Storytelling our Futures in Analog Photography: Post-Pandemic Hands-On Learning

“Photographs open doors into the past but they also allow a look into the future.”-Sally Mann
In this immersive two-credit course placed across two Friday afternoons in weeks two, three (1:00 PM to 6:00 PM) and four (4:00 to 6:00 PM), students will learn how to print black and white photographs from 120-millimeter film using medium format camera equipment and the state-of-the-art campus darkroom. Students will learn basic elements of camera use, film development, and darkroom printing to tell a visual story and complete a singular portfolio project. Embracing fun, this exploratory 2-credit course will give students an opportunity to explore hands-on creativity and connect with other students in a community setting, the campus darkroom.
Our work will culminate in a portrait of the future that answers the question: “Where to next?” Life during the pandemic has rarely given students the opportunity to envision their dreams and plans from a place of creativity and community. This project-based course will call students to imagine, through photographic imagery of objects, people, or landscapes, where they would like to see themselves next as life evolves in the shifting demands of our current era.