about

Film Photography Course
Education

About Film Photography

Film photography is the soul of the medium. The history books, the family albums, the memories, and some of the most significant moments in recent human history have all been made with light burned onto silver.

There has never been a better time to take on the responsibility of this medium, to go out into the world, and bring back images of experiences like no other.

This film photography course will give you the tools to handle the equipment, from the mechanical camera through to the chemical development process, while also educating you on the classical photographic techniques employed by the masters of the craft.

The skills you will develop can be applied to portraiture, documentary, street photography, still life, landscape, and lifestyle. You will not be reliant on anyone other than yourself for any step of the process, from capturing to developing to scanning, you will have control.

Classes will involve a remote/Zoom element, as well as in-person sessions, and can be tailored to fit your requirements. We are open to international students, who will be able to join for the remote sessions, whereas the in-person sessions will be limited to London and the surrounding areas.

We will run “book club” style sessions to deal with contextual studies, which will involve discussions on the books we recommend in the reading list and will be held once a fortnight throughout the course.

About the Course

The course involves four modules, which are spread across four months, spending one month per module. We recommend the full course, including all modules, but if you do not require everything detailed below, we are also able to offer each individual module as a stand-alone course.

The Basics

Finding your way around your film camera, loading and exposing film (shadows, highlights, detail, proximity, lens choice – exposing for shadows vs highlights), exposure triangle, focusing techniques.

  • First assignments will be portrait or still life depending on your level of comfort, as a way to direct your first few film rolls.
  • Film development includes regular methods, and stand development.
  • Scanning your Negatives.
  • Second round of Assignments Presentation of work and Discussion Contextual Studies
Assignments
  • Working on your project.
  • Office hours to check in with tutors throughout
Practice Research

Conceptualising, R&D for Project Planning shoots:

  • Working a scene/situation
  • Working with visual semiotics
  • How to plan a photo-essay
Curation/Sequencing and Presentation
  • How to pick what photographs matter to the project
  • Organising the narrative
  • Prepping and Printing a 12-20 page picture story
Course Requirements

In order to be able to enrol on this course, you will need to own or purchase:

  • Any 35mm camera and at least a fixed 50mm lens. Mechanical camera preferred. You are welcome to use other lenses, but a 50mm is where we will start. If you have a close equivalent like a 45mm that’s fine. Any brand is acceptable – whatever feels comfortable in hand.
  • 35mm film ​scanner (with transparency unit). Recommendations based on a budget include: Epson V370, Epson V550, Plustek 8100/8200, Epson V800

About the Tutors

David and Simon have taught together since 2018, leading the street photography course at UAL based on a syllabus they designed. They have worked on a series of workshops and webinars with Leica Akademie UK and adapted a lot of their classes for remote learning during the covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Their teaching approach relies on alert, responsive students, who are willing to challenge existing ideas while building up their skillset.

As co-founders of New Exit Group David and Simon have worked with 35mm black and white film to tell intimate and powerful photographic stories throughout their careers. Their most recent stories include documenting Washington DC under occupation, violent protests in Central London, mudlarking communities along the Thames Beach, and religious ceremonies and communities during a pandemic.

Book your Course

The cost of the full course is £750 per month over 4 months (total cost of £3000, for the full 4 module course). You will receive a 5% discount on the full course cost if full payment is made in advance.

In addition to the tuition that you will receive throughout the course, each student will also receive all of the following to use throughout the course and keep upon completion:

  • Ilford HP5+ black and white film (20 rolls)
  • Dark bag
  • Film retriever
  • Patterson 2 reel developing tank
  • 3 x 600ml measuring cylinders
  • Thermometer
  • Squeegee
  • 2 x Film clips
  • Ilford Ilfosol 3 developer (500ml)
  • Ilford Ifostop (500ml)
  • Ilford Rapid Fixer (1l)
  • Ilford Ilfotol Wetting Agent
  • 2 x Measuring pipettes
  • 1l storage jug
  • Negative sleeves (50)

Alternatively, each individual module can be enrolled onto at the cost of £700 per month, but will not include the film and development kit.

International Students may join for remote learning, but will not benefit from the equipment, or in-person sessions. £500/module.

To make your booking, please click on the button below. You will be taken through to a payment portal and upon payment completion, you will be redirected to the enrolment page in order to complete a form with your necessary details.

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