Intro to Medium-Format Photography

Saturdays, May 10, 17, 24, 31, 2025
11 AM - 3 PM

In this comprehensive four-week course, participants will learn the intricacies of shooting medium-format film on a variety of cameras. BDC Founder Mike Kamber and Darkroom Manager Carlos de la Sancha will instruct students on operating different medium-format cameras, processing negatives, and printing their images in the darkroom.

Medium-format photography distinguishes itself from other analog formats with higher image quality and detail, while maintaining flexibility not found with large-format view cameras. The medium-format camera allows photographers to capture images with remarkable clarity and a wide tonal range. The slower rhythm of composing and making each image encourages photographers to engage deeply with their subjects.

Students will learn to photograph on cameras including the Rolleiflex TLR, the Hasselblad 500CM, and the Mamiya 6. Subjects for the class will be varied, including landscapes, portraits, and street photography. After each classroom session, students will have access to the BDC's state-of-the-art darkroom space.

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

Students are required to provide 5 rolls of B&W ISO 400 film for the class. Both film and printing paper are available for purchase at the BDC.

Cost:
$350 (Students are responsible for providing their own film, as listed above)

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.

Questions? Contact paul@bronxdoc.org

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.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

If you are unable to attend a workshop you’ve signed up for, please contact paul@bronxdoc.org. Our cancellation and refund policy is as follows:

• Full refund minus $50 admin fee for cancellation up to 30 days before the scheduled training
• 50% refund minus $50 admin fee for cancellations after that up to two weeks before the scheduled training
• No refund for cancellations within two weeks of the scheduled training

The BDC reserves the right to cancel classes due to under enrollment up to 3 business days in advance of the first session. In the event of a cancellation, students will be issued a full refund for the class.