Just moved from CA to MA and looking for a darkroom

[Nodda Duma]

A public darkroom is beginning to take shape in Amherst, New Hampshire.

2 darkrooms - membership or per-use. 6 enlargers total

Analog studio

Classes (basics and advanced stuff like shooting dry plates)

A variety of film for sale as well. Other supplies as the retail store grows.

 

[removed account4]

A public darkroom is beginning to take shape in Amherst, New Hampshire.

2 darkrooms - membership or per-use. 6 enlargers total

Analog studio

Classes (basics and advanced stuff like shooting dry plates)

A variety of film for sale as well. Other supplies as the retail store grows.

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looking hard for the "like" button!

 

[MatthewDunn]

Yeah, this is definitely good news for people in the area. Do you have a link or any other additional information we can look out for? A name? Thanks!

 

[Nodda Duma]

Name of the store is Photo Retro, though you’ll see Pictoriographica in the business list out on the street.

I’ll have a website up soon with more info when I can catch a break. I’ll make an announcement here sometime over the next couple of weeks.

I had to expand my dry plate business out of the basement, and the space I leased was just too good to not put together this type of analog haven in the front-end.

-Jason

 

[Dismayed]

Name of the store is Photo Retro, though you’ll see Pictoriographica in the business list out on the street.

I’ll have a website up soon with more info when I can catch a break. I’ll make an announcement here sometime over the next couple of weeks.

I had to expand my dry plate business out of the basement, and the space I leased was just too good to not put together this type of analog haven in the front-end.

-Jason

Great news! You're about an hour from my home.

 

[mgb74]

I'm impressed. Sorely needed. Curious to see how you handle access and chemicals. Will it be staffed just secure access? If you need help with the buildout (after Nov 1), let me know.

 

[Nodda Duma]

You’ll have to wait on the full details, but here is what I’ve established as guidance for how we’ll operate.

Staff on-hand to provide support and we’ll handle the chems. Sinks have silver scrubbers on the drains, and will get recycled (as an aside, environmental guidance for photo labs is well established in the state…I haven’t polluted while making plates, not going to start now).

The darkroom is only one part of this, ah, adventure, which will include what I mentioned in post 26 above. Hours will be limited at first until the store revenue supports a full time staff. B/C of this and to minimize spread of COVID, customers will be able to book online for darkroom time. So you’ll have a choice of time to book. Membership gets you more slots to choose from, save some $$ on store supplied chems, paper, stuff like that.

I appreciate the offer to help. I think there will be opportunities for that and will keep it in mind. If you have a way to add 30 hours in a day, I could really use that to get everything done.

Goal is to build up a community resource — an analog photography destination / center of activity for this area. Something which has been lacking in Southern New Hampshire.

Btw there’s also a darkroom being stood up in Concord, and I’m going to be talking to Gary Samson about how to collaborate / coordinate with that effort.

 

[MatthewDunn]

You’ll have to wait on the full details.

Do you have a mailing list that we can get added to? Or should we wait for updates here? In either event, I think this is a sorely needed resource and I suspect you have a lot of fans cheering you on in this effort.

 

[Nodda Duma]

I have a newsletter at pictoriographica.com for the dry plate making stuff, but TBH I suck at newsletters. I think I’ve sent out three emails in the past two years. I’m more active on instagram and facebook. You’re probably good to wait for a post here.

I do have an instagram set up @photo_retro_nh for the store. Nothing much yet tho

 

[MattKing]

Jason:
Why don't you set up a separate thread here about your venture, which you can update as needed.
You could, of course, also consider advertising on Photrio (hint, hint)

 

[Nodda Duma]

Jason:
Why don't you set up a separate thread here about your venture, which you can update as needed.
You could, of course, also consider advertising on Photrio (hint, hint)

I will do that!

 

[Dismayed]

. . .

Btw there’s also a darkroom being stood up in Concord, and I’m going to be talking to Gary Samson about how to collaborate / coordinate with that effort.

I'm interested in the Concord darkroom, too. Happy to support 2 local efforts!