Recently, Xie Tian, a faculty member from the Photography Department of the School of Art and Design, led international students to the department’s industry-academia cooperation base—the Shanghai Vintage Camera Museum in Pudong—for a hands-on experience focused on Chinese camera manufacturing and traditional film photography techniques.

  During the event, Si Yongqi (a 2023 graduate of the Photography Department and current museum staff member) introduced the international students to the history of the Seagull camera, the model used in the session. Tailoring the presentation to the students’ academic backgrounds, he covered aspects such as the camera’s exterior design, photographic principles, and technical applications. The students actively engaged by asking detailed questions to deepen their understanding. They learned how to load film into the twin-lens reflex camera, master focusing techniques, and adapt to the horizontally inverted image seen through the viewfinder. After repeated practice, the students confidently loaded a roll of black-and-white film and began their creative work.

  Following an hour of shooting, the students returned to the museum’s black-and-white darkroom studio. They carefully removed the exposed film from their cameras and placed it into light-proof bags. After simulating the process multiple times, they successfully transferred the film into developing tanks inside the dark bags. At the washing station, they slowly poured pre-mixed chemical solutions into the tanks according to technical requirements. About 20 minutes later, after development and fixation, a strip of standard-processed, clearly imaged black-and-white negatives emerged. Using sponge clips, the students gently wiped excess water from the film—a process praised by the instructor for its professional execution.

While waiting for the film to dry, the students visited the museum’s third floor, which displays early cameras produced by manufacturers across China, such as the Orient, Pearl River, and Red Flag brands. Learning about the evolution of Chinese camera brands and seeing these domestically produced cameras—each like a timeless chronicle of history—inspired awe, as the exhibits quietly narrated the journey of China’s photographic manufacturing and artistic development.

  The second part of the workshop involved two international students participating in the museum’s public darkroom workshop. This segment aimed to foster cross-cultural exchange, allowing international and local participants to delve into the diversity and historical legacy of photography through hands-on experience with traditional darkroom techniques.