The Pajama Factory has come to the dark side - of film that is. A new community film-developing site, "Keep Me in the Dark," has arrived at the factory and will have a grand opening from noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 6 as a part of First Friday events.
The darkroom was organized by Ralph Wilson, who is a co-owner of Street Light Photography, a professional photography studio that has been at the factory since 2009 and is the home of the new project.
Wilson, a Sun-Gazette and Associated Press photography correspondent, constructed "Keep Me in the Dark" with materials from defunct area darkrooms to provide the community with the tools and the place to learn the art of film development.
"Although digital photography offers numerous advantages ... there is still a connection with the final print that film photography offers," Wilson said. "[And] we have created a well-equipped, working darkroom for community use that will let anyone experience that connection."
The project will encourage this connection through exposing aspiring photographers to "old and new ways of creating images with film," Wilson said.
And while many people bemoan the digital age as the end of photo-artistry, Wilson credits the digital revolution with opening up film photography to more creative play.
"It used to be about getting everything technically perfect," Wilson said. "But digital processes freed up film photographers to not worry and be a little more creative."
Wilson also cites a growing online community of photographers, especially on www.flickr.com, a photo-sharing website, who are fascinated by exploring antiquated or long-forgotten, cheap methods of taking photos as encouraging evidence for the future of the medium.
For one of these projects, Wilson has been taking pictures with a Holga camera, which is a toy camera that first appeared in 1982.
"They're like a cult camera. They cost less than 30 bucks," Wilson said. "They're totally plastic, terrible cameras, but every one is unique and they give you neat effects."
Wilson hopes that photographers who come to the darkroom will share his sense of experimentation and excitement for out-of-date photography equipment.
But regardless of specific artistic interests, darkrooms are increasingly hard to find and people are more and more willing to travel long distances to develop film for any reason, Wilson said.
"I've had people tell me they've driven from Bloomsburg to Williamsport to have film developed," he said.
Prospective photographers who make the trip to "Keep Me in the Dark" also will have the opportunity to participate in classes at the studio.
"We will offer a basic photography course for novice photographers," Wilson said. "It's scheduled to start after Labor Day."
With the factory already offering figure drawing and printmaking classes with artist Chad Andrews, and continuing its successful Artist-in-Residence program, new photography classes will add to the notion that besides being a home for businesses and studio space for artists, the factory is almost becoming an art school in itself.
Furthering this idea, Wilson will offer scholarships to area high school students who are enthusiastic about photography.
"These students should really want to explore photography," Wilson said. "The only thing they'll have to bring is film."
Students who wish to apply will have to provide samples of their work along with a teacher's recommendation.
Wilson added that regardless of their background, interested persons shouldn't feel intimidated by exploring the darkroom because orientations will be provided for any new users.
"We already have photographers and factory tenants who are planning to organize workshops in the space," he said.
One of these photographers, Gordon Wenzel, who operates Impressions Photographic Gallery out of the factory, shares Wilson's vision for the project.
"I think [the darkroom] is a great chance to explore vintage photography techniques," Wenzel said. "All the Photoshop programs use tools that originated from darkroom experimentation, so it's good to get back to the foundation."
Wenzel, who still remembers the first print he ever made at Curtin Middle School, thinks the studio is a "fantastic opportunity for photo enthusiasts to experience the roots of photography."
He added, "It's a good chance for anyone who wants to try photography but has never enrolled in a class. I think they'll find it intriguing, mesmerizing and fun."
Along with the opening reception for "Keep Me in the Dark" on First Friday, there will be, fittingly, a photography exhibit in the Floating Gallery that features Wilson and Wenzel's work along with the photography of Wilson's business partner, Stephanie Carey, and factory photographer Jim O'Connell.
As a part of the opening reception, Wilson has organized an event that will involve using a pinhole camera and observing a still life that will simulate the qualities of a black-and-white photograph.
Also, children will have an opportunity to make some art of their own.
"We will be offering a free program to create a photogram for children accompanied by an adult from 1 to 5 p.m.," Wilson said. "It will take about 15 minutes to complete the project and people can drop in anytime during that period to participate."
For more information on the darkroom, visit www.keepmeinthedark.com. For more information on the Pajama Factory, visit www.pajamafactory.net. For more information on the photography exhibit in the Floating Gallery, see below.
