It takes some patience, watching an image emerge on a blank piece of paper in a chemical solution. In a world dominated by fleeting video clips on phone screens, developing film feels like a ritual: a slower, more intentional approach to photography.
Queer Analog Darkroom knows about patience. The Berlin-based collective initially opened a darkroom in early 2023 in Oyoun, a Neukölln cultural centre dedicated to supporting marginalised communities. Nine months later, Oyoun lost their funding and Queer Analog Darkroom lost their home. Now, the group is returning with renewed motivation and a new darkroom, ready to get down to business.
There’s a lot of gatekeeping going on in film development and printing.
In the dimly-lit space in a Tempelhof backyard, the cohort of photography lovers have found a refuge to do more than just keep the practice of developing film alive. Here, a few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of Hermannstraße, the 10 core members each bring different skills and experiences, aiming to build a space for queer photographers to experiment, learn and create in a supportive environment. “From the very beginning, our goal has been to create a space not only for ourselves and our friends but for the queer community,” says Eden Jetschmann, a portrait photographer and one of the collective’s founding members.
In the cosy, still-developing entry space of the new darkroom, Jetschmann flips through the inaugural edition of the Queer Analog Darkroom calendar. Following an open call for submissions, the images celebrate queer identity in various forms. There are top surgery scars on the beach, intimate bedroom portraits, vibrant birthday parties in drag.
Some members of the group, like Jetschmann, are professional photographers; others engage in film photography as a hobby or aim to turn their passion into a career. What unites them is a shared desire to capture the richness of queer life through their lenses, and to bring the community together in doing so. The collective is also focused on something bigger than just the chemical process of film development: for them, photography is political. Their mission to create this darkroom as a community learning space aims to disrupt existing power structures in the photography world.
“There’s a lot of gatekeeping going on in film development and printing; these fields are typically dominated by cis white heterosexual men. Even if you seek to learn the basics from YouTube tutorials, it’s always some dude explaining things to you,” says Nikita Do Vale Reimann, another founding member. Originally on the hunt for a good space to develop black-and-white film in 2022, Reimann stumbled into a get-together that revealed a common goal: challenging the traditional hierarchies present in photography, which often manifest through gender inequality, racial and ethnic barriers that limit opportunities for photographers of colour, and economic disparities that restrict access to equipment and education.
Through a connection from member Lilian Mauthofer, the group soon linked with Oyoun, who happened to be equipped with an old but functional darkroom space that they allowed them to use free of charge. This unexpected gift alleviated the financial pressures of building one from scratch. In the ensuing months, the group started out by refurbishing the darkroom, acquiring necessary materials and planning their inaugural event.
That first event, a casual gathering for friends and film enthusiasts held at Oyoun in February 2023, was “a surprise success”, Jetschmann recalls: “It was truly heartwarming to see that there is such a fertile ground for this. We wanted to make this happen, and then suddenly there were 100 people who all shared their feedback and expressed how much they needed this space.”
In this spirit of community, workshops became a cornerstone of the collective’s programming. Jetschmann and Reimann introduced a ‘show and tell’ format allowing participants to share their work in a supportive environment, reminiscent of what one might find at an art university. Other workshops included hands-on skill-sharing sessions, such as black-and-white film development and discussions on the disruptive and subversive power of photography. A workshop on queer self-portraits examined photography as a tool for self-expression and ownership through instant photography; another one delved into the complexities of creating imagery from Black perspectives. Both workshops were part of Oyoun’s Tiny House Project, an initiative dedicated to decolonial and collective knowledge production and dissemination.
Out of the darkness
By the end of the summer of 2023, the future of Queer Analog Darkroom seemed bright. After several successful workshops and events, the collective was planning to finally launch a membership programme. Then came October 7. Just weeks after Hamas’ attack on Israel, Oyoun was shut down due to significant funding cuts from the local government. The cuts were reportedly linked to the centre’s connections with groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and their critical stance on Israeli policies, sparking controversy in an increasingly polarised cultural climate. In response to the funding withdrawal, Oyoun fought a legal battle to restore its status, ultimately being allowed to appeal. Still, the cultural centre is required to leave the premises by the end of the year, and a new operator with a different concept is expected to take over.
The sudden loss of this venue disrupted many collectives, including Queer Analog Darkroom. The shutdown not only derailed the group’s planned activities, it also illuminated the vulnerabilities faced by grassroots collectives, particularly those addressing issues related to identity, social justice and political activism. In May, the group hosted a fundraiser at Kreuzberg queer bar Möbel Olfe to support both the reopening of a new darkroom and Untold Palestine, an independent platform dedicated to digital storytelling that seeks to challenge stereotypes and present a more nuanced perspective on Palestinian lives worldwide.
Without our community, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
After being left without a space for months, the group was able to secure a new venue at Atelier Gardens, a repurposed area of old film studios south of Tempelhofer Feld. Once known as UFA Studios Tempelhof and later as Berliner Union-Film, the site boasts over 100 years of rich history in film and television production. Now, the campus serves as a cultural hub for NGOs and artistic projects. Queer Analog Darkroom was offered an arrangement that benefits everyone: the collective can use the space rent-free in exchange for providing photographic services for events held at the site.
Upon arrival at Atelier Gardens earlier this summer, the collective found that the space required significant renovations. What had been a neglected storage area needed to be transformed into a functional darkroom. Over the next few months, the members dedicated their time to cleaning, painting and installing essential equipment. A Telegram group was created to bring in helping hands from the community. They received generous support from various sources, including scanners, trays and other materials from the original darkroom, and contributions from the Neu Workshop photography collective in Munich.
Now, stacks of expired film and printing paper are arranged on shelves in the back of the new space, eagerly awaiting experimentation. “We’re really excited to finally open the darkroom and get things going,” Jetschmann says as they finalise renovations at Atelier Gardens. The past year has felt like a blend of slow and fast. While renovating, the group has been working out ways to make the space available to a broader group of people from November 2024 onwards. “Most darkroom spaces in Berlin tend to be predominantly white and cisgender, lacking a queer focus, so it feels like there’s a genuine need for our space within the queer community. Since we’re all volunteering, it will be a challenge to find ways to accommodate everyone’s needs,” says Jetschmann.
To address this, the collective has decided to initiate a step-by-step opening. The proposed membership programme, which was originally set to launch last October, will finally start with a trial phase for six randomly selected individuals experienced in film development. At the same time, workshops will be restarted to support those with less experience. Over time, they hope to be able to make the space available for a bigger group of people.
Making analogue accessible
If all of these plans suggest a great deal of thought and discussion, that’s accurate: Reimann and Jetschmann emphasise that the collective is dedicated to establishing flat hierarchies and open communication. Jetschmann reflects on this collaborative spirit with gratitude. “I’ve learned so much from our collective – about the power of collaboration, but also about establishing my own boundaries. I take great pride in this because we interact with each other in a really conscious, respectful way.”
Importantly, the membership programme will operate on a sliding scale, allowing members to contribute based on their financial capacity, with a minimum fee of €5. Their mission is to make analogue photography accessible to everyone, particularly within the queer community. “Last week, someone mentioned a darkroom that charges €80 a day. Those prices are simply unaffordable for most in the queer community,” Reimann emphasises.
On top of that, they are also hoping to receive donations to be able to cover the expense of chemicals and facilitate responsible use of the space they’ve created. “We’ll continue to organise fundraisers, events, and other projects to bring in more money,” Jetschmann explains. The Queer Analog Darkroom calendars, for example, are sold online on a sliding scale, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to support the collective, including providing fees to the photographers, and making improvements to the darkroom. Additionally, part of the sales support KOP Berlin, an organisation dedicated to aiding victims of racist police violence.
Since all members currently volunteer their time, a reliance on community donations and fundraisers is essential for the darkroom’s continued existence. While they aim to provide compensation for those who host workshops and help out, fostering community remains their top priority over financial gain. “Without our community, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Jetschmann adds.
As the final trays, lights and developers are set up at Atelier Gardens, excitement fills the air. A few workshops and events are already scheduled for November, including a black-and-white printing workshop and a fundraiser at Torte Bar. But the most exciting development, so to speak, is an addition that wasn’t possible at Oyoun due to the lack of specific chemicals and equipment: when they officially reopen at Atelier, the collective will be able to develop colour film, bringing the art of analogue to the full spectrum of Berlin’s photographers.
- Don’t miss the fundraiser for Queer Analog Darkroom on Nov 27 at Torte Bar, Brusendorfer Str. 12, Neukölln. Follow them on Instagram for more info and workshop dates.
