Darkroom Detritus is an outlet for mostly (but not exclusively) film photography, some writing and whatever other media its founder and sporadic contributor, Mike Mitchelson, chooses to post.
The founder
Mike Mitchelson does not take the title “founder” too seriously, having written about during his 20-plus-year journalism and editing career many “founders” who found their way straight to bankruptcy or jail. But, fortunately he’s worked for some good ones to balance out his constantly percolating cynicism.
Being a journalist and editor from 1993 to 2013, one saw, shall we say, upheaval in the news and publishing industry. That included journalists and editors becoming one’s own photographer as resources were stripped and staff photographers and their salaries excised from budgets. Mitchelson always took photos for himself since he was tiny, but in service of the written word—his first passion. The photos were meant to record, stir memory and pass around to friends and family.
He took to “professional” photography about as well as he did writing about himself in the third person: adequate, but dry. But he didn’t like just having “adequate” photos with those stories many others would read, so he bought himself some photo books and practiced the craft.
Fast forward a few years and a career change and damn if he didn’t start digging out some old film cameras left to him by his grandfather, and, of course, purchasing a few more. And the chemicals and equipment to develop film. And the money pit got deeper.
As 2022 approached, Mitchelson resolved to share more of this journey, because, damn if he didn’t find a film community generous with their journeys, which were helpful guides.