Stuyvesant Digital Photo Club Presents “Dichotomy”

The Stuyvesant Digital Photo club released their first ever photography show on February 23…amidst a pandemic.

Created in 2018 by seniors Jordan Gray and Jiahe Wang, the Stuyvesant Digital Photo Club aims to unite the artistic population at Stuyvesant. In a primarily STEM high school, Gray and Wang hoped to create a space where students passionate about photography and visual art are able to discuss their interests and develop their skills.

Their spring exhibition, titled “Dichotomy,” epitomizes the stark contrast between light and darkness, literally and figuratively, by depicting both opposing concepts and stylistic clashes. Ranging from scenic cityscapes to self-portraits, the photographs capture the artists’ various strengths and inspirations. “I love the variety of styles that we have,” Wang said. “It’s something Jordan and I have tried to preserve in this show.”

Looking around the gallery, which can be found on the exhibit website, one quickly notices the diversity of the photographs. While many pieces do not feature the visual contrast the theme suggests, they play with the theme on a conceptual level, challenging viewers’ expectations. Even with the heterogeneousness of the exhibition, “Dichotomy” acts as a unifying force. This variety is indicative of members’ growth as artists. “Even those who had more experience improved, and when forced to do something they’re less comfortable with, we saw amazing results,” Gray said. Wang reflected on her improvement as well. “Our talented members have inspired me to start planning my photos more and really imbuing meaning into them and not simply composing pretty images.”

The show’s original opening was set to take place in March 2020. However, the pandemic and school closures impeded this plan, forcing Wang and Gray to pivot. While they were originally planning for a more formal exhibition, they adapted the show into an online format nearly a year later. “There’s something really special in walking around looking at art in person, which just cannot be replicated online,” Gray noted. Regardless, the exhibition is still a major milestone for the club. “What we were able to do online with what we had really was great and a great display of our members’ work,” Gray said.

While this was the club’s first exhibition, it certainly won’t be the last. “What we were hoping to start in this exhibition was a tradition,” Gray said. Wang and Gray have enjoyed watching their members grow as artists over the last few months, and this show is a culmination of members’ improvement. Both Wang and Gray hope that these exhibits will continue—at least annually—in the future. With the lack of focus on arts education and extracurriculars at Stuyvesant, exhibitions like this allow the student body to explore the world of fine arts and enrich students’ experience.

“Dichotomy” is on display here until March 20.