From Darkrooms to Digital: The One Photography Skill That Hasn’t Changed

If you look at how much technology has evolved over the last few decades, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down and reflect on this evolution with Dan Biferie, one of my former college professors. We met 40 years ago when I was a student in photo school at Daytona Beach Community College. Reconnecting with him for a recent episode of the Extra Credit Podcast brought back a flood of memories about my early days learning the craft.

During our conversation, we talked about our time in school, the history of photography, and where the medium is heading in the future. Back when I was first learning, we spent hours in darkrooms surrounded by chemicals, carefully exposing film to bring a single image to life. Today, the landscape is completely different. The cameras that used to require massive budgets and specialized training have been replaced by the devices we carry with us every day.

At Media Arts Academy, we believe that your everyday smartphone is actually a powerful “storytelling machine”. Students no longer need a Hollywood budget to shoot high-quality, professional-looking video; they can photograph and film, edit, and publish directly from a smartphone.

But as Professor Biferie and I discussed, while the tools have shifted dramatically from darkrooms to digital, one fundamental skill hasn’t changed at all: the art of storytelling.

No matter how advanced the technology gets, a camera is still just a tool. The real magic happens when a creator knows how to use that tool to bring their stories to life and share the human experience. Knowing how to captivate an audience and communicate effectively will always be the most critical skill a young media artist can develop.

That is the exact philosophy behind our curriculum at Media Arts Academy. In our online course, we don’t just teach kids which buttons to push. We use practical assignments to help students fill their “toolbox” with the organizational and interpersonal skills required to truly connect with people.

If you want to hear more about the history of photography and the enduring power of a good story, you can listen to my full conversation with Dan Biferie on the Extra Credit Podcast—which we have actually included as a featured part of the photography lesson in our Media Arts Essentials course!

Ready to help your student master the tools it takes to captivate an audience?

Enroll in Media Arts Essentials today, and let’s start turning their smartphone into a storytelling machine.