My First Experience Developing Black-and-White Film with the LAB-BOX

I recently had the opportunity to dive into the world of analog photography by developing my own black-and-white film for the first time. It was an experience I had been eager to try, and I’m thrilled to share that it was a success!

Andreas Pretali

For this first experiment, I used the LAB-BOX by Arsimago—a fantastic tool for beginners and experienced photographers alike. Its simplicity and efficiency made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. The film I chose was Ilford HP5 Plus, a classic black-and-white film, and the shots were taken with my trusted Leica MP.

ars-imago.ch

The development process was much easier than I expected. From loading the film to handling the chemicals, everything felt intuitive with the LAB-BOX. The moment when the negatives began to emerge was magical—it was incredible to see the images slowly come to life, knowing that I had been part of the entire process from shooting to developing.

Andreas Pretali

What stood out to me most was the hands-on connection I felt with the medium. In an age where digital photography dominates, there’s something deeply satisfying about physically developing your own film, watching the images materialize right before your eyes.

Andreas Pretali

I had so much fun that I can’t wait to develop more films soon. This first successful experience has definitely sparked a new passion for film development, and I’m already looking forward to experimenting with different film types and techniques. Stay tuned for more analog adventures!