New destination for film photographers opening in Amherst
Photo Retro Center to provide darkrooms, gallery, studio, socializing, supplies
Contact: Bob McElroy
rhmcelroy55@gmail.com, cell: 603-852-7033
Allegra Boverman allegra.boverman@gmail.com cell: 603-493-7557
WHAT: Opens for business, with demonstrations and tours of the center, chat with the founders, sign up now for darkroom time and upcoming classes, “Line Form and Texture” exhibit of black and white photos by Nashua High School South darkroom photography students
WHERE: 141 Rte. 101A, Amherst, NH 03033
WHEN: Fri., Nov. 5, 2021
WHY: To provide a center for analog photography to serve photographers of all skill levels in southern New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts and beyond
ABOUT PHOTO RETRO:
A new hub for film photography will open on Fri., Nov. 6, 2021 in Amherst, N.H. Dubbed Photo Retro, it will provide two film photography darkrooms, a large format photography studio, a photo gallery and sales of film photography supplies.
The center grew from Pictoriographica, a dry plate photography business founded in 2017 by Jason Lane, of Brookline, N.H., an optical engineer designing lenses for the aerospace and defense sector. Lane and co-owner Max Affleck of New Boston, a mechanical engineer, decided to open the center because there’s nothing like it in southern New Hampshire or in the region.
“We opened this center because this area needs a place dedicated to film photography,” Lane said.
Despite the dominance of digital photography, Lane believes that there’s plenty of room for various kinds of film photography and other alternative photographic processes.
“Film wasn’t replaced by digital, it’s another medium, like oil paint,” he said. “This place is for someone who wants to explore shooting film, who’s excited about shooting film. Film photography has seen a resurgence of interest over the past few years, and the center will cater to that growing demand.
Up front, near the darkrooms and the coffee pot, the center sells 35mm, medium format and 4x5 film supplies. The dry plate manufacturing side of the business is elsewhere at the center.
The two darkrooms have everything a film photographer needs to develop color and black and white film and print the images — three enlargers in each darkroom, safelights, sinks, washing and drying facilities. Each darkroom has an enlarger that can be used for large format film, the others are for 35 millimeter and medium format film.
The darkrooms will be open to the public by appointment or walk-in; those who want to use them often can purchase a membership. There will be a membership discount for students.
The center’s photo studio features special lights and backdrops. Customers who want a unique early-style portrait can schedule it through Photo Retro’s website.
There is also space for a gallery where photographers can exhibit their work.
Lane said that he plans to offer classes in film photography and workshops. People who take the workshops will be able to use the center’s film cameras. Registration is open now on the photoretro.biz website for both darkroom time and classes.
Local photographers who shoot film can drop it off at Photo Retro. Lane has an agreement with a local film processor, Tomorrow’s Studio of Nashua, for film processing and scanning. They can process color and black and white film and scan the negatives if desired.
Photo Retro will be open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. As the business grows the hours will expand.
For more information:
To learn more about Photo Retro visit: www.photoretro.biz.
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photo_retro_nh/
To learn more about dry plate photography and to purchase plates visit Pictoriographica: www.pictoriographica.com.
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pictoriographica/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pictoriographica
Photo Retro 141 Rte. 101A Unit B7 (in the back) Amherst, NH 03033
