Although an important part of Chaminade’s fine arts legacy, the darkroom located on the second floor of the Skip Viragh Center is largely unknown to many students. The room’s prowess in film processing has been shadowed by a declining trend in film photography for high school students. However, we should not lose sight of the room’s value to our school due to a lack of interest in a certain type of photography. From experience, working in the darkroom is truly special, and it is important to know its place, history, and future on the Chaminade campus.
To begin, we must dive into the history and motivation behind the darkroom. I asked Mr. Laury – who I would consider the “Film Photography Guy” at Chaminade – about how it came to life.
Fr. Ralph, Chaminade’s former president who sadly passed away in 2021, was a huge photographer. Long-time students may remember him walking around with his camera at sporting events. Mr. Laury puts it nicely how Fr. Ralph “believed in the value of slowing down, being present and taking notice of the visual world around each of us. He is one who we owe gratitude for our continued support of analog photography.”
Furthermore, during the construction of the Skip Viragh Center, Fr. Ralph was adamant about creating something that many may consider “outdated,” but in his eyes, would have a lasting impact at the school. He went against the pushback he received due to a decline in film photography – specifically requesting that a darkroom be installed on the second floor of the building. Despite the photography industry going digital, Fr. Ralph believed in the preservation of film photography and the valuable lessons that students could learn when it comes to processing and shooting film. As a student who has indeed learned valuable lessons from working in the darkroom, I appreciate the efforts made by Fr. Ralph immensely.
Although some film photographers at Chaminade might understate the true impact that the darkroom has on your intellectual toughness, I will be the first to admit that long-term work in the darkroom has had a lasting impact on my character. Shooting and processing film is humbling. It requires determination and a great deal of perseverance. As Mr. Laury says, “Analog photography is S-L-O-W. That is both its appeal and annoyance. Committing to a time and space that is within the darkroom but outside of the digital world is challenging and rewarding.”
With that said, there are a few ways for students to dive into the rabbit hole that is the darkroom. Chaminade offers two Photo Imaging courses that will introduce the student to darkroom processes, and also has a Photography Club, run by Mr. Laury.
Lastly, I asked Mr. Laury – who is quite knowledgeable about all things film photography – about how film is making a resurgence: “Trends come and go. As digital photography and AI have gotten so sharp, clear, and uncomplicated, it has become so easy to effortlessly take good pictures. As a response to that, many artists and photographers have embraced a more analog, process-oriented and less than perfect aesthetic.”
Although considered by many to be a dying trend, film photography is making a huge comeback in the world, even to the point where film prices have skyrocketed. Film production companies didn’t expect the resurgence. In fact, Kodak paused all film production earlier this year to modernize their factories to meet the demand.
Chaminade’s darkroom is more than just what many might consider a relic of the past. Instead, it is a proponent of so much value: careful craftsmanship, patience, and perseverance. Even though high school students may not gravitate towards film photography, it is important to recognize the important and, quite frankly, humbling lessons that the activity can teach you. Due to the visionary leadership of Fr. Ralph and the ongoing dedication of Mr. Laury, film photography has become extremely special on Chaminade’s campus. Instead of letting it fall into the shadows, we should, and have started to, embrace its importance and preserve its legacy of meaningful image creation.
