learning film photography

I love sharing my love of photography! I began teaching high school students when I was still in college, and since then have taught students from children to adults.

Nothing is automatic in film photography; it is a craft as well as an art. There are no preset special effects, no instant results. But it offers vastly more possibility for creative expression than most  realize. Achieving successful results is rewarding in part because it all comes from you — nothing happens due to  someone else's invisible computer programming.

You can begin with just the basics and gain increasing mastery over time. But you can make the choices that will affect the final image at every stage o f the process, from choosing the film to deciding how to  expose it, choosing lens and camera  settings, refining composition at various stages, developing the film, and, of course, crafting a beautiful print — an art in itself.

Many photography teachers still start their curricula with the black-and-white film process, because it's the ideal way for students to obtain a solid footing in photographic essentials. I teach it because of its language of light and the beauty of the fine silver print. In case you wonder if I ever worked in color, the answer is yes; I made most of my commercial work,  and thousands of other images in color.  (Click here for just a few of those.)

I love teaching every aspect of the process, from basic to advanced. Interested in special techniques, lighting, or composition? We can explore those, too.

Controlling your process from film to prints allows you to fully realize your images. Maybe that's why community darkrooms have been starting up again around the country. You're missing something wonderful if you leave the darkroom work to others, but that's up to you. 

I donate 15% of class fees to local organizations helping the hungry and homeless.

Whether you  are interested in learning film photography from scratch or advancing your current skills, or if you just have questions about it, feel free to reach me through the contact form.