Field Notes

Developing black-and-white film in a kitchen

June 2026

You need less than you think: a changing bag, a daylight tank, two measuring jugs, a thermometer and a dark corner for drying.

The routine

developer   1+50   11:00 at 20°C, agitate first 30s then 10s each minute
stop        water  1:00
fixer              5:00
wash               10:00, then a drop of wetting agent

The most common mistake is temperature. Tap water drifts by several degrees over ten minutes, so I keep the tank standing in a bowl of water at 20°C.

The second most common mistake is dust. Hang the film in the bathroom after running the shower for a minute.