john_n._wall Posted June 19, 2004 Share Posted June 19, 2004 In today's NY Times, news that Latent Image Workshop, a rent-by-the-hour darkroom facility popular with professional photographers in NYC, has closed because so many folks are switching to digital printing. <br><br>See <a href="http://nytimes.com/2004/06/19/nyregion/19lab.html">http://nytimes.com/2004/06/19/nyregion/19lab.html</a> for more details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 It's more than that. According to the article, not only is Latent Image closing, but other darkrooms (like Photographics Unlimited Dial-A-Darkroom) report that business has "really tanked," and even Jim Megargee, who particupates on photo.net, was quoted saying that his high-end darkroom business took a digital hit, "and in terms of dollars, it has cut in pretty heavily." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliot_n Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Same story here in London. The colour rental darkroom I use has become very quiet over the last 18 months. Some photographers are still shooting neg but then scanning on the Imacon. Others are switching to digital. As the article mentions, these hire darkrooms functioned not only as sites to complete your work, but also as meeting places where you could consult your peers, look at new approaches, and forge friendships. They will be sadly missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbi115l Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Well, as digital takes over, prices of used darkroom gear drops, those of us who don't do digital can afford to have what the rentals have. Those who shoot color...well...everybody tells me that I'm the last person in the world who knows what an Ilfochrome is. Hell, I know some pros who are surprised that they still make the chemistry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexis_neel Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Yes, the whole digital thing is an issue. When I had my lab in San Francisco, before and during the "digital revolution" I did see business drop off about 40% for about 6 months. Mostly in doing portfolio printing, but not so much in the advertising and museum/gallery side. Then all those photog's who tried digital came back. Why? Because they realized that their images and presentation looked like everyone else's. Things didn't have that "specialness" or "uniqueness" that I had worked with them on to achieve. Then biz went right back up, and even grew, to where it was before. The thing I find about digital, especially in B&W, is that it still doesn't come close to doing it the old way, and people who really care about the resulting quality can see that. Luckily there are enough out there who feel that way that I can survive. Of course I won't get rich doing it, but I can make a living. Someone above mentioned the fact that people want instant gratification. I think that is a big issue, however if one measured the time needed to produce digital images to look like what is available to skilled printers, the cost and time needed is far greater than what is needed and costs to produce it the old way. And that is the market I appeal to and work for. Digital doesn't always mean better, cheaper or faster. Just my $.02 Alexis www.alexisneel.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyeshot Posted July 7, 2004 Share Posted July 7, 2004 Another hit is around the bend in San Francisco. Colorarts is trying to figure out any possible way to stay open but the word is that it isn't going to happen. Such a shame. I printed there for all of my exhibitions that had color work. While I use digital for most of my commercial work, I still can't bear to think of exhibiting or selling digital prints. It's a shame, the exhibiting, traditional artist is loosing out again. Drew Wiedemann http://www.eyeshotproductions.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laura_miller1 Posted July 21, 2004 Share Posted July 21, 2004 >Drew Wiedemann writeson, jul 07, 2004; 01:54 a.m. >Another hit is around the bend in San Francisco. Colorarts is trying to figure >out any possible way to stay open but the word is that it isn't going to >happen. Well, as the owner of Colorarts for 18 years, my word says this *is* going to happen. Colorarts has accumulated and assembled the best, professionally maintained color equipment and facility for all this time, and has served all facets of the photo and art community. We need to restructure, since digital has dispalced the commercial photographers who used to support this venue. We are planning to align ourselves with the myriad arts and educational organizations that no longer maintain darkroom facilities, as well as pursue a core group of photographers interested in forming a supportive cooperative. There is definitely the need for this. What needs to change is getting the word out, making all the interested parties *aware* of the immediaste need to reorganize, collaborate, and get moving on this restructure. Please spread the word. Tell your friends, inform any non-profits you're in touch with. Enlist their support, tell them to call Colorarts, tell them to write small paragraphs on any forum such as this one.There is more than enough interest within the community. We just need to inform and mobilize. email me and anyone interested! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinlane Posted August 21, 2004 Share Posted August 21, 2004 Printspace in NYC seems to still be going strong- they're also aparently getting ready to launch digital workstations (G5's and Imacons) for rent by the hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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