From snapping portraits to capturing the city skylines,in Dallas, Texas and Washington, D.C., photography teacher Alex Kang brings her enthusiasm for photography to CHS.
“This is my 10th year teaching and my first at CHS,” Kang said. “I was at D.C. public schools for the past two years teaching computer science and visual arts, but I really wanted to focus on photography; that’s what I studied in undergrad and grad school.”
Kang’s passion for photography began during college when she took a photojournalism class. This course introduced her to darkroom photography, a process where film is developed using light-sensitive paper and chemical baths. Watching the images appear gradually during development sparked her lasting interest in the subject.
“I really fell in love with the process, working with the chemicals and being able to see my images come to life in the darkroom,” Kang said.
Although Kang majored in photography, she taught other subjects earlier in her career. Many schools where she worked did not offer photography programs, so she taught visual arts, video game design and computer science before moving into her current role. Now that she finally gets to teach in her area of expertise, Kang is motivated by her student’s curiosity on learning how to use a DSLR
“A lot of students are very eager about learning photography,” Kang said. “I was surprised by how many of my Photo 1 students had never touched a DSLR before. Seeing them learn all the settings and capabilities has been really rewarding.”
DSLR cameras are different from phone cameras because they allow photographers to adjust aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Kang considers these controls helpful to students in understanding light, focus and motion. While Kang focuses on cameras in the classroom, she has other hobbies outside of the classroom .
“I like to utilize the free museums of D.C.; I’m usually at one of the Smithsonians. I also enjoy kayaking and hiking,” Kang said. “But I always make time to dive into my own creative photography.”
“I thought it was a great opportunity and it’s been amazing so far,” Kang said. “Getting to see students grow in their creativity has been the best part.”
