Princeton Day School supports many different artistic fields, one of them being film photography. In a world where you can snap hundreds of photos in seconds and view them instantly with a device you carry in your back pocket, why continue to teach film photography? This is the question one might ask if they saw the PDS photography program in action. 

For Upper School photography teacher Mr. Thatcher Cook, the answer to this question begins in the darkroom. He shared, “I tell students the story about seeing my first print arising in the developer when I was twelve—it was one of the most spectacular moments of my life.” For him, the darkroom is not only a place for work, but it fosters craftsmanship, reflection, and discovery.

 Mr. Cook believes that teaching film photography in this digital age is an important means to gain an appreciation of the process, learn patience, and earn the ability to slow down your perception of the world. He explained, “Film photography teaches students to be intentional. You only get 36 shots on a roll, so each one matters.” He further elaborated that because of the limited shots students have, they are forced to consider the composition and light of an image before taking a photo, making them better photographers. Junior Victoria Sichel emphasized this point: “I prefer working with black-and-white film because I think it makes me much more aware of trying to take really well put together photos.” 

Not only is digital photography more practical, it is easier to pick up as a beginner. In contrast, the film photography process, which involves many particular steps in a certain order, can be difficult to grasp at first. Senior Henry Bobbitt, however, felt that the steep learning curve was worth it. He expressed, “I prefer the printing process in the darkroom.” 

Through film photography at PDS, students are learning more than how to take a good photo. In a fast-paced world, students are learning to slow down and savor the environment around them through the lens of their camera.