Complete analog photography workshop: photo walk to darkroom

About me

I am Andreas, born in 1983 in Allgäu and have been a Berliner by choice since 2011. I am one of the last years of my photo school to have received a completely analog education — a foundation that has a strong influence on my work today. Since 2012, I have been an active member of the Neuköllner analog photography collective Fotografie Berlin e.V., which I have been managing as chairman since 2018. Together, we regularly exhibit, including at 48h Neukölln and other group exhibitions. I not only collect analog cameras, but also actively work with them in a wide variety of formats — from small images to large formats. I am particularly fascinated by experimental photographic processes, which I have been working intensively with for several years. My passion for analog photography was born from the desire to make photography more conscious and tangible again. For me, it is much more than just technology: it means deceleration, concentration and a deep understanding of image design. It is precisely this attitude that I would like to pass on in my workshops. My mission is not only to teach people the basics, but also to offer them a real experience — from the recording to the finished image.

Location

The workshops take place at Fotografie Berlin e.V. on Mainzer Straße in Neukölln — an established location for analog photography with history. The association has existed since the 1980s and is still an important point of contact for analog photographers in Berlin today. It currently has around 35 active members. The location offers an authentic, creative working atmosphere and has a fully equipped photo laboratory. All common photographic formats can be processed here — from small images to larger formats. The equipment includes all necessary equipment and materials for film development and the production of prints in the darkroom. The group size is deliberately kept small (max. 5 people) in order to provide intensive support and to be able to respond individually to all participants.

The workshop

The special thing about my workshops is the holistic approach — and a clearly structured process that makes the entire analog process tangible. We start with a short journey through over a century of camera history: I bring along a selection of more than ten analog cameras from the 1920s to the late 1980s. Each of these cameras tells its own story and gives a sense of how photography has developed technically and aesthetically. For the practical part, we then work with classic 35mm cameras and black and white film. After an understandable introduction to the basics — how does a camera work, what does the aperture do, how does the shutter speed influence the image and how do you insert a movie — it goes straight outside. During a joint photo walk through the neighborhood, participants immediately implement what they have learned and develop a first feeling for subjects, light and image composition. Due to the small group size, I can provide individual support and answer specific questions. This is followed by the next step: working in the darkroom. Here, we develop the films together, let them dry and cut them for further processing. The highlight is creating your own prints under red light — a special moment when the image slowly becomes visible on paper in the developer solution. At the same time, it is possible to digitize the negatives. In the end, each participant not only gains experience and knowledge, but also concrete results: a contact sheet with all recordings, three own prints of their favorite pictures and then digitizes all pictures.

Team events and private events

In addition to open workshops, I also offer individual team events and private group formats. These can be flexibly adapted to the needs of the respective group — whether as a creative team building, a joint experience or a special event. Analog photography develops a special dynamic, especially for groups: taking pictures together on the go, sharing impressions and then working together in the darkroom creates an intensive and unifying experience. The mix of creative work, craft process and collaborative experience makes these events unique and memorable.