Photographer Develops Film with Jäger Bomb and the Results Are… A Bomb!

Avid film photographers probably know by now that you can develop film at home using kitchen staples like coffee. But did you know you can do it with a Jäger Bomb? Neither did I. In his latest chaotic and hilarious video, Sweet Lou Photography dives headfirst into one of the most cursed combinations in photography history. He develops black and white film using – that’s right – Jäger Bomb.

What Even Is a Jäger Bomb?

If you’re too young to know or too old to care, Lou kindly explains it for us. A Jäger Bomb is a shot of Jägermeister dropped into a glass of Red Bull, then chugged like you’re at a college bar in 2007. I’d say Lou and I are about the same age because this brought back some memories. Anyhow, this is the kind of drink that practically dares your internal organs to fight back. Naturally, it seemed like the perfect way to develop a roll of film at home.

The Setup

For this chemical misadventure, Lou loaded up his trusty Fujifilm GA645Zi and photographed his friends performing.

Ilford HP5 was the film of choice, mainly because it’s known to play nice with alternative developers (and Lou’s tried quite a few).

Then came the potion. He heated 500ml of Red Bull, added vitamin C powder, and washing soda to boost development action. And finally, the star of the show: a shot of Jäger. No, you don’t dunk the shot glass directly into your developing tank – this isn’t college. But you do metaphorically drop the shot and pour it all in.

Here’s Lou’s recipe:

• (almost) 500mL Red Bull
• 1 shot of Jägermeister
• 1 TBSP Vitamin C Powder
• 3.5 TBSP Washing Soda
• Heat to 90F (32C) agitate for probably less than 17:38 like I did. Use the fixer of your choice.

Developing in the Bathroom, With the Boys

From there, it’s 17 minutes and 38 seconds of good ol’ bathroom agitation – not just of film, but of human dignity. Lou makes it a group experience. And yes, the fixer joke (“Fixer? Hardly know her!”) makes a proud return.

The negatives? A bit overcooked. Maybe left in the “developing oven” just a tad too long. The result is a mix of ultra-grainy, mushy textures and highlights that shimmer weirdly – possibly from the dust-prone Epson scanner, possibly from the sins committed in the developing tank.

But here’s the thing: it worked. Sort of.

So, Were the Photos Any Good?

Lou photographed a gig of his friends from the band Durieux. I thank him for linking their page: I was bobbing my head while watching the video, they are fantastic!

Anyhow, the photos have a gritty, almost greasy texture that Lou says is “kind of gross to handle.” But they also have this weirdly compelling aesthetic, if you ask me. Some are sharp, some are more like your eyesight after a few Jäger Bombs. One shot of his friend Seth stood out as a favorite, with cool shutter drag effects and raw performance energy.

More About Weird Film Developers

Developing film with a Jäger Bomb may not revolutionize your darkroom process, but it will make for a memorable story. And that’s part of the magic of photography, especially film developing. It doesn’t always have to be serious or perfect. Sometimes, it’s about experimenting, laughing, and spending 18 minutes agitating film in a bathroom with your friends. Yes, literally, don’t get weird!

And if you’ve made it this far and you’re still curious, you really can also develop black and white film with beer, coffee, wine, energy drinks, and now… Jäger Bomb. After all, if you’re around my age, you’d probably rather put that drink into a developing tank than into your stomach. So, what the heck – go for it! And don’t forget to share the results.

[Developing Film in a Jägerbomb Because I Can (it worked) | Sweet Lou Photography]

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