{"id":586574,"date":"2026-08-08T02:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/586574\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:00:19","slug":"ready-to-ditch-your-phone-for-a-film-camera-underdog-film-lab-can-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/586574\/","title":{"rendered":"Ready to ditch your phone for a film camera? Underdog Film Lab can help"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2017, four photographers envisioned a photo lab in West Oakland. It seemed like an impossible task when film was fading as a photography method and rent was high, but it was a dream waiting to come to fruition. Together, Brian Brooks, Jesse Hitchens, \u200aDirk Hatch, \u200aand Matt Osborn opened their doors as Underdog Film Lab<\/a> in one of West Oakland\u2019s old flatiron buildings. Then, two years ago, they expanded to a new location down the street, a \u200a7,800-square-foot space on 16th Street with multiple darkrooms and a huge photo studio, dedicated to sharing their love for photography with the local community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brooks was busy running around the lab the day Oaklandside stopped by, engaging with customers, pulling processed film, and giving a tour of the space.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Brooks discusses the wide variety of refrigerated film stock for sale at Underdog Film Lab. Credit: Brian Krans for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

We asked Vince Donovan, who is deeply embedded in Oakland\u2019s photo community as co-executive director of the East Bay Photo Collective,<\/a> about what was happening in analogue photography at the time Underdog opened. Donovan, who has been a photographer for almost 60 years and a part of the Bay Area photo scene for at least 30 years, said he watched a wave of photography facilities close across the Bay Area in the 2010s. Beloved labs like Gassers<\/a> and RayKo<\/a> in San Francisco both shuttered a decade ago. For Donovan, the Underdog team\u2019s decision to open a film lab in 2019 was an \u201cincredibly risky, highly unusual, and a very brave thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the timing may have been right. Donovan noticed a resurgence in film photography during COVID-19. Reflecting back on that time, he said he believed that \u200apeople were looking for community through their creative path, and photography is \u201ca platform for us to be human together.\u201d. He said what sets Underdog Film Lab apart from other shops is the community the co-owners have been able to build around their business. \u201cPeople are sharing knowledge, supporting each other, encouraging each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, in the age of AI, he said, analogue has had another resurgence, including in photography and film.<\/p>\n

An AI image, Donovan said, \u201c\u200ahas no human meaning. It doesn\u2019t reflect human experience. It doesn\u2019t reflect our joy, our sadness, if we fall in love or if we\u2019re disappointed. That\u2019s why we\u2019re doing art, it\u2019s that human experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooks, one of Underdog\u2019s owners, has been a photographer since the 1980s, and he\u2019s always preferred to work with film. He said he even worked to help save his high school darkroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Technology fails, he said. Physical film has more staying power. \u201c\u200aIf a hard drive crashes, you can go and rescan this,\u201d he said, pointing to some film negatives. \u201c\u200aWhen the lights go out, you can still put it to the light and see the image.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Cutting negatives at Underdog Film Lab. Credit: Brian Krans for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

\"\"An array of printing paper and negative sleeves for sale. Credit: Brian Krans for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

Although Underdog Film Lab does not sell any cameras \u2014 Looking Glass<\/a> in Berkeley is one local shop that does \u2014 the shop provides everything that supports the craft. \u201c\u200aWe have the equipment to make your film look the best it possibly can,\u201d Brooks said. Underdog Film Lab has collected vintage equipment from Europe like the Reframas C-41, which, he said, processes film at larger volumes, allows for better quality control, and prevents cross contamination and streak marks. Although these machines are no longer made, when issues arise they have friends in Copenhagen who can fix the problem.<\/p>\n

The team also sells a wide range of film, has an airy photo studio available to rent, three dark rooms, and can send out motion film for processing. The lab also accepts digital files, has large format printers, and offers archival services. Most of all, they have a lifetime of knowledge to share. Brooks said he and his three co-owners each went to school for photography and each of them has their own discipline and specialized knowledge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The new expanded lab space at Underdog Film Lab. Credit: Brian Krans for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

\"\"A Canon large format printer. Credit: Brian Krans for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

When customer Carson Burns started exploring film photography three years ago, he said, he had a lot of questions, and Underdog had a lot of the answers. \u201c\u200aEveryone\u2019s been really helpful and have given me recommendations for new cameras and new kinds of film to try,\u201d he said. Burns opted for film because, he said, \u201c\u200anothing really captures the nostalgic quality that film does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Underdog Film Lab\u2019s original location, at the corner of Peralta and Center Street, drew curiosity from neighbors. Brooks said people from the neighborhood would often stop by just to see what business had moved in there. They\u2019d say, \u201c\u200aWow, this used to be an arcade. This used to be the corner store. This used to be a food pantry,\u201d he said. When looking for a new space, he said, the team was committed to staying in West Oakland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Two years ago they found a far larger space down the street. \u201c\u200aThis is our home,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cI logged tens of thousands of steps going back and forth, pushing all them cheap wheel carts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re West Oakland,\u201d he said. \u201c\u200aIt\u2019s a wonderful town with very industrious people. It\u2019s hardworking, creative, loving, community-based.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooks said community has been a central pillar for Underdog. One neighbor down the street is their insurance representative; Monkey Brains, which has an office across the street, set up their internet; the company is a sponsor of the Oakland Ballers, who play at nearby Raimondi Park; and the Underdog team set up a dedicated corner at the shop where local artists can sell their zines. Underdog Film Lab does not take a cut. \u201c\u200aIt\u2019s your art, your money,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Underdog customer Karina Cruz, of Berkeley. She has been coming to Underdog for two years, after taking up analogue photography during the pandemic. Credit: Brian Krans for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

On the day The Oaklandside stopped by the shop, a customer named Seydina Seck was there, who said he learned about Underdog Film Lab four years ago at a local photographer meet up. His reason for revisiting the analogue craft was that \u201c\u200amemories just feel more tangible with film.\u201d Emma Geiger, another customer, said she was visiting from North Carolina and it was her first time at Underdog. She said she found joy through the slowness of film, and loves not having to learn a new digital interface or have something glowing at you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Camille Braswell, a customer who has been coming to Underdog Film Lab for a year now, said for her it\u2019s important to keep this tactile art practice alive. \u201c\u200aI care about the future not being devoid of genuine artistic creation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Brooks at Underdog Film Lab\u2019s new 7,800-square-foot location in West Oakland. Credit: Brian Krans for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re new to film, or have long enjoyed the craft, Brooks said, the Underdog team can help fulfill your photo needs. Most importantly, he said, you\u2019ll find people who love the craft so much they took a risk to help keep it alive.<\/p>\n

Brooks said the team\u2019s attitude is, \u201c\u200aNo dogma. Come on in. If you come here, you\u2019re gonna get love.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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