My partner’s new house had a beautiful, but terribly damaged, willow tree in the backyard. After a windstorm further fractured the trunk of the tree, it had to be cut down to ensure it wouldn’t crack and fall on the house. After it was cut down, I collected bark from its trunk and branches with my dear friend Melanie. Willow bark is high in tannins, and thus useful for natural dyeing and the darkroom alike.

I was recently accepted to a PhD program, and awarded a Canada Council for the Arts Explore and Create grant to sustain my darkroom practice and explorations. It feels good to experience support, to feel sustained.

I think about how my dad had a darkroom at one point in his life. How he experimented with film and double exposure. I think he found joy in the creation of images. What would he think of my practice? Would he have been excited to develop film with me?

Abundance beside grief. 

I have developed a number of films with Willow Bark Tea as a base for the developer, including Kodak 3378E, Kodak 7266, and Cine8 100D.

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Willow Bark Tea 

1 handful shredded bark

1.5L cold water

Gently bring tea to a boil.

Reduce and simmer for 30+ minutes.

Strain.

Willow Bark Developer

1L Strong Willow Bark Tea

2L Cold Water

162g Washing Soda

60g Vitamin C

Add Cold Water to Strong Willow Bark Tea

Mix in 162g Washing Soda until dissolved completely.

Add 60g Vitamin C and mix until fizzing stops.

Willow Bark Developer Usage

Develop Kodak 3378E for 2-3 minutes at 30C.

Develop Kodak 7266 for 15 minutes at 26C.

Develop other low speed films (up to ASA 400) for about 15 minutes at room temperature.