Franklin FOTO is turning one and we’re planning an evening to celebrate everything this space has become and all that’s ahead.

This is a thank-you, a party, and a gathering of the creative spirit that keeps this place alive.

As part of the celebration, we’re creating a digital community slideshow to showcase during the event. We’d love to feature your perspective. That could be a favorite darkroom print, a behind-the-scenes workshop moment, or any image that captures what Franklin FOTO has meant to you.

 Send your digital images to manager@franklinfoto.org by Friday, July 26.
Please include your name with your submission.

Expect connection, creative energy, and a few fun surprises. No matter when you found us, this night is for everyone who believes in the power of analog magic, photographic expression, and community built through shared vision.

We’re proud to open a new solo exhibition by Portland photographer Jim Wrathall. Tracks of a Traveler is a reflective body of work that is a visual memoir of a time gone by.

Join us during the anniversary celebration to view the show, connect with the artist, and spend time in the company of art lovers and photo folks alike.

In this fun and informative workshop led by Franklin FOTO co-founder Bobby Abrahamson, you will learn all the steps to hand-develop your own color negative film using Franklin FOTO’s temperature-controlled color processing kit. After you develop your film, you will be shown how to scan your color negatives using our digital camera-scanning equipment.

Although the results of hand-processing color film are sometimes a little less than perfect (as compared with getting your film processed by machine at a color lab), the joy of doing it yourself by hand, then scanning your own negatives - all in less than 3 hours - is nothing less than pure photographic alchemy!

PLEASE NOTE: Your class tuition includes one month of usage of our color developing kit & Franklin FOTO’s scanning equipment. Also note there are 3 distinct sections of this class on 3 different dates. Please sign-up for only one.

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, C&C 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 can mirror from your laptop or phone to a digital display.

Our popular Polaroid Emulsion Transfer Workshop is back for August!

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. 

Megan Sinclair returns this month to teach our Intro to Darkroom class. This will be taught in two three-hour sessions on Saturday, August 23 and 24.

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.

An image displayed in a mat both protects and enhances the presentation and is a key skill for artists.

In this three hour class we will be learning basic mat cutting skills for matting artwork. Students are encouraged to bring a printed image to class between 2"x2" and 6"x8" in size to use for sizing their mat opening.

Improve your skills when framing artwork from home.

This class will include learning best practices for handling artwork, considerations and factors when framing for the art's longevity, tricks for a smooth framing process and more!

Each student will leave with a print in an 8"x10" frame. Students are expected to bring a 4"x6" print to class to use for framing.