I haven’t used darkroom techniques to make my work for almost ten years now. I used to be really good at darkroom printing, and honestly, one of the main reasons I became a photographer was because I was obsessed with it. Watching an image slowly appear in the tray always made me feel like some kind of magician. Haha. But many of the high quality chemicals and papers that once made darkroom printing so special were discontinued because of environmental regulations. If the materials can no longer reach the standard they once had, then I do not see any reason to keep relying on a process that cannot meet my expectations, especially with 2026 almost here.

Inkjet papers today are excellent. They follow the exact same logic as darkroom materials. You need to understand how to choose them and how to match the paper to the image. Not many people truly understand this. It is easier to simply say that real photography comes from the darkroom.

I respect that opinion. I only hope you can respect mine as well. I still like the darkroom, and to be honest, I am probably better at it than you. I am a technical person. If we talk purely about technique, I am pretty sure I win. Haha.

My position is simple. Time moves forward, and tools move forward. It is almost 2026. I would not buy a phone that cannot take pictures, and I am not going to tie my creative practice to a process that can no longer provide the quality it once had. The darkroom now is more like a way for me to relax. After spending too much time in front of a computer, I actually enjoy going back in, making a few prints by hand, and giving myself a quiet moment. It feels good and it is enough. But it is no longer my main creative method.

The darkroom is simply one of many working methods within photography. Today digital photography naturally evolves into a hybrid practice that brings together 3D modeling, sound, video, and other media. This hybrid way of working feels more honest to me, and it gives me a greater sense of freedom.

yc, winter 2025