Photography Class

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Why would a high school photography class want the kids to use a 35mm camera?

My son just started a photography class at school. He came home telling me I need to get him a 35mm film camera. I was shocked because I can't believe anybody still uses film. It's so inconvenient, and costly.

Either way, I have my own theories as to why they'd teach photography with a 35mm camera, but I'd like to know what you think. Especially, if you're a photographer or teach photography, I'd be really curious to hear your opinions.

I am a photographer who has also taught photography. I've shot both digital and film, and have recently returned to shooting most of my work on film. Digital is great when I'm in a hurry, but....it just does not have the zing!

As to why your son's school teaches in film, my opinion is:

1. Film is now actually cheaper than digital. You can pick up a good condition 35mm film for under $50.

2. Film is relatively inexpensive, and the cost for a term will not exceed the cost of a basic DSLR. The school will probably provide developing and printing chemicals, so there is no cost for this. You may have to spring for a box of paper, $ 50-100.

3. Your son will actually learn more by using film. Black and white in particular will teach him to see the scene as a graphic object, concentrating on shape, and tonality. He will also have a limited number of images to use: the mistakes cannot be deleted. Instead its the bad shots that he will learn to analyze and so begin to develop actual skill. (This is not to say one cannot learn photography from digital, one will simply learn more and better photography by shooting film.)

4. He will learn to really look at a photograph because he is printing it in the darkroom. There is a moment when the film comes out of the tank the very first time and the students don't quite believe what happened - its a little bit of magic in all that science. I've observed this many times in my classes. Watching a print come up in the developer the first time is a sublime experience that no computer can match. Then they get over it and become interested in chemistry.

5. Using film teaches tenacity. To become good at this, he will have to work not just hard, but in a very organized and deliberate manner.

6. He can transfer his skills to digital.

Sounds like a win-win to me.

Bully Photography Class 1


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photography class5