When photography becomes an interest that reaches beyond smartphone pix, a rabbithole of unimaginable proportions awaits. For anyone who has never shot film, the journey can be extreme.  And for those who venture into the early methods and processes of photography, the terrain expands exponentially.

As I’m nothing if not a curious nerd, last week I visited the Penumbra Foundation/Center for Alternative Photography at the invitation of co-founder Geoffrey Berliner. 

The first thing you notice on arrival is the street-level portrait studio, where an 19^th-century 8 x 10 camera, as well as a stereo camera are set up, surrounded by an assortment of large portrait lights. But this is just icing on the cake. Above and below are darkrooms, a library, classrooms and a skylighted shooting studio. Never mind the fact that it is also home to the Camera Doctor, Frank Rubio, who repairs and restores vintage cameras, and a model darkroom used by LTI-Lightside Photographic Services, which is located next door.

Geoffrey [above] led me, room by room, through a living history of the medium; his collection of antique lenses and optical devices, together with the cameras that once housed them, is said to be unique in its scope. In the books he has collected, the original formulary of processes used throughout photography’s history, from paper negatives through wet-plate, glass and beyond, is preserved. The classrooms are inviting, and the events on the schedule, intriguing.

The timing of my visit coincides with Penumbra/CAPs participation in Photoville 2014, where workshops are being offered. In addition there will be an on-site portable studio where you can have your tintype portrait done for just $55 [regularly $95 at the studio]. Information. Members of the press [with valid credential] who visit on September 18^th between 4-10 pm will receive a voucher for a free tintype portrait. For Photoville visitors, Penumbra is offering a special membership with a 20% discount good towards a tintype, workshop tuition, or store purchase through the run of Photoville [ends Sept 28].

Above: Stereo tintype portrait of Alannah Farrell by Geoffrey Berliner. Photo courtesy Penubra.

Workshops and a lecture series at Penumbra/CAPs headquarters include various wet plate processes and formats; cyanotype; carbon printing, albumen printing and various traditional black-and-white processes, and much more. Information.

The Penumbra Artist Lecture Series continues, presenting the works and process of featured photographers and other notable guest artists and scholars through artist talks and interactive panel discussions.

Above: Geoffrey Berliner [right] in the portable tintype studio at Photoville 2013. Photo courtesy Penumbra.

Penumbra’s first Open House takes place October 9^th from 6-10 pm. You can meet the instructors and talk about their work, which will be on display; explore some of the unique objects and example prints that make up the collections; and take part in the tintype portrait demonstration, for which one fortunate attendee will have their portrait made. Free/RSVP required.

Penumbra Foundation is located at 36 East 30^th Street, NY, NY. Information. 917.288.0343

Reminder | 20x20 Live NYC Tonight: Top photographers each get 20 seconds to present 20 images from recent published portfolios. JoinMarcel Saba, Mathieu Young, and Amy Wolff, who will be hosting this live presentation featuring an amazing group of photographers and photo professionals speaking about their sources of inspiration: Jill Greenberg, Sacha Lecca (Rolling Stone), Zun Lee, Doug Menuez, Michael Norseng(Esquire), Erin Patrice O'Brien, Amy Pereira (MSNBC), Witold Riedel, George Steinmetz, Phil Toledano. 
SVA/Beatrice Theater, 333 West 23^rd Street, NY, NY. Tickets.