March 7, 6 -9 p.m.

Join us for the opening of our March exhibit, Welcome Home, by photographer Jodhi Mather-Pike.

Welcome Home is a documentary project that explores Slab City. Alternately tagged "The most dangerous place in America” and “The last free place in America” it is a community of travelers, train hoppers, and “dirty kids” living on unincorporated land in the barren desert of Southern California.

Welcome Home will be on display through March.

March 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Whether you just made your first print in the darkroom or photography has been a lifelong pursuit, everyone can benefit from using the critique to gain perspective and strengthen the quality of their artistic practice.

Moderated by Franklin FOTO volunteer Michele Thompson, Coffee & Critique is a constructive feedback group, held on the second Sunday of each month. Bring your work and beverage of choice and join the discussion! We can look at printed work or you can mirror from your laptop or phone to a digital display.

Coffee & Critique is free and open to all photographers at any level of experience. If you would like to be put on the Coffee & Critique mailing list, email manager@franklinfoto.org.

Tuesday, March 10, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Learn to hand-develop your own color negative C-41 film with Franklin FOTO co-founder Bobby Abrahamson, using our temperature-controlled color processing kit.

Topics include: Loading developing reels and tanks, adjusting development times for chemistry usage, push & pull processing, and cross processing.

At the end if the class Bobby will do a quick demonstration of Franklin’s camera-scanning equipment. Color chemistry, developing equipment and a 35mm negative sleeve are included with the class.

This is a single-night session capped at 5 participants.

March 14, 3 - 6 p.m.

Megan Sinclair is bring back her popular Polaroid Emulsion Transfer Workshop!

In this class we will be removing the photo emulsion from Polaroid film and transferring it to paper. This transfer process allows us to work hands on with our photograph and play with how the image can exist as a physical object. We will start class off by taking our Polaroid photos together, and you will leave class with at least one complete emulsion transfer. 

March 14 and 15, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Popular instructor Megan Sinclair will be teaching our two-day intro class for March.

With our intro class, you’ll receive guidance from an experienced instructor who will share tips on best practices and help you troubleshoot common issues. Whether it’s perfecting the development process or fine-tuning your print’s contrast, they’ll be by your side to ensure you leave with the knowledge and skills to confidently use a darkroom on your own.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have not only developed your own roll of black and white film but also created your first prints from your very own negatives.

Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Learn to hand-develop your own color negative C-41 film with Franklin FOTO co-founder Bobby Abrahamson, using our temperature-controlled color processing kit.

Topics include: Loading developing reels and tanks, adjusting development times for chemistry usage, push & pull processing, and cross processing.

At the end if the class Bobby will do a quick demonstration of Franklin’s camera-scanning equipment. Color chemistry, developing equipment and a 35mm negative sleeve are included with the class.

This is a single-night session capped at 5 participants.

Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Learn to hand-develop your own color negative C-41 film with Franklin FOTO co-founder Bobby Abrahamson, using our temperature-controlled color processing kit.

Topics include: Loading developing reels and tanks, adjusting development times for chemistry usage, push & pull processing, and cross processing.

At the end if the class Bobby will do a quick demonstration of Franklin’s camera-scanning equipment. Color chemistry, developing equipment and a 35mm negative sleeve are included with the class.

This is a single-night session capped at 5 participants.

April 4 and 5, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Instructor Megan Sinclair will be on hand to lead you through our popular Intro to Darkroom class this April. This class will be taught in two three-hour sessions on April 4th and 5th.

Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Learning to process film and develop black and white negatives

Sunday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Printing photographs in the darkroom

You’ll receive guidance from an experienced instructor who will share tips on best practices and help you troubleshoot common issues. Whether it’s perfecting the development process or fine-tuning your print’s contrast, they’ll be by your side to ensure you leave with the knowledge and skills to confidently use a darkroom on your own.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have not only developed your own roll of black and white film but also created a series of prints from your negatives.

April 11, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Join local artist Alice Christine Walker for an immersive four-hour workshop exploring the history and magic of the cyanotype process. Known for its distinctive Prussian blue tones, cyanotype is one of the oldest photographic printing processes and one of the most versatile.

This workshop strikes a balance between technical knowledge and hands-on experimentation. By the end of the evening, you will leave with your custom digital negative, a collection of your own original blue-and-white prints and the foundational knowledge to continue making cyanotypes at home.

April 18, 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

If you’ve ever wanted to mat and frame your prints, this comprehensive class shows you the best way to get started.

In this 4 hour (with a 30 min break) class we will be learning how to cut your own mats as well as factors when framing for the art's longevity. This will include considerations when choosing between store bought frames and supplies, hinging techniques for matting your artwork, and tips and tricks for a smooth, professional framing process.

April 18, 25, and May 2, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The greatest single qualitative leap a photographer can make is learning the keys to good composition.

Photographer Gerald Seligman is back in April to teach the fundamentals of photographic composition.

In three sessions over three weeks, he will cover topics such as: the Rule of Thirds; considering fore-, mid-, and background; painting with light; depth of field; storytelling and more!