A Journey into Analog Photography
Maestro William Arango and me.
Photo taken at Yurupari Academy by Valentín
Photo taken at Yurupari Academy by Valentín
In October 2025, I decided to embark on a personal challenge into analog photography. After working as a photographer for the past four years, I felt the need to explore the other half of photography, the one I had never truly encountered, perhaps because of the era in which I was born.
So, I started from scratch. Through books and videos, studying the chemical processes, materials, and tools required to build a darkroom where I could develop film and make prints.
But soon, I felt the need to find a mentor who could pass on his knowledge. That’s when I came across Professor William Arango Hurtado, founder of the analog photography course at Yuruparí in Medellín, Colombia, leading authority on the history of photography in Colombia and President of the Photography Club of Medellín, where I gave a conference presenting the work of two photographers I have had the honor of meeting: the Hungarian Máté Bence and the German Carlo Böttger.
Of all the places in the world I could have traveled to in search of this knowledge, Medellín and its people turned out to be the perfect choice.
During my stay, I met remarkable photographers, as well as Master William and a handful of his former students, who have since become great friends.
I spent enough time with them to bring back to Europe all the knowledge I had been seeking, with the goal of being able to set up my own darkroom wherever I go and continue learning.
Now, a new chapter of this journey into analog begins.
To be continued...
So, I started from scratch. Through books and videos, studying the chemical processes, materials, and tools required to build a darkroom where I could develop film and make prints.
But soon, I felt the need to find a mentor who could pass on his knowledge. That’s when I came across Professor William Arango Hurtado, founder of the analog photography course at Yuruparí in Medellín, Colombia, leading authority on the history of photography in Colombia and President of the Photography Club of Medellín, where I gave a conference presenting the work of two photographers I have had the honor of meeting: the Hungarian Máté Bence and the German Carlo Böttger.
Of all the places in the world I could have traveled to in search of this knowledge, Medellín and its people turned out to be the perfect choice.
During my stay, I met remarkable photographers, as well as Master William and a handful of his former students, who have since become great friends.
I spent enough time with them to bring back to Europe all the knowledge I had been seeking, with the goal of being able to set up my own darkroom wherever I go and continue learning.
Now, a new chapter of this journey into analog begins.
To be continued...
