Obsolete & discontinued

Watching a master printer at work is always fascinating; there’s something about the way they move, gently rocking trays to and fro, that’s deeply meditative. To be invited into a darkroom is a privilege, and once inside this womb-like space, the greatest challenge is keeping out of the way while its occupant reaches for tongs, or extends an arm to reset a timer. Lighthouse Darkroom in north London is small, but perfectly formed. Christopher Joyce and Jonathan de Villiers founded the company more than 30 years ago, but photographer and printer Mike Crawford has been running the business since 1993. Mike prints for some of the photo industry’s biggest names including Martin Parr, Brian Griffin and Victor Burgin, as well as pursuing his own projects. ‘Working as a professional printer gives meand describes the act of printing as calming. ‘You’re never clock-watching. You might think about the time things are taking, but you’re never cursing the fact that you’ve got to spend another hour working on a print,’ he reveals.