ACADEMIC SEMESTER IN FLORENCE [list of courses]
Sarah Zimmer
Photography
The intent of this course is to leave each student with skills and techniques in black and white photography. This includes the camera and it's functions (the relationships between apertures, shutter speeds, and film speeds), the development of film and the necessary chemical processes and procedures to produce a silver-gelatin print within the darkroom. Beyond that each student will be required to produce a final series of photographs based on a central theme or idea. Each lesson will include lecture, demonstration, and completion of daily objectives.
The medium of photography offers many forms of exploration, documentation, and personal expression. Throughout the class it is my hope that you develop your own personal relationship between yourself, the camera and your subjects and thus learn to see and express your world and ideas.
In our immediate locale, lies the historical cities artistic masteries, and architectural and scientific achievements. For this reason we will utilize the cities attributes to aid us in our lessons and projects. Within the city walls lies a very famous photographic archive, Alinari. They recently opened a museum to the general public. We will utilize this museum to aid us when discussing historical aspects of the medium.
We will also be frequenting one of the oldest zoological and natural history museums - La Specola. It was first opened to the public in 1775 and within it's 34 rooms holds many extinct specimens as well as atomically accurate wax figures of the human body. It's opening was significant not only for public awareness and benefit, but at the time had challenged many ideas on the body, it's mechanics, and religious and spiritual conceptions. Entering the space is still to this day an awe filled experience. The museum remains a significant part of students educations especially those with in the medical and biological fields...and in our case the photographic field.
La Specola means observatory. Observation is what a photographer does. We will explore and utilize this world to learn many of the camera functions and utilizing the stillness and intricate details to our advantage.
You will then be instructed on how to process your film. From the processing room we will enter darkroom, where we will spend much of the time creating and perfecting the images initially captured. The printing process for some is the most magical part of photography. - Standing under the red safe light in anticipation...waiting for an image to emerge from your paper.
It is my intent to introduce many different worlds the medium has to offer, to leave you with fundamental knowledge in black and white photography, and to aid you in producing and bringing forward your concepts and ideas through this medium. We will achieve this through diligence, ongoing communal discussions, practice, and experimentation.
Sarah Zimmer / Biography
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