The work on view here is the result of a new photography course at LaGuardia Community College, "The Alternative Process," which was offered for the first time in Spring 1999.
In this class, students go beyond basic or traditional photographic materials and techniques to explore and experiment with alternative methods and processes. These students used unusual, often very inexpensive cameras such as plastic or toy cameras, as well as plastic lenses and one-of-a-kind, homemade pinhole or no-lens cameras. Infrared film, liquid emulsion, rayographs, solarization, toning, and hand-coloring were also investigated for their creative possibilities.
As powerful and intriguing as the work on display here is, probably the best aspect of this course was that the students not only met the challenge of learning new craft skills, but experienced what it is to be an artist. They learned through these assignments how an artist must approach certain questions: What is my work about? What is important to me? How can I best use these new techniques to communicate my vision successfully to the viewer? Such struggle and analysis strengthens not only the work produced, but the person producing it.
I was most inspired by the way in which this particular group of students developed a camaraderie. They offered help and support to one another, so that all were able to let their strong creative intelligence take precedence over any fears or shyness.
I applaud these students for this wonderful exhibit, and I am honored to have been their professor.
Ed Coppola
Adjunct Assistant Professor
September 1999
| AnaMaría deMedinaceli | Takayo Matsui |
| Amram Edri | Alexis Medina |
| Christin Grech | Ruben Miranda |
| Yuko Hara | Hayuki Mochizuki |
| Mika Hisano | Penny Papadimitriou |
| Praphon Kitcharoenpaisal | Wilberto Rivera |
| Philip Ling |