Darkroom Malta
Analogue Photography Studio and Shop · 3 L-Inginiera Genju, Iż-Żurrieq ZRQ 1263, Malta
Enquire through VisitMalta.co.ukServices, hours and details last checked against Darkroom Malta's own published information.
Darkroom Malta is a one-person analogue photography studio and shop in Żurrieq, in the south of Malta. It sells 35mm, 120 and 110 film, darkroom supplies and hand-made silver prints, develops film and runs small film photography workshops. Enquiries go through the VisitMalta.co.uk form on this page.
Darkroom Malta is a small analogue photography studio in Żurrieq, a village in the south of the island close to the Ħaġar Qim temples and the Blue Grotto. It is run by one photographer, Alan, who describes his approach as old school: slow, careful and focused on the overlooked details of everyday life. If you shoot film, want to learn how, or simply admire the look of a hand-made black and white print, this is the kind of specialist shop that is hard to find elsewhere in Malta.
The studio sells film and darkroom supplies, develops film, teaches small workshops and offers hand-made silver prints. It appears on VisitMalta.co.uk in our cinemas and film directory, the closest category for a business built around the moving and still image.
About the studio
Alan began processing film for the public in 2016, working from a small but fully equipped darkroom in an apartment in Valletta. Photography runs in the family: his grandfather collected cameras and his father photographed family life on a Pentax Spotmatic, a camera that still works and sits in his own collection. He says the red light and background music of the darkroom are where he can switch off from a busy life and enjoy the analogue process.
The work is deliberately personal. Customers get honest advice on cameras, lenses, films and photography in general, and you are welcome to call in for a chat as well as to buy.
Film, chemicals and equipment
The shop offers the largest range of colour film on offer, in 35mm, 120 and 110, along with black and white stock from Ilford, Kodak, Fomapan and Kentmere. Expired film is also sold, from rolls that lapsed a few months ago to decades ago. Popular rolls include Kodak Gold 200, Kodak Ultra Max, Fomapan 100 and Kentmere 100.
For people who develop at home there are chemicals for colour film (C-41), black and white film and paper, plus tanks, reels, containers, darkroom paper in several sizes and surfaces, trays, tongs and thermometers. Cameras, lenses and general accessories such as batteries, cables and cases are stocked too, and the studio has offered film developing since 2016.
Workshops for beginners and enthusiasts
Three workshops are taught in very small groups of up to four people, and one-to-one sessions can be arranged. Dates are flexible, and larger groups can be discussed. The Introduction to Film Photography and Introduction to Black and White Film Developing workshops cost €49 each and last two and a half hours. They cover film against digital, how film cameras work, the differences between films, and light metering, and a roll of film with its developing is included. If you do not own a film camera, one can be lent to you.
The In-depth Black and White Film Developing workshop costs €59 and lasts three hours. You develop 35mm and 120 film in different chemicals, learn the equipment and each step of the process, and receive your negatives digitised as high-resolution files afterwards.
Hand-made prints
Alan also sells hand-crafted silver prints from his own negatives, each printed by hand in the darkroom. Prices on the site run from €19 for a small Valletta street scene up to €245, and framed examples of the work are shown on this page. Many subjects are Maltese, from Sliema seascapes to Valletta skylines, which makes them a distinctive keepsake of the island. Our Valletta guide is a good companion if you want to photograph the city yourself.
Finding the studio
The studio is at 3 Triq L-Inginiera in Żurrieq, in a short narrow alley with a green door. Drivers head up to the steps of St Catherine Church, the largest church in Żurrieq, and follow a straight road past the HSBC branch. By bus, routes 71 and 73 run from Valletta, 201 from Rabat or the airport, and 218 or 117 from Mater Dei, all stopping at the Żurrieq terminus. If you are combining the visit with sightseeing, the Ħaġar Qim temples and the Ħaġar Qim Archaeological Site are about 3 km away, and Aquarius Rent A Car is another nearby listing.
To ask about film, developing, a workshop or a print, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the studio.
Questions about Darkroom Malta
What does Darkroom Malta sell?
It sells 35mm, 120 and 110 colour and black and white film, expired film, chemicals for C-41 and black and white developing, darkroom paper and tools, cameras, lenses and accessories. Hand-made silver prints are also on offer.
Can I get film developed there?
Yes. The studio has offered high quality film developing since 2016, working from a fully equipped darkroom. Send your details through our enquiry form and we will pass your message on to ask about your roll.
What workshops are available and how much do they cost?
There are three: Introduction to Film Photography and Introduction to Black and White Film Developing at €49 each, and an In-depth Black and White Film Developing session at €59. Groups are small, with a maximum of four people.
Do I need my own film camera for a workshop?
No. If you do not own a film camera, one can be lent to you for the session. The introductory workshops include a complimentary roll of 35mm or 120 film and its developing.
Where is Darkroom Malta and when is it open?
The studio is at 3 Triq L-Inginiera in Żurrieq, behind a green door in a narrow alley. It is open on Fridays from 6:15pm to 9:30pm, or by appointment at the Żurrieq studio or in Mosta near Pama.
How do I get there without a car?
Take a bus to the Żurrieq terminus: routes 71 and 73 run from Valletta, 201 from Rabat or the airport, and 218 or 117 from Mater Dei. The studio is a short walk uphill from the terminus.
Practical information
Darkroom Malta is at 3 Triq L-Inginiera, Żurrieq ZRQ 1263, down a short narrow alley with a green door at number 3. The studio is open on Fridays from 6:15pm to 9:30pm, or by appointment at the Żurrieq studio or in Mosta near Pama. To ask about film, developing, a workshop or a print, send your details through the enquiry form on this page and VisitMalta.co.uk will pass your message to the studio.
Location
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The details on this page were correct on 25 October 2026, as published on the Darkroom Malta website. Services, prices and hours can change, so please confirm when you enquire.