Stepping back into the darkroom

Film photography is making a comeback and has been on the rise in recent years, with the trend being especially popular among Generation Z, according to published reports. 

Although film photography has become trendy, there is a lack of facilities in the Rio Grande Valley to develop one’s own film. 

UTRGV, however, has a state-of-the art darkroom in the Visual Arts Building on South Closner Boulevard, a shuttle ride away from the main campus. 

The building contains a fully equipped darkroom, film loading room and film processing room available to develop black-and-white 35 mm film.

The darkroom is available to students enrolled in photo courses or part of the Darkroom Society, both of which are open to all students regardless of major, according to DM Witman, an assistant professor of photography and graduate program coordinator for the School of Art and Design, and Ed Pogue, director of the School of Art and Design.

Witman and Lecturer Brenton Hamilton, of the School of Art and Design, manage the facility.

Witman encourages students interested in film photography to stop by.

“We want [students] to reengage with the magic of the darkroom because it is really special,” she said. “You sort of lose track of time when you’re in the darkroom. Time just evaporates and it’s very meditative, and you have to be in the moment. It’s a real way to go about making something that doesn’t involve computers.”

Pogue said the building is exceptional.

“I came here to interview a couple of years ago for this position,” he said. “I was floored by this facility. It’s probably one of the best in the country.”

Pogue encourages students to enroll in a photography course to develop the skills to become a photographer.

“Everybody uses a cell phone, but because you have a camera does not mean you’re a photographer,” he said. “When you learn the basic black-and-white chemical processing of photography, you learn the essence of light and light management to develop form, much more detailed and much more artistically and with broader meaning.” 

Joahna Evasco, a studio art senior, is president of the Darkroom Society and a photography undergraduate assistant at the facility.

Evasco monitors the lab and assists students who come in to develop their film. 

She said students who want to develop their film at the lab can join the Darkroom Society through V Link and visit darkroom lab hours, which are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday. Evasco will be there to assist them.

As president of the club, Evasco has led field trips to local sites, such as Quinta Mazatlan, to photograph with students. She said the club plans to host more excursions in the near future.

Evasco encourages interested students to visit the facility even if they do not have experience with film development.

“Come join,” she said. “You can just come in and do stuff. I will help you!” 

Students interested in joining the club can also join the WhatsApp group chat.