Community Darkrooms - An ILFORD Inspires Film

In the fourth and final episode of ILFORD Inspires New York Silver Stories, we explore two community darkrooms in New York City: Bushwick Community Darkroom and Gowanus Darkroom.
Community darkrooms are important to local film photographers and darkroom printers. They allow those who don't normally have access to film processing and darkroom printing facilities to create their work, as well as learn, collaborate and evolve with other like minded people.
A film by Exploredinary. Directed, filmed, and edited by Sarah Reyes and Daniel Driensky.

[@Ilfordphoto]

We're sad that this series is coming to and end but we're so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the fantastic team at @exploredinary again along with so many new talented and passionate film photographers and darkroom printers. If you have't watched all of the previous videos in this ILFORD Inspires New York Silver Stories series then please take some time to do so. We're sure you'll enjoy it.

[@mjmdiver1137]

Ilford, these are great videos... I've watched a few over they years. I wanted to raise the topic of travel and x-rays and CT scanners when using film cameras. I think the situation has gotten a lot more risky for travellers and this supresses film sales somewhat, unless you can provide good information and avenues to safely get the exposed film back to our homes for developing. Have you considered trying to collect information on the ability to get hand-checks in various countries and also the prevalence of CT scanners? I'd love to see a video on this topic and also options for how to avoid the issue (by shipping if that is viable), etc. Thanks, ---Michael

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@mjmdiver1137 Hi Michael - We agree that this is a concern and it's something that we have been working on for a while alongside the DFT. Our tech team on site have been conducting their own research as well into what damage can be caused to films and darkroom papers. We hope that we will be sharing something in the near future on this.

[@mjmdiver1137]

@@Ilfordphoto Thanks for the response... I hope to hear about this more because I want to travel with my medium format gear, and I'd love to be able to safely take (and bring back) my film and develop myself. I live in the US, so I can' get a hand check here on the way to Europe, but hand checks there are much less likely. Plus, now the CT scanners... which aren't too widespread yet.

[@JohnKrill]

San Francisco also has a community darkroom. I used it when I lived there in 64 and 65. I believe it is the oldest community darkroom in the country.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Ill look them up and make sure that they're on our darkroom finder on ILFORDPhoto.com. Thanks for letting us know!

[@lonerangefinder3974]

Harvey Milk Photo Center in the Lower Haight

[@MrPetermc199]

Looking forward for a new series outside NY/US...

[@Ilfordphoto]

Yes, the next ILFORD Inspires series is being planned. We're looking at a few different locations. Have you watched the earlier videos too?

[@aantonic]

great, i love film.. BW especially. There is nothing better then to see your prints coming to live in a tray.... magic man

[@Ilfordphoto]

We totally agree with this! No matter how many times we print in the darkroom we still feel the magic when our print appears in the tray

[@connorsacks1822]

Gowanus Darkroom is definitely the best public darkroom in BK!

[@Ilfordphoto]

From that comment I'm guessing that you've spent some time printing your negatives at Gowanus darkroom?

[@tonyperez5360]

I love this I'm Tony photographer since 1973 HS & many years in world of photography love this

[@Ilfordphoto]

Hi Tony. Glad that you enjoyed it. Do you have a favourite ILFORD film to shoot?

[@followthe-Light]

Community darkrooms - a valuable asset to society. So thankful to belong to a darkroom group.

[@Ilfordphoto]

We agree, they are such a valuable resource not just for the equipment but also the community ad the knowledge that they are happy to share with others.

[@marcoyc2012]

The train never stopped! ✌🏻

[@thecoreelementsmoto]

Very cool. I was trying to start something like this in Oklahoma city. Ended up having to give away several enlargers in the meantime due to space concerns. One day I will get it off the ground.

[@Ilfordphoto]

What a shame, although i'm sure the people who received the enlargers were very grateful! Good luck getting this started in the future.

[@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

Fantastic,love darkroom,congratulations for community, analog forever, this is true photograph!!!!!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Do you print a lot in the darkroom Nat? Is it your own set up at home?

[@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

@@Ilfordphoto I'm starting to print I'm a beginner, I'm a passionate landscape photographer with an optical bench, I've done the darkroom in my garage,if i can,i have a problem like if it can wash the film without running water(i carry water in a container to be able to work,thank you very much for your great contribution to the analogue photography community!!!!!

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer It's definitely possible to wash without running water. Have you seen our wash method which was developed to use the minimum amount of water whilst ensuring your films still wash fully? *** After fixing, fill the spiral tank with water at the same temperature, +/- 5ºC (9ºF), as the processing solutions. Invert the tank 5 times. • Drain the water away and refill. Invert the tank 10 times. • Once more, drain the water. Invert the tank twenty times and drain the water away. • Finally rinse with a few drops of ILFORD ILFOTOL Wetting Agent (1:200) added to the rinse water

[@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

@@Ilfordphoto I'm sorry, I seem to have explained myself badly, I'm talking about the print, not the film, I also want to contact print the 120 and 4x5 format, after printing I have doubts about how to wash the print, thank you very much!!!:)

[@sudosden3567]

So much passion, and fines pictures… awesome !

[@Ilfordphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching and please have a look at the other videos in the ILFORD Inspires playlist

[@christianonphotography]

Hitting the "like" button before watching the video here is a "low-brainer". Every single video you guys post is an inspiration and a justification to shoot film these days.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Wow. Thank you so much. We're so lucky that as a brand we get to work with so many talented and passionate people including the guys @exploredinary who filmed and edited this series for us.

[@normandong4479]

A community darkroom is a remarkable asset for a neighborhood. It can teach, inspire, overcome doubts and proof that there is really no limit. I started darkroom work as a college undergrad, and have done bits of it over the years. Used to do it at home, but think city would not like us dumping chemicals down the drain. A specialized place w the right gear and encouragement can be a catalyst to something wonderful. Bravo on this video.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Yes, this is exactly why community darkrooms are important. There are often agreements in place with local authorities for the disposal of chems.

[@markthemutant]

The overall muted tone throughout the video really brings out the human condition to me, these are clearly different individuals and aside from photography they also have another shared trait: Kindness, no matter their level of skill it’s evident they are nice and welcoming people. NYC now has a new place for me to visit which I didn’t know existed.

[@Ilfordphoto]

We totally agree! The film photography and darkroom printing community as a whole is very welcoming and inclusive and I think that his comes over in this video. I'm sure that both Bushwick and Gowanus darkrooms will be glad to see you:)

[@JohanSvenssongbgpixtures]

Awesome video. Youre great keeping film and paper into future !

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Johan. It's great that you enjoyed the video. Do you get chance to shoot much black and white film and print your work in the darkroom?

[@JohanSvenssongbgpixtures]

@@Ilfordphoto Yes i shoot and print on a regular basis. Thanks for the nice, comment.

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@JohanSvenssongbgpixtures Amazing, that's what we like to hear:)

[@DavyRayBennett]

I love this! I wish that there was a facility like this in Memphis.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Maybe you could set one up? There must be a community of would be darkroom printers who'd be interested in getting involved. The nearest one at the minute is Cleveland.

[@DavyRayBennett]

@@Ilfordphoto I found one listed in Nashville. I was going to call them today. I would like to get a community dark room set up somewhere in Memphis though.

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@DavyRayBennett Amazing. Enjoy printing:)

[@michaelmiller641]

wonderful and inspiring!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Michael. Did you watch any of the other ILFORD Inspires series?

[@michaelmiller641]

​@@Ilfordphoto yes I did, but there are some I need to catch up on!

[@klivekussler4496]

WOW......A really lovely presentation by all involved...it's so heartwarming to know that film is still thriving amidst all that is digital being rammed down our throats.....developing and printing film is the nearest thing to pure magic that one could experience in a lifetime.....

[@Exploredinary]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it, and AGREED - developing and printing is pure MAGIC! :D

[@Ilfordphoto]

What a kind comment and yes, film is thriving and growing! Do you shoot much film yourself?

[@flyingo]

I’m gathering resources and building support for what will soon, hopefully, become “Doo Dah DarkRoom” in the Wichita, KS region. It’s not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but is going to be SO worth the time and trouble. Analog film businesses are growing in number every day. The younger members of society deserve to have the resources, and more importantly, the knowledge of film processes available for them to learn and create. Film lives. And it lives well in a community environment.

[@timfrancist6115]

this is wonderful, being in the darkroom and the taking of photographs is so good for those that have mental health issues. I was around in the film only days and i just cant get the same satisfaction and feeling of acheivment with digital. Long live ilford who have shown so much support for the film community i only use their products now, although i loved kodak products they have become so expensive i would rather support ilfords because ithey are dedicate to the analogue community.I dread the day when theses products are no longer available long live ilford!

[@nicholsa63]

Just what i wanted to hear, having started originally shooting Film in the 80s, being rubbish then relearning photog through youtube and digital. I have now returned to film, unfinished business i call it. its great that all of you are giving people a chance to relive their original dreams and opening up the medium to the next generation.

[@Ilfordphoto]

We hear this a lot that people stopped shooting film and then have picked it back up. Are you hoping to get in a darkroom and print your work this time around?

[@nicholsa63]

@@Ilfordphoto I develope my own Black & white. Hope to printing at some point. That's where there wonderful community darkrooms could help

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@nicholsa63 Developing your own is a great starting point. I'm sure that you'll have no problem finding a friendly community darkroom when you're ready to start printing.

[@thomastuorto9929]

Kool vid. Canon AE-1 Program. My first & only film camera purchased back in 1984. Still have it. I went out to a camera store in Paterson, NJ & purchased an enlarger & the products to develop rolls & print B&W. It was a 3 step for the print process back then. Only did a few rolls of B&W & then life took me somewhere else. Started shooting colored & had it developed & small prints at places like the pharmacy. Still have 2 rolls of colored in the fridge that have to be well over 15 years old. It might still be good! Maybe? Really glad to see they have youth program. = REALLY KOOL! Thanks for the vid ILFORD!!!

[@Exploredinary]

Thanks for watching!! 🙌❤️

[@derekdonsworth2785]

Enjoyed as always ... well worth staying up for . Have a good weekend

[@Ilfordphoto]

You too Derek. Thank you for staying awake for us:)

[@the_darkroom_shed]

Love these. Such a good series. Please please please do some more.

[@extremelydave]

Finding someone else who is into photography is hard....unless you are lucky enough to have places to go like in this video. I have 2 very good digital cameras, but still prefer my old Olympus OM1 or my Mamiya 645's. Film prints just have life in them that digital can't quite reproduce. It's like the difference in hearing a vinyl record compared to sound from a computer...analog just is more satisfying to me.

[@Ilfordphoto]

That is a great analogy. Are you on social media at all? There's a thriving films and darkroom community on Twitter and Facebook as well as Instagram (We're on all three too under @ilfordphoto).

[@Brando256]

OMG! This video was so inspiring and fantastic. Initially I was thinking there is no way I was going to watch for 20 minutes and not only did I watch the full time but save it and watching it again. Best believe I will be making a trip too NYC to visit the Community Darkroom. Gosh, this video totally reenergized me!!! Thank you for sharing! 🙏👏🙏

[@Ilfordphoto]

This comment re-energised me! Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. Make sure that you also watch the rest of the ILFORD Inspires series of videos if you haven't done already

[@Brando256]

@@Ilfordphoto I absolutely will! Thanks and I wish you GREAT SUCCESS in all your future endeavors!

[@herinethoroughly1287]

This has been my dream as someone who enjoys taking photos but has to pay $15 in my town to develop a roll. After living in New York and seeing that there was community darkrooms, it made me wonder why this wasn't a thing world wide.

[@MrPetermc199]

It is.

[@Ilfordphoto]

There are more and more community darkrooms opening around the world. We have quite a few listed on our store locator www.ilfordphoto.com/storelocator and are adding more as we hear about them. Hopefully there is already one near to you.

[@michelegirardi3408]

Super!!!!

[@LifeandTimesPhotography]

Brilliant doc Ilford.

[@theblackmanarmedwithacamera]

TOTALLY AWESOME!💯🤘🏾🤘🏾🔥🔥

[@MattWeddis]

This series has been genuinely uplifting.

[@ariaan_]

Watching this while scanning some HP5 plus sheet film. So very inspiring! What an excellently created video. Loved the content, and such great work by the featured photographers.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Fabulous! Please share your scans with us using #ilfordhp5 if you are on Instagram. We are @ilfordphoto. We love seeing the fantastic work that people create with our films and darkroom papers

[@timluttges9413]

Could watch this for hours. Really great to see. Nice work.

[@Exploredinary]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ilfordphoto]

What a lovely comment. Thanks Tim. Have you watched the rest f the ILFORD Inspires videos too? Which is your favourite?

[@timluttges9413]

@@Ilfordphoto yes have seen them. Hard to say which i like the most. The master printer one is amazing to see what is possible. I am in darkroom printing for a very short amount of time. But really enjoying it and learning a lot from your videos 👍🏼

[@claudiogomes6283]

Congratolations for this projecto, and the people that make part of this. From Portugal Europe, someone that love old school fotografy.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Muito obrigado Claudio. Do you often print your work in the darkroom?

[@claudiogomes6283]

@@Ilfordphoto Sim eu tenho um darkroom na minha cave onde faço todo o processo de revelação e ampliação com os químicos e papéis da ILFORD, e só uso film da ILFORD HP5 35mm e 120. Cumprimentos e Parabéns pelo vosso trabalho. Cláudio Gomes

[@inkaststudio]

Great video! Makes me wanna drop what I’m doing and head to my local darkroom 😄

[@EduardoMendozaPhoto]

This series is really drawing me more towards shooting more film and feeling the need to print my photos in the darkroom, thanks guys!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Amazing. That;s what we were hoping for, If you haven't already done it then you should find a local community darkroom and give printing your own black and white negatives a go.

[@wylie_photo]

Inspiring video, great sense of spirit, it makes me want to set up a community darkroom.

[@Ilfordphoto]

You should do it and then send us the details so we can add you to our darkroom locator on www.ilfordphoto.com/storelocator

[@wylie_photo]

@@Ilfordphoto Sounds like a great idea, thanks!

[@emmanueltsI5]

Love film. Love shooting it. Love developing in my wc. Love scanning it, storing it and printing it. Love it overall. Perhaps it is because it is imperfect. Like vinyls. Like all of us: imperfect humans

[@Ilfordphoto]

We agree with this 100%. Thanks for watching

[@someblokecalleddave1]

That's great! I'm not sure whether there is anything like this in London and I live just outside and I'm unaware of such a thing? I used to teach adult classes in a FE college, but the current Govt increased the prices of the courses and cut the grants for adult learning and the course folded. Most of the adults I taught loved it and were always gutted when there was no follow up option other than signing up to do a full time 2 or 3 year course.

[@Ilfordphoto]

There are definitely some not too far from you. Have a look at www.ilfordphoto.com/storelocator to find the nearest one

[@mlseawell]

This is a brilliant series. I don't do analog (yet0 but appreciate the love and passion behind the work. Please keep it going!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Mark. Have you ever shot film?

[@mlseawell]

@@Ilfordphoto Too many years ago but I still love it, ESPECIALLY black and white.

[@robertdurn2320]

Spent most of my working life in the darkroom. 15 years after turning the safe light off I still miss the magic of an image appearing in a tray of developer. I live about 15 miles away from Mobberley in Cheshire U.K. where Ilford made Multigrade paper.

[@tonyb2760]

I love this idea. Thanks for sharing

[@Ilfordphoto]

It's such a great concept and we're seeing more and more community darkrooms added to our locator every year so if you know of any then please tell us about them. www.ilfordphoto.com/storelocator

[@myahya1987]

I impatiently wait for these videos by you guys.. As always, brilliant work.. Love the idea of documenting film labs and their processing with development, scanning and printing

[@Exploredinary]

Thanks for watching! Glad you have enjoyed the series!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Mustafa. Great to hear you've enjoyed the series. Do you get much chance to get in the darkroom and print?

[@joseerazevedo]

This series couldn't have a better name. Thanks for sharing the inspiring stories! See you on the next episode!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Jose. This is the last one in this series, have you checked out the others? there will be more videos coming later in the year though

[@joseerazevedo]

@@Ilfordphoto Sure I have! Love each one. Well, let's wait for the new ones. My best!

[@andrewnoden9117]

Hi Andrew here in Ottawa Canada 🇨🇦 Thank you for yet another inspirational video Great storytelling and great work We need one of these in Ottawa Canada

[@Exploredinary]

Thanks for watching! Happy you enjoyed it!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Hi Andrew - Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Do you do much darkroom work yourself?

[@andrewnoden9117]

@@Ilfordphoto yes I do process film but don’t have an enlarger at the moment, used to develop film when I was younger and now really enjoy it

[@GAROBERBERIAN]

Great video

[@Ilfordphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it. Have you watched the rest of the ILFORD Inspires New York Silver Stories?

[@marike1100]

So inspiring, wonderful images, the community darkrooms look terrific. I should donate my Bessler 4X5 Enlarger as I can’t really afford to shoot/print large format these days. Kudos, heart warming presentation.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Yes, large format is a big commitment. I'm sure that any community darkroom would be hugely grateful or maybe a local college or university? (As long as they can give you access whenever you want to print your negatives)

[@marike1100]

@@Ilfordphoto Great idea, thanks for everything. Big fan.

[@mauricioalchundiasegovia8355]

MORE PLEASE¡¡¡¡¡¡

[@AI-Hallucination]

I can't operate with people around me I need my own space that's the solitude in me so I got my own enlarger but I understand how this is amazing and great for the community I like it

[@xutao9399]

It's REALLY Cool

[@francisbombus3949]

❤

[@Zaphandyman]

❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥

[@CarlWicker]

I love film photography and my makeshift kitchen darkroom, but everything is through the roof price wise now (United Kingdom), it's totally unaffordable for someone like myself to do anything with film. Sad days.

[@Ilfordphoto]

It's not a cheap hobby but there are more budget friendly films and papers available such as our Kentmere range

[@CarlWicker]

@@Ilfordphoto Thats awesome, i wasn't aware of this range. All i need now is a budget chemicals range :D

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@CarlWicker The most economical is probably Ilfosol 3 or Ilfotec HC ( this also has the longest shelf life). Let us know how you get on

[@WatchDSSID]

Very good video - some great stories, but would have been better edited down to half the length I think (constructive feedback)

[@vladnickul]

but... i thought putting "community" in a description means they are free. I mean my community gym or library or pool are indeed free, (paid from the taxes an donations) A business is just a business, I am confused.

[@Ilfordphoto]

That's not always the case. Community can just mean that it's open to the community. Whether its free to go but you then pay for consumables or if it's on a membership basis it's still open to the community.

[@someblokecalleddave1]

Do they not have dark rooms in your High schools in the USA?

[@Exploredinary]

They are all almost gone now for high school except for special arts high schools or private schools…. *some* colleges have a darkroom, but darkrooms are definitely not as readily available for students as 10-20 years ago. 😢

[@Ilfordphoto]

Even when there are darkrooms they are not accessible to none students in most cases

[@someblokecalleddave1]

@@Ilfordphoto True that, you have to be a student. The only recent case I know that contradicts that, was in the case of the Photographic society at Reading University. My son run the Photographic society while he was doing his degree there and they/he allowed access to non students.

[@someblokecalleddave1]

@@Exploredinary That's pretty much true here, especially so since around 10-12 years ago the Tory (Read Republican if in the USA) Education minister Michael Gove almost single headedly sounded the death knell for arts in schools, insisting if schools needed money for other areas of the curriculum, they needed to take the money from their arts budgets. Schools pretty much had no choice but to do so. That meant less students accessed arts at the 11-16 phase of their education and less filtered through to the FE sector (Further education 16-19) and the net result was art facilities suffered and in so many cases photography departments were the first to go. Along with the loss of depts, there was a massive loss of experienced and knowledgeable staff. My FE dept is increasingly rare these days, still teaching using analogue processes. I'm due to retire in the next 5 years or so and I'd imagine once I've gone, that'll be it at my college. That'll be a real shame as there are still some really good Universities here that teach using analogue and our students are snapped up when they apply because of their skills and knowledge in this area. The thing is teaching with analogue is so hands on and active in comparison with teaching digital it'll be a real loss.

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@someblokecalleddave1 I wish more places would do this - If he still has contacts at the University then please ask him to share the info about our student competition www.ilfordphoto.com/community/competitions/studentcomp2022/

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Durst Italy

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Ilford. Galery an polycontrast. Golf yes

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Hasselblad. An Leica. Or nikon Ok besseler

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Only Ilford.. materials

[@Ilfordphoto]

They are the best, in our opinion. Which is your favourite ILFORD film and darkroom paper?

[@antoniocastillo2691]

@@Ilfordphoto yes ok

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Only Ilford. No...More.. yes

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Papel 11x14. Rc more Galery.. yes!!!!♥♥♥♥

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Galery

[@antoniocastillo2691]

Ok besseler. Lize focomat lll Germany. 6x6 focotar snayder etc rodinal.. 16 x 20... ????????