Well hello, 2024! Where did last year go? I feel like I've neglected to keep on top of blogging over the last few months. Not through a lack of photography, but more that life just felt somewhat busy. Part of me even felt overwhelmed by a backlog of blogs I wanted to catch up on, so I basically ended up taking a bit of a break altogether. However, I haven't given up – those posts will come!

Despite my blogging hiatus, some exciting things happened. My win in the LPOTY competition brought some amazing feedback, and I've since secured articles in a couple of photography magazines. I was also lucky enough to feature on a podcast with the incredibly talented Kim Grant as part of Photographic Connections, where I spoke about my process, my ideas, and how I experience calm through my photography. And throughout December, I decided to compile a Zine based around the "Beast from the Baltic" storm we experienced back in 2021. It sold out within 24 hours and is currently awaiting its second reissue! A nudge to visit my shop if you’ve yet to do so already!

Now, January has arrived, and I've started the year by embarking on a really special photographic and print project with Mabel & Co, exploring the theme of ‘Living And Working On The Suffolk Coast’. I can't wait to share more about it with you as the project develops (sorry!) over the coming months. This project actually nudged me towards doing this blog because the first part involves both shooting and developing film. It gave me a much-needed kick and rekindled my passion for working with black and white. Relying on labs is convenient, but at £12+ per roll of black and white, it's definitely not the cheapest option. Also, there's nothing quite like the magic of seeing your images come to life as you pull the spool from the developing tank.

On a dreary, freezing Wednesday (around -2 degrees, brrr!), I decided to make a short trip to Sizewell and shoot a roll of Ilford FP4+. Knowing there might be some trial and error in the process, I kept my photography close to home. 6,000 steps later, I'd happily exposed all 36 frames! On this particular day, I used my recently acquired Nikon F3HP. While I really loved my Olympus OM10, I often craved a bit more control and something more rugged. I have to say, shooting with the F3 has been a real pleasure. And for someone like me that wears glasses, the HP prism is a game-changer compared to the viewfinder of the OM10. Everything just feels spot on!

Back home, I warmed up with a nice cup of coffee and was eager to develop the film. However, just as I opened the film door, I realised, with a wince, that I had completely forgotten to rewind it. Naturally, this would happen on the one day I craved fresh chemicals and some magic from the whole process. Thankfully, a quick close of the door and a rewind salvaged most of the frames. Arguably, I can blame the lingering winter lurgy for my faults, which had conspired against me with an element of sleep deprivation too Thankfully, this wasn’t an omen for the remainder of the process.

Next was the fun part, which was loading the spool. It has to be said, wrestling with film canisters in a lightproof bag definitely tests your patience and dexterity. But once everything's loaded and light-tight, you can stop holding your breath and take a sigh of relief. You then have the alchemy of mixing chemicals and agitating images out of the film. I can see how people get sucked into this whole process for hours, especially when it comes to the darkroom zen of printing. Time seemed to just disappear, and before I knew it, there was a satisfying strip of negatives that were hung drying in our bathroom (the designated drying spot for every home developer, it seems!).

Ideally, I'd have used de-ionized water for optimal results as the water is quite hard in Suffolk, but I’ll let it go in this instance and consider it next time. Whilst some of the frames aren’t “perfect”, the thrill of seeing those negatives come to life, along with my own handiwork, made it all worth it. Developing your film demands focus, but you’re rewarded with tangible, tactile satisfaction come the end. It’s easy to see why so many photographers fall under the spell of heading into a darkroom. I’m now looking forward to shooting and developing my next roll!