Fritz Pinnow
“Our journey began as a small passion project,” explains Fabriccio Díaz, 28, who, along with his wife Lucía Ramírez, 25, operates the sole fully functional photo film development lab in Central America from their apartment in Guatemala City.
“Now, we serve over 60 clients monthly and have processed more than 800 rolls just this year,” he adds.
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Arca Film Lab has experienced high demand this year and is the exclusive photo film development lab in Central America that handles all types of analogue photography film, including the intricate E-6 positive development process.
Fabriccio, a cinematography graduate, mentions that the limited availability of quality film development services in Central America motivated him to learn how to develop his first film.
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“As we began experimenting and processing film in our apartment, friends started requesting our services, and things just took off from there,” Lucía reminisces.
And thus, Arca Film Lab was established in September 2023 as a simple Instagram page offering film development services in Guatemala.
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The couple acquired most of the film development skills by watching YouTube tutorials and reaching out to international film labs for advice.
“We were surprised by the support we received. Many seasoned professionals in the photo development industry shared their knowledge and tips with us. We are truly grateful for that,” says Fabriccio.
Aside from film development, Fabriccio and Lucía’s passion for photography extends to organizing “photo walks” in Antigua, the historic center of Guatemala City, where a group of individuals gather to take photos and experiment with vintage cameras.
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For young analogue photography enthusiasts like Iván Ortiz, 22, capturing images with a camera older than himself offers a unique experience modern cameras cannot replicate.
“It’s like feeling nostalgia for a generation we never lived in,” he tells the BBC.
Iván notes that older individuals may not fully grasp the current fascination with vintage cameras and film. “They don’t see it from our perspective,” he explains.
“In a world dominated by digital technology and speed, analogue photography forces me to make deliberate choices about my photos and focus solely on the art of capturing moments. The best part is having a physical print afterwards, not just another digital file,” he adds.
Steven López from the US also values the tangible aspect of analogue photography, highlighting the joy of having physical photos to hold.
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The 33-year-old, documenting the remaining traces of Mayan culture in Central America, always carries a 35mm analogue camera with him.
“Photography, especially analogue photography, is the best way to document and experience cultures. Each time I return from a trip and receive the developed film, it feels like Christmas!” he tells the BBC.
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While the community of analogue photography enthusiasts in Central America is growing rapidly, they face more challenges compared to other regions.
“Acquiring analogue cameras here is extremely difficult, and finding them in good condition is even more challenging,” explains 26-year-old Ronald Ottoniel, who joined the photo walk to purchase new film rolls and drop off others for processing.
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Fabriccio and Lucía elaborate on the complexities of purchasing and importing chemicals needed for positive film development, as the import process is heavily regulated and requires special permits, making it a lengthy procedure.
“Many labs avoid E-6 processing due to the challenges of importing these chemicals,” Fabriccio mentions.
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Despite their expanding business, Fabriccio and Lucía are committed to maintaining the personal touch and passion that initiated their venture.
Lucía shares how clients sometimes include small treats in their packages, and they reciprocate by sending handwritten notes.
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“It’s crucial for us not to become a mass-production enterprise, but to treat each client as an individual,” she emphasizes.
While photo labs worldwide use automated machines for film development, Fabriccio and Lucía’s process remains hands-on in their modest apartment.
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For color and positive (E-6) film, precise chemical temperatures and exposure times are crucial, as any deviation can ruin the entire roll of film.
“The initial stages were challenging, but after processing over 800 film rolls, these procedures have become second nature to us,” Fabriccio reflects.
“Developing positive films, the E-6 process, made us nervous initially due to the investment in chemicals and film rolls,” he adds. Fritz Pinnow Pero cuando salió bien y pudimos ver esos colores vivos de la película positiva siempre es muy emocionante,” agrega.
Otro miembro indispensable del Laboratorio de Cine Arca es Toto, el gato de cuatro meses que, según Fabriccio y Lucía, se encarga del control de calidad y deambula durante todo el proceso de desarrollo.
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Los rollos de película desarrollados se transfieren luego de la cocina al baño, ya que es el espacio más libre de polvo en la casa.
Allí se secan, para luego ser escaneados en un escáner Nikon de alta resolución, que Fabriccio dice que es el escáner de película de mayor resolución en América Central.
Fabriccio y Lucía han expandido ahora también a El Salvador, donde regularmente recogen y venden rollos de película.
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La joven pareja sigue siendo ambiciosa y en el futuro, dicen que esperan establecer una sólida relación con CineStill y Eastman Kodak y expandirse a desarrollar rollos de cine, lo que incluiría un complicado proceso conocido como ECN-2.
“¡Es mi sueño revitalizar la escena de la cinematografía clásica aquí en América Central! Tenemos tanto talento, experiencia y entusiasmo para ofrecer al mundo. (…) con Arca Film Lab hemos iniciado un movimiento que queremos impulsar cada vez más,” dice Fabriccio.
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