After the decade-long surge of interest in digital photography, many photo enthusiasts are rediscovering the joys of old-tech black and white photography. Today’s photographers have the capability of exploring two different paths toward photographic fulfillment. The time is unique because the tools that make up a black and white darkroom are still readily available.
For many years school photo programs were the backbone of the darkroom industry. The schools not only started would-be photographers down the path toward home darkrooms, they consumed massive amounts of darkroom supplies along the way. In unison school budgets have tightened and digital photography has become more accessible in both price and features, the result has been a sharp drop in darkroom supply sales.
However, the last two years have seen a growing trend in photographers turning toward film-based photography for art, fun and experimental reasons. What started as an almost art house movement centered around so-called toy cameras, such as the Holga and Diana
Brands, film’s popularity has spread to more mainstream photographers too.
The result has been the continuing production of darkroom supplies including chemicals, tools and enlargers. The cost of starting a home darkroom has fallen to the point where it is roughly equivalent to the cost of a good digital photo editing program.
Home darkrooms will likely never again be as popular as they were from the 50’s through the 90’s. However, the current boost in interest has helped preserve darkrooms and film based photography as a worthy alternative and art.
More Information:Stu Eddins is blogger, instructor, merchandiser, and is generally in charge of a lot of things for Porter's Digital Cameras and Imaging. Years of experience over the counter and in classrooms have turned Stu into an evangelist for image preservation, capturing and sharing memories, and helping people understand digital cameras,
darkroom supplies, digital camera lenses.
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