Now Open!
After almost a year in the making our darkroom is finally open! Our darkroom is equipped for a range of contemporary, alternative and traditional analogue processes, meaning we’re set up to facilitate whichever direction your photography may take. Processes include traditional black and white printing and processing, photograms, wet-plate collodion, dry plate and we’re open to whatever else you might have in mind.
Darkroom Coordinator Emily Ryalls is a practicing professional photographer in her own right and is on hand to ensure a supported, friendly and enjoyable environment for all of our users – whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced artist.
We understand that darkrooms aren’t known for their accessibility and we want to change that. After consultation from The Disabled Photographers Society and Ilford Master Daniel T Wheeler, we’ve custom designed a darkroom which is a revolutionary advancement in contemporary community darkroom spaces, enabling a more inclusive network of photographers to take their practice to the next level.
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Call Out for Equipment
As we continue to make behind the scenes developments of our new darkroom facility, shaped by your input, we’re looking deeper into what resources we can bring together for our community and members.
We’re now at a point where the Darkroom is open for use but we are always on the look out out for equipment that will continue to improve our facilities.
Whilst we wish we could take anything and everything, we need to save some space in there for you lovely people to work, so we’ve constructed a list of equipment which we’d be interested in receiving, either on a donation, long-term loan or purchase.
Please note that ideally, we would like this equipment to be tested or serviced and in working order.
· 35mm cameras (both manual and automatic)
· Medium format cameras
· Darkroom supplies (e.g timer, trays, negative carriers, tongs, focus finders)
· RC print dryer
· Negative drying cabinet
· Tripods
· Lenses
· Enlargers
Beyond photographic equipment, we plan to build an extensive photo-book library. As you probably know, building a great library collection doesn’t happen overnight and the best community libraries are a collaborative effort. If you would like to donate, loan or sell us your photo-books please get in touch and help us get the ball rolling.
Contact Emily Ryalls, Project Co-ordinator
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Darkroom Facilities & Equipment
The Art House Darkroom is equipped for a range of contemporary, alternative and traditional analogue processes.
Our facilities include:
- An accessible darkroom, accommodating a full class of 5 wheelchair users with custom designed and built power control adjustable height enlarger bays
- Custom designed and built wheelchair accessible darkroom sink with an integrated archival wash
- Print drying rack on adjustable pull rope
- Developing tanks, trays and darkroom essentials, including long arm focus finders and MOD54
- Large viewing wall with magnetic fixings, in natural light.
A range of five enlargers to print from:
- LPL 7451 5×4 enlarger
- LPL VCCE VC7700 6×7 enlarger
- Durst M670 6×7 B&W enlarger
- Durst M670 6×7 B&W enlarger
- Leitz Focomat V35 Colour 35mm enlarger (autofocus)
Become a Darkroom member
Enjoy a whole host of benefits, including access to our professional Darkroom in the heart of Wakefield for £120 annually.
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