The EBPCO Community Darkroom
The EBPCO Community Darkroom is a black & white community art space located in downtown Oakland, just steps away from the 12th Street BART station. Our facilities include:
Enlargers for black & white silver gelatin printing
Space and equipment for black & white film processing
Finishing facilities for dry mounting, mat cutting, scanning, and more
All black & white processing chemicals are provided
You can learn more about our darkroom and apply for use below.
-
- Black & white print chemistry provided
Legacy’s Eco Pro B&W Paper Developer
Legacy’s Eco Pro B&W Odorless Stop Bath
Legacy’s Eco Pro B&W Neutral Fixer
- Five enlarger stations
(3) Beseler 23c enlargers
(1) Beseler 45MX enlarger
(1) Beseler 45MXT coldhead enlarger
- Enlarging lenses ranging from 50-150mm
- Negative carriers for 35mm - 4×5
- MG Contrast Filters
- Adjustable enlarging easels and contact printing frames from 5×7 - 16×20
-
- Black & White Processing Chemistry Provided
Legacy’s Eco Pro B&W Film Developer (X-tol equivalent)
Legacy’s Eco Pro B&W Odorless Stop Bath
Legacy’s Eco Pro B&W Neutral Fixer
- Loading closet and/or changing bags
- Plastic and stainless steel tanks and reels
- Large format processing tanks tanksand accessories
- Hanging film dryer
-
- Print Finishing Supplies & Equipment
Mat-cutter
Precision Rotary Paper Trimmer
Guillotine Paper Cutter
Dry Mount Press
Spotting & retouching materials
- Film Negative After care
20×12” Light table
Epson v700 flat bed negative scanner for digitizing 35mm - 4×5” negatives and prints up to 11×17”
Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom for image processing
Image by Fatima Abbas
GETTING STARTED AT THE DARKROOM
The EBPCO Community Darkroom is available to EBPCO members who apply for darkroom use and complete a darkroom orientation.
Darkroom applications are reviewed once monthly
A scheduling phone call for orientation will be made to all applicants once reviewed. All orientations must be scheduled in advance.
Orientations are held monthly at the darkroom and include a thorough walkthrough of our community guidelines and user agreements. Attendees start their independent darkroom access from there.
Image by Brenna Hansen
DARKROOM FEES & PRICING
An annual EBPCO membership, one-time darkroom orientation fee, and darkroom subscription fee are required for darkroom access.
EBPCO memberships are available as annual plans ranging from $25-50 per year. If you’re not already an EPBCO member, sign up on our membership page.
Darkroom orientations have a one-time fee of $50 due at the time of scheduling to confirm the appointment.
Darkroom subscriptions are activated on-site during orientations & are available in one month ($20-$35), three month ($90), or six month ($150) plans.
If you're ready to join our community darkroom, submit the application linked below
Image by Brenna Hansen
DARKROOM EXPERIENCE & CLASSES
Some previous experience helps everyone get the most out of our space. We welcome beginners and offer workshops year round for all who need to get the necessary experience before starting independent darkroom use.
Those WITHOUT any previous darkroom experience, are recommended to take an Intro to Darkroom workshop or equivalent course before their darkroom orientation.
Those WITH some previous darkroom experience, DO NOT need to take a workshop before their darkroom orientation.
We also offer workshops for all experience levels and interests to get ongoing education. Our workshops are open to all, and you can check out the schedule on our workshops page.
Image by Vince Donovan
SUPPORT THE DARKROOM
We've created a wishlist of supplies needed at the darkroom. If you'd like to support the space, please check out the list & donate an item if you can. Supplies listed are regularly updated and range from improvement items to ongoing supplies. We’re also accepting monetary donations to cover operating costs.
Image by Anita Gay
VOLUNTEER AT THE DARKROOM
We’re a community run space and ongoing darkroom volunteer positions are available to registered darkroom users who want to support the space while learning together and building community. Information about volunteering is covered during darkroom orientations. If you're interested in joining the darkroom team in this role, let us know in your darkroom application.
We also host semi-regular public volunteer work days where we focus on projects to improve the space. If you'd like to be notified and join in on upcoming public work days at the darkroom, email darkroom@ebpco.org
If you're ready to join our community darkroom, submit the application linked below. We are excited to welcome you to our space! For all darkroom and/or application related questions, email darkroom@ebpco.org.
Thank You to All of Our Darkroom Donors!
Don Albonico
Douglas Stinson
Eben Ostby
Elizabeth Zuckerman
Ellen Shershow
Eric Weiss
Erika Gentry
Ernest Luppi
Evan Karthesier
Fairlight de Michele
Fatima Abbas
Fernando Escobar
Frank Pinkelman
Fredrika Ward
Geoff House
Gordon Szeto
guy sussman
Gwen Santos
Hannah Levy
Hannah Rohret
Heidi Goldman
Hieyam AbduIrene Imfeld
J. M. Golding
Aaron Ramales
Alan Krakauer
Alan Lewis
Allie Foraker
Amanda Goldsmith
amy morrison
Andrea Ewald
Anita Gay
Ann Marie Jastrab
Annabelle Port
Audrey Jones
Beatrice Thornton
Bob Shonkoff
Bobo Li
Brooke Farrington
Carmencita Ancora
Cathy Cakebread
chris gibbons
Dan Stone
Dave Elfving
David Allbut
David Tau
Dena Mossar
Leslie Miley
LEWIS WATTS
Lisa Gonzalves
Marsha Guggenheim
Marvin Moser
Mary Celojko
Matt Osborne
Megan Fawcett
Meghan Long
Michael Teresko
Mindy Aronoff
Mirjam Sax
Neeley Drown
Neil Yazma
Ngan Vu
Nicholas Gaylord
Patrick Lee
Philip Minnitte
Rebecca Marshburn
Rebecca Several
Richard Morgenstein
Robert Schneider
Rose Borden
James Grosse
Jamie Pillers
Jan Watten
Janet Delaney
Jason Groessel
Jazmin Betancourt
Jenya Chernoff
Jim Breeden
Jorge Nieto
Joshua LaCunha
Joshua Marsh
judi Iranyi
Judy Dater
Juliayn Coleman
Karen Holmes
Kari Orvik
Kate Bridge
Katelyn Keeshen
Katherine Briccetti
Kendra Luck
Kevin Leveque
Kimberley Campisano
Leslie Donovan
Sabina Simpson
Sam Adams
Sam Deaner
Saul Bromberge
Scott Evans
Scott Hargis
Scott Kozinchik
Senny Mau
Sophia Aguinaga
Sophie Vincelette
Stephanie Williamson
Steve Abbott
Steve Baum
Stuart Gunn
Susan Gutterman
Tenju Paul
Todd Vaziri
Victor Hernandez Mata
Vincent Donovan
Vincent Nicolas
Wesley Miller
William Garrett
Yakira Dixon