Skip to navigation Skip to content
The Analogue Laboratory
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Articles
  • About Us
  • About The Lab
    • Special Events
    • Silver Gelatin & Colour
    • Alternative and Historic Processes
  • Chemistry & Equipment
  • Contact us
  • My Account
  • Articles
  • About Us
  • About The Lab
    • Special Events
    • Silver Gelatin & Colour
    • Alternative and Historic Processes
  • Chemistry & Equipment
  • Contact us
  • My Account
  • $0.00 0 items
Home / Author: Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Author: Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Posted on 17 November, 201723 March, 2020 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

This Buffalo is Too Big: A quite important announcement

Many of you dear folks would have heard Alex entreat you to “Think of the Buffalo”, perhaps while posing for a Tintype portrait, or perhaps over a cup of tea and a biscuit at a workshop. We’ve finally taken a minute to take our own advice and guess what? The Buffalo is more than we…

Read more

Category: Darkroom Construction
Posted on 18 February, 201716 July, 2024 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Film Developer Recipe: PaRodinal

Introduction Why would you want to make your own developer? There’s plenty of perfectly good developers that you can buy right off the shelf. Well! There’s two good reasons The history of photography is a long one, littered with thousands of chemical recipes that do different things. Many of the popular formulas from years gone…

Read more

Categories: Resources, technical
Posted on 26 November, 201616 July, 2024 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Cyanotype Safety

With all this Doing Science With Cool Kids stuff comes the inevitable question of safety – is Cyanotype safe for children to work with? While the answer is simple, there’s a bit of misinformation out there, compounded by some assumptions. This post will go into the subject in detail.

Read more

Categories: Resources, technical
Tags: children, cyanotype, safety
Posted on 3 June, 20154 June, 2015 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

How to: Turn a Film Pack Adapter into a Glass Plate Holder

Since I started playing with Silver-Gelatin Dry Glass Plates I’ve been keen to find some sort of plate holder that would fit my 4×5″ camera without a lot of fuss. Glass plates are generally 2mm thick, and of course don’t fit comfortably into a standard 4×5″ film holder. The Light Farm, that perennial goldmine of…

Read more

Categories: Awesome Things, Resources
Posted on 14 February, 201514 February, 2015 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Snow & Silver-Gelatin at The Banff Centre (Alberta, Canada)

From the top of Sulphur Mountain Now and then, if you’re stupidly lucky, you get crazy opportunities to do absurdly fun things. (I have to note that this is two times in a row for me, if you’ve been reading the other blog posts) Since January 18th of this year I’ve had the pleasure to…

Read more

Categories: Awesome Things, Resources
Posted on 3 August, 20143 August, 2014 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Wet Plate in the field: taking the show on the road

The Art Shed at BigCi When I’m not playing alchemist, I’m an artist (who coincidentally works principally in alchemy) – you can read a bit more about my practice and see some more examples of my work on my website. Recently I got to do one of the most absurdly fun things anyone has managed…

Read more

Categories: Awesome Things, technical
Posted on 2 August, 20148 May, 2015 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

It’s cold outside! Developing film in Winter (With developing chart download)

Adelaide has been struck by a particularly nippy winter, with a few sprinklings of snow being spotted, recorded, and promptly played in up in the Adelaide Hills. It can be hard to convince yourself to go play in the dark when it’s a lovely sunny day outside, but winter comes with it’s own set of…

Read more

Category: technical
Posted on 15 February, 201421 July, 2014 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

C-22 Film and Black and White Processing

The other day our friend Fruzsi came to us with a problem – she’s bought a roll of expired colour film for her Diana on eBay and taken it Adventuring in The Big Wide World, only to be told on her return that her local 1-hour photo lab couldn’t process it. “Nonsense”, I said, thinking…

Read more

Categories: Awesome Things, technical
Posted on 18 September, 201321 July, 2014 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Workshops: November 2013 – February 2014

The first few months of workshops have been a complete blast – we’ve met so many new awesome people and enjoyed the heck out of seeing the lab humming along with everyone making All The Things  Ever. So, let’s do some more! selenium toned fibre print Crash Course C: Darkroom Tricks & Techniques Saturday, November…

Read more

Category: workshops
Posted on 21 August, 201321 August, 2013 by Alex Bishop-Thorpe

Darkroom Crash Course at The Lab

On Saturday and Sunday we ran our very first Crash Course A & B workshops at The Lab, and it was ALL KINDS OF AMAZING. The idea of Crash Course A was just to introduce people to developing their film at home and step them through the process, and we decided to offer a Crash…

Read more

Category: workshops

Posts pagination

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next

analoguelaboratory

Artist-run darkroom & photographic facility in Adelaide, Australia. We're here to Keep The Alchemy Alive.

Loving my mistakes 💙 Experimenting with cyanot Loving my mistakes 💙

Experimenting with cyanotype on watercolour board. I love the deep deep blue but oh boy do they take forever to wash clean! I obviously pulled this one out of the soup too early & the dilute chemistry in the paper has re-exposed, making some of the stars pale blue and bleeding beyond my nice brushed edges (love a good hake mark). 
I suppose I could crop the paper to get rid of the bleed, but although I am a self confessed perfectionist I do love a happy mistake now and then. It’s authentic!

#papercraft #cyanotype #photogram #sunprint #silhouette #starrysky #watercolourpaper #happymistakes #wetprocess #handmadephotography
Test print on broadcloth in preparation for next w Test print on broadcloth in preparation for next weeks workshop with the students at Glenunga International High School. Probably the nicest cyanotype I’ve made in ages! 

This will be my first workshop since Covid… sure hope I’ve remembered everything important 🤞🏽

Wish me luck!!
We’ve just spotted some exceptional cyanotype pr We’ve just spotted some exceptional cyanotype prints by @ellenmarieartistry at the Back & Forth: Stone & Quoin @ 6 exhibition curated by @dmnwrmn and thought you’d love to see them, too 💙

#cyanotype #sunprints #6manton #stoneandquoin #bluegoo #papercuttingart
The varnish is drying on our last batch of contact The varnish is drying on our last batch of contact frames for 2022 💫
We nabbed some incredible old timber from a shed clear-out in the Riverland earlier in the year, and it’s been a thrill working with it. Most of this batch are made from old meranti door and window jambs, but there’s a few in bluegum - and one deep purple 11x14 that we think is jarrah. It’s a hefty boi 💜

#contactframes #recycledtimber #wetprocess #altphotography #photographictools #photographicequipment
Hey Friends!! Long time no see 💙 This is part o Hey Friends!! Long time no see 💙 This is part of the reason why: Aurelia has finally (finally!!) nearly almost finished her postgraduate studies. 
This means two things!!
Thing the first: there is a big sparkly moon waiting for you to come and take photos in it @unisasasagallery (last day tomorrow!)
Thing the second: she will soon (finally!!) have time to get The Analogue Laboratory ready for more fun times, like old times 💙

Hope to see you all soon (& isn’t today a -perfect- day for cyanotype 🌞)
So long as there’s a little sun & cyanotype, hom So long as there’s a little sun & cyanotype, home quarantine doesn’t have to be a drag 💙

Still sending cyanotype chemistry & kits, straight from our house to yours 💌

#cyanotype #cyanotypechemistry #cyanotypekitsaustralia #cyanotypekits #bluegoo #sunprints #photogram #homequarantine #covidsucks #boredombeaters #homecreative #isocreate
Another perfect day for cyanotypes 💙 Ideal proj Another perfect day for cyanotypes 💙 Ideal projects for mailing to all your dear friends, all over the world. There’s nothing quite like a happy surprise in the mail 💌
.
.
#chinup #allinthistogether #cyanotype #makeathing #photogram #kidfriendlyprojects
The first sand is my favourite step in making cont The first sand is my favourite step in making contact frames - they transform from rough as guts with glue & putty and gunk all over into something that hints at just how pretty and useful they will be. 
At this point we’ve already spent many hours on them - sourcing recycled hardwood, cutting and routing the wood into shape, mitering the corners, glueing and clamping, then reinforcing the joins with slots of another hardwood (oak is our fave for that) & rebating the slots for the springs to slide into. 
There’s still several more grades of sanding to go, then the coats of danish oil. Not to mention making the steel springs and the split backing boards, adding the hinges, gluing the felt and checking the tension.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that we’ve barely been keeping up with backorders for most of the year, but it looks like we are almost ahead! There’s a few in this next batch that haven’t been spoken for yet 😊
💙Restock The Shop💙
10 liters of Cyanotype ✅ That should keep us out of trouble for a month or two. .
.
#bluegoo #cyanotype #altphoto #anycolouryouwantaslongasitsBLUE
Happened upon these glorious Cyanotype pieces by l Happened upon these glorious Cyanotype pieces by local Adelaide artist Katheryn Hill whose works are part of the group exhibition “Sight Specific” at Holdfast Optometrists on Jetty Road, Glenelg. 
I adore the way the beautiful images have been delicately stitched together! 
If you know Kathryn’s Instagram please let us know so we can give her a round of applause & proper kudos! 💙👏👏👏
.
.
#bluegoo #cyanotype #salafestival2019 #jettyroadglenelg #radelaide #madeinadelaide
Making stuff on the front lawns this weekend - com Making stuff on the front lawns this weekend - come say hi! #bluegoo #wearingalabcoatinpublic #cyanotype #workshop #free #science
Hey Friends! Fancy a little Cyanotype magic this w Hey Friends! Fancy a little Cyanotype magic this weekend? We will be hanging out at @southaustralianmuseum for their Nature Photographer of the year closing weekend festivities. This will be your last chance to see the exhibition, and as a bonus you can come make things with us! 💙 For free! Saturday & Sunday 10-3, all ages welcome & no bookings required!
BIG NEWS! The Analogue Laboratory is joining the M BIG NEWS! The Analogue Laboratory is joining the Makers at @6manton ! Yep, we are rubbing elbows with the finest clutch of humans ♥️ in their magical making space! Our neighbours are @dmnwrmn of #sticktogalleypress (letterpress) and @tipchick of @unionstprint (printmakers) It’s an all analogue, roll up your sleeves and get messy making space and we Could Not Be More Excited!! Damien is the one who has done *all* the building so far (this is his photo, we pinched it 🖤I think he is excited too? 😉) There’s still lots to do before we are ready to show you around, but we plan to offer a lot more opportunities to play in the Dark in our new darkroom built for two 💙
.
.
#stoneandquoin #6manton #darkroom #makeathing #creativeadelaide #adelaidemade #theanaloguelaboratory #analoguelab #analoguelaboratory #newdigs #bestfriends #explodewithhappiness
Hey Guys! It’s been a while, and although we’v Hey Guys! It’s been a while, and although we’ve been quiet we haven’t been idle. We had high hopes of being able to announce our plans for the not-too-distant future, but there’s been a small out-of-our-control spanner in the works. We are busting to share, as it’s massively exciting, but  there’s a bit more waiting patiently, so ...
In the meantime we are still keeping the Analogue Love Alive - supplying chemistry & equipment all over Australia and the world. (Kinda surprised you’re all still mad for Cyanotype this far into winter, but we understand the Blue Goo is addictive 💙 A new batch of contact frames is drying in the shed) 
We’ve also been working on plans for an artist’s residency in the Mid Murray Mallee area. It’s going to be sweeeeeet 👌
While the Lab is being re-invented we’ve taken t While the Lab is being re-invented we’ve taken the time to cross a few items off our bucket list. 5 days & 60+ kilometers walked together/alone in a forest was something we don’t have the words to describe right now - but to quote a dear friend
“If I have achieved great things, it was because I was stupid and didn’t know how hard it would be when I started” - Simon Williams @wyman.silliams .
.
#kangarooisland #kangarooislandwildernesstrail #lostinaforest #notlost #epicadventure #soquiet
Guys!! guys!! We are picnicking in the woods and h Guys!! guys!! We are picnicking in the woods and have discovered that Instax Wide film fits inside your empty Pocky packets because OF COURSE THEY DO ♥️ Thanks Japan, you think of everything 💌
.
.
#pocky #instax #instaxaus #shootfilm  #picnichack
This time, especially for the kids! These school This time, especially for the kids! 
These school holidays we are offering kids Cyanotype workshops for 7-12 year olds, held at the Glenunga Hub. Our kids love the Blue Goo & we are certain that yours will, too. 
Link to tickets in bio 💙
.
.
#creativekids #cyanotype #cityofburnside #glenungahub #creativeadelaide #bluegoo
Stuff for sale! Swipe to see all pictures. . Red f Stuff for sale! Swipe to see all pictures.
.
Red fibreglass Darkroom sink + white stand with shelving. Fits three 16x20" trays side by side. $150.00
.
Green wash tub with plumbing - washes prints up to 16x20 - automatically fills and empties. Makes your life lots easier. $80.00
.
A pile of expired paper of a variety of vintages, sizes and makes - no guarantees. FREE.
.
Ohaus balance scales for measuring out chemistry with incredible accuracy - no batteries required. $40.00.
.
.
All pickup only in Adelaide. Direct message us!
What a weekend! We made so many new friends in two What a weekend! We made so many new friends in two days it’s made us both dizzy - but this chance encounter was absolutely one of our favourites. Bec of @littlebrowndog snuck away from her own delightful little stand to come play with us - just look at this magic!! 💙🏠💙
#Cyanotype #bluegoo #printmakingforever #bowerbirdbazaar
Ain't no cloud cover going to keep us down ~ mini Ain't no cloud cover going to keep us down ~ mini cyanotype workshops are on like Donkey Kong today at @bowerbird.au sessions running at ~ 10:30/11:30/1:00/2:00/3:00/4:00 come say hi! We're the ones with lab coats on.
Follow on Instagram

Sign up for our occasional newsletter

© The Analogue Laboratory 2025
Built with WooCommerce.
  • My Account
  • Search
  • Cart 0