Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Kodak Moment: Film is still alive in the digital age at Stamford High Schools



While so many writers seem to be lamenting the fall of Kodak into bankruptcy protection, it is notable that many young photography enthusiasts are being exposed to a culture that promotes analog photography in an age that is dominated with everything digital.

I grew up in the golden age of the non-digital single lens reflex.

 I reveled in my use of Kodak Tri-X high speed black and white film to capture photos in a low light setting.

I reveled in easy access to my home based darkroom--dominated with Kodak bulk roll films (Tri-X, of course), Kodak papers and developing solutions.

So, it is great to share with the reader that both High Schools in Stamford offer courses in traditional black and white photography so that students can learn darkroom techniques. "They learn chemistry, darkroom procedures, methods and techniques necessary for proper film and paper development."  (click here for link to full High School course description.) 

Both courses are offered by the Fine Arts Department of both schools and the emphasis is upon the students learning and incorporating "the elements and principles of art and design, aesthetics, history and philosophy of photography."

It is interesting to note that in today's Wall Street Journal there is an article entitled Favoring Film in a Digital Age. the writer, Lana Bortolt, calls attention to three exhibits in New York that highlight photographers whose works do emphasize the enduring quality of analog photography.

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