Member Spotlight: Lee Cohen
At the Darkroom, community isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the heartbeat of everything we do. That’s why we started our Member Spotlight series: to share the stories of the people who make this space more than just a place to develop film. This month, we’re highlighting Lee Cohen, whose black-and-white work digs into the overlooked corners of our city and the lives unfolding there. Lee’s practice is thoughtful, political, and deeply human — and we’re so proud to have him as part of the BCD community.
Lee Cohen works primarily in analog black-and-white film, gravitating toward projects that unfold slowly and engage with the politics of place. His practice often lingers in overlooked or liminal spaces — land that exists between uses, and the people who live at the margins of large-scale change. Currently, he’s documenting a forgotten rail line cutting through Queens, alongside an autobiographical project about growing a family in Brooklyn.
Who are you, in 3 sentences or less?
Tell us the basics — your name, what you do, or how you’d introduce yourself if we bumped into you in the darkroom kitchen.
I'm Lee, I make pictures and video, and I've worked at the intersection of media and education most of my life. I'm based in Bushwick, and have lived in Brooklyn off and on for 20 years. I don't f&ck with color except sometimes, and I make prints to understand what is going on. I found this small library in Oaxaca that used to belong to a doctor and thought it would be a great place for a self-portrait...except something happened with my cable release and I ended up with this interesting result where I'm a phantom! Happy accident, I loved how it came out. The Interstellar soundtrack.
Pick one of your photos — what’s the story behind it?
We want the juicy details: where it was taken, what was happening, or the random memory tied to it.
I found this small library in Oaxaca that used to belong to a doctor and thought it would be a great place for a self-portrait...except something happened with my cable release and I ended up with this interesting result where I'm a phantom! Happy accident, I loved how it came out.
What’s the most random thing that inspires you?
(Could be a song, a smell, a childhood memory, or the way your cat stares at the wall.)
The Interstellar soundtrack.
If your art had a personality, how would you describe it?
(Moody? Playful? The friend who shows up late but always brings snacks?)
It's a 6-year old trapped in an adult body, a freaky friday situation.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you (or your work)?
(This can be sincere, sarcastic, or somewhere in between — your call.)
That it's all manual -- no machines, no autofocus, no flash.
Lee’s story is proof that the Darkroom isn’t just about mixing chemicals in the dark (though we do plenty of that) — it’s about the people who bring their quirks, passions, and sometimes happy accidents into the space. We’re a community of film nerds, beginners, pros, and everyone in between, and there are so many ways to plug in: come to a class, hit up a workshop, wander through an opening, or just hang around long enough to smell like fixer. And if you fall in love with it like we did, becoming a member means you’ll always have a seat at the table (or an enlarger in the corner). Who knows — your face might be the next one in our Member Spotlight. ✨