Allison MolloyAmidst a mix of required courses and heavy loads of APs, students focused on college applications can often “miss out on opportunities to explore and find their niche,” as Stefanie Dahlstrom, an art teacher, explained. One such opportunity is darkroom photography.
In the fast-paced, technology-driven world of digital photography, the process of using a darkroom to develop photos has become somewhat of a “lost art,” Dahlstrom said.
Yet, in this unique class, students break away from the digital world, using traditional techniques to develop film photos by hand. Students are tasked with taking pictures as homework, and then bring their negatives to class to develop and finalize them using the darkroom equipment.
“I took it with one of my really good friends, so it was fun because we got to do it together. It helped me because I like taking pictures and experimenting with a different type of photography. Doing that with my
friends was really special,” Olivia Packee (12) said.
Beyond the personal impact it has on students, the class also provides valuable skills that are appreciated by teachers.
“Students see the class as a break but also a time where they can tap into a creative side of themselves,” Dahlstrom said. “It encourages them to slow down and appreciate the history [of photography] in a way that they don’t get to see a lot.”
Before becoming the instructor for darkroom photography, Dahlstrom majored in art and only took a few photography classes in college. However, it was during high school that she first encountered the art of darkroom photography.
“I first discovered darkroom in high school… but as time passed, it became much more rare and special to find a class like it, especially in college.,” Dahlstrom said. “That’s why [as a film photography teacher] I’m so excited to see this kind of resurgence in film photography.”
“It’s one of the unique art classes that we offer for elective and fine arts credit. It’s a social and communal space, and it attracts students from so many different backgrounds and interests,” Allison Molloy, an art teacher, said.