Before the era of digital photography, there was film photography. Photographs were taken by cameras, such as 35mm film cameras, and the film had to be developed using certain chemicals and techniques learned over time. This eventually paved the way for digital photography, where the need for film and developing equipment was no more.
But film photography is not a forgotten art. People still practice it all the time with an up-to-date facility and proper equipment.
In the McKnight Art Center at Wichita State, there is a darkroom that supplies and holds all of the equipment and space necessary for film photography. However, the darkroom has not been regularly updated in a while.
One aspect in need of improvement is the plumbing. Specifically, there are two developing rooms with a sink in each one. Only one of the sinks produces both hot and cold water. The other one just flows hot water. This can be difficult for students trying to develop at the same time. The student using the hot water sink needs to find cold water somewhere else in order to regulate the temperature for the developer chemical.
In the darkroom, there are machines known as enlargers, which are essential for the printing process of film photography. They make the intended image bigger so that the image prints correctly. Unfortunately, some of them are not functioning properly. Some have light bulbs that need to be replaced, others just need to be replaced entirely. This can create issues in the printing process.
I have experienced all of these issues myself. While developing, I have had to use the water fountains outside the darkroom to retrieve some cold water to regulate my water temperature. I have also had to use different enlargers while printing photographs. Both of these cost me time I did not have.
All of these updates require the right amount of funding provided by the Fine Arts department and WSU.
Jennifer Ray, one of the photography instructors for the College of Fine Arts and a current professor of mine, has been petitioning for funding for the darkroom. The department claims that they do not have it at the moment.
How can you not improve the student experience when it is needed, not wanted? The state of the darkroom is causing setbacks to students attempting to finish their photography projects in time. This can severely affect students’ grades and GPAs.
Students who are taking photography classes require up-to-date developing and printing equipment in order to successfully complete their photography projects. Not only is it required for their grade in the class, but it is also required for the development of the skills that they are learning through the class.
Students could take action by writing up a petition for funding for the darkroom.This lack of funding reflects poorly on the fine arts department because they should be willing to try everything in order to help their students succeed to the best of their abilities. The needs of photography students are too great not to act on this matter.
