Harvey Milk
Photo Center
The oldest and largest community wet darkroom in the United States. Classes, open lab access and free exhibitions in Duboce Park since 1940.
Lobby & gallery
Tue–Thu 11 am – 8:30 pm
Fri–Sat 11 am – 4:30 pm
Darkroom & labs
Tue–Thu 3 – 8 pm
Sat 11 am – 4 pm
Fall 2026 registration
Registration is open
Since Sat, Aug 15
Where
50 Scott Street
Directions
The oldest community darkroom in the United States
Founded in 1940, the Harvey Milk Photo Center has served San Francisco for more than eighty years. We are the oldest and largest community wet darkroom in the United States, proudly managed by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department.
Since 1954 we have been at 50 Scott Street, on the lower level of the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts in Duboce Park. Alongside the traditional darkroom we run a film processing lab and a full digital lab for members.
On view & coming up
Fall 2026 classes
First rolls of film, black and white printing, cyanotype and wet plate, plus Lightroom and Photoshop. No membership or orientation needed to take a class.
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Darkroom Essentials & Processes
Thursdays, Sept 10 – Oct 15 2026 Tuesdays, Oct 20 – Nov 24 2026 6 – 8:30 PM
$230
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Darkroom, labs and library
Black & White Darkroom
Thirty enlarging stations for 35mm to 4×5 negatives, prints up to 16×20, and chemistry mixed fresh every day.
Film Processing Lab
Develop black and white film by hand with our tanks, reels and fresh Kodak XTOL. Bring your film; we supply the rest.
Digital Lab
Scan negatives up to 8×10, edit on calibrated iMacs in Photoshop or Lightroom, and print up to 24 inches wide.
David Johnson Reference Library
A free public collection of monographs, artist books and Bay Area photobooks in the lobby. No membership needed.
Use the darkroom
Members get the darkroom, film lab and digital lab. Everyone starts with a one-hour Photo Center Orientation.
Visit the Photo Center
50 Scott Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
The entrance faces Duboce Park, on the lower level of the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts.
N-Judah at Noe St · 24-Divisadero at Duboce · 6 and 7 via Haight · J-Church and 22-Fillmore via Duboce