A Day at FilmNeverDie, Captured on Half-Frame Film with the Pentax 17

At FilmNeverDie, film isn’t just what we process, it’s how we see. Recently, we spent a regular day in the lab documenting our team, our workflow, and the rhythm of film processing using the Pentax 17. The result is a visual diary of the lab itself, shot on film, developed in-house, and scanned by the same hands that keep film moving every day.

This project celebrates the everyday moments that often go unseen: loading film, monitoring chemistry temperatures, cutting and sleeving negatives, and the quiet focus that goes into every order that comes through our doors.

Why the Pentax 17?

The Pentax 17’s half-frame format makes it a natural fit for documentary style film photography. With double the exposures on a single roll of 35mm film, it encourages spontaneous shooting and extended storytelling, perfect for capturing process driven environments like a working film lab.

The built-in flash played a key role in this shoot. Used throughout the lab, it freezes motion and highlights textures that are easy to miss: gloved hands mid-task, chemical splashes on aprons, rolls of film waiting their turn. The flash adds contrast and immediacy, reinforcing the raw, behind-the-scenes nature of film lab life.

Inside the Film Lab Process

Every roll of film processed at FilmNeverDie follows a careful, hands-on workflow designed to protect your images from start to finish:

• Film is received, logged, and prepared for development

• Rolls are loaded onto reels

• Film is developed with tightly controlled chemistry, time, and temperature

• Negatives are washed, dried, cut, and sleeved

• Film is then scanned using professional lab scanners for accurate colour and detail

Documenting this process on film felt intentional. Film photographing film creates a closed loop, an honest reflection of the analog workflow and the people behind it. Using on-camera flash allowed us to work quickly without interrupting the flow of the lab, capturing moments as they naturally happened.

The Pentax 17’s simplicity encourages instinctive shooting. There’s no hesitation, just framing, timing, and trust in the process. Much like film itself.

Supporting Film Photography in Melbourne and Beyond

FilmNeverDie is a Melbourne-based film lab supporting film photographers across Australia. From film development to professional scanning, everything we do is guided by respect for the medium and attention to detail.

This project is a reminder that film photography is not just about the final image. It’s about the process, the people, and the craft behind every frame.

If you’re dropping off film, mailing in a roll, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes, this is our everyday. Shot on film. Processed with care. Always analog.

In the next blog we will introduce each of our machinery, yes we actually named them, so far there is Hank, Frank, Chaz, Elsa....and many more to come, do you want take a guess who or what they are?