What we’re about
Update Nov 2022
Message from Owen Howell - Owner of Campkins Cameras:
Hi. We found out that this Cambridge Darkroom Meet Up Group was closing soon and we couldn't let that happen! We want these Meet Ups to continue and we will update you later. Photography in Cambridgeshire is close to our hearts - my grandad set up a Darkroom in the loft at Campkins on Rose Crescent in the 1940s and we've now been in Cambridge ever since.
We have an art photo social happening at The Bath House in Cambridge on 8th December and members are more than welcome! https://www.campkinscameras.com/campkins/art-photography-social-meet-up-8th-december/
Update Nov 2020:
I think we have come to the end of Cambridge Darkroom in its current form.
Being a Social group is not realistic in today's environment and it looks less likely to become the norm again - certainly not for the foreseeable future.
We also no longer have use of the Maypole, alongside their limited opening and social distancing issues.
If you have suggestions on how we could continue or restart anew let me know.
For now, thanks for all the inspiration and hope to bump into you sometime.
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** Is Cambridge Darkroom new? **
Not totally. Here's the history:
We've been running since 2011, but we took the name from a previous -now defunct- group.
The original Cambridge Darkroom was the Eastern region's first and largest gallery devoted to photography and associated arts. Founded in 1984 by a group of local residents who had previously started the first community photographic resource in Cambridge in 1978, it offered a wide variety of shows ranging from major national touring exhibitions to locally sourced work by individual photographers. In addition, it provided film and print darkroom facilities, available for hire by members, as well as workshops and outreach activities involving local schools and community organisations. It lasted for twenty years, finally closing in 2004, a victim of funding cuts by the major arts organisations that supported it. Here's some more info: http://bit.ly/jbe0jg
Upcoming events (1)
See all- PhotoTalks: Photo Challenge Review – 25th AprilBath House, Cambridge
Come and join us at this PhotoTalk with a difference. We’ll be sharing and talking about some of your photography from our PhotoTalks Photo Challenge! ❤️
In March we were joined by St Neot’s photographer Tom Beynon who told us his heartwarming story of realising he had just three photos of his mother when she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, and how that led him to pick up a camera. He then discovered he loved to shoot personal stories at weddings in a different way from the norm.
We want you to take this inspiration and go shoot some images!
April’s session will be a constructive critique session of images for the following photo challenge:✅ Someone or something you know you don’t take enough photos of very often
✅ See the everyday world in a different wayTom will return alongside photographers Lina and Tom to review your images and constructively critique them.
Watching a critique session, even if you don’t submit, can be a hugely beneficial learning experience.
Images will remain anonymous when shared during the session at first, and the photographer will have the opportunity to decide whether they want to reveal themselves.
Please email no more than 3 images with ‘APRIL PHOTOTALK CRITIQUE’ as the subject matter by the end of 24th April to phototalks@linaandtom.com
We cannot guarantee all three will be critiqued, but time permitting we will critique at least one per every photographer submitting.
We can’t wait to see your eyes on the world! In a bid to foster community, talks will now begin around 7-7:15 pm, but please do still arrive at 6:30pm if you can, grab a drink and get to know your fellow photographers, chat cats, gear or your creativity!
