New: Darkroom workshops to learn film developing and printing

DARKROOM WORKSHOPS

Since January 6, we’ve been offering analog photography enthusiasts a brand-new weekly meetup: darkroom workshops, every Tuesday. Workshops are held in small groups of 6 to 8 people.

On the program:

→ Develop your black & white film
→ Create a contact sheet
→ Make a print using an enlarger
→ Introduction to RA-4 Reversal

Black & White Film Developing Workshop

Feel like diving into the world of film and discovering what’s hidden inside your rolls?
Over 2.5 hours, we’ll show you how to develop a black & white film from A to Z, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

On the program:
Introduction to essential equipment
Loading the reel and developing tank
Understanding the chemical steps: developer, stop bath, fixer, and washing
Removing the film from the tank and discovering the images
No experience required: we learn together, step by step.

Each participant leaves with their developed film, along with all the knowledge needed to do it again at home.
If you wish, you can also leave your negatives with us: scanning is included in the workshop, and your images will be ready the next day.

Nation Photo Châtelet
39 rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris
Tuesday February 3, Tuesday March 10, Tuesday April 7
7:00 pm
Duration: 2h30
6 people

Contact Sheet Workshop

You’ve got your negatives ready and want to finally see what they have to say? Over 2.5 hours, you’ll learn how to make a contact sheet the traditional lab way: simple, effective, and perfect for selecting your best images. Vincent will then review your contact sheet with you, helping you understand shooting tips and common mistakes.

On the program:
Introduction to darkroom equipment
Preparing already developed negatives
Setting up under the enlarger
Exposing and printing your contact sheet under real lab conditions
Chemical processing: developer, stop bath, fixer, and washing
Drying and discovering your freshly printed contact sheet
Everything is done step by step, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Each participant leaves with their contact sheet, plus all the knowledge needed to recreate it at home.

Nation Photo Châtelet
39 rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris
Tuesday February 10, Tuesday March 17, Tuesday April 14
7:00 pm
Duration: 2h30
6 people

Color Photography Workshop – RA-4 Reversal

Want to discover analog color photography and watch a unique image appear before your eyes?

This RA-4 Reversal workshop immerses you in the magic of direct positive color photography—a process that is both technical and surprising, yet accessible even to beginners. You’ll start by handling a large format camera (20×25 cm) specially designed for this workshop. We’ll explain how it works, how to compose an image, and you’ll take your own color photograph.
Then comes the most fascinating part: RA-4 Reversal printing, a chromogenic color process based on a sequence of chemical baths.

You’ll follow every step, including the incredible moment when, in about 30 seconds, your color photograph appears almost magically in the final bath.

Beyond technical vocabulary, this workshop is a true sensory experience: handling the camera, moving from darkness to light (solarization), watching the image come to life before your eyes… A unique moment, even if you’re not a photographer.

You’ll leave with your own RA-4 color print, made by you, and with all the keys to understand and appreciate this very special analog process.

Nation Photo Châtelet
39 rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris
Tuesday February 17, Tuesday March 24, Tuesday April 21
7:00 pm
Duration: 2h30
6 people

Introductory Printing Workshop

Want to discover the magic of analog printing and watch your image appear in the tray under red light? This workshop introduces you to enlarger printing, the final step where the photograph truly comes to life as you imagined it.
Vincent provides the negatives for this first immersion into the red light of the darkroom. The workshop is entirely dedicated to printing.

On the program:
Introduction to darkroom equipment
Preparing the lab and organizing your workflow
Reading the projection under the enlarger
Dodging & burning: shaping light to refine the print
Final print: watching the photograph come to life in the chemical baths
Everything is done step by step, in a relaxed atmosphere.

You’ll leave with a print you made yourself, and with the tools to continue learning on your own.

Nation Photo Châtelet
39 rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris
Tuesday January 27, Tuesday February 24, Tuesday March 31, Monday April 20
7:00 pm
Duration: 2h30
8 people

JOIN A WORKSHOP