As the only cross-listed Fine Arts and Science Department course credit in the Upper School, the Chemistry of Photography class offers the benefits of explicitly mixing the disciplines of art and science.
Founded in 2009 by Upper School and Middle School Photography teacher Frank Lopez and former Upper School Chemistry teacher Chad Bittenbender, the original goal of the class was to capitalize on both teachers’ expertise and appreciation for each other’s subject.
“I have taught 19th-century printing techniques for over 30 years, and I have a lot of knowledge in using chemicals in very different ways,” said Lopez. “My co-founder enjoyed photography so we found a collaboration process where we could offer a rigorous scientific and artistic class that would meet a need that wasn’t being fulfilled at that time.”
Since Bittenbender left Greenhill, Lopez now teaches the class with Upper School Science Department Chair Treavor Kendall. Kendall has taught the class for four years while Lopez has taught it for 14. During the COVID-19 pandemic, with classes initially shifting to online-only and then a mix of in-person and online student attendance, the class had to be altered.
“We reconfigured the class completely so that we could teach both in-person and at-home,” said Lopez. “We try to look at more common-day materials and how to manipulate those to create images. The class has also become more rigorous but more accessible to people who don’t have a deep knowledge of either photography or chemistry.”
Senior Vicky Cisneros, who had never previously taken a photography class, says the combined expertise of both instructors enhances the learning experience.
“On art days Mr. Lopez will teach us, and Dr. Kendall will interject with an interesting fact,” said Cisneros. “On chemistry days Mr. Lopez will circle back to what we did on art days. Since everybody knows what they’re doing, I can just ask questions to anybody, and they will help me out.”
The cross-departmental nature of the class allows Kendall and Lopez to provide both a scientific and artistic point of view for concepts.
“We talk about the same concept, like how to create film, in different terms,” said Lopez. “While [Kendall] is speaking scientifically, I will interject and bring an artistic term. It’s a very open and free environment for both of us to teach.”
Combining Art and Science
While science is usually considered a data-driven subject as opposed to art, Kendall says the two disciplines are actually very similar.
“The line between the process of science and visual arts is blurry because in both you’re always observing, paying attention to detail and change, looking at things through a different lens and generating a perspective or original way of looking at the world,” said Kendall.
The class teaches important processes which allow the manipulation of photographs. These reactions occur in a darkroom, a near-zero-light room used to process light-sensitive materials. The class involves the use of many chemical solutions. These include a solution known as developer, which makes a latent film image visible, stop baths for processing black-and-white photographic film and fixers used to remove unexposed silver.
After seeing these processes, students cover the different chemical properties of these solutions by learning about acid-based chemistry, reduction-oxidation chemistry and the properties of light and color.
The emphasis on chemical experimentation makes the class different from other photography classes, according to junior Isabel Bhatia. In the lab, students can alter different aspects of solutions like their chemical formulation and acidity to see how it impacts their photographs.
“We experiment with different chemical variables, talk about why certain things happen and then we make art,” said Bhatia. “The experimentation phase has really enhanced my ability to create art because I am able to try out a lot of different techniques.”
Some students apply experimentation techniques they learned in Chemistry of Photography to other classes.
“In my Photography II class, I experimented with different reactions to make my prints different,” said senior Brynn Zawadzki. “I was encouraged to do this from the Chemistry of Photography class, which encouraged me to think in a broader sense about photography.”
Currently, the class is covering the use of developers and pin-hole cameras. Junior Medha Rapuri says knowing the chemistry behind photography has not only enhanced her learning experience but also improved the pieces she creates in other photography classes, like Honors Photography.
“I have not had good experiences with making solar graphs in the past, but now because we are really focusing on light photography, I think my product will come out a lot better,” said Rapuri. “I’m looking forward to seeing how it will turn out.”
Despite having more certainty in how the final image might turn out, Rapuri says learning the chemistry behind the photographic process has not diminished the “magic” of image-making.
“Chemistry has challenged me to experiment with new processes and think of new ideas,” said Rapuri. “Because of the nature of science and creating art, there’s still a lot of unexpectedness on how the product of my photo will turn out. That helps instill a sense of wonder within me.”
