SWAP FILM is a community supported 35mm photography lab and b&w film subscription service based in San Francisco.

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Established in 2016 out of a necessity to minimize the cost of his own personal journey within analog photography, Emmanuel David Blackwell III began utilizing techniques learned at City College of San Francisco as well as skills taught to him by his uncle. What started simply as hand processed film in the bathroom, has now grown exponentially to a lab servicing well-over 200 photographers in the Bay Area and beyond.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the SWAP FILM Membership was born. For $35, members were provided unlimited film to shoot and have processed for 6 months, one roll at a time. Since it’s inception, there have been over 120 photographers signed up across the country. However, misfortune would strike on October 20th, 2021 when Emmanuel’s younger brother would tragically pass away in a horrific car accident, causing all operations for SWAP FILM to be halted.

The community whom Emmanuel tirelessly supported would return the favor when needed most and now almost 3 years after founding the subscription-styled service, SWAP FILM has reopened it’s doors to provide 35mm film, processing, scans and more!

Below is a detailed breakdown of services offered by SWAP FILM:

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  • Bulk Loaded Rolls of B&W 35mm Film

  • Processing for 35mm (B&W, C41 and E6)

  • Processing for 120 + 110 film (B&W, C41 and E6)

  • Pakon Scans for 35mm (B&W + C41) — High Resolution upon request

  • Flatbed Scans for 35mm (B&W + E6) - High Resolution upon request

  • Polaroid Scans, Slide Film Rescans, Print Rescans

  • Used + Old Deadstock 35mm Camera Marketplace

  • Consultation for Film Processing Technique(s)

  • Basic Camera Troubleshooting, Servicing & Repairs

  • Convenient and Flexible Pick-Up/Drop-Off Options + Locations

  • Image Storage in SWAP FILM Google Drive for Easy Access to Photos

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PHOTOGRAPH BY EMMANUEL DAVID BLACKWELL III
CREATOR + CHIEF OPERATOR OF SWAP FILM

 

Got rolls of 35mm film that need to be processed? Curious about signing-up for a membership with SWAP FILM?

 

MORE THAN YOUR TYPICAL PHOTO LAB.

In addition to the services offered, SWAP FILM specializes in a wide-range of unique, handmade packaging crafted with supreme intention. All photographers can expect their precious negatives to be appropriately protected in archival plastic and stored in self-seal sleeve envelopes indicating pertinent details on the film used once processed, scanned, shared and ready for pick-up. Members will receive their first roll of 400 ISO 35mm Black and White film in a constructed box cut from a 5x7 printed photograph, folded and secured. Each roll of SWAP FILM is placed in a numbered canister for accurate tracking and inventory purposes.

SWAP FILM is a photo experience unlike any other.

BEHIND THE SHUTTER

During the Summer of 2022, BAYCAT, a San Francisco Non-Profit Organization specializing in offering hands-on media arts programming and mentorship to the youth, selected SWAP FILM to spotlight for it’s filmmaking students. The end result, a 10-minute short film Directed and led by Naomi Garcia Pasmanick w/ additional support from Baycat Academy members: Aidan Fong, Anthony Giang, Atticus Hansen, Gabriel Judge, Kainoa Parker, Kea Morshed, Lev Kaim, Nalin Pradhan, Owen Lefkowicz, William Holder-Soto, Zoe Belasco & special help from John-Paul Mackey has been picked up by the 14th annual San Francisco Latino Film Festival, 2nd annual Bay Area Media Makers Summit, 2022 Vancouver Black Independent Film Festival and most recently, the 25th San Francisco Independent Film Festival.