The resurgence of interest in analog photography post-pandemic has sparked the creation of the Savannah Center for Photography, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering appreciation for photography and providing resources and education through a community darkroom, workshop space, and rotating gallery exhibitions. This initiative, led by Josh Yates, a photographer with a budding national career, aims to revive the art of darkroom photography in Savannah. Yates, who has a background in entrepreneurship and arts administration, was inspired by a workshop in Yosemite with Alan Ross, a master printer and assistant to the renowned Ansel Adams. This experience reignited his passion for darkroom photography, leading him to envision a nonprofit that would offer a community darkroom, gallery, and workshop space.
The Savannah Center for Photography's board of directors is an impressive group of individuals with diverse expertise in fine art, photography, academia, business, and arts administration. Among them are Steve Bliss, Professor Emeritus of Photography at SCAD, Erin Dunn, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Telfair Museum, and Joshua Lindsey, co-founder of the Savannah Photo Club and Shade Magazine. Their collective experience and passion for photography make them ideal leaders for this new venture.
The nonprofit's inaugural show, SCP Presents, features works by board members, photographer friends, and acquaintances, with all proceeds donated to the new venture. Yates, who has a personal interest in photography, will also have pieces included in the show. His chosen subject matter is abandoned spaces, and he has been gaining recognition for his black-and-white photography of stark, dystopian interiors and landscapes. His work has been featured in group shows in Savannah, Richmond Hill, Tucson, and Fort Collins, and he has been awarded third place in the 2025 SlowExposures Festival celebrating the rural American South.
The Savannah Center for Photography offers a range of classes, from beginners to advanced, and plans to hold a monthly critique group. Yates is hoping that the local passion for photography will translate into memberships at the new center, ranging from annual support tiers to monthly studio subscriptions. The center's facilities include a newly equipped black-and-white darkroom, a community darkroom, gallery, and workshop space, with possible long-term plans for a larger digital lab, matting and framing areas, alternative process exposure areas, more scanners and printers.
In my opinion, the Savannah Center for Photography is a welcome and needed addition to the city's art scene. It offers a unique opportunity for photographers to connect, learn, and grow, and it has the potential to become a hub for analog photography in the region. The center's focus on education and community engagement makes it an exciting prospect for both photographers and art enthusiasts. Personally, I think it will be a valuable resource for the local photography community and a great addition to the city's cultural landscape.
