The Film Vault 

February has a particular meaning at DarkLab.

Following our latest blog about why someone might choose to shoot film in winter, it felt only natural to follow it with a guide to the best film stocks for the season. Shooting during the autumn on film is not too dissimilar to shooting in winter. Lighting conditions are usually softer and more diffused, with overcast skies and shorter days. There are also those rare but beautiful crisp days that bring intense sunlight. This makes adapting to the ever changing winter weather a challenge. It is the kind of light that keeps film photographers on their toes and occasionally wondering whether hibernation might be the easier artistic choice.

In the first volume of Inside DarkLab I spoke about my first roll of film and how I got hooked on film photography. But how exactly did I go from shooting film to learning about the darkroom and developing my first roll myself?

Welcome to the start of a new series here on The Film Vault. Think of this as a half-written blog, half-video blog, and maybe one day half-podcast (though that sounds like too many halves). The aim? To bring you behind the scenes of DarkLab: how I stumbled into building my own darkroom, how that became a business, the logo story, the highs, the lows, and the “oh no, what did I just do?” mistakes.

With winter soon upon us, it’s time to tackle an age-old question: why should you shoot film in the colder months, especially in the digital age?

Whether you’re new to analogue photography or a long-time film enthusiast, storing your film correctly makes a world of difference. From the moment you buy it until it’s developed, film is sensitive to light, heat, and moisture. How you treat your film both before and after shooting will directly affect the quality of your negatives.

In an age where digital dominates, there’s something undeniably special about shooting with film. The tactile feel, the unpredictable outcomes, the process, it's all part of the charm. But stepping into film photography can feel a little intimidating, especially when it comes to gear. So let’s break it down: here’s a straightforward guide to essential film photography equipment and why it matters.

There’s something thrilling about developing your own black and white film, but colour? That's the next level. At first, C-41 processing can feel like a daunting jump from B&W. The chemicals, the precise temperature control, the fear of ruining a roll. But once you dive in, it becomes another satisfying ritual in your analogue workflow.

In an era dominated by megapixels, instant sharing, and AI filters, it might seem strange, maybe even outdated to load a roll of film, wind a lever, and wait days or weeks to see your results. But for many photographers, shooting film isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s a conscious creative choice. Here’s why film photography still matters, and why you should give it a shot.

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when your newly developed B&W film, previously just a ghostly negative, transforms into a rich black and white print under the glow of a red light. In part one of this blog series, we explored the process of developing your own film, the first step in reclaiming control of your photographic journey. Now it’s time to bring your negatives to life through darkroom printing.

There’s something magical about the anticipation of seeing an image appear on your film for the first time. At DarkLab, we believe black & white development is more than just a technical process, it's a ritual. Whether you're a newcomer to the darkroom or looking to refine your technique, here’s our tried-and-tested approach to developing black & white film.

Film photography isn't just about choosing between black and white or colour. It also comes in different formats, each with its own characteristics. Whether you're using a vintage 35mm camera, a medium format system, or even experimenting with large format photography, the choice of film format has a significant impact on the final image.  

Despite the rise of digital photography, film photography remains a beloved medium for many photographers, offering a unique aesthetic and a hands-on approach to image-making. Whether you're new to film or a seasoned analogue enthusiast, understanding the different types of photographic film can help you choose the right one for your creative vision.

The exposure triangle is one of the fundamental concepts in photography, forming the foundation of how images are captured. It consists of three elements which are the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. These work together to control the amount of light that reaches the Film or in the digital world, the camera’s sensor. Understanding how these settings interact allows you to take creative control over your images and achieve the desired exposure.

Film photography is magic. You take a photo, but you can’t see it right away which in photography is called a Latent Image. The image is captured on the roll of film inside your camera but the film needs to be developed in a darkroom first in order to see the actual exposure you took.