4-Day Workshop I Intro to Large Format Photography

Please note: This is a four-session workshop. Your ticket grants access to all four dates.
Saturdays, 10AM - 2PM
January 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2026

In this comprehensive four-week course, participants will learn the intricacies of photographing with a 4x5 view camera. BDC Founder Mike Kamber and Labs Manager Carlos de la Sancha will instruct students on operating large format cameras, processing negatives, and printing their images in the darkroom.

Large format photography distinguishes itself from other analog formats through unparalleled attention to detail and image quality. The view camera allows photographers to capture images with remarkable clarity and a wide tonal range. The slow, meditative process of composing and exposing each image encourages photographers to engage deeply with their subjects. 

Following each classroom session, students will have access to the BDC's state-of-the-art darkroom space. Additionally, enrolled students will be able to rent the BDC darkroom on Saturday afternoons following their class at a 35% discount.

Participants should arrive prepared with a 25-sheet box of Ilford HP5 4x5 film. The BDC will provide the 4x5 cameras and necessary equipment for in-class use.

Enrollment for this workshop is limited to 10 participants. This workshop assumes a foundational knowledge of manual exposure and film photography.

Questions? Contact mike@bronxdoc.org

Students will also receive a $100 credit for darkroom hours after the workshop, and will be able to book additional hours at a 20% discount for the following month.

Instructor Bios

Mike Kamber has been a photojournalist and editor for more than 30 years, working for The New York Times and other leading international publications. He has been shooting, developing, and printing black and white film since the 1970s. He is the Founder and Creative Director of the Bronx Documentary Center.

Carlos de la Sancha (@carlos_delasancha) was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and works in bookmaking, portraiture, unique chromogenic prints, poetry, and street photography.  He is the Darkroom Manager of the Bronx Documentary Center. De la Sancha earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, in 2006 at the Universidad Autónoma de México, before transitioning to photography and studying at many different institutions in Berlin, Oaxaca, and Mexico City, where he worked as a printer and production assistant for Cristina Kahlo, for over 7 years. In 2021, de la Sancha finished his Creative Practices Certificate at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York City. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.