• archive
  • blog
  • publications
  • store
  • about
  • contact
  • newsletter
  • Menu

aows

  • archive
  • blog
  • publications
  • store
  • about
  • contact
  • newsletter

Why developing film is not a creative step of the process

July 18, 2019 in journal

Unless you are shooting large format and treating each image differently, I’d say no, developing film isn't a creative step.

Many people follow the indications from the manufacturer or some online recipe.

Others experiment with different developers, dilutions, time, agitation... and eventually settle on a formula that gives them the results they are looking for.

Most people just drop their film off at a lab.

In my case, I usually push my film 1 or 2 stops to create the aesthetics I want. It's a foundation that all the images from the roll will share.

This is equivalent to apply a preset in Lightroom or other editing software, something I wouldn't call creative.

In my opinion, it's when we compose, edit and print the image that we can be the most creative.

Tags: developing, film photography
Prev / Next
Featured
Sep 24, 2025
So it does happen...
Sep 24, 2025
Sep 24, 2025
Sep 20, 2025
Going big and heavy
Sep 20, 2025
Sep 20, 2025
Sep 17, 2025
Living in my car for photography
Sep 17, 2025
Sep 17, 2025
Aug 21, 2025
Photography without a plan -- in Amish country
Aug 21, 2025
Aug 21, 2025
Aug 14, 2025
A hidden gem in San Francisco
Aug 14, 2025
Aug 14, 2025
Aug 10, 2025
Don't quit
Aug 10, 2025
Aug 10, 2025
Jul 31, 2025
I refused to give up on this shot
Jul 31, 2025
Jul 31, 2025