Written by Janet Ness

COMMUNITY ACCESS DARKROOM & CLASS at NATHAN HALE HIGH SCHOOL

CLASSES START THURSDAY 10/1/09 - update read below

(photo by Janet Ness for Annual Print Exchange 2009)

Thursday Sept. 24, 2009

Dear darkroom friends,

I have seen the darkroom and it is ready to go!  We will start Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6:30pm. 

The classroom and darkroom are in room 1205.  Enter on the east side of the school (the opposite end of the school from the old entrance.)  Turn into the parking lot between the football field and the school from NE 110. After you pass the scoreboard you will see a big glass entrance to the new building on your right.  After you enter, turn right and go down the hallway to room 1205, on the left side. 

Since open house is over, we will be able to go for eight straight Thursdays.  Hope to see you next week.  Don't forget to bring your $60.

If anyone wants to develop film next week, let me know what film you have, so I can be prepared.

Janet Ness

Dear darkroom friends,
I visited the new darkroom at Nathan Hale this morning (early Sept). It is not quite ready for use. The new Beseler 23C enlargers are set up in the new darkroom, as are the new timers. There is a new, larger, stainless steel sink and a new print washer like the old one. The plumbing isn't working and there are no safelights yet, but they should get it fixed up. I'm not sure yet where we will be able to store our stuff, but Bill said he will find us a place. I found out that there is an open house on September 24, so we can't start until Thursday, October 1. This will allow us to go 8 straight weeks, ending on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. I will stop by again during the open house and check on things, but October 1 will definitely be our start date.

I'll send out a reminder later with directions to room 1205.

Janet Ness

(photo by Elsa Raibon for Annual Print Exchange 2009)

More Photography is a community darkroom open on Thursday nights at Nathan Hale High School in northeast Seattle (Meadowbrook neighborhood) from 6:30 to 9:30 for 8 weeks during fall, winter and spring quarters.

The cost is $60 per quarter. Enlargers are available for 35mm and medium format black and white film. Equipment, supplies and instruction for developing black and white film are also available. The Annual Print Exchange occurs the last night of class in spring quarter.

For more information and directions contact Janet Ness at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 367-8659.

Origin: More Photography and other photography classes were taught by Dot Stenning (Seattle's first professional woman sports photographer, and freelance photojournalist) at the Nathan Hale Community Night School, starting in 1974. When the Night School closed in the 1990s, Dot continued More Photography, the on-going darkroom class, at Hale until her retirement in 2006. Dot fostered a love of photography and excellence in photo processes in many students during 32 years of teaching. A loyal group of her students has kept the community darkroom alive. It is now coordinated and taught by Janet Ness, one of Dot’s long-time students. Members of More Photography are a mutually supportive group of darkroom enthusiasts who encourage photographers of all levels of experience (including beginners) to join us and experience the magic of darkroom.