Years 11 & 12 Photography

Like anything, great photography is about good technique and it is the fundamentals that our Years 11 and 12 photography class have been learning this year.

Under the guidance of art teacher, Ms Cherie Pocock, students have been learning wet photography techniques and using the dark room. Using traditional methods and SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras that require film, students have learnt to process their own films, which they have then used to create photographic art works.

The subject matter for this photography project was ‘your environment’, including school, home and nature. The resulting images were highly unique and reflected how each student perceives their own surroundings.

The most basic technique students needed to learn was how to produce a photogram. This required the select objects, such as leaves, seed pods and flowers to be placed on light sensitive photographic paper. Students then used an enlarger to expose the paper to light. It was important that they experimented with times to get a variety of tones in their images.

Following this, students learnt to take a photograph using an SLR film camera. These films were then processed to create negatives which were then put together in a proof sheet.  This process enabled students to view their images before selecting which ones to enlarge.  Using the enlarger they projected light, focused their image then exposed the photographic paper to create a photograph. The results were artistic and quite stunning.

Students also learnt to process these images in the photographic chemicals; developer, water and then fixer, and they needed to ensure they used the correct times in order for the image to appear. 

Ms Pocock said ‘It was terrific to see how much students enjoyed learning each technique and how these are essential in achieving a high quality result.  Students will continue to build on these techniques throughout the remainder of the year and I look forward to seeing the photographic work they produce along this learning journey'.

‘It’s been wonderful that we have been able to get wet photography back into the school after a long absence. This has been largely made possible through the donation of SLR film cameras from Mr John Miguel and teacher, Mr Jason Riley'.

If anyone in the community has an SLR film camera they no longer need, we’d be most grateful to put it to use here in our art room.

‘Students have really embraced the opportunity to learn the original techniques of producing photographs.  Techniques that date back hundreds of years remained unchanged until the invention of digital cameras', explained Ms Pocock.

The photographic artworks were on display at last weekend's Wee Waa Show.