holaLAB.org

holaLAB.org

holaLAB.org is an international creative space in Asturias, Spain; an artistic residency for chemical photography and cinematography.

It is already set up at Laboral Centro de Arte and has the support of Impulsa, a program of the local government (Promoción empresarial y turística del Ayuntamiento de Gijón).

At holaLAB.org, I offer support and professional resources to those who use traditional photography as a form of artistic expression.

My equipment is extensive and of high professional quality; however, I’m still missing a few key components, most notably, a professional negative scanner. Many film photographers today choose to digitize their negatives rather than continue the chemical darkroom printing process.

My goal is to acquire the Epson V850 Pro negative scanner. It’s a professional-grade device with an excellent balance of performance and price, capable of scanning negatives of all formats—including large format—and producing digital contact sheets.

🎞️ Euro for Euro — Help Me Reach €800

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! I’ve been awarded a grant to help purchase this professional negative scanner—a key piece of equipment that will make my traditional photography project more competitive and accessible.

Thanks to the generosity of Laurence and Judy Siegel, Canadian patrons deeply committed to supporting the arts, every euro you contribute will be matched—euro for euro—up to €800. In other words, your donation will have twice the impact and bring me one step closer to fully realizing this project.

Through Verkami, I want to thank every supporter personally. You’ll be able to choose from limited-edition prints, exclusive photographic services at special prices, or even have your portrait taken with one of my film cameras. Each contribution helps not only fund essential equipment but also keeps the tradition of analog photography alive.

Your support—no matter the amount—makes a real difference. Together, we can reach that €800 goal and bring this project to life!

And Who Am I?

I’ve been passionate about photography since I was 15 — and now, a few decades later, that passion has only grown stronger. By all logic, I shouldn’t have become a photographer: too many obstacles, too few opportunities, and very little encouragement. But I persevered.

I didn’t win my first photo contest back in high school in the late 1980s — or maybe I did! My photo was chosen as the best of all, but the jury decided it couldn’t possibly have been taken by someone so young. The truth is, I had not only taken the photograph myself, but also developed and printed it in my own small lab.

I wasn’t angry — quite the opposite. I felt deeply flattered. It was proof that my work spoke for itself, and that my good nature — something I inherited from my mother — kept me smiling through it all.

In high school, I published my very first magazine cover — for the student magazine Andecha. That early milestone sparked a lifelong journey. Since then, I’ve created numerous covers and editorial features for interior design and architecture magazines, collaborating on projects across borders.

Today, my work continues to appear regularly in leading publications in the fields of architecture and interior design. In fact, the October issue (No. 760) of El Mueble features one of my photographs taken in San Sebastián on its cover — a full-circle moment that reminds me how far this journey has come.

I was born in Gijón, but my life has taken me through many landscapes and experiences. I spent over a decade in a small mountain village in Asturias, twelve years in Barcelona, and another thirteen in Toronto, Canada — a truly diverse blend of cultures and perspectives that has deeply shaped who I am.

Now, I’ve returned to live near Gijón beach, close to my family and friends. In Toronto, I discovered how powerful and fulfilling it is to share knowledge and collaborate with other artists. Working collectively taught me that art grows stronger when it’s shared — a lesson I continue to live by through my involvement with gallery44.org
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That’s why I founded holaLAB.org — to help others explore photography with the same passion, curiosity, and joy that drive me. It’s a space designed to foster creative focus, collaboration, and emotional expression through the magic of analog photography.

Get Exclusive Rewards

• Own one of my works: This is your chance to acquire a piece of my photography. You can choose from a variety of prints, ready to frame or display as you like.

• Handcrafted quality: Artwork is always more meaningful when made by the artist’s own hand. In photography, nothing is more artisanal than the darkroom process, which also ensures archival-quality prints with lasting durability.

• Baryta paper prints: I create prints on baryta paper with meticulous care, using high-quality chemicals and precise processing times. Each print is finished with a gentle selenium toning, guaranteeing both the archival quality of the image and the paper.

• Personalized portraits: If you’d like, I can take your portrait using one of my vintage film cameras. The experience is unique — people tend to pose naturally, fully present in the moment, just as it was before digital photography. Using a large-format camera, each session produces a stunning 10x15 cm negative that captures a depth and detail unlike anything else can replicate.

Scheduled Timeline

Most of the images are already printed, so your reward will be sent the following week after the crowdfunding ends. Hopefully, it will arrive just in time for Christmas or Reyes’ Day, depending on the shipping company’s schedule. It will be a perfect opportunity to give a truly unique and personal gift.

For custom photoshoots, we’ll set a date that works for you. I’m happy to arrange weekends if needed, and we’ll make sure the experience is relaxed, fun, and memorable. Imagine stepping in front of one of my vintage cameras and taking home a portrait unlike anything else can create!

More info

Here are some links related to my project and myself that may be useful for you to know who I am:

• Follow me here Instagram

• You can find me on Youtube and Vimeo

• Come visit my personal website adolfofernandez.com

• Here is my profile at Laboral Centro de Arte

• Me at Gallery 44, Toronto

• On this [Blog] I’ve been sharing various activities and projects related to traditional photography that I’ve worked on over the years.