The Saint Petersburg Month of Photography (SPMOP) presents an exhibition at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts by Ric Savid. He is the SPMOP Photo Laureate and the name of the exhibition is Dark Room Silver Linings.
Ric Savid’s commitment to analog photography is a lifelong pursuit rooted in the solitude of the darkroom, where he finds a meditative focus. His portraits reveal a deep need for human connection, countering a world dominated by screens and distraction. The Saint Petersburg Month of Photography Photo Laureate project has reinforced his appreciation for people, shaping his approach to portrait photography as an act of collaboration and trust. Savid describes analog photography as humbling, requiring both confidence and surrender to chance. His best images, he believes, are not staged but discovered, proof that in photography, attention and serendipity are inseparable for creating intimate and meaningful portraits.
Born in New York City, Ric Savid earned a BA from Rollins College in 1976 before serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Philippines. He later completed a master’s in journalism from Columbia University and worked as a police reporter for the St. Petersburg Times while supporting his family through underwater boat cleaning. Savid has since balanced careers in demolition, nursing, and photography and was the 2011 City of Tampa Photo Laureate. As a self-taught photographer, he prints his images on gelatin silver paper, working exclusively with available light. His portraits, shaped by an upbringing immersed in music and art, have been featured in American Photo, Aperture, Black & White, and Focus. Ric Savid published his first book, Portraits from My Darkroom, in 2024.
Exhibition made possible by Saint Petersburg Month of Photography.
Ric Savid : Dark Room Silver Linings
April 29 – June 1, 2025
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
1630 E 7th Ave.
Tampa, FL 33605
www.fmopa.org
