“This is the camera,” he said.
The students pass it around, eyeing it off with a narrow-eyed suspicion any of us might exhibit when told something absurd like the grass is blue.
For those of you who have not yet joined the dots, this is a pinhole camera – a light-proof box featuring a small hole that acts as a tiny lens.
“In my class, there’s a bit of history and some technical stuff – how the camera works, how lenses differ, and how shutter speeds affect photos in different ways – and there’s a bit of magic involved, too,” Kerry said.
Later that day, the students soaked their tin-can-taken film in chemicals under the blanket of darkness.
Shapes appeared. Eyes popped. Kerry nodded knowingly.
“Even though you explain the chemistry behind it, it’s still magic to them, and they want to keep doing it,” he said.
Photography lessons at ACE, whether in the darkroom or the photo lab, combine practical knowledge with artistic exploration to help students grasp key concepts.
“We take them through some art elements – discussing texture, shape, patterns, lines, and so on – and then they have a go at shooting those elements themselves,” Kerry said.
Switching from pinhole to digital, the students frequently prowl the regional city with their cameras, hunting for things to photograph – interesting shadows, unique angles, textures that go against the grain.
Once taken, it’s back to school and up to the lab to process and edit.
“They’re getting very good,” Kerry said, scanning the images.
I’m not surprised.
Many former students who dreamed of a life behind the lens have emerged from Kerry’s photography classes throughout the years.
One has a studio in Melbourne and can afford to work only a few months each year due to high demand and even higher earnings.
Another is a photojournalist for The Age.
Many are wedding or portrait photographers.
“That’s the greatest part – finding out that this hasn’t been just a hobby for them, they’ve made it into a career, and knowing that you’ve given them this skill,” Kerry said.
“I run into a lot of students, and they’re always very grateful for what they learned here.
“That’s comforting, too, to know that you did it right, you gave them a bit of joy in their schooling.”
And let’s not forget, a bit of magic.
– Taylah Baker
10°C