With a montage of photos along each wall, ranging from monochrome to sepia to vibrant colors, the photography classroom can hardly be mistaken for any other. Around the corner lies a blast from the past: the high school’s very own darkroom. Paying homage to the art of capturing images, the photography program brings appreciation to the art and skill behind photography beyond the little camera app on each of our home screens.

In Studio 30 of the Unified Arts building, students enrolled in a Darkroom or Digital Photography class experiment with techniques, new and old, learning how to develop film, print traditional black and white photos, edit images on Photoshop and more. At the course’s foundation level, students have the freedom to choose between the darkroom and digital classes, and in the intensive and advanced levels, students can focus on either, depending on their project.

Although the photography program has been a facet of the high school for quite some time, Visual Arts and Photography teacher Lori Lynn has expanded the course and created multiple levels for students to explore photography more deeply through an elective pathway.

Lynn pursued her own photography degree from the Massachusetts College of Art, an experience, she said, that inspired her to begin teaching.

“Some [of my past students] studied photography in college, and others studied something completely different and later realized photography was what they loved,” Lynn said. “It’s wonderful when that happens, but it’s also valuable when students simply develop a lifelong love of photography. That’s really my goal.”

Senior Jinann Wang began taking photography as a freshman and is now a student in the Advanced Photography class.

“I had these cameras from my grandfather because he was a photographer in Taiwan, and I had an opportunity to take classes at the high school, so I signed up in ninth grade. I didn’t have any experience before, but it was just something I wanted to try,” Wang said.

The high school is home to one of the few publicly accessible darkrooms in the Boston area, offering students a unique learning experience, which junior Chloe Price said is one of her favorite parts of the Photography Intensive class.

“Being able to work with the original forms of photography makes you think more purposefully about your art,” Price said. “It helped me connect with photography in a way that digital doesn’t always do.”

In her time taking the class, Wang has experimented with both digital and film photography and said she has used it as a way to pursue her interests and acknowledge the world around her.

“I mostly focus on people, especially family dynamics and human relationships, because everyone has stories to tell,” Wang said. “I thought it was really cool to connect with people through photography and through a class.”

Price said she looks forward to her photography class and the change in pace it provides.

“Thinking about my schedule without photography, it’s hard to imagine not having that time to do what I love and work on my own projects. Balance is necessary, especially in a competitive school environment,” Price said.

Lynn said she is often impressed by her students’ work and dedication, and has even seen some students go on to become professional photographers.

“When a student is engaged with photography and shares that love, it’s amazing to get to know them through their work and help them grow,” Lynn said.

Wang said her appreciation for photography isn’t just based on the skills she’s learned, but the freedom to explore the art form the class provides.

“I think photography has made me more aware of the beauty around me by interacting with the world and other people,” Wang said.

After high school, Price said she hopes to continue improving her photography skills and recommends the course to those who are similarly passionate or interested.

“It’s helped me figure out what I want to do in the future and taught me a lot about myself,” Price said. “ I don’t think I’d have as much direction right now if I hadn’t had this opportunity.”

Wang said that art programs like the photography pathway provide creative outlets and modes of expression for students, making them valuable inside and outside of school settings. She said that she appreciates how photography can connect people through stories.

“I think that art has always been a way to communicate messages throughout history. Whether it’s film or writing or photography, it’s a really powerful way to create empathy,” Wang said. “Photography is a way to share stories and showcase stories that aren’t mainstream and that we don’t really see.”