Pramod Dark Room

Our little spot is in Mani Baug, right opposite the Damani Estate on LBS Marg in Naupada, Thane West. It’s a bit of a landmark for people who have lived in this part of Thane for a while. As the name suggests, we deal with photography and dark room work, though things have changed a lot over the years with everything going digital. The smell of the chemicals is something you never really forget if you’ve spent enough time in the back. LBS Marg is always loud with traffic, so the shop feels like a bit of a retreat from the dust and the horns outside. We have a lot of old equipment sitting around, and we still handle things the old-fashioned way when people ask for it. It isn't a high-tech studio with neon lights. It’s a practical space where we focus on getting the prints right. We get a lot of families coming in for portraits or students who need stuff for their projects. We spend a lot of time adjusting the lights or checking the focus on the enlarger. It’s a slow process compared to what people do on their phones now, but we like it that way. Most of our regulars are neighbors who have been coming to us since they were kids. We keep the shop open late because that’s when most people find the time to stop by. It’s just a small family-run business in the heart of Thane.