Polk State’s “darkroom renaissance” brings students back to the basics
The Black and White Photography class at Polk State College is far more than its name suggests. This foundational film course is a gateway to mastering the art and science of photography, offering students hands-on experience with 35-mm cameras, film processing and darkroom techniques that are unique in Polk County.
Under the guidance of Professor Sarah Brewington, students like Candace Knoebel, Michael Comings and Ean Pennypacker are discovering the timeless craft of film photography, and its influence on their creative journeys and career pursuits.
“I would recommend the film class because it is such a great learning opportunity as to how we got to our media today,” said Comings, a student and lab assistant in the Digital Media Technology Program. “There are a lot of parallels between the problem-solving that there was 20, 30, 50 years ago, and the tools that we use today.”
A profound history
Brewington shared the importance and relevancy of film photography in an increasingly digital world, citing a “darkroom renaissance” driven by a desire for the mindful process and unique aesthetic of analog photography. The course bridges the past and the present, drawing parallels between the problem-solving of early photography and modern practices.
“Photography is one of those magical things we have all become incredibly good at,” she wrote. “All the continually changing technology is in place to help us take wonderful, if not incredible, photos. However, photography’s profound history includes a groundbreaking industry shift from film to digital that is rarely considered, remembered or was even experienced.”
This historical perspective deepens students’ appreciation for the medium and enhances their work, both analog and digital.
“The full integration of digital photography into today’s world means that many students here at Polk State have never experienced a world without instant image capture – some have never known photography without smartphones,” she explained. “While this photographic evolution has opened an entire world to us in the palms of our hands, it has also distanced those same hands from the tactile experience of making a photograph rather than simply taking one.”
The course’s emphasis on foundational techniques empowers beginners and seasoned creatives alike to refine their craft and critical thinking skills.
“[Film photography] is a really good challenge to stop and think about what I’m taking a picture of. You really have to think about the composition, and it has been a really inspiring challenge to my creativity to see what I can do,” Knoebel said. “The skill that I’m gaining from this course is confidence in myself. It’s building me up with trusting myself and my instincts.”
Peers echoed this boost in creativity and confidence.
“There are different ways of thinking about film and digital. What attracted me to the medium was getting in touch with the old process of taking pictures and expanding my knowledge. Nowhere else would teach me how to develop film, so I was really excited to see that here at Polk State,” Pennypacker said. “The beauty of film is that we are rolling with the imperfections and figuring out how to improve.”
Comings elaborated that the meticulous process teaches students to be intentional with every shot – a skill that translates seamlessly into digital photography and other creative processes.
“I can really spend a lot of time trying to figure out how the lights and the shadows of my environment will impact my final prints,” he said. “That’s hands-down making me a better photographer.”
Investing in the arts and students
The heart of the course lies in the College’s state-of-the-art darkroom, a space that Professor Brewington describes as “magic” and a “rare gem” in Central Florida. It was integral to preserve the facility during Polk State’s $16.2 million renovation of its Winter Haven Fine Arts (WFA) Building.
“It feels like an investment in the students,” Knoebel expressed. “It elevates what we are able to do and gives us hands-on experience with equipment used in the industry. It better prepares us going forward into the workforce.”
Reopened for the first time since 2019, the Black and White Photography course was the first of the photography offerings to reach capacity, proving a popular choice for students.
“Film photography offers students across all disciplines, whether pursuing nursing, business, engineering, or the arts, a chance to slow down and engage with a truly foundational art form that translates beautifully to any field of study,” Brewington said.
At the beginning of the course, students start with photograms by placing objects directly onto light-sensitive paper, exposing it to light and chemically developing and fixing the paper in the darkroom.
“When the image starts to appear, the reaction that these students have will never leave me,” Brewington exclaimed.
Knoebel described the moment she developed her first roll of film – photos of her daughter.
“It was a rush,” Knoebel recalled. “Everybody started cheering. The entire class is filled with so much kindness and encouragement.”
Honoring a predecessor
The late Professor of Photography David Woods advocated for the preservation of film education and was integral in the design of the photo studio and darkroom during the WFA renovation. Brewington served as an adjunct faculty member teaching photography in 2012-2013 when Woods was at the helm of the program.
“Despite film serving as the foundation of his photographic practice, [Woods] had fluctuating student enrollment in his courses whenever society declared film photography ‘obsolete,’” Brewington said. “By 2009, declining interest had left our darkroom exactly that – an empty and dark room, void of student life and creativity.”
Woods told The Ledger in 2015, in response to whether he would teach film again, that the pendulum would swing back.
“Today, I have the privilege of helping our students experience film photography’s resurgence rather than its decline – a vindication of his patience and foresight,” Brewington exclaimed.
Now with a state-of-the-art facility retrofitted with top-tier tools and an expert instructor dedicated to continuing her predecessor’s legacy, there is an unparalleled opportunity for Polk State students to engage with photography.
Those enrolled have called the film course, specifically, an experience that they could not find anywhere else.
“The access that we have to great instruction and great equipment here at Polk State is amazing. You really don’t even get that at expensive colleges, and here at Polk State, it is very affordable, but you are still receiving a high-quality education,” Pennypacker said. “I searched for this opportunity and couldn’t really find it anywhere else. I was excited to find it right here at Polk State.”
Students who are interested in a photography class can email sbrewington@polk.edu.