The Savannah Center for Photography is a new nonprofit organization that aims to bring back the darkroom to the city of Savannah. This initiative is a welcome addition to the local art scene, offering a range of resources and educational opportunities for photographers. The center's grand opening and inaugural photography show, titled SCP Presents, will take place on June 26th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 2205 Price Street. This event marks the beginning of a new era for photography in Savannah, with a focus on fostering appreciation for the art form and providing a community for photographers to learn and grow.
The center's board of directors is an impressive group, including Josh Yates, Steve Bliss, Erin Dunn, Joshua Lindsey, and Caitie Moore. These individuals bring a wealth of experience in fine art, photography, academia, business, and arts administration. Yates, the board president and founder, is a photographer with a budding national career and a background in entrepreneurship and restaurant management. He is passionate about the darkroom and its role in photography, having attended a workshop in Yosemite with Alan Ross, assistant to the renowned Ansel Adams.
The Savannah Center for Photography offers a range of services, including a community darkroom, gallery, and workshop space. The darkroom, equipped with donated apparatus from Hilton Head High School, is a key feature of the center, providing photographers with the opportunity to experiment with traditional darkroom techniques. The center also plans to offer classes for beginners and advanced photographers, with Yates, Bliss, and Stewart teaching the courses. Additionally, a monthly critique group is being discussed to provide a platform for photographers to receive feedback and improve their work.
The center's inaugural show, SCP Presents, features work by board members, photographer friends, and acquaintances, with all proceeds donated to the new venture. Yates' own photography career has been impressive, with his work included in group shows in Savannah, Richmond Hill, Tucson, and Fort Collins, and he has been awarded third place in the 2025 SlowExposures Festival. His subject matter often focuses on abandoned spaces, shot in black and white, with a particular interest in stark, dystopian interiors and landscapes. His three main bodies of work are entitled De/Institutionalized, American Wasteland, and Front Row Seats to the End of the World.
The Savannah Center for Photography is a welcome addition to the local art scene, offering a range of resources and educational opportunities for photographers. The center's focus on fostering appreciation for photography and providing a community for photographers to learn and grow is a valuable contribution to the city of Savannah. The grand opening event on June 26th is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the new center, with a chance to see the work of local photographers and learn more about the center's offerings.
