Quick, Quick, Slow: Making Time for Sustainable Photography Practices in Contemporary HE

Abstract

As environmental awareness grows, so do questions about the environmental impact of photography, in particular traditional film development and processing, the use of plastics, gelatine and other environmentally harmful chemicals notwithstanding water usage and waste. Pioneering practice and research into sustainable alternative to conventional processes has quickly established, supported by organisations such as the London Sustainable Darkroom. Students in Higher Education are environmentally aware and prepared to take action to mitigate their impacts where possible. As such, there is a coalescence of perceptions within and beyond the classroom which asks to be addressed in the curriculum.

Sustainable and alternative processes are often more time consuming than established methods and rely on having sufficient time for the gathering and processing of unconventional materials. This is problematic in a contemporary HE environment where a shortened teaching year and modularisation break up the learning experience and desiccate the attention required by durational activities.

This paper will draw upon the current research project Under a Green Light: a darkroom for the future (PI Tabitha Jussa) which is exploring ways to pivot the undergraduate darkroom toward sustainable methods and will reflect on the potential and possibilities of sustainable photography in HE.