Darkroom Workshops, Summer 2012

It's been one heck of a spring so far here in Findlay, OH, and even after several photo contests and a solo exhibition, the darkroom is only getting warmed up!

If you're looking to add a few new darkroom skills to the arsenal, or are just looking for some experienced darkroom coaching, be sure to check out my latest series of Summer 2012 Darkrom Workshops. As of right now, I'm offerring:

• One-on-One Workshops
• Carbon Printing
• Intro to the B&W Darkroom

 All workshops include use of the darkoom facilities, chemistry, supplies, paper, everything you need to carry out the processes I'm teaching. In the case of the all weekend carbon printing workshop, I'm even including lunch at a great local restaurant!

That's pretty much it, get out there and shoot while the weather is great, and once the "Dog Days" of summer start rolling around, have your calendars marked, film exposed, and head on down to Findlay so we can have some fun in the darkroom (see below).

Happy shooting, and long live film!

Happy 2012, Now Featuring Workshops!

Happy New Year, and may 2012 be a happy, healthy, prosperous year for all! 

If one of your New Year's Resolutions is to try film photography, get into the darkroom more, or just learn something new, be sure to check out the brand new Workshops section of this site (above). At the drop-down menu you'll notice two available workshops at the moment, Carbon Transfer Printing*, and One-On-One darkroom time.

*the carbon workshop date isn't set in stone yet, so if you have a date/time that works for you let me know!

2012 Resolutions, Just for Kicks

Many other photographers I know and follow are already posting their New Year's Resolutions for 2012. Not wanting to be left in the dust, I got to thinking what things I could do a bit differently in 2012. So far, here's what I've come up with...

2012 Photographic Resolutions:

1. Conceptualize - For the coming year, I want most if not all the images I take to have some meaning behind them; a unifying theme amongst them wouldn't hurt either. Snapshots, even 8x10" ones on wet plate collodion, aren't going to cut it.
2. Mobilize - To move outside the University of Findlay darkroom, I want my wet plate work operable and independent of a singular space. Lighting and darkbox are already in place, just a few more steps to complete.
3. Galvanize - Using whatever means available, I want to inspire others to get into or improve their photography. 
4. Monetize - This is always something I wish to improve upon each year, but I want 2012 to be an especially big year on the books. Last year, save a couple of books here and there, my photography paid for itself! Let's see if 2012 can see the year of *gasp* a profit!

So why do all of my resolutions contain an "-ize" word? I've always been a big stickler for consistency and continuity in my projects, and if resolution #1 is going to be met for 2012, better get started early!

As always, let me know what you think of this post a comment, send an email, or even let me know what you're planning on doing for 2012.

Everyone have a save and happy New Year, and long live film!

Update on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 9:14PM by Mat Marrash

I'm going to be "checking up" on the 2012 resolutions throughout the year, as things progress and (hopefull) get accomplished.

3/14/12 Resolutions Report

1. Looking back, its quite an unrealistic goal to have everything I shoot contain something meaningful. Somewhere along the way I've remembered the joy of shooting just to shoot! ^__^
2. The mobile wet plate darkroom is 85% completed, and already "road worthy".
3. Already inspiring may new and upcoming photographers, right on track.
4. Monetization is, so far, going very well. I expect the coming weeks to really make 2012 the year of the green.