View Full Version : Looking for inexpensive darkroom rental NYC mcfactor 04-15-2008, 02:21 PM Im looking for an inexpensive black and white darkroom in NYC that I can rent, for a few times a week at most. I use 4x5 and 6x7 primarily. I have been to printspace and, while their facilities are nice, $18 an hour is too much. Im familiar with ICP, but i need to build up credits there as a TA before i can really work there.
I have been doing photography for almost ten years now. I have been in Seoul, korea for the last two years teaching english and exhibiting there. Now that im back in Brooklyn i need a reliable place to work. It doesnt have to be fancy, just reliable.
any suggestions? David A. Goldfarb 04-15-2008, 02:25 PM I haven't used them myself, but try--
http://www.cameraclubny.org/
I've always decided that I prefer the inconveniences of the dark/bathroom to the inconveniences of shared darkroom space, but I've looked into the options in case the dark/bathroom were to become really impossible, and this didn't seem too bad. mcfactor 04-15-2008, 02:31 PM Thanks, Ill look into that. I also prefer to work alone, but since im now living with my parents, in a fairly small bathroom, its not an option. mcfactor 04-16-2008, 11:46 AM Any other idea? frotog 04-17-2008, 08:32 AM I'm not sure about b/w rental but color rental is $11 or $12 per hour at my own color lab on w. 27th st. It seems as though everyone I know who's still printing has moved from print space to my own over the past few years. john cowie 04-17-2008, 10:04 AM Hi, I came across a lab called Mackensie, or something like that, in Williamsburg and they might rent space. mcfactor 04-17-2008, 11:38 AM Thanks for your responses, The Camera Club is too expensive for me (at $1,600 a year). I will definietly check out My Own Color lab and Mack's for color, the prices are certainly better. But both only do color and Im still in need of a black and white darkroom.
Oh, I was also informed that no rental lab will allow toning because of DEP regulations, so I guess i'll be doing that step at home (my parents wont be happy about that one). pesphoto 04-17-2008, 12:03 PM Why not grab a cheap enlarger somewhere and set up your own bathroom darkroom. mcfactor 04-17-2008, 12:13 PM Like I mentioned earlier, i dont have room for it. my bathroom is very small and there isnt enough space for a 4x5 enlarger. It also isnt light proof, which would not be problem normally, except that im sharing it with my parents who would not be happy with a windowless bathroom. nor would they be happy with not being able to use the bathroom for hours on end. Any other suggestions? pesphoto 04-17-2008, 12:20 PM What about the ICP (http://www.icp.org/) in NYC? tim elder 04-17-2008, 12:46 PM My Own Color Lab has a B&W RC processor, probably about 30" wide, so you can do black & white there. The JCC also has black & white facilities; I've been meaning to check them out for several years...
Tim mcfactor 04-17-2008, 01:57 PM Yeah, the JCC is definitely an option, they're prices are reasonable, I dont know about their facilities. I print on fiber, so a processor is not an option, but i will use them for color. I actually think i found a darkroom share on craigslist for about $100 a month, so ill check it out next week and if its good, ill do that. thanks
like I said in the initial post, i need to start working there as a TA first to build up some credits to use the darkroom, but I am working on it. When you work as a TA you can build up darkroom credits. thanks |