Shutter to Spotlight: Photography Club Makes Its Debut

Malcolm Shealy, Grade 12, Staff Writer and Max Blodgett, Grade 11, Staff Writer

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Art comes in many forms, and the Photography Club at the High School of American Studies (HSAS) is proof that creativity doesn’t need a paintbrush. Common Sense takes a look at new opportunities at HSAS in many forms, including the pursuit of new art forms.

From the basics of working a camera, photo shooting modes, and lighting to more experimental works like light painting and collages, Photography Club provides expressivity for all.

As Aiden Castro(‘26) notes regarding a recent visit to the club, “It was fun, and easy for members of all skill levels to participate and feel proud of what they made.”

Long before the club was officially established for the 2025-2026 school year, a passion for photography had already been ignited by two friends, Max Blodgett(‘27) and Max Markarian(‘27), the current directors of Photography Club.

As the spring semester approaches, Markarian reflects on the experience, stating, “Photography has always been my passion, and the fact that I can now teach others photography through this club is just amazing.”

During COVID-19, Photography Club had already existed in a previous form.

When the club was restarted for the fall 2025 season, photographs were found left over in camera storage, serving as the last remnants of the club’s old history.

Some speculate that Ms. Rockfeld, the AP Literature and Grammar teacher at HSAS, previously taught photography.

Ms. Rockfeld and Ms. Taylor in fact taught a photography elective that was an option for 10th graders in place of the music elective.

The club’s shift from traditional photography techniques to more experimental modes has coincided with the winter season, as colder weather makes outdoor shooting more difficult.

The majority of photography trips occurred around late October 2025, when students traveled to Lehman College and the garden outside HSAS to capture architecture and nature. In the classroom, students explore concepts such as color theory, depth, and shutter speed, with recent lessons exploring double exposure and collage creation.

When asked how Photography Club has changed his perception of art, Arye Ezparza(‘28) responded: “The club really opened my eyes to what I consider art, especially elevating my idea of a hobby to something I may seriously take on as a profession in the future.”

This perspective is shared by many members of the club, who value visual teaching through slideshows and hands-on working with equipment provided by the school and club directors.

As the year goes on, students in the club continue to grow both artistically and personally.

As Esparza explains, “Not only have my shots progressively gotten better as time has gone on, but it’s given me a newfound appreciation for all things in life. Everything to me now has the capacity to be beautiful. It’s not about what it is or how it looks, it’s about how it makes you feel.”

Through hands-on projects every Friday from 2:45-3:30, a community has been built in the HSAS Photography Club where students value not just how to take photos, but how to see the world differently through a camera lens.