Dates: February 15 - March 15, 2026
Meetings: Saturdays, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM CST (5 sessions)
Location: Houston Center for Photography
Cost: $290 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Gabi Magaly
Skill Level: Open to All Levels
Chicano photographers have long depicted the struggles, triumphs, and everyday moments of vibrant American-Mexican communities. As a result, these photographers shaped cultural identity, reclaimed narratives, and preserved history in ways that words alone cannot. How do we photograph our communities, our families, or even ourselves? This course introduces students to the powerful tradition of Chicano/a/x photography—image-making centered around Mexican American identity that challenges stereotypes and celebrates culture, history, and everyday life. Through weekly meetings including lectures, hands-on assignments, fieldwork, and group critiques, students will expand their creative practice while developing an awareness of photography’s role in shaping personal and cultural narratives. No prior experience is required—just curiosity, a camera (iPhone/Android phone, DSLR or Mirrorless camera) and a willingness to explore identity through image-making.
Objectives:
Understand basic camera functions and composition guidelines
Learn about key Chicano/a/x photographers and their contributions to visual culture
Explore themes of identity, place, and resistance through photographic practice
Create a small body of work that reflects personal or cultural narratives
Participate in constructive group critiques and articulate ideas about photography
Gain confidence using photography as a storytelling and documentary tool
Build foundational skills for future photographic exploration
Prerequisites: None
Course Prep:
Please bring your camera (iPhone/Android phone, DSLR or Mirrorless camera) a sketchbook, and 2–3 personal photos you’ve taken that you feel connected to—no matter the quality.
Dates: February 15 - March 15, 2026
Meetings: Saturdays, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM CST (5 sessions)
Location: Houston Center for Photography
Cost: $290 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Gabi Magaly
Skill Level: Open to All Levels
Chicano photographers have long depicted the struggles, triumphs, and everyday moments of vibrant American-Mexican communities. As a result, these photographers shaped cultural identity, reclaimed narratives, and preserved history in ways that words alone cannot. How do we photograph our communities, our families, or even ourselves? This course introduces students to the powerful tradition of Chicano/a/x photography—image-making centered around Mexican American identity that challenges stereotypes and celebrates culture, history, and everyday life. Through weekly meetings including lectures, hands-on assignments, fieldwork, and group critiques, students will expand their creative practice while developing an awareness of photography’s role in shaping personal and cultural narratives. No prior experience is required—just curiosity, a camera (iPhone/Android phone, DSLR or Mirrorless camera) and a willingness to explore identity through image-making.
Objectives:
Understand basic camera functions and composition guidelines
Learn about key Chicano/a/x photographers and their contributions to visual culture
Explore themes of identity, place, and resistance through photographic practice
Create a small body of work that reflects personal or cultural narratives
Participate in constructive group critiques and articulate ideas about photography
Gain confidence using photography as a storytelling and documentary tool
Build foundational skills for future photographic exploration
Prerequisites: None
Course Prep:
Please bring your camera (iPhone/Android phone, DSLR or Mirrorless camera) a sketchbook, and 2–3 personal photos you’ve taken that you feel connected to—no matter the quality.
Images: Gabi Magaly
