MEET THE TEACHERSarah
Black
Hi, I’m Sarah, and I’ve been film-obsessed for over ten years. There’s no place I won’t take a roll of film and an open mind.
It’s the honesty and immediacy of film that appeals to me. I’m a deep feeler, which suits the vagaries of this medium, especially when you throw some vintage cameras into the mix.
One of the things I inevitably end up talking about when I’m teaching is how embodied film is. What does that even mean?
Well, it means that I believe there is a connection between the physical way a photograph is made and the weight and feeling of the photograph that is created. And that is what part of my teaching is about, because in the end I think it is more meaningful than attention to f-stops and film stocks.
To be honest I’m not particularly technically minded, which is ironic because often film does require you to lean more heavily into the mechanisms and processes of photography … but if I can become comfortable with a more hands-on approach to the mechanics of film photography, then anyone can.
I really went all in on film when I travelled for 3 months across Australia. As a chronic digital over shooter, I was worried about how many digital raw files I would have to edit on my return. So I bought two film cameras and threw caution to the wind.
Many mistakes, cameras, and learnings later, I remain obsessed. I live in Melbourne, Australia, on the unceded land of the Wurundjeri people. Our home is busy, with 4 teenagers, a dog and 2 cats, and often, a few extras. And loud - perhaps this is why I am drawn to the more meditative analogue processes and quiet time in the darkroom?
Image of Sarah by Anya Maria
Sarah Teaches An Introduction to Film a guide to analog Film PHotography.