Analog Photography Series: From Shooting Film to Darkroom Printing
Dive into Black and white analog photography now.
Start of a new dynamic analog photography course full of experimental techniques. In several separate workshops you'll learn to see and think in black and white, making better compositions and images. The course ends with an exhibition and a certificate.
In 6 + intense nights you will learn all steps from shooting in Black and white, development of your own b&w films, and printing your own photos in a real darkroom in Ixelles.
You will learn to shoot with your analog camera (if you don’t have one, we’ll have one for you)
You will learn how to develop your own black and white films in our darkroom
You will learn how to print your own negatives.
You will experience the magic of black and white photography and the darkroom in a cosy fun atmosphere.
Who is this for?
This course is perfect for both complete beginners who have never touched a film camera and digital photographers looking to explore the art of analog. No prior experience is necessary!
Over 7 weeks, you will go from learning the basics of your film camera to creating a portfolio of your own hand-made prints in a professional darkroom. First two lessons are hands on from 7 to 9.30
All other lessons are in the darkroom at Ur’Square from 7 to 11.30 PM.
Sander teaches in English, French and/or Dutch.
When?
The official dates are
31/3 (GC Elzenhof) Introduction
Shooting
21/4 (GC Elzenhof) Development
28/4 Co’Lab Development and printing
12/5 Co’Lab Development and printing
19/5 Co’Lab Development and printing
26/5 Co’Lab Development and printing (End)
25/6 Exhibition vernissage at GC Elzenhof of your photos
First few lessons are at the Cultural Center of Ixelles called GC Elzenhof. In between those course dates I organise open darkroom nights, and a student of the Analog course can also attend these nights as an extra (for free). At the end we organise an exhibition at GC Elzenhof. This will be together with the students of Street photography exhibiting their digital color photography.
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Description t
In 2026, analog photography resists the endless scroll: loading film, deliberate frames and chemical alchemy restore slowness, craft and curiosity. While algorithms chase clicks and sameness, film’s texture, grain and colour shifts resist perfect copying, giving images a singular, human soul. Shooting analog slows people down, makes choices matter and yields finite, precious photos. In a world of instant gratification, film is a playful act of resistance celebrating patience, surprise and the poetry of light on emulsion.
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For structured learning, check the photography programmes and short courses at École de Recherche Graphique (ERG), Institut Saint-Luc, and La Cambre where analogue techniques are still taught alongside digital — all of which combine to make Brussels a superb city for shooting, learning and developing film. For short hands on workshop you have Studio Baxton, l’Enfant Sauvage, Mori Film Lab and us: Co’lab photo lab Ixelles.
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Analog photography isn’t costly — it values patience and creativity over constant upgrades. Used film cameras and basic lenses are affordable and durable. Spreading film and development costs across rolls, shooting deliberately, and DIY or local lab processing lowers per-image expense.
The tactile workflow reduces wasted frames, and film’s longevity and repairability make it an accessible, cost‑effective medium, not a luxury.
If you would like a taste of this course, choose a half day Wecandoo photography experience I planned.