Darkroom photography
had its origins in the mid-1850s.
Darkroom photography is a photographic process that allows the photographer to process photos in a darkened room nearly devoid of all light. The process originated in the mid-19th century. From the late 19th century to the late 20th century, photographers saw technology evolve from photographers developing photos using silvered copper plates or papers to advanced digital technology. For many professional photographers and darkroom hobbyists, the sacrifice of darkroom photographic quality for digital speed and convenience was worth it.
History of Darkroom Photography Process
The actual use of a darkroom for the purpose of processing photos did not occur until innovators in photography developed the wet-plate process in the 1850s. The wet-plate process carried on into the 1870s and, "made a darkroom essential for professionals and desirable for amateurs," according to the website Pinhole Photography. By the turn of the 20th Century as more amateurs took up photography, commercial companies made darkroom development of negatives a booming business, which lasted until the easy availability of scanners, computers, and ink jet and laser printers.
Benefits of Darkroom Photography
While speed and easy quick accessibility to photos have made the use of darkroom photography seemingly nonessential, the quality and creativity offered by darkroom processing is important. In many ways, darkroom processing can exist side-by-side with digital photography in the pursuit of creative art photography, according to the website Enjin. Matter-of-fact, serious and very passionate photographers as well as educators in the field of photography still use darkroom processing as a means to pursue the feeling that complete freedom of expression and creativity darkroom use offers.
Locating Darkroom Space
If you want to get involved in the world of darkroom photography, then of course you will need to find just the right place to locate it. Whether you have limited space or no limitation, the darkroom will still need to meet some very basic requirements. If you have a corner of your basement where there are no windows or a spare bathroom that is on the interior of your home, it is essential that you make the space light-tight. Make certain the location has available running water and counter space, which you can create if necessary from plywood, according to the website Photo.net.
Future of Darkroom Use
While many amateurs and professionals have become attached to digital photography and have walked away from darkroom processing use, the future of this technology is still relevant. For instance, there are many museums as well as collectors who are still much more comfortable with silver prints, which is, "the most common type of B/W print made from film," according to the website Photography Uncapped. For these darkroom photography connoisseurs it is the aesthetic qualities and archival characteristics that this medium presents, which makes its future possible.
