Film hangs in a damp, dark room as captured moments slowly turn into photos. But no, this is not 1930. This is Shalhevet’s newest extracurricular group, the Photography Club.
But film may become obsolete in the club faster than you can say “cheese,” because of the departure of the club’s faculty advisor, Dr. Debora Parks. (See related story below) Though the club plans to continue anyway, it will probably move reluctantly into the digital world.
“The anticipation and the whole process of waiting for your art to produce is just wonderful,” said Adir Hassid, the club’s president. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the knowledge or the resources to continue with this engaging process without Dr. Parks, but we are excited to move into digital photography.”
Launched earlier this year through a hobby shared by students, the Photography Club has 19 members. During first semester the group focused entirely on film photography, but they giving up on film for now.
The club has not met many times, but its members have learned how to shoot, develop, and enlarge film. Everyone in the group chipped in to buy a professional enlarger, which takes developed film and enlarges the small images onto paper.
Now they plan to work in depth with digital photography, hoping to take advantage of modern innovations such as Photoshop. Rumors that the club would fold without Dr. Parks are not true, its members say.
“Many think that the photography club is going to fall apart,” said sophomore Sammy Sheff. “We have very high hopes for this club and are excited to produce photos that will make people happy.”
The club was founded by senior Micha Zana, who passed his leadership to sophomore Adir Hassid this semester.
“So far, it’s been a great and wonderful experience,” added Micha.
But there’s no denying that Dr. Parks, who served as director of curriculum this year and before that was General Studies principal of the Lower School, was a major inspiration to the group. An accomplished photographer herself, she had instructed photography previously, also helped students gather the various materials needed for projects.
Unsure of the future, the club has not yet decided whether to continue without a teacher or find a new one. What they’d prefer would be Dr. Parks coming once a week after school.
Their ultimate goal is to arrange a section in Shalhevet’s literary magazine, The Litmag, with their photos.
“So far it’s been a great and wonderful experience,” said founder of the club and co-Litmag editor Micha Zana. “We hope to produce enough photography to eventually share with the Shalhevet community.
