tI Feb -s #i ,c, 'efa , F ii 1 Ry R 3 ~ % . +.^. y : n f ~ k +£ NRY ; The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com I Thursday, September 22, 2011 In DEVELOPMENT Focusing the lens on the University's photography scene by Jacob Axelrad, Daily Community Culture Editor ver the years, it has Camera lucida become commonplace for photography-minded Hannum's office is located in 21 Tyler students in the School of House in the basement of East Quad. An Art & Design to take two Ansel Adams image of Yosemite National classes in the Residential College: RC Park hangs immediately to the right of Arts 285 and 385. These courses, taught the door, and black-and-white portrait by RC instructor Michael Hannum, are prints from former students adorn his open to any University students who is desk. interested in the process of film photog- According to Hannum (himself an Art raphy - Hannum's students work in the & Design alum), when he was a student, only remaining darkroom on campus. the art school's curriculum was com- The RC's darkroom is traditional: a room pletely different than it is today. Like completely enclosed in darkness, with many other art schools across the coun- the exception of a safelight, so the light- try, it has shifted from a craft-oriented sensitive negatives can develop without approach to a more conceptual art, focus- the danger of exposure. ing on creative problem-solving rather In the rush to be digital, the School than on learning to be a painter or sculp- of Art & Design removed all darkrooms tor or photographer. eight years ago, leaving little opportunity But in an age when people are exhib- for budding photographers to learn about iting a longing to once again get their wet process. As Hannum explains it, the hands dirty, the school's desire to be last five years have witnessed a spike in cutting-edge has diminished the chance the number of students attracted to the for students to learn about an important prospect of film because they already aspect of photography: developing their know digital photography techniques pictures in a darkroom. like Adobe Photoshop and Bridge. The "Things have been moving so fast that darkroom access that comes with Han- (students) just want to go back to basics," num's classes has become a valuable com- Hannum said. "They don't want to be modity for students looking to expand film photographers, but they want to see htographic haao what it's all about. What I'm sensing is A close examination of the Univer- that in the past five years people want sity's two photography classroom envi- to get their hands wet. They want to see ronments reveals what could be seen as somethingevolve before their eyes." a striking difference in pedagogies: Han- For LSA sophomore Ben Case, time num's teaches using traditional technol- spent in the darkroom is easily applicable ogy, while the School of Art & Design has to other areas of study., a more forward-thinking approach. "I have no problem spending hours in Ultimately, though, they both provide the darkroom, whereas I have problems a curriculum that permits students to sitting at a computer editing for hours," decide the best means of expression for Case wrote in an e-mail interview. "The themselves. The tools are secondary. experience in the darkroom gives you a "It's not the camera and it's not the well-rounded view of photography, and tool. It's the guy behind the camera," an appreciation of the art. (Hannum)'s Hannum said. "A film class makes it much RC course has given me an appreciation more about what you choose to take apic- for patience, which also applies to my life ture of, how you do it. What you use to get in general." there doesn't matter so much." See PHOTOGRAPHY, Page 3B weekend essentials Sept. 22 to 25 ON STAGE The Grammy-winning University Symphony Orchestra kicks off its performance sea- son tomorrow night at Hill Auditorium. Award-winning Ken- neth Keisler will be conducting the con- cert, which includes pieces by Brahms, Beethoven and Uni- versity faculty mem- ber Louis Nagel, who will also play piano. The concert starts at 8 p.m. and is free. CONCERT Feel like getting classy this weekend? Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples returns to the Ark tomorrow, after performing there last January. No mere concert, this event features a buffet (for Silver ticketholders and weU p)courtesy &Zitg- erman's Roadhouse, a silent auction and a dessert reception, It'll cost you though: Tickets start at $50. Doors open at 8 p.m. "It's not the camera and it's not the tool: It's the guy behind the camera." -Michael Hannum, RC Instructor FILM Remember the '60s? Of course you don't. Your parents were twinkles in their par- ents' eyes. But you do remember the version on "Mad Men." Any- way, there's this movie "X-Men: First Class," which is just like all the other X-Men movies except set in the '60s. Oh, and January Jones is in it too. It's screen- ing for free at the Natu- ral Science Auditorium tomorrow at 7 p.m. AT THE MIC Get in touch with your inner child this Sunday when the Grammy- winning children's music group Dan Zanes and Friends plays at the Power Center for two matinee concerts at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Formerly a member of the '80s garage rock band The Del Fuegos, the wild-haired Zanes is now famous for his upbeat tunes for kids and adults of all ages. Tickets from $16. PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP BY MEGHAN LACROIX, BRUIT SPENCER, MEGHAN LA CROIX, BRIJIT SPENCER, MAI TRUONG, MAI TRUONG, DANIEL DIGREGORIO, MEGHAN LACROIX DESIGN BY KRISTI BEGONJA