Columbia College Students Revived Film Photography

The institution has doubled its darkroom course offerings to meet a growing interest in analog photography.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Photography

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a film developing reel and canisters, representing the tactile shift toward analog photography. — Students at Columbia College are increasingly embracing analog film photography, leading the institution to expand its darkroom course offerings to meet rising demand. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust physical media to store your personal history longer than digital cloud services?

Photography students and faculty at Columbia College have reported a significant surge in interest regarding film photography. The campus has responded to this trend by expanding its darkroom course capacity.

Why it matters

Students are increasingly drawn to the physical permanence of film, contrasting it with the subscription-based models common in digital cloud storage. This shift fosters a tactile sense of community that many find lacking in purely digital workflows.

Columbia College now offers four darkroom course sections, up from two in the spring. These facilities are maintained on the 10th floor of 600 S. Michigan Ave. for students using 35mm film.

The players

Columbia College

This Chicago-based institution is a private college specializing in arts and media programs.

The details

Students are returning to traditional analog methods by using 35mm cameras, purchasing film, and utilizing on-campus chemicals to process their own images. Outside of the classroom, local camera stores in the South Loop provide essential hubs where photographers congregate to purchase materials and share technical knowledge.

Forty years ago, film and paper were already considered expensive commodities.
A photography faculty member began their tenure at the college 27 years ago.
The college offered only two darkroom classes during the Spring 2026 semester.
There are four darkroom classes currently available for the Fall 2026 semester.

Culture Shift

The transition back to film represents a rejection of ephemeral digital storage in favor of physical, tactile artifacts. By reviving these traditional processes, students are participating in a wider cultural movement that prioritizes the tangible experience of creation over digital convenience.

Students and residents looking to join this movement can access communal spaces and supplies at camera stores located in the South Loop. These businesses provide necessary technical support for those navigating the transition from digital to analog photography.

The takeaway

Embracing film photography requires a commitment to physical materials and a slower pace of image processing. Aspiring analog photographers should prioritize finding a local community hub to share resources and refine their chemical processing skills.