How do you see Canberra? Through its people, buildings, or suburban landscapes? Would you like to develop your own unique photographic vision of our city?

Join PhotoAccess and Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) for Canberra on Film, an eight-week mentored black and white darkroom photography workshop presented in conjunction with CMAG's Capturing Canberra exhibition. In this hands-on, 'learn-through-making' experience, you'll use analogue photography to discover, investigate and respond to the artistic legacy of the works in CMAG’s Press Photography Collection.

In Canberra on Film, you'll join established Canberra photographer Gabrielle Hall-Lomax for eight sessions exploring all facets of the analogue darkroom practice. The program will begin with a curatorial tour of the Capturing Canberra exhibition.

This workshop primarily focuses on darkroom practice and building a small portfolio of images. Over the eight weeks, you'll be supported to learn how to shoot with and develop 35mm black & white film and create stunning prints in the PhotoAccess darkroom.

At the conclusion of Canberra on Film, you'll be invited to contribute some of your images to a culminating publication, which will be released before the end of the year.

Canberra on Film is suitable for everybody with at least basic photography skills and will have lots to offer for more experienced photographers. You don’t need prior film or darkroom experience.

Suitable for ages 16 +.

Dates, Times and Locations:
Canberra on Film will run over eight consecutive sessions, starting on Saturday 14 October and concluding on Thursday 30 November, 2023. Each session will run for three hours.

• Session 1 – Sunday 15 October, 1–4pm at CMAG Enjoy a curator’s tour of the exhibition at CMAG. After the tour, the tutor will talk you through basic camera operations.
• Session 2 – Saturday 21 October, 1–4pm on location TBCMeet the tutor in the city for a photowalk where you will learn more about analogue camera operation and what to look for when composing and storytelling.
• Session 3 – Saturday 28 October, 1–4pm at PhotoAccessLearn to develop the film exposed during the previous outings.
• Session 4 – Thursday 2 November, 6–9pm at PhotoAccessLearn how to print negatives in the PhotoAccess darkroom.
• Session 5 – Thursday 9 November, 6–9pm at PhotoAccessPrint negatives in the PhotoAccess darkroom.
• Session 6 – Thursday 16 November, 6–9pm at PhotoAccessMake contact prints and enlargements in the PhotoAccess darkroom.
• Session 7 – Thursday 23 November, 6–9pm at PhotoAccessWork on a portfolio for publication.
• Session 8 – Thursday 30 November, 6–9pm at PhotoAccessFinalise portfolio for the publication.

What to bring?:
For Canberra on Film, you’re welcome to bring your own 35mm film camera, with charged batteries and whatever lenses or other accessories you would like to use. If you don’t have a film camera, we have some available for use. Please contact us in advance of the workshop if you’d like to talk to us about equipment.

What PhotoAccess provides:
As well as great creative tutoring and a new group of friends, your Canberra on Film workshop fee includes access, at no extra cost, to the PhotoAccess darkroom (including chemicals) for each workshop session, and for the entire duration of the course. You’ll be welcome to come in and do extra printing outside of the workshop sessions. We’ll also provide you with a 35mm black & white film and a pack of printing paper to get you started. You can purchase further darkroom supplies from the PhotoAccess shop.

About the final publication:
At the conclusion of Canberra on Film, you’ll be invited to contribute some of your images to a CMAG Canberra on Film publication bringing together work made during the workshop. This publication will be released before the end of the year.

The Fine Print:
Enrolments for Canberra on Film close at 9am on Wednesday, 11 October 2023. PhotoAccess reserves the right to cancel the workshop if there are insufficient enrolments. If we have to cancel, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and you’ll receive a full refund. For late enrolments or queries, please email us at hello@photoaccess.org.au.
PhotoAccess will happily refund or transfer workshop fees up to 7 days prior to the start date of the workshop. If less than 7 days notice is given PhotoAccess will transfer fees to another workshop but will charge a transfer fee of either 25% of the workshop cost or $50, whichever is less. No refunds or transfers can be given once a workshop has started. Please see Terms and Conditions on the PhotoAccess website for further details.

About the tutor:
Gabrielle Hall-Lomax is a visual artist living and working in Canberra. She has a keen focus on alternative photographic processes, specifically combining digital photography and painting techniques. Gabrielle is a graduate from RMIT University where she completed an Honours Degree in Fine Art. In 2020 she completed her Masters in Arts and Cultural Management at The University of Melbourne.

Image: The mock-up darkroom in the Capturing Canberra: CMAG's Press Photography Collection exhibition. Objects on loan from PhotoAccess.