Small Businesses Band Together To Keep Film Alive: 120processing.com and Aperture Announce Joint Venture To Serve Photography Lovers

DOVER, NH, June 16, 2011 (Press-News.org) Media outlets have recently been predicting the demise of film photography—in spite of the recent uptick in film sales and renewed interest in certain sorts of vintage photography. To foster the renaissance of the analog photography movement, two small businesses—120processing.com and Aperture, A Photography and Variety Store—have joined forces. Located in Cleveland, Aperture sells vintage cameras, film and accessories. 120processing.com is the new online venture of Photosmith Imaging, a photo lab that has been processing and printing film in Dover, NH for the last thirty years.

In contrast to what many see as the 'sterility' of digital photography, the analog renaissance has centered on 'low-fidelity' photographs. The images are often fuzzy and dream-like, with peculiarly intense colors; many of them are multiply exposed or split. To achieve these and other effects, photographers have turned to comparatively rare camera designs and film labels; they also require processing for these less common films, often using special techniques, like 'cross-processing,' where slide film is processed in the chemistry for color-negative film. With these special supplies and services, photographers are able to tap into a whole range of images that are completely unavailable to digital photography.

Since the return to analog photography is relatively new, analog supplies and services can be difficult to find; thus Aperture and 120processing.com have joined forces to better serve the budding film photography movement. In particular, 120processing.com will be supplying a full range of lab services for Aperture's customers, who can drop off their film at Aperture for processing and printing. "Our customers have had great difficulty finding quality, consistent, and reliable labs to process their film. Also, cross processing has become so popular we wanted to offer our customers a trustworthy lab that will do just that," explains Scott Meivogel, founder and owner of Aperture. "Now we can offer processing for any film we sell, both normal and crossed processed. We could not be more grateful that 120processing.com has agreed to join us." Such partnerships are particularly valuable considering that many markets lost their local photo labs as a result of the 'digital revolution.'

120processing.com also sees an advantage in partnering with businesses like Aperture, which has cultivated in Cleveland a community of photographers through gallery shows, classes and events. "Establishments like Aperture are doing a tremendous job reminding people what is valuable about film—the slower tempo, the distinctiveness of the image, the strangely beautiful effects," says Steve Frank, the owner of 120processing.com. "Keeping film alive will be a collective effort—we're thrilled to work with them."

120processing.com is the medium-format specialty site of Photosmith Imaging (www.photosmithimaging.com), an independent lab that has been serving the greater Seacoast NH area for the last 30 years. We bring the old-school photo lab's expertise, experience, and attention to detail to the Internet customer! For further information, or to set up an interview, please contact Stephanie Frank at 312.730.6602.