Photographers will be able to step back into a bygone era of dark rooms and printing pictures thanks to an enthusiast’s new venture.
Electrician Daniel O’Cruelly has invested £70,000 and spent months trying to source equipment for Black and White Studios.
He will be hiring out his fully equipped dark room and photographic studios in River Lane, Gaywood.
Black and White Studios opened shortly before the demise of high street camera chain, Jessops.
But Mr O’Cruelly is hoping that the “therapeutic” aspects of developing pictures will encourage people in a digital age to go back into the dark room.
He said: “Old-fashioned printing is coming back a little bit.
“Fuji UK is saying that it is starting to sell more film than it has over the last few years.
“There is a lot of satisfaction in putting the paper in the enlarger and watching the image develop.
“People can come in with a negative and four hours later walk out with some prints.
“I am hoping it will draw a lot of attention and be a hit with the schools and clubs.
“A camera club and another film club are also interested in using it as they can print bigger pictures here.
“I feel there is a future. It is not going to make me rich but it is one facet of what we do.”
Mr O’Cruelly came up with the idea after completing a photographic course 12 years ago and not having the chance to practise his new skills.
He said: “You would be surprised at how many people have done it at school but have nowhere to do it.”
Mr O’Cruelly took on the property three years ago and has been sourcing the studio and dark room gear.
He said: “It has been hard to source the equipment.
“No-one is making the particular enlarger I have got.
“I have bought pretty much everything from eBay and it has taken an awful long time.
“The dark room was the hardest thing to get going.”
Mr O’Cruelly opened the dark room and studios a few weeks ago and has already had some interest.
The studios were used by a tweed clothing company for a photo shoot.
Mr O’Cruelly said: “I think it is going to be popular as they can come in and learn about studio photography and we have lots of backgrounds .”
Mr O’Cruelly has added that the studio’s name is causing some confusion.
He said: “When I called the studio Black and White, I thought it would be a nice gimmick. But lots of people have been asking if we do colour. The dark room is black and white but we do colour.”
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