A HOME FOR FILM PHOTOGRAPHY
Owners hope to celebrate comeback of old-school cameras, lab techniques
NORTH PARK
Like many photography buffs, Rob Cowan bought a digital camera as soon as they came out a couple decades ago. He loved its instantaneous results and the freedom it gave him to shoot unlimited images until he achieved the perfect shot.
Then about six years ago, the 39year-old San Diego resident got bored with digital photography for the very same reasons. Where was the challenge, the thought process and the artistry? So he returned to traditional film photography and never looked back.
“It has its own feeling,” he said. “It’s tangible. You can hold on to it and see it in front of your eyes.”
Cowan is not alone. Over the
past five years, millions of Americans have re-embraced or newly discovered the old-school art of film photography. Sales of Kodak roll film doubled from 2014 to 2019 and
the value of used film cameras has skyrocketed. Now Cowan and his wife and business partner, Caitie Boreliz, are hoping to feed that growing community with their newly expanded North Park business, Camera Exposure & Safelight Labs.
The busy shop at Adams Avenue and Oregon Street sells film, cameras, lenses, chargers, enlargers, f lash attachments and cases. It also offers film developing services and camera repairs. But the couple’s dream for their business won’t be realized until next summer, when they plan to open a do-it-yourself community darkroom and workshop, photography studio and public gallery where aspiring film photographers can take classes, learn lab techniques and have their own exhibitions.
“We want to be an integral part of the community, the art community, the film community, the photography community. It doesn’t matter what you shoot, what your cup of tea is, we want to be here to support artists, however they’re going to create their art,” Cowan said.
On Tuesday afternoon, the shop