A professional artist, teacher

    Meredith Stevens’ average day varies from arriving to school before 7 a.m. and waiting for students to enter her classroom to capturing the magic moments  of newlyweds. Meredith Stevens, AHS photography teacher, is a professional artist in and out of school. She has been teaching Photography 1, 2, 3, and IB classes at AHS for four years.

    As a photography teacher, Stevens helps students learn the functions of a camera, the process of developing film, and the uses of lighting and special effects in camera work.
 
    “Most of all I want to inspire them to want to take better photographs,” said Stevens. She is able to do this by incorporating her own professional experiences into classroom lessons.

    After graduating from AHS in 1999, Stevens studied photography for eleven years. When she attended AHS, she was enrolled in Art 1, 2 and 3, as well as Photography 1 and 2.  “I was interested in photography even earlier, but that’s when I started to learn more about it,” said Stevens. She spent five years at Virginia Intermont College and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Photography, Digital Imaging, and Ceramics. She is also licensed to teach art for grades Pre-K to 12. As a teacher, she is able to combine her love for photography and her desire to teach.

    Stevens has had an extensive career in photography. After high school, Stevens worked on the Annandale Community Newspaper staff as a photographer. This will be her third summer teaching Adult Education classes in photography and computer graphics at AHS. Stevens is also the National Art Honor Society sponsor. On occasion, she takes portraits of people, pets, and teams.  She has been a wedding photographer for five years.
   
    Out of all these positions she has enjoyed being a teacher the most. “Even though I love capturing those special moments at weddings and such, I don’t have the freedom I do in teaching,” said Stevens.

    She believes one must put all of their energy and focus into the moment of the photograph because a photographreflects the view of the photographer. “In my own portraits I try to look into the soul of the subject and capture it on film,” said Stevens. “With landscapes I try to capture the beauty of nature through traditional and experimental means.”
   
    She does not have a preference as to what she enjoys photographing the most. “I like everything,” said Stevens.
She tries to involve her students with photography outside of the classroom just as she does in her professional life. Photography students take pictures at events such as Heritage Night, the fashion show and regional competitions. Recently, she even welcomed her students to be photographers at her wedding. “Some of their photos turned out better than the professionals’,” said Stevens.
   
    Photography students are also given the opportunity to practice their new skills in other states and countries. Stevens has taken students on photo trips to Yellow Stone National Park, Costa Rica, and this summer they will travel to Spain and Morocco. The students display what they have learned about the places they are visiting in their photographs. “The students spend time viewing the sites, hiking, and participating in other activities that help them photograph in many different situations,” said Stevens. She hopes these experiences will help students reach higher levels in the quality of their photography.

    What does Stevens want most for her students?  Stevens wants her students to share the enthusiasm that she has for photography. “I carry my camera wherever I go. I don’t want to miss anything,” said Stevens. She wants to teach her students how to look at the world around them with depth. “By using the techniques that they have learned with the camera, they will develop their own artistic vision and style.”