BAHRAIN’S only community darkroom is bringing the focus back to analogue film photography and developing a love for it amongst young Gen Alpha, Gen-Z and millennial Bahraini photographers.
Shutterbugs, ranging in age from 16 to 35, are coming together at the Art Station to learn how to develop their own film rolls, as the analogue photography gains stride globally.
“We have done 12 to 15 workshops in total,” Dr Hesham Al Ammal, who oversees the darkroom and has returned to shooting with film since 2007, told the GDN.
“We’re trying to build this community, and now they have the chemicals as well as a community darkroom available in Bahrain.
“Whenever we do a workshop, we add the attendees to our WhatsApp community and the next step is to actually open the darkroom to them.
“The Art Station team has created an online schedule, and people can pay a small fee to reserve the darkroom for two hours. And some of the more experienced people come to supervise and help them.”
Analogue refers to shooting and development processes used prior to the invention of digital photography.
Despite a steep drop in popularity since digital photography, film photography globally has been resurging due to social media and has become a counter movement to the ubiquity of digital cameras.
Young photography enthusiasts appreciate the tactile nature of old cameras, and appreciate the limited number of shots available, making each photograph that much more precious.
“When I shot with digital, I used to take thousands of photographs every day and then spend hours trying to find the best one,” Dr Ammal explained.
“But when I bought my first film camera after getting back into analogue, I slowed down. With only 24 or 36 exposures, you have to really think about each photo and really compose the shot.”
Film photographers have also started to experiment with old alternative photographic processes such as cyanotypes, double exposures, pinholes and redscales.
Bahraini photographer Daniah Radhi, who runs the only remaining commercial film photo development lab, says that many of her regular clients describe it as ‘more than just capturing a moment’.
“For them, film photography is a science, something that goes beyond artistry,” she explained.
“They appreciate the tangible aspect of keeping the negatives, viewing it not only as a memory but as a long-lasting archive.”
While her clientele initially was primarily Gen Z and disposable camera users, as word spread, she also started receiving films from others, including seasoned professionals and newcomers rediscovering film photography.
Both Ms Radhi and fellow photographer Khurram Salman support budding film developers at the Art Station darkroom.
The analogue movement has led to a global surge in the price of film cameras, as many enthusiasts turn to antique sellers and flea markets to source their cameras, while others find their first shoot-and-click or manual cameras amongst their family’s stacks of yesteryear.
Disposable cameras have also become a mainstay, with many social media trends centred on shooting vacations or trips with these and then holding onto the physical prints and negatives as souvenirs.
“For me, it all started when I used a disposable camera just for the aesthetic appeal,” Ms Radhi added.
“The more I used it, the more I fell in love with filmphotography.”
“I’m a freestyle photographer, which means my subject matter often depends on my mood.
“In Bahrain, I focus mostly on street photography, preferring black and white film to capture intricate details and document everyday life. When I travel, I tend to favour colour film for landscape photography.”
While some film cameras which have electronic parts are difficult to repair with no dedicated service shops on the island, mechanical film cameras are ‘actually easier to repair and service then a digital camera’, according to Dr Al Ammal.
A significant part of shooting with film is developing the roll afterwards, which requires specialised knowledge as well as at-times expensive chemicals.
Considered a craft in its own right, changes in chemistry and developing time affect the end result, and many photographers have turned the constraints of film into artistic signatures and flairs.
“I view film development as both an art and a science,” Ms Radhi explained.
“The developing process itself requires scientific precision, but once you hold the negatives, it becomes an art form. The final result, whether it’s everyday moments or creative compositions, reflects the photographer’s vision.”
In the heyday of film photography, Bahrain had multiple professional labs developing rolls and providing a variety of prints.
However, since digital took over the scene, many of these labs have focused on prints from digital files.
While importing chemicals for developing film initially raised eyebrows with Customs officials, Dr Ammal and Ms Radhi have found it relatively easy to import most of the materials they need from abroad.
Ms Radhi has also experimented with expired chemicals for her personal projects, though she keeps a steady stock of new chemicals on hand for client work.
“Developing your own film offers a unique sense of connection to the image,” she added.
“For me, the process of bringing a photograph to life – from shooting it to developing, scanning and printing it – creates a deeper appreciation for the medium.
“Recently, I’ve seen a growing interest in workshops that teach film development, as many people are fascinated by the chemistry behind it and the process itself.”
In addition to special chemicals, developing film requires a darkroom, and when working with colour films, completing the first part of the process in complete darkness.
Developing black-and-white rolls is slightly more forgiving, allowing for a red light.
“In recent years, hobbyists have been experimenting with the process and found a lot of workarounds,” Dr Ammal added.
“A British company called Patterson invented a tank, where all you have to do is spend a couple of minutes in the dark placing the film in a light-sealed container.
“Then you can add all the chemicals in the light, making the process much easier, but we find that many people still struggle the first few times.”
During the process, hobbyists have also been experimenting with a range of alternative processes, including cyanotype (in which iron salts are used to create blue-toned images), caffenol (which uses a developer chemical made with instant coffee, vitamin C and washing soda) and collodion (where a glass or metal plate are coated with a light-sensitive emulsion).
Advocates of film photography argue that it is here to stay, and camera manufacturers are seeing the sales to back it up.
Master German cameramaker Leica announced that its sales of film rangefinder cameras had increased 10-fold between 2015 and 2023.
Meanwhile, companies like Harman and Lucky Colour have started or restarted production of consumer film rolls.
“The problem is all of the equipment, processes and scientists that manufactured lenses and stuff like that – much of it is lost now, because there was a gap of two decades during which people weren’t interested in film, so now these companies are going back slowly to manufacturing and research,” Dr Ammal explained.
However, both Dr Ammal and Ms Radhi remain hopeful about the future, with growing interest, new manufacturers and efforts to revive old techniques.
Bahrain, Ms Radhi hopes, ‘will see even greater participation in the global analogue movement’.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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