A PORTLAND COMMUNITY DARKROOM

Creating Community Through Photography

A space in Portland, available to everyone, no matter where you are at in your photographic journey.

At Franklin FOTO, our mission is to foster an inclusive and creative environment where individuals from all backgrounds can explore the timeless art of black and white film photography.

As a community darkroom, we are dedicated to preserving the beauty of the analog processes while providing access, education, and support to both seasoned photographers and curious newcomers. We strive to be a cornerstone of Portland’s vibrant photography community, celebrating diversity, collaboration, and the artistry of film.

In the gallery now:  WE WILL NOT BE REMOVED

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN WIEDER

An opening reception and book release party is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, from 5-8 p.m. Mr. Wieder’s work will be on display through the month of September. 

Franklin FOTO is please to host for it’s September exhibition, Alan Wieder’s multi-year document, We Will Not Be Removed: The People of King School Park.

This is the story of a Portland park and a community that refuses to be “removed.” In spite of being displaced, this community survives. Birthdays are celebrated, tragedy is commemorated, and, most important, people who grew up in the neighborhood, as well as their offspring, connect in the park each day. From 2020 to 2024, Alan Wieder visited the King School Park almost every day, photographing and interviewing the individuals who regularly frequent the park. Wieder’s photographs and book, We Will Not Be Removed, documents this community, the individuals, the relationships, the lives.

Alan Wieder began photographing fifty years ago in Columbus, Ohio, he worked as an oral historian for over twenty years at the University of South Carolina. In 2016, after completing his biography of Studs Terkel, he refocused on photography and made pictures in Asia, Africa, and throughout the Americas. He has also been privileged to study with master photographers Bruce Gilden, Peter Turnley, David Alan Harvey, Constantine Manos, Harvey Stein and Nikos Econopoulos. Wieder’s forthcoming photobook, We Will Not Be Removed: The People of King School Park, will be published in September 2025. The images in this exhibition were all taken at the park. Wieder’s work can be seen on Instagram, and on his website, www.streetpixx.com.

We provide all of the equipment you need in order to develop your back & white and color film negatives by hand. Whether it is 35mm, 120mm, or 4x5, we have all the chemicals, reels, film holders, tanks and space you need to process, wash & dry your film.

Film Processing

Black & White Photo Enlarging and Film Scanning

We built a professional space with everything you need to enlarge your black & white photos on photographic paper. This includes enlargers, easels, and washing/drying stations. Or if you prefer to scan your film, we have everything you need to do so, including both flat-bed and camera-scanning equipment. Due to high demand, it is recommended you reserve camera-scanning equipment prior to use.

Are you interested in enhancing your knowledge of film or are you learning for the first time? There are classes for every skill level to help enhance Black and White Film Photography Skills, from shooting to developing and enlarging, our workshops offer learning for all levels.

Community Classes

Do you need a studio space for your next photoshoot? Our in-house studio is ready for all of your photographic needs. Our backdrop wall and space is great for portrait shoots as well as product photography.

Studio Space

Membership

For a simple flat monthly fee you can have 40-hour per week access to all of our film developing, printing and scanning facilities, plus 50% discount on community classes and lighting studio rental.

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 FAQs

  • Yes! We rent use of the darkroom for $10/hr during times we’re open to the public. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll only need a brief orientation to get started.

  • Yes! We have regular classes to introduce or reintroduce people to darkroom work. We can also offer one-on-one instruction or tutoring depending on how much help you would like.

  • You are encouraged to bring your own paper. Our friends at Blue Moon Camera just a few blocks down the road will give you a 10% discount if you are our customer on all your photo supplies. We do have some house-stock paper we can sell by the sheet if you find yourself in a pinch. Chemistry is always provided when you are working at Franklin Foto, however if there are particular chemicals you would like to use, it generally isn’t a problem for you to bring them in

  • It’s possible! Contact us and let’s talk about what you’d like to offer and how you would like to use our facilities.

  • Yes! We have professional-grade facilities. Some of our customers have produced fine art for exhibition, and commercial work here. Franklin Foto is for photographers at all levels from novice beginner to seasoned professional.

  • We are excited to offer color C-41 hand processing and also offer film scanners here if you’d like to digitize your negatives.
    We do not offer color printing and are otherwise a traditional black and white darkroom.

    Blue Moon Camera will give our customers a 10% discount on film processing & scanning

  • We do have cameras. They are generally used for our classes and workshops, but we’re looking into creating an equipment library.

  • We’re a DIY lab. If you’d like professional analog photography services, Blue Moon Camera is just a few blocks away and they will develop, print and scan film of all-kinds. If you’d like to learn to do it yourself, take a look at our classes! Even if you’ve never set foot in a darkroom before we can teach you the whole process.

Contact

Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Email
manager@franklinfoto.org