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Rose Pisetsky and Max Bekker, both class of 2025, measure and level students' summer photographs as they hang the first photography show of the school year in Zeskind Hall. Photo: Amy Haskell

Moving us through the show:

Students create photo gallery from start to finish

Before last school year even ended, photography teacher and professional photographer Amy Haskell ‘91 knew how she wanted to start this school year: with a show in our new photography gallery space in Zeskind Hall, first used for a student photography show at our 40th anniversary celebration in April, 2022.

“I am so excited to have a gallery space that I wanted to give an assignment right away so that we could use it,” Ms. Haskell said. “With such a small community like Gregory, I had been in touch with my students over the summer. They knew that the first day of class, we would already be in ‘show mode.’ We had our print order in by the end of the first week of school so we could get our show hung as soon as possible.”

In creating this first show of the year, students in Photography 2 and 3 experienced all steps involved in making a show, and they learned how much time and care it takes. “We started on the first day of class by going through all of our photos we took this summer and getting them down to a reasonable number,” Photography 2 student Max Bekker ‘25 said. “Then we all had to pick our favorite. That was really difficult.” 

After selecting their favorite photos, the students framed them, which opened several other questions. “Some people had to decide whether they wanted their piece to hang vertically or horizontally,” Max said. “On one of them, the student planned for it to be horizontal, but we thought it might look better vertical, and that’s what she ended up choosing.” Max applied his math skills to ensure that the mats fit and were symmetrical on the sides.

When it came time to hang the work, “I wanted the students to take charge,” Ms. Haskell said. “Hanging a show is an artform of its own.” She stood back and asked questions, guiding the students toward the many necessary considerations. “Which pieces should be near each other? What should the spacing be? How high should they hang? What are the color schemes?”

It took several class periods just to hang the show. “Getting the measurements down, the leveling, and spacing takes a lot more time than I thought,” Max said. “I was really surprised with how the way you choose to hang pieces makes a big difference,” he added. “We were first thinking about putting similar colors together, but then we spread them out more and it looks a lot nicer. We were also able to put some of the photos in horizontal frames between photos in vertical frames, so it was like frames within frames.”

“The students learned to create a repetition that moves you through the show,” Ms. Haskell said.

Please stop by Zeskind Hall to view the first student photography exhibit of the 2022-23 school year!






"I am enjoying getting to see the campus from the perspective of 'faculty', and getting to spend time with the next generation of young photographers is inspiring. The students are so bright, creative and curious, it makes teaching them a lot of fun."
Amy Haskell
It was at some point during Amy Haskell's high school years (St. Gregory, ’91) that she first picked up a camera. She quickly found a passion for the art of photography. After attaining a BFA in photography from University of Arizona, then working in the trenches as a photo-assistant for many years, she decided to break out on her own. Nearing 18 years as owner/operator of her own commercial photography business, Haskell Photography, Amy is eager to share her expertise with the young photographers at the Gregory School. Her work has appeared in national, statewide and local magazines, billboards, coffee table books, movie posters and an assortment of other media worldwide. As an alumna of our school, Amy says "It will be particularly sweet to return to the campus where it all started."