Calendar
One of the unique features of Darkroomers is our commitment to printing and sharing our photographs for monthly critique and exhibition. A beautifully matted and mounted print can elevate your work, but mastering this skill, especially if you plan to cut your own mats, takes practice and the right tools.
To support our members in this process, we host an Annual Matting and Mounting Workshop, where you’ll learn the art of creating custom mats and mounting your prints using archival tools and techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, this workshop offers valuable hands-on learning and an opportunity to connect with fellow members.
What to Bring:
- Mat Cutter (if you own one): If you don’t have a mat cutter, this is the perfect chance to explore what others use and try before you invest.
- Uncut Mat Board (16×24 recommended): Bring enough to practice and complete your project.
- Printed Photograph: Ready to mat and mount.
- Adhesives and Tools: Any supplies you typically use or want to learn with.
This workshop is a must for all members, both new and experienced. It’s an excellent way for long-term members to share their expertise and for newer members to gain confidence in matting and mounting.
NOTE: This is a members-only event. Not a member? Click here for more information and to join Darkroomers!
Let’s refine our craft together and ensure our prints are ready for exhibition!
The meeting will start promptly at 7 pm, but we’ll open the building at 6 pm for setup and social hour.
Join us for our Monthly Critique Night!
Our judge for February will be Marshall Williams.
Members bring prints for critique on the third Wednesday of each month. Prints accepted by the Judge will hang for up to 2 months in the Photographic Arts Building gallery.
Visitors are welcome, however, submitting images for critique is available for members only. If you’d like more information about joining Darkroomers, please check out our membership page and email us if you have any questions.
About Marshall
Marshall Williams (b. 1965) is a fine art and commercial/advertising photographer. He is a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography (1989) and apprenticed under Dean Collins, an internationally renowned lighting and photographic educator and photographer. While working with Collins, he met fellow apprentice, Tim Mantoani. The two formed Mantoani-Williams studio in 1994. Today he is a principle at Studio on Banks/ a production studio and collective of photographers and cinematographers, and President of Marshall Williams Photography, Inc.
Williams’ commercial clients include many of the top food, healthcare, hospitality and land development corporations nationally including Jack in the Box, Qdoba, Hilton, Marriott, Loews Hotels, Cardinal Health, Sharp Healthcare, Howard Hughes Corporation and Irvine Company to name a few.
His current fine art series is Taco Stand Vernacular— observations and visual recordings of the neighborhood taco stand and its iconic presence in the cultural landscape of Southern California. Williams serves on the Board of Medium Photo and is a founding member of the Medium Photo Collective. He is a member of the San Diego chapter of American Photographic Artists and is active in the photography and arts community in San Diego. His photographs are held in many corporate and private collections.
Once Upon a Fair at the 2026 San Diego County Fair
The San Diego County Fair is the greatest story our community has ever told. It’s a tale of food, fun, friends, family, laughter, tradition, music, amazement, and pure, unbridled joy. The Fair — the largest and longest-running community event in San Diego County — makes its triumphant return from Wednesday, June 10, through Sunday, July 5, 2026 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays.) You won’t want to miss your chance to live out your “happily ever after” at the 2026 SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR.
This presentation, organized by Lois Fong-Sakai and Amethel Parel-Sewell (exhibition coordinators), will provide you with all the essential information required to participate in the San Diego County Fair. It includes valuable tips on various categories, announcements of new categories, and other insider information.
Join us for the Darkroomers’ annual Year-End Brunch Banquet as we gather to celebrate the images created over the past year and honor the award winners from our Year-End Competition.
This is a relaxed, social event, and a great chance to slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time together outside of regular meetings. Guests are welcome, so feel free to bring a spouse, partner, or friend.
Event details
- Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: The Farmers Table | 8141 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa
- Cost: $54 per person
RSVP & Payment
Please RSVP by February 27 to Mary Peddecord at treasurer@darkroomers.com with the number of people attending.
Payment options:
- Use the Zelle QR code in the image above
- Bring a check or cash to the next Darkroomers meeting
We hope you’ll join us to celebrate, connect, and enjoy a fun morning together.