I love teaching, it's such an exhilarating experience when people begin to feel their
own creativity. It really is a place where all people can
at any level take a class and feel part of the community. I think it's very enriching
as an artist. There are a lot of folks that actually take black and white classes. And
actually take their digital imagery and turn them into negatives and print them in a traditional
fence. There just aren't that many black and white
dark rooms available anymore, so that's a really big draw.
It is basically our sort of our signature piece. It is the largest and last standing
community art room in the US. There are still a lot of people who want to
actually get in to smell that fix and get into that dark room.
I think it's the heart of this place that you feel it when you come in, I know i felt
it when i first got here. You will see people have been taking photography
for 30 years and people who just started taking pictures and so this place is just really
intersection for many generations' photographers. And it's a great place to learn, in that sense,
because you meet people from different areas of photography and also everyone who works
here is a working photographer.
We really get to build a photographic community here at Harvey Milk Center.
This photo center is different, well first of all, it's a great location. It's right in the middle of a densely
populated area and so people can just walk here.
And a lot of people come here, so they can participate in this photographic community.
It's a great opportunity for people who have a little bit of photographic experience or
just want to learn and people who have a lot to really just come together to share a love
and a passion. We offer everything from a traditional black
and white dark room to learning how to process your first roll of film. We offer classes
and workshops in digital camera or digital printing. We offer classes in location shooting
at Ocean Beach, Chinatown at night, Treasure Island. So there is a vast array of programs
for anyone who wants to spend a day or half a day or 4 to 5 week program. Hi, my name
is Aldo. Hi my name is Emaree. Jennifer. Lucile. Mateo. Hi, my name is Carly. Ella. Andrew.
Hi, my name is Shamone, but I'm called Mo.
We are going on a field trip to take pictures up the hill. Actually been here a lot, not
a lot, but I live near here and I never looked closely enough to see everything so cooly
and now I get to take pictures of them. Most of these kids have point and shoot cameras,
but we want them to get more creative with it. So we allow them to be free with them,
but at the same time we give them a little bit of direction.
See that? so you see how it's focused in here and all back there is detail, so that's what
you need to do there. See the hills behind, behind the city, behind
the houses, how about behind those hills, do you see anymore hills?
Look it! I saw 2 squirrels mating.. These kids are wonderful.
Oh my gosh, you took the long way! They get to explore, they get to see different
things. Alright, let's go! this way
Who wants to stay up here? I do! Come on, let's go.
We let them explore a little bit and we came back down and they take their pictures and
they look at them and they give me their best. You did 5 already? 1,2,3,4,5. Good!
When they get home, and if they parents ever ask them, say hey what did you learn? They
can say, I learn the rule of thirds or gupta fields or I learn that the shadows can give
a good contrast. The things they come up is fantastic, it blows me away and so that's
what we're trying to encourage. These kids can bring up their creativity and love for
photography. A lot of people come into my classes and they
don't feel like they really are creative and through the process of working and showing
them, giving them some tips and ideas, they begin to be proud of themselves.
It's kind of the best kept secret about San Francisco. I think you should call us and
come in and take a class. At least come in on a Saturday, we have open house and orientation
on most Saturdays. It's a really wonderful location, it's a real jewel in the community.
Ready to develop your photography skills? Harvey Milk Photo Center focuses on adult
classes most weeknight evenings and Saturday workshops expose youth and adults to photography
walks. Point and click your browser to HarveyMilkPhotoCenter .org to learn more and until next time, don't
forget to Get Out and Play!