05/11/2026
It has been a challenging year for many of us. Since the beginning of 2025, we have seen a decline in subscriptions. The most common explanation we have heard is that people are finding it increasingly difficult to afford the materials, equipment and resources needed to continue pursuing their photographic passions. In an increasingly difficult economic climate, even the things we love sometimes become luxuries we have to put aside.
But Obscura Craft has never been just about a magazine. It has always been about the people behind the processes, the artists, the practitioners, the experimenters and those who share an appreciation for the extraordinary world of historic and alternative photography.
There is something rather special about the people who find their way into this world. We share an appreciation for things that take time, patience, knowledge and dedication. We understand the fascination of working with processes that have survived generations, the excitement of discovering something new and the satisfaction of creating something by hand. It is a shared language that connects us, regardless of where in the world we happen to be.
Through Obscura Craft, we have brought together people who might otherwise never have crossed paths. We share our work, our discoveries, our knowledge, our successes and sometimes our frustrations. Every artist who contributes, every reader who follows our pages and every practitioner who keeps these processes alive becomes part of that shared story. It is a community built around a common passion, and one that becomes richer with every person who joins it.
We understand that times have been difficult. Many have had to make compromises, put projects on hold or step back from their practice simply because the costs have become too much. But we believe better economic times are ahead, bringing renewed opportunities for all of us to return to the practices and creative pursuits that mean so much to us. After all, who can stay away from their passions for long?
To everyone who has supported Obscura Craft, contributed their work, shared their knowledge, subscribed or simply followed our journey, you are not just an audience. You are part of what makes this community what it is. Your work, your enthusiasm and your continued dedication help give these traditions a future.
**Obscura Craft is more than a publication. It is a meeting place for those who share an uncommon passion, a home for the curious and the dedicated, and a growing circle of artists who believe that these extraordinary photographic traditions deserve to live on.**
And there is something else that makes being part of Obscura Craft special. Within its pages, you discover the work of artists and practitioners from around the world, many working in processes that remain relatively unknown outside our community. You get to see their creations, explore their approaches, learn from their experiences and discover techniques, ideas and perspectives that are rarely brought together in one place. These are not simply photographs on a page; they are glimpses into the minds and darkrooms of people who share the same passion you do.
Every issue offers an opportunity to discover someone new, find inspiration in another artist's work and feel a little more connected to this remarkable world we belong to. It is a privilege to be part of a community where so much knowledge, creativity and individual expression is shared, and where the work of its members is given a place to be seen, appreciated and preserved.
Stay creative, keep sharing, inspire one another and hold on to what matters most. We are proud of the community we have built together, and even prouder of the people who make it what it is. **You are Obscura Craft.**
