About the Darkroom Artists
Darkroom Artist features the fine art photography and mixed media artwork of Shannon and Colleen Graham (just call us "S&C" — we're OK with that!), specialists in traditional black and white film photography. The team's work is often experimental with a modern art twist, and the original silver gelatin prints are created in the darkroom at S&C Design Studios.
The vision is one thing, and the technique is another.
The physical process and chemical reaction of producing silver gelatin prints are among the most fascinating transformations that a person can witness. It is at that moment — as the latent image slowly appears in the developer tray — when the true magic of photography comes to life. That is the point at which you know that every step you have taken along the way, every detail that you picked at, and every bit of perfection that you demanded was not in vain.
We invite you to step into our world...
It's a visual journey in which form, contrast, and light are more important than the subject. Our artwork reflects decades of experience in the medium and a true passion for keeping its traditional techniques alive. Of course, once you learn all the rules of any art form, it's time to break them! That is where many of the pieces take a fascinating turn.
The more abstract and non-traditional pieces have been described as "simply captivating," "rustic industrial," and "moody" by art collectors. Some do not involve a camera, while others employ mixed media techniques that morph photography and painting with various media. Each print is entirely unique, and that makes the artistic journey so much more interesting...the results are what fuel our creative journey and go beyond any preconceived boundaries.
The Process
From start to finish, every piece of artwork is created by the artists’ hands. We shoot film with what most would consider “vintage” medium and large format cameras, process the film, print and process the negatives on silver gelatin-coated fiber paper using vintage enlargers in the darkroom, manipulate it further with chemistry, then give each piece its final touches, depending on the technique we’re employing. Even our matting and framing is all done in-house. Handmade without a doubt…we do it all!
The Place
After years of living across the country and having multiple studio locations and an art gallery, we found the perfect place. It lets us work freely in the studio and provides constant inspiration.
Several years ago, we purchased a rural Midwest acreage that allows us to live and work on the property. It is a place of our own. With a lot of work, we renovated an old tractor shed into a very large studio that accommodates all of our production needs, from the shooting sets to the darkroom to the framing. It is our second home, if you will.
Outside, we are surrounded by nature. The quiet countryside offers tranquility, respite, and a certain peace that fuels our art. While we don’t necessarily photograph landscapes, the patterns and textures and light that we witness every day influence our vision and work.
We call our little oasis in Iowa “The Light Farm” - everything we do, from the artwork to the gardens to ourselves, thrives on the light that surrounds us. We harvest that light.