslot.

 

Darkroom Lessons

Darkroom lessons are available in 1 day or 2 day courses. The 1 day course is just darkroom use and printing, while the 2 day course includes film photography instruction as well as negative development.

The 1 day course (darkroom only) is ¥55,000 including tax.

The 2 day course (darkroom as well as film photography/development) is ¥77,000 including tax.

As part of the course, you will receive:

  • 25 sheets of Ilford RC paper (8x10 size)

  • 25 sheets of Ilford FB paper (8x10 size)

  • An 8x10 print folder

  • All required film, chemicals and archival negative sleeves for your lessons

At the end of this course you will:

  • Know how to use the enlarger

  • Know how to print both RC and FB papers in the darkroom

  • Know how to make test prints and contact prints

  • Know how to adjust contrast of variable contrast papers

  • Know how to dodge and burn small details of prints

  • Know how to use a light meter and film camera in manual mode (2 day course only)

  • Know how to develop black and white film at home (2 day course only)

At the end of the course you will be fully equipped to rent and use darkroom spaces on your own.

 

Course Schedule

Photo Course (only included in 2 day course):

  • 10:00 am - basic instruction on camera theory and how to use a film camera in manual mode

  • 11:00 am - shooting around town together with film camera in manual mode. 2 rolls of film and camera provided if necessary

  • 1:00 pm - lunch break

  • 2:00 pm - instruction on how to develop film yourself (in our darkroom)

  • 2:30 pm - practice developing your own film with the rolls you shot in the morning

  • 3:30 pm - hang out film to dry

  • 4:00 pm - finish

Printing Course (1 day course):

  • 9:30 am - (If you joined for the Photo Course) cut/prep film

  • 10:00 am - basic darkroom techniques

  • 12:00 pm - lunch break

  • 12:30 pm - more darkroom techniques

  • 2:30 pm - break while I rearrange darkroom

  • 3:00 pm - free darkroom use (I will be nearby to assist or answer any questions)

  • 5:00pm - finish

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions, or would like to book a lesson.