![]() ![]() Have you ever attended any sort of photography meetup? Probably not, if you’re not a straight white man. For instance, did you know there was a whole cadre of Black photo studio owners throughout the USA in the late 1800s? I had no idea until just a few years ago. The only people that have ever received real recognition in this industry are straight white men. How has the film photography industry shut out marginalized individuals? Great Dunes by Lucia Rollow, courtesy of Bushwick Community Darkroom We spoke with Rollow on the analog practice’s whitewashed past, how to build a blossoming film family in spite of it and why the medium will never die. Internally, BCD prioritizes employees who can best serve and reflect NYC’s diversity, forgoing typical hiring impediments like checking the legal history of candidates. Online, their website and social media continues to champion inclusivity within the industry, spotlighting Black film photographers from the area. Between hosting art shows, musicians and zine swaps with local nonprofits and schools, BCD ushers in a new era of analog photography, offering low rates ($15 to scan and develop 35mm or $20 for 120mm), no-questions-asked financial aid, around-the-clock access and classes on developing film. ![]() More than a film studio, Rollow’s darkroom operates as its moniker suggests: with the community. Located on Troutman Street, the comprehensive Bushwick Community Darkroom (BCD) is a refreshing hub for professional and beginner photographers, who share a passion for analog-and each other. This dedication to providing processing resources to not only herself, but also to those around her, led her basement workshop to become the flourishing 4,000-square-foot Brooklyn studio it is now. Roughly one week after she had the idea, during her trek along the highway, Rollow launched a Kickstarter campaign to turn the empty basement of her apartment building into a price-friendly darkroom-accessibility being an integral component for Rollow from the get-go. After scouring NYC for an affordable darkroom without success, she made one of her own. A recent college graduate with no spare change, Rollow longed for a place to continue developing film and honing the craft she loves. When Lucia Rollow rolled her Volkswagen down New York’s Long Island Expressway back in 2010, she had no idea she was on the brink of founding a thriving film photography community and one of the only 24/7 darkrooms in the city. 24 September 2021 Courtesy of Jorge Morse ![]()
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