Just moved from CA to MA and looking for a darkroom

StephenCurtis · Oct 24, 2016

Hi all:

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you all might have for my problem. I just moved from California to Massachusetts (North Shore) and am looking for access to a darkroom for processing B/W prints. In San Francisco, there were multiple community centers/shops that offered such darkrooms. In other words, you could call ahead, rent the darkroom by the hour or for the half-day and go to work...many of them also including mentoring or tutoring for an additional fee.

I have a car so anywhere in the Boston, southern ME/NH/VT area that offers access to something like this would be great. I have searched, but my Google-fu appears to be failing me.

Again, thanks in advance and great to be back on these forums after a bit of an absence.

winger · Oct 24, 2016

I've never been there and have no connection or knowledge besides this, but - http://www.nesop.edu/about-nesop/renting-facilities/
If moderator Suzanne Revy sees this post, she might know of other spaces. I used to take darkroom classes at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, but I just called them and they moved last week and do not have a darkroom anymore (boo hiss). I don't know if the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA has anything? NESOP might be your best bet. I could have sworn there was another darkroom space in Boston, but my google-fu was failing me, too. Good luck!

removed account4 · Oct 24, 2016

when i was a grad student at bu i tried to rent darkroom space at NESOP but unless you were registered for classes
you weren't allowed to use their facilities. that was 25 years ago, maybe things have changed ?
i think lapete labs is still around, i've never been there / used them but they might rent space?
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=lapetelabs&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
( i don't do facebook so i can't see what it says there either )

south of boston about 45mins 1hour ( providence ) AS220 has darkroom space you can use. i think you just have to join AS220 which
is a great organization, and you get to use their facilities.

good luck!
john

benveniste · Oct 24, 2016

NESOP requires you to have taken at least one class there:
http://www.nesop.edu/about-nesop/renting-facilities/

I'm pretty sure that LePete Labs still offers darkroom rental services.
https://www.facebook.com/LaPete-Black-White-Photo-Labs-99224546324/about/

silveror0 · Oct 25, 2016

From the Ilford site:
http://www.localdarkroom.com/

bdial · Oct 25, 2016

It's a long drive from North Shore, but Vermont Center for Photography in Brattleboro, VT has a rental darkroom. Mentoring is available.
Brat. is in SE VT on the Connecticut river.
Aside from NESOP, I don't know of any rental darkrooms in MA, nor in NH

BTW, welcome to APUG, and welcome to New England.

Steve Goldstein · Oct 25, 2016

There's a place in Wilmington MA that shows up occasionally on Boston Craigslist. I don't remember if it's just studio rental or if it also includes a darkroom, and it doesn't seem to be there at the moment. Further afield, there's Camera Commons in Dover NH. It's a haul from the North Shore, but not as far as Burlington VT. Camera Commons definitely has darkroom rentals, by the hour or day.

Stephen Prunier · Nov 23, 2016

Welcome to APUG, and the North Shore. It's a beautiful place.

Here's a link to a Boston Craigslist http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ats/5887662053.html
This location would be by South Station in Boston. Depending on your location. Dover NH would be under an hour. You may want to check out some of the artist studio co-ops. Some have darkrooms, or there may be a photographer with one that might rent you some time. I'd help you out, but mine is a small bedroom without running water. I know there out there.

EdSawyer · Nov 24, 2016

Try Cameracommons.com , they are located in Dover, NH, and have a great facility, I have been there several times.

benveniste · Nov 26, 2016

Stephen Prunier said:
Welcome to APUG, and the North Shore. It's a beautiful place.

Here's a link to a Boston Craigslist http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ats/5887662053.html

That's LePete's location and phone number.

Nodda Duma · Nov 26, 2016

Welcome to New England! We did the same thing 6 years ago from eastern California except we landed in S. NH. I'd be happy to let you use my darkroom, but it's probably a bit of a drive for you.

Every time I see a post like this I become more and more tempted to open up a film supply store & darkroom in S. NH. I'm not aware of any in the immediate area that serve the Central Corridor

SuzanneR · Dec 31, 2016

Does the Bakery Collective in Portland, Maine have a darkroom rental? That might be an option. There's also a fairly new place in New Hampshire called Camera Commons in Dover, NH. I think they have a darkroom you can rent. http://cameracommons.com

Otherwise, take a class at NESOP, then you can rent there. Nick Johnson's darkroom workshops are great.

faberryman · Dec 31, 2016

Camera Common has two darkrooms and can handle almost anything, both film and digital. David Spelz, the owner, is a long time photographer in all formats and well connected in the New England photography scene. They also have several gallery spaces.

mgb74 · Oct 20, 2017

Resurrecting this thread as I may find myself in the same boat. Contemplating spending 3-4 months a year in Boston area (Nov-Feb). Probably won't have room for a darkroom.

Cameracommons is over an hour away from where we plan to be (Chelmsford/Westford/Acton/Groton) so that is not practical. Nesop's website says darkroom should be available in January 2018; not bad at all if it's true. Waiting to hear from them if it's still on track and what their class requirements are currently.

LePete in downtown Boston still in operation with daily rates that include chemistry. Seems the best bet as long as I can avoid rush hour (which is way more than an hour).

pentaxuser · Oct 21, 2017

If you move from PA to MA instead, is this the result of a divorce battle? Sorry couldn't resist it

pentaxuser

Nodda Duma · Oct 21, 2017

A question for the New England folks: any interest in making a darkroom available in the Hollis NH area?

removed account4 · Oct 21, 2017

if you want to travel a few hours south to pvd ri, there is AS220, and they have a community darkroom too
not sure what nitty gritty is ( $$ / hours of access ) ...

mgb74 · Oct 21, 2017

Nodda Duma said:
A question for the New England folks: any interest in making a darkroom available in the Hollis NH area?

Out of curiosity, what are you thinking of? Something in a commercial space, in someone's home, affiliated with some sort of arts organization?

Sirius Glass · Oct 21, 2017

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio

mgb74 · Oct 24, 2017

I did hear back from NESOP. In a nutshell, they are still targeting January 2018 for the darkroom availability. Full day rates only, starting at $80 (goes down if you purchase multiple days). Chemicals provided.

But - once the darkroom opens, they will be offering 10 week workshops that includes full access to the darkroom.

sepiareverb · Oct 24, 2017

bdial said:
It's a long drive from North Shore, but Vermont Center for Photography in Brattleboro, VT has a rental darkroom...

And a very nice darkroom at that.

mgb74 · May 29, 2018

mgb74 said:
Resurrecting this thread as I may find myself in the same boat. Contemplating spending 3-4 months a year in Boston area (Nov-Feb). Probably won't have room for a darkroom.

Cameracommons is over an hour away from where we plan to be (Chelmsford/Westford/Acton/Groton) so that is not practical. Nesop's website says darkroom should be available in January 2018; not bad at all if it's true. Waiting to hear from them if it's still on track and what their class requirements are currently.

LePete in downtown Boston still in operation with daily rates that include chemistry. Seems the best bet as long as I can avoid rush hour (which is way more than an hour).

And the winner is: Westford. (Or maybe the loser.) In any case, that's where we'll be "wintering". Will actually be closer to 5 months year. There is the possibility of a darkroom if I find an enlarger out there.

Dismayed · Sep 19, 2021

NESOP has closed, so how about some updates on dark rooms in the Boston area?

mgb74 · Sep 19, 2021

There was someone in Lowell (as of a couple of years ago) that had what I would consider a "shared darkroom". As I recall, it's member based, rather than pay-per-use. Not sure if it is still active.

I have his contact and can try to touch base if a membership based offering in Lowell is of interest. If it is, send me your email in a private message and I'll pass on to him.

And, if you are looking for an enlarger to create your own darkroom, I will probably have a Beseler 23c for very cheap.

Dismayed · Sep 19, 2021

mgb74 said:
There was someone in Lowell (as of a couple of years ago) that had what I would consider a "shared darkroom". As I recall, it's member based, rather than pay-per-use. Not sure if it is still active.

I have his contact and can try to touch base if a membership based offering in Lowell is of interest. If it is, send me your email in a private message and I'll pass on to him.

And, if you are looking for an enlarger to create your own darkroom, I will probably have a Beseler 23c for very cheap.

Thank you. I'll pm you my email.

Just moved from CA to MA and looking for a darkroom

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