Introduction to Darkroom Photography
Instructed by Isaiah Armstrong
Sundays, 12 - 3pm
January 4 - 25, 2026
Registration Deadline: January 2, 2026
[ REGISTER HERE ]
Description:
Explore the fundamentals of black-and-white analog photography in this hands-on introductory course. You’ll learn essential skills, including basic camera operation, film processing, contact printing, and creating prints from enlarged negatives, while gaining a solid understanding of darkroom equipment, chemistry, and safety. Designed for both beginners and those looking to refresh their skills, this course provides a supportive, creative environment to build confidence and develop your photographic eye. Upon completion, you’ll have access to the Community Darkroom during Open Lab hours—no orientation needed—so you can continue experimenting and creating on your own.
In this course, students will be introduced to:
- Basic camera operations
- Black & white film processing
- Contact printing
- Black & white printing from enlarged negatives
- Darkroom equipment, chemistry, and safety procedures
Note: Students who complete this class will gain access to the Community Darkroom during Open Lab hours and will not need to complete an Orientation Session.
Materials List: (link to printable PDF)
Tuition: $220
Class Size:
Minimum: 5
Maximum: 7
Level of Study: Beginner
No experience? No problem. Or, perhaps you're returning to art after a hiatus. Beginner-level courses are designed for individuals with little to no prior experience in making art. These courses focus on building confidence, developing foundational skills, and encouraging creative exploration.
Suggested Prerequisites: N/A
LOCATION: Unless otherwise specified, all courses are hosted at Manifest's new facility at 'M1' in Clifton at 3464 Central Parkway (see map and directions below). Manifest's new facility provides multiple studio classrooms, private lesson space, a darkroom, a film processing room, and a multi-purpose lecture and class meeting space as well as on-site parking, grounds, and exterior spaces in which to relax, discuss, and make art. The studios are outfitted with professional equipment, furniture, and study aids.
Map to Manifest's M1 Studios | Studio Calendar | Darkroom Calendar
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About the instructor:
Isaiah Armstrong is a Cincinnati native who started teaching himself photography during the summer of 2020 after being gifted a camera by his grandfather. Seeing the photos by photographers from Lexington, like Jon Cherry, in the wake of the Breonna Taylor verdict, and revisiting his father’s photography opened his eyes to photography and its potential to convey interpersonal intimacy, while also touching on the complexities of the human experience in broader terms.
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