May 5, 2006 – Landscape photographs, portraits and a few photos of iguanas are on display at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
The show, which opened Friday, is partially funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. The assignment for this show was for the students in Barbara Young's advanced photography class to take photos reflecting their world.
Young, an art and English teacher at the school, has taught photography for 20 years – 10 of those at Kean.
Students in the class have learned to take black and white as well as color photographs. They have learned computer skills to scan and edit photos using Adobe Photoshop. The students have also learned to use the darkroom – a favorite activity among the students.
"Everything has to be precise," said Dereka Connor of the darkroom. Connor said she thinks working in the darkroom is a positive challenge.
Young, like her students, enjoys film more than digital photography – something Young attributes to the "magic of the darkroom."
"I'll never give up film," Young said.
Connor's photos in the show include some of her friends, the Cyril E. King Airport runway at dusk, and a butterfly caught in someone's hands.
Genisha Christopher, another student, displayed a close-up shot of an iguana, a photo of a graveyard and a photo of her cousins.
Other students in the class are Reynee Clark, Symone Rouse, Jessica Farrell, J'Ree Estrill, Iyanna Ross and Julie Francis.
Christopher and Connor said they were not at all nervous about hearing comments on their work. Young did not think they were bluffing.
"They're all pretty confident," Young said.
Young said photography has long been a hobby for her. She started with photography classes in high school in New Jersey.
Young said she loves teaching the students photography.
To see the exhibit go to the high school, sign in at the main office and proceed to room 218A in the art department.
The exhibit is open during regular school hours through the end of May.
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