Metro Auto Photo: Preserving Melbourne's Analogue History

Metro Auto Photo operates Melbourne's last seven analogue photo booths, preserving a chemical photographic history in an increasingly digital era.

"Metro Auto Photo operates Melbourne's last seven analogue photo booths, preserving a chemical photographic history in an increasingly digital era."

Operations and History

Chris Sutherland and Jessie Norman established Metro Auto Photo in 2022. Their involvement began in 2018 when they successfully campaigned to prevent the removal of a Flinders Street booth. Following this, they learned operational intricacies from its previous owner, Alan Adler.

The business has since expanded, with booths now located in prominent spots like Lygon Court, South Melbourne Market, and The Curtin. Their core focus remains the meticulous restoration of vintage machines that utilize a 'wet' chemical process.

The Analogue Difference: Process Details

Metro Auto Photo strips are created using a traditional silver halide process. This method produces high-contrast, black-and-white images characterized by unique depth and grain.

When they emerge, the strips are notably slightly damp and carry a faint 'fixer' smell, serving as a tactile reminder of this physical photographic art. Significantly, these chemical prints are considered archival, often outlasting modern digital storage solutions.

Operational Insights and Challenges

Mentorship and Resourcefulness

Chris Sutherland's mentorship under Alan Adler was crucial. He learned not only machine modifications but also a highly resourceful problem-solving approach, which often involves utilizing repurposed materials for repairs. This practical, adaptive mindset has proven invaluable for emergency fixes.

Customer Expectations and Legacy

Despite the widespread availability of modern digital booths, the Flinders Street booth maintains remarkable popularity. This is largely attributed to its established presence of over 65 years and the unique anticipation generated by the chemical development process. Users, often accustomed to instant digital results, sometimes misinterpret the necessary waiting time as a machine malfunction.

Supply Chain Resilience

The global community of photo booth operators, numbering approximately 60 individuals, faced significant challenges when the primary source of dedicated paper from Russia ceased production. Fortunately, an alternative paper option is now reliably supplied by Ilford, a UK-based film and paper company.

Maintenance and Modern Adaptations

Maintaining these intricate booths demands daily vigilance against vandalism and misuse, particularly in high-traffic areas like Flinders Street. Operators regularly address various forms of mistreatment to ensure functionality. To adapt to contemporary payment methods, digital payment systems and modern flash solutions have been integrated into most booths, while the core chemical process remains steadfastly authentic.

Daily routines for the operators involve frequent visits to each booth for maintenance and test strip production, especially during extreme weather conditions, contributing to a demanding schedule.

A Brief History of the Photobooth

While automated photography machines existed prior, the first truly functional and commercial photo booth emerged in the mid-1920s. Anatol Josepho, a Russian immigrant, introduced his groundbreaking "Photomaton" on Broadway in New York City in 1925. For a mere 25 cents, it would swiftly take, develop, and print eight photos in about 10 minutes.

The Photomaton Company was subsequently formed to expand its reach, and Josepho received a substantial $1 million for his invention in 1927, along alongside future royalties. This innovation marked a pivotal moment, significantly increasing photography's accessibility to the general public.

Understanding the Chemical Photobooth

A chemical photobooth is essentially an automated darkroom. Unlike its digital counterparts, it relies on light-sensitive paper and liquid chemistry to produce photographs.

The Exposure Process

After payment, a flash fires, precisely projecting the image onto a strip of light-sensitive silver halide paper. A mechanical arm then accurately cuts the strip. These machines utilize reversal processing, meaning the exposed paper directly becomes the final image, eliminating the need for a separate film negative.

The Mechanical "Spider" and Chemical Journey

Inside the machine, an intricate system of gears, chains, and a rotating arm—aptly known as a 'spider'—skillfully moves the paper strip through a series of tanks. Each tank contains different chemical solutions, and the paper is held for precise durations. The process typically involves nine distinct stages:

• First Developer: Converts exposed silver halide into metallic silver, forming a negative image.
• Bleach: Dissolves the silver negative, leaving unexposed areas.
• Clearing: Neutralizes the bleach.
• Fogging (Reversal): Exposes the remaining silver halide using light or a chemical, making it developable.
• Second Developer: Develops the remaining silver, creating the positive (final) image.
• Fixer: Renders the image permanent by making it no longer light-sensitive.
• Wash & Dry: Rinses chemicals from the strip and dries it with heat before dispensing.