Peyton weigel

Film developing and scanning onboard Azurite! Whenever I mention to people that I do all of my own film developing and scanning onboard I always get asked if I have a darkroom, so I thought it would be nice to share some insights into my process. So there is no darkroom BUT I use something called a film changing tent that allows me to work with the film and load it into developing tanks in total darkness. They are kind of a giant pain to use, especially when it’s really hot and humid out. The rest of the developing process is done on the countertop with no need for darkness. The things in my craft I struggle with the most on the boat are water consistency and temperature. You normally want to use distilled water which I do not have regular access to (or is not worth buying in bulk I guess). We are currently working out a new water maker for Azurite and I’m hoping this will at least get the quality of the water consistent. High ambient temperatures are also difficult to accommodate for, as working with higher temperatures changes development time and can change some of the characteristics of the images. I find it to be a very rewarding experience to be able to develop from the boat. It makes turn around time for rolls significantly faster and the overall experience feel more integrated into my life.