A NEW photography studio and gallery is opening at 6.30pm on Sunday, 10 July 2011, and it promises to build awareness and enhance appreciation for film photography.
Photographer Paul Gadd says The Print Room aims to reclaim and revive the techniques and rigours of classical film photography and the hand-printing process at a time when these are being abandoned in favour of digital technology.
The studio, located in Section 16, Petaling Jaya, will offer classes in film photography and printing for both the beginner and the enthusiast. It is also planning a series of talks and expert workshops, as well as mentorship programs and other events for fellow photographers and students. Eventually, it will organise exhibitions of the work of its students, instructors and fellow photographers to promote appreciation of the medium.
“Working together with the many film enthusiasts within our community and fine art photographers in the region, The Print Room [will] serve as an incubator for film photography,” says Gadd, a British who is currently working in Asia and who will be one of the people running and teaching at The Print Room.
The Print Room’s launch will also incorporate the launch of and exhibition of selected prints from Five Minutes: People of Malaysia by Gadd. The book will be on sale for RM120 at the launch. Part of the proceeds of book sales and prints will be contributed to Pusat Bantuan Sentul to enable disadvantaged youth to learn photography skills to document their own stories. The book is also available at all major bookstores for RM160. All photos and captions from the book courtesy of Gadd.
Admission to the launch is free. For more information about The Print Room, e-mail: info@theprintroomkl.com. 
