Sunday

May 3

10 - 6 PM

Class Size Max: 4

This one-day workshop introduces participants to silver gelatin printing using caffenol, a DIY developer made from instant coffee and other simple household ingredients. Working with easily replicable lo-fi exposure setups, students will print experimental photograms, print from digital negatives, or contact print 35mm film shot during the Developing Film with Caffenol workshop. 

Through guided demonstrations and hands-on experimentation, participants will mix their own paper developers from scratch and explore caffenol as an accessible entry point into homemade chemistry. The workshop covers how different developer components influence tone, contrast, and color palette, and compares the results of DIY formulas with commercial options. Additional topics include the building blocks of photographic developers, hypo substitution, and other strategies for adopting a more environmentally conscious darkroom practice. 

Open to both beginners and experienced photographers, this workshop requires no prior darkroom or chemistry experience and offers a supportive environment for creative exploration. 

Combine with Developing Film with Caffenol for a full weekend exploring alternative developers.

$40 materials fee included in tuition

If your desired tuition option is unavailable, please email info@penumbrafoundation.org and we will do our best to accommodate you. If the entire class is sold out, we can add you to the waitlist.

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BRITTONIE FLETCHER (MFA) has a creative practice between the UK and the USA. In addition to teaching at Penumbra, Brittonie is a dedicated teacher at Stills Centre for Photography in Scotland, where she initiated their Alternative Process Program. She has taught elsewhere, including the Royal College of Art. Brittonie's work is published in books from Focal/Rutledge Press (including Christina Z Anderson's Salt book and Annette Goez's Cyanotype Toning of the same series) and Random House. Her work is exhibited and included in public collections and private international collections.

Images © Brittonie Fletcher