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Photography program thrives at high school

A recent surge in interest has fueled the growth of Yorkton Regional High School's photography program into one of the largest in Saskatchewan.


A recent surge in interest has fueled the growth of Yorkton Regional High School's photography program into one of the largest in Saskatchewan.

Until a few years ago, photography opportunities at YRHS were limited to a single grade level course spread across two sections of students. It was a quick introduction to the art form meant for enthusiasts like Chad McDowell, who took the Grade 11 course when he attended YRHS years ago.

Today, McDowell teaches the program, which has grown to nine sections across three grade levels. He is one of only a handful of full-time high school photography teachers in western Canada.

"I have probably a good quarter of the school taking my course," he says.

For McDowell, who trained as a photographer in BC after high school but decided he would rather teach the art than practice it professionally, it's something close to a dream job. He returned to YRHS four years ago at just the right time; the previous photography teacher was retiring and the program was beginning to draw record levels of interest among students.


Technology is the cause of this growing popularity, McDowell believes. Photography is far cheaper and more accessible than it has ever been, and platforms such as Facebook give students unprecedented means of sharing their photos.

"Now with cell phones, every student carries a camera with them all the time. Students probably average taking five photos a day."

YRHS is also particularly well-equipped for the program. Flood damage last summer gave McDowell an opportunity to have the school's photography room renovated to his specifications. He teaches in a basement classroom attached to an 800 square-foot windowless studio, complete with strobe lighting and multiple backdrops.

Also attached is a darkroom; film is still a part of the YRHS program, although a shrinking one. McDowell sees considerable value in using the old ways as a starting point for new students.

"The thing about film is that students can't kind of fake their way through it. They really have to pay attention to the settings on the camera. They can't just take a picture and look on the display screen to see if it worked or not."

Many schools, unable to justify the cost of building a darkroom, have gone entirely digital in their photography programs. But the cost of maintaining YRHS's existing darkroom is low enough to be worthwhile, says McDowell, even as he reduces the number of film assignments given to his students each year.

"Especially at the Grade 10 level, I hope I always have students build cameras and I hope I always have students do at least one film assignment, just so they have that connection with the evolution of photography and it isn't just something they're looking at in a textbook."


Keeping students equipped with cameras and accessories can be a challenge.

"It's a very difficult course to run in terms of cost, especially with the rising number of students."

With about 20 analog and 15 digital cameras, McDowell is rarely able to send equipment home with his students without depriving another class. He encourages them to use their own cameras wherever possible, fundraises regularly, and seeks out donations of unused gear from around the region.

Each year, the program produces great young photographers. From Grade 10 to 12, the courses move through the history and development of photography, the properties of light and film, approaches to photo editing and photojournalism, and eventually creative studio photography.

The possibilities for aspiring photographers open up as they progress through the program, and their work shows it.

"In Grade 12, it's almost entirely wide open," says McDowell. "I really push for students to be coming up with unique images and unique ideas."