Digital native Suraj Bhamra reaches back to the pre-digital era at Negative and Print, his four-month-old Midtown photo lab and gallery.
The 25-year-old electrical engineer from Detroit is an avid photographer who posts about "my love affair with film" and about how "I never leave the house without a camera in my hands."
"It is without a doubt that film has become a conscious and deliberate decision" by fine-art photographers, Bhamra says at his website.
Suraj Bhamra: "I love to shoot film as much as I can. I do it every day." (Facebook photo)
MJ Galbraith of Model D visits the throwback business at 4219 Third St.
In the back is a full-service photography lab, complete with all of the equipment necessary for developing actual film. He rejects forced air dryers, opting to air dry the photos instead.
Up front is an art gallery, where he'll begin hosting photo exhibitions. . . .
Developing film is a service not as readily as available as it once was, and Bhamra is happy to help fill in that gap. . . . "It's what we needed down here. The people that stop by reinforce that. We've filled a niche." . . .
Professionals and amateurs alike have dropped off their film for development. He's met 60-year-olds who have been using film their whole lives and teenagers just getting excited about the craft of film photography.
Because its owner is a doctoral student with a full-time job, the storefront is open by appointment. A 24-hour drop box is available.
-- Alan Stamm
