A darkroom on a budget

You don't need a dedicated room to develop film at home. You need a light-tight tank, a changing bag, three bottles, a thermometer you trust and a kitchen you are allowed to make slightly messy.

My whole kit cost less than a mid-range lens. The tank and reels were second-hand, the chemistry is the boring classic combination, and the measuring jugs came from the same shop that sells pickling jars.

The first roll is always a disaster. The second one is better. By the fifth you start to enjoy the twelve quiet minutes of agitating and waiting, which is honestly the real reason to do it.