About us
In November of 2020, we decided to build a darkroom with the hope to inspire others to develop a love of film photography. Located in the heart of the Lafayette District of Jersey City, steps away from Liberty State Park.
Academy Darkroom is nested inside a historic carriage-house building built in 1894, just three years after Ellis Island opened its doors to immigration.
Frank Bosco has been an educator for 30+ years. His attention to detail and unique approach to education come from a long history of university-level professorship. Frank has always had a film camera in hand throughout his teenage years and professional life. A major part of his career has been dedicated to being a multi-disciplinary artist and long-time ceramic arts educator. After many years studying at the International Center for Photography (ICP), learning directly from renowned photographers, he has now begun teaching photography and sharing his knowledge with students.
When he’s not in the darkroom developing film, printing, or on the street capturing photos, you will find him enjoying being a dad.
Our mission is to help inspire students to develop their own visual voice through analog photography as well as foster an understanding of the printing and development processes involved in this classic art form.
“Black and white film photography has the ability to make the ordinary appear extraordinary;
and the extraordinary… sublime.”
— Frank Bosco, Founder of Academy Darkroom