FPP’s Film Camera Donation Program at Work!
Blog by Michael Raso
Since its inception in 2009 The Film Photography Project has donated cameras, lenses and film to numerous students and schools (most recently to the Scio School film class in Oregon and Louise Contino’s Picturing Wanteete Class.) This sharing of vintage (and awesome) camera gear all stems from the amazing Film Photography Podcast audience who has not only supported our efforts but has donated film cameras, lenses, tripods and film stock. This has created a camera inventory at FPP that has been used to facilitate the above mentioned projects and our latest gear donation to Bluffton University in Ohio! This means cameras and film are now and will soon be in the hands of young first-time film photographers!
This past spring I met Andi Baumgartner at our FPP Walking Workshop. Andi’s an affable guy with a sincere and dedicated attitude. I soon learned that he was teaching an upcoming film photography course at Bluffton University which led to our discussion Andi’s idea of FPP donating the film gear.
We following up after the FPP event and Andi was kind enough to e-mail me details on his background and class, which I share with you below…
From Andi via e-mail – “I teach at Bluffton University. The art department has a dedicated visual arts building, serving majors in studio art, art education, graphic design and a minor in photography. In terms of film photo, we do have a fully functional darkroom with 6 enlargers and we offer a film course every other academic year with normal enrollment between 15-20 students. Bluffton University is a liberal arts college located 20 minutes from Findlay, Ohio.
Students will use the FPP donated cameras during the extent of the class and will be turned back in, so we can keep them for future courses. Having these cameras will allow the students to spend more lab funds on film, paper, mounting and framing.
Personally, I received my BA in studio art and an MFA in Digital Art from Bowling Green State University. I would say that I am a cross media artist often making mixed media pieces, with a concentration in alternative digital print, photography, printmaking, and painting. Professionally, I have worked in photo and design departments at a few publishing companies between adjunct teaching at the collegiate level.”
With the cameras and lenses on their way to Bluffton, we’ll be sure to do a follow up this fall on some of the film photography fun headed up by Andi! You can visit Andi’s website at – http://baumgartnerartist.com/
Have a film camera, lenses or film you’d like to donate? Visit our donation page at The FPP!