We are now getting into it. After processing our own film, we made our contact sheet. I did it before a couple of times and I enjoy it every time. 

First, Adrian showed us where everything is in LCC darkroom. Then how to set the enlarger in order to prevent any light from spreading around the space ruining all the work.

When the negative was ready in the easel, we tried different exposure times on a piece of sheet of photographic paper, blocking the light by using a black cardboard.

  

1. Exposing the paper doubling the time. We found the correct exposure being between 15 and 30 secs.

2. Giving 5 secs between exposures. We tried a 17.5 sec.

3. After that, we raised the contrast on the enlarger from 2.5 to 3.5 to enhance it.

4. Final contact sheet at 17.5 secs 3.5 contrast.

I learned that in order to have a consistent contact sheet and exposure time I need to be consistent in my exposure when shooting.

The technicians at LCC started giving workshops. This part of my course is the one I am looking forward doing.
The first workshop was about film processing and the making of negatives. We can use a big machine to process our colours film that takes about 10 minutes. Love it!
For black and white processing, we can use the traditional method, the same I use at home. The great thing at LCC is that there is a drying cabinet (I hang my negatives in the shower at home and it takes forever). The chemistry is provided by Uni.

I approached this assignment without stressing too much. I just wanted to go out and enjoy taking photos in the streets with my two film cameras.

I went straight to Portobello on Saturday, shot two rolls of films and developed the same evening at home. I had not a particular idea about what to shoot, but walking and seeking for some in the street.

When I developed my films, I realised that my eye captured people faces close to faces in ads.

So I came back to Portobello the next morning with a clear idea of what I wanted to shoot.






The two images are not related to each other. In the first, I tried to create a narrative image, with Tatcher's and Queen's masks in the foreground, the Portobello sign and the flag.
In the second, I find interesting the portrait of a man close to the young face in the ad.
I think, as for every assignment, I get many ideas to develop in the future, if only I had time to develop now!


TECHNICALITIES
-The first development went wrong. I developed a 100 ISO film with 400 ISO times. I must be very careful next time.
-Also, I should buy a proper film can opener instead of using tweezers. I shut my fingers inside the pop up changing bag and I did not know if there was blood. Splatter negative development.