FOR the subject of his latest documentary, a Maida Vale filmmaker focused on the life and work of a Fulham printer who has become a legend in his field.

Over the past two years Richard Dunkley has been capturing the world of Robin Bell, a darkroom master printer who has produced high end black and white photographs for magazines, newspapers, museums and galleries throughout his 40-year career.

In a digitally dominated age, Mr Dunkley was keen to show the magic of darkroom photography and has produced a 30-minute film with his close friend at its centre.

The Harrow Road resident said: “Robin is like the familiar face of darkroom printing.

“The film celebrates the history of photography and the fact that Robin is still around doing his thing, even though his world has changed dramatically.

“In the 1970s he would have been rushed off his feet supplying photos to the colour supplements of national newspapers and magazines like Vogue, but since the digital takeover he’s been largely working with galleries supplying collectors who don’t want digital prints.

“He’s still going strong, but it’s a different type of strong to how it once was.”

Interviewing photographers such as Ken Griffiths and curators from the National Portrait Gallery, Mr Dunkley examines how there is still a demand for fine art photographic printing.

The two have been friends since the 1970s when Mr Bell developed the young filmmaker’s negatives in his Chelsea Harbour studio.

Mr Bell, whose studio is now in Epirus Mews, Fulham, initially had reservations about the documentary.

Mr Dunkley said: “When I approached him about making the film he was flattered but a little wary.

“I think the reason it became possible was because we work with a small crew and as we didn’t terrorise him so much, he got used to it.”

The documentary was named after Mr Bell’s 2009 book The Silver Footprint, a collection of photographs from some of the world’s greatest photographers.

Mr Dunkley added: “To my knowledge he’s the only printer to have his own coffee table book.”

l To see details online visit www.thesilverfootprint.com.