Dr. Scott Williams, the inventor of Caffenol, an environmentally friendly alternative photographic developer, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his groundbreaking discovery with a special event in New York City. The celebration will take place on September 12th from 7 p.m. until midnight at the Gowanus Darkroom, located at 119 8th St. 212, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
Dr. Williams serves as Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Director of the Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His expertise in chemistry proved instrumental in developing what would become a revolutionary alternative to traditional photographic developing methods.
In 1995, Dr. Williams and his class embarked on an innovative project to create an alternative developing method for black-and-white photographic film using a formula made entirely with standard natural products. The research team experimented with various tea and coffee blends, combining them with certain natural agents specifically chosen to balance the pH levels of this new, environmentally friendly developing liquid. This careful scientific approach ensured that the natural ingredients would work effectively as photographic developers.
The experimental results exceeded expectations, as the team successfully produced high-quality negatives using film developed in their new, environmentally friendly alternative developing product. Following the successful development of negatives, they were also able to create photographic prints from these same negatives, proving the complete viability of their natural developing method. This breakthrough demonstrated that traditional chemical developers could be replaced with sustainable, natural alternatives without compromising image quality.
The upcoming 30th anniversary celebration will be chaired by Dr. Williams himself, offering attendees a unique opportunity to learn about the history and development of Caffenol directly from its inventor. Jacques Revon, a photography enthusiast who first contacted Dr. Williams in August 2023, has been working closely with the inventor on new research and development. Revon plans to share his recent files and recipes, which represent the fruits of his latest research in eco-friendly photographic development, work that Dr. Williams has been following and supporting from the beginning and continues to find compelling.
