Photography Educator: Frank Lopez

Photography Educator: Frank Lopez by Elizabeth StoneMarch 21, 2025

©Frank Lopez, Conclusive no.1, Unique Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2024

Photography Educator is a monthly series on Lenscratch that highlights outstanding photography teachers who inspire students of all ages. Each month, the series celebrates an educator’s insights, strategies, and excellence in fostering creativity and resilience. These educators play a pivotal role in student development, creating supportive environments where students feel valued and empowered to explore their passions and overcome challenges.

This month, the spotlight is on Frank Lopez. While I haven’t had the opportunity to meet Frank personally, his exceptional dedication to both his craft as a photographer and his role as an educator shines through in his work, his student’s work and his responses in this article. His profound passion for teaching and commitment to nurturing the next generation of photographers are evident throughout the interview. Frank’s teaching philosophy extends beyond technical instruction, focusing on cultivating a unique visual voice and critical thinking skills. His approach encourages students to delve into their creativity, challenge conventional perspectives, and produce meaningful images that resonate deeply.

This article starts with a sampling of Frank’s photographic works.

Manifestation of Light and Energy (2022 – )

This project is an exploration in Buddhism, and the chemical transformation of expired silver gelatin prints. From the caves of Lascaux to digital icons, humans have delved into meaning from gestural drawings, symbols, and forms. The physical transformation allows expression that becomes a personal and meditative experience. As with Buddhist principals, I interpret the growth of self in an arch of a life – from recurrence of life, birth, community, to isolation, death, and rejuvenation. The analogy of abstract patterns opens the viewer to personal interpretations, all the while, allowing the interactions of chemical reactions upon the silver gelatin print to produce an ethereal experience.

The meditative and interpretative practice of Chromo is a rhythmic response to the natural state of imperfection. More specific, it is my way of shifting the act of seeing into subjects that are interpretations of light, time, energy, and my conscious and unconscious awareness. It is through this meditative breathing tradition that the acceptance of natural imperfection is reflected in nature and self, revealing that the language of abstraction is truly a global human practice.

These chemical reaction images are created on fiber-based paper using Chromoskedasic chemicals, developers, toners, and time. Renamed Chromatic Halide Lift (or simply Chromo), the mirror-like surface of the silver gelatin print is reminiscent of daguerreotypes in that they are impossible to digitally capture and are best experienced in person.

©Frank Lopez, Circumambulation, Unique Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2024

©Frank Lopez, Equilibrium, Unique Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2025

©Frank Lopez, Into One’s Nature, Unique Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2025

I am continually interested in how photography educators balance the intensity of teaching with making fresh and original work. Frank seems to have found the key! Read below for Frank’s insights and responses to my questions.

ES: How and why did you get into teaching?

FL: Teaching is the greatest act of optimism – a quote by Colleen Wilcox. This statement exemplifies why I am fortunate to have found a diverse community of learners to teach, grow with, learn, and experience the pleasures of watching young people become leaders in the community. I started teaching workshops and demonstrations as a junior in college – doing outreach to recruit for my photography program at East Texas State University. Upon graduation, I worked for a local art school and began my teaching career in earnest. As time passed, I pursued society work and continued working as an adjunct professor, teaching historic processes at ETSU and local community colleges. It was after a terrible car accident in 2001 that I questioned my career (photographing society weddings) and sought a path into full time education. I prepared my application for Greenhill School by varying my teaching processes with workshops aimed at teaching young people. I was ready to join, create, and commune with like-minded individuals. I have been at Greenhill School since 2006, offering a vision for a program that is an issues-based, 19th – 21st century integrated program. We are an international award winning program.

ES: What career accomplishments are you most proud of?

FL: I have had three major accomplishments associated with my photographic career. First off, in 2011 I was awarded the highest honor given to a faculty member at Greenhill School, Faculty Leader. This happened in my first year of eligibility. Secondly, in the same year, I was awarded the Dallas Observer MasterMind award, a celebration of artists dedicated to cultural contributions to the city of Dallas. Finally, probably the most humbling, is the CENTER Santa Fe award – the Callanan Award for Photographic Teaching Excellence. Several of my outstanding former students nominated me for this international award and I am blessed to have been thought of as a mentor and friend.

ES: What keeps you engaged as an educator?

FL: I am always seeking to push the program into new territory and have rebuilt the program every 4-6 years according to the needs of the students. I would say cross-divisional collaboration is the greatest engagement that renews and refreshes me on a consistent basis. We have a pre-K through 12 grade level community, and I am constantly seeking to challenge my students (and myself) with interesting and new projects. Early on, I collaborated with a former colleague in the Greenhill in China and Korea summer trips. This cultural immersion class traveled to minority spaces (and far off the beaten path) for weeks, using a camera and language skills to engender a cultural exchange. These trips were incredibly impactful in how I wanted to conduct a program based upon issues and cultural awareness. In 2012, I created a cross-divisional class called Chemistry of Photography, currently co-taught with Dr. Treavor Kendall, our science department chair. This is a wonderful challenge as we navigate scientific and artistic explorations surrounding silver gelatin printing, all the while creating images that explores a new way of seeing. Finally, I am always seeking personal knowledge surrounding issues-based photography and try to stay abreast of current issues to remain an ally to our diverse student body. I was fortunate to attend Fotofest in Houston this past year, along with PhotoNOLA in December of 2024.

©Frank Lopez, Renascence, Unique Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2024

©Frank Lopez, State of Imperfection, Unique Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2025

ES: What do you feel is your most important role as a teacher?

FL: I feel my most important role as an educator is to be a great listener and collaborator. I do my best not to give the easy answers and to hopefully allow my apprentice to find a way to their best solutions. Furthermore, listening to students, their needs, and desire to express themselves helps to propel the classroom to further heights. We have been fortunate to grow a deep and varied program that collaborates with the community and gives a voice to our diverse student body.

©Frank Lopez, Setting Rising, Unique Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2024

ES: What is the most meaningful part of your job?

FL: The most meaningful part of my job is the fact that students are continually learning new and interesting ways to communicate their vision. It is simply wonderful getting to a final portfolio critique and seeing the physical and mental growth in my students, hear them use a learned language in describing their work, and experience their ability to give constructive criticism to each other. I am especially proud of my Honors Photography Program for they publish their portfolios for collection in our Library, submit to national and international competitions, show alongside professional artists, and explore the classroom in a way that is reminiscent of an accelerated college program. Community is how we achieve this – coming in again and again and bringing a passion and commitment to Greenhill Photography.

ES: Has your personal work been affected by your teaching experience? How?

FL: My work has evolved over the years as I have challenged myself in ways that mimic the program’s success. As our program has evolved, so too has my work. We practice the Mentor/Apprentice relationship as I freely share my personal work to use as examples and reward risk taking by my students. Many times, a function or process has been pushed to a limit (or simply done “wrong”) by an apprentice, leading to a new form to explore. More common, is the fact that the language of photography is ever evolving, and we do our part to further that syntax.

©Frank Lopez, Occultation, Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print 2025

©Frank Lopez, Equilibrium, Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2025

ES: Did you have an influential photography mentor or teacher? What was their biggest impact on you?

FL: I freely give credit to a current colleague who, while not being a photography mentor, provided a template for what kind of program that I wanted to grow. Corbin Doyle, our US/MS Video Productions instructor. Early on, Corbin built a powerful program based upon community, shared experiences, and respect for the classroom, all the while being a fun and energetic personality to be around. It was my goal to build a photography program based upon these ideals, all the while, making a culture of our own. I owe a debt of gratitude to Corbin for showing an inexperienced secondary educator the way things could be.

ES: How and where do you find inspiration?

FL: Inspiration! I love seeing new art – I am currently studying several Japanese painters and photographers, a lot of process and cameraless photography is currently driving my passion, and most importantly, listening to lots of music. The Japanese psychedelic group Kikagaku Moyo has been on heavy rotation in the darkroom along with a heavy dose of Brian Eno and Ryuichi Sakamoto. I am currently working on a body of work exploring gestural chemical drawings of Buddhist principles and I spend a lot of time reading about Buddhist faith and expressions.

ES: Where do you see yourself in five years?

FL: I see myself getting closer to reaching another long-term goal – employees are Legends at Greenhill School when they reach 25 years of service. I would like to achieve that goal. I would see myself with totally different artwork than what I am currently creating. I eventually hope that I am teaching national and international workshops, both in experimental techniques and diving deeper into multicultural areas of the world (I am laying the groundwork for this). Finally, I hope that my wife, Catherine, and I are helping our daughter prep for college graduation and finding a role in life.

©Frank Lopez, Untitled, 2025

©Frank Lopez, Retrieving A Moment, Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2025

©Frank Lopez, Corona, Chromatic Halide Lift Silver Gelatin Print, 2025

ES: What advice would you give to photography students?

FL: It has never been more difficult to make a living as a photographer. Period. It is difficult with the amount of competition, the ease of picking up a camera now and creating an image (you used to have to achieve a degree – no longer!), and the number of visual images that are created each moment. Despite this, there is nothing more exhilarating than being a visual artist. You must find yourself outworking everyone and expecting to play the long game, but I wouldn’t choose anything else. My suggestion is to find the thing you love and dedicate yourself. Also, fall in love, be well read, travel, breathe in the air, have a backup plan, be humble, be determined, be inquisitive, and be open to ways of seeing and learning. Finally, if I can do it, you can too!

To follow is a small selection of Frank’s student’s photographs that display the very best of Greenhill Photography from over the years – cultural, issues-based, personal expression. These works showcase a remarkable level of maturity and artistic vision, which is a testament to Frank’s exceptional ability to inspire and mentor his students, helping them unlock their full potential as photographers.

©Cassie Rosa, 2024, Instagram: @cassie_rosa_photography

©Chloe Nguyen, 2023, Instagram: @chlochlosphotos

©Helena Shan, 2019, Instagram: @imhshan

Category: Portrait Student Name: Josh Flowers School Name: Greenhill School Title: Unfazed

Thank you, Frank, for your tireless efforts to inspire and empower others through your passion for photography and education.

About Frank
Frank Lopez is a visual artist specializing in 19th – 21st century photographic integration. Frank has instructed at the university, secondary, and professional workshop level for 34 years and is a frequent lecturer based on experimental and cultural imagery.

Frank leads an international award-winning issues-based photography program that integrates 19^th – 21^st century techniques and is also a Faculty Leader, the highest award given. In 2020, Frank was awarded the Center Santa Fe Callanan Award for Photographic Teaching Excellence. Furthermore, he won the Dallas Observer MasterMind award in 2011, recognizing artists making a significant cultural contribution to the city of Dallas.

His work has been widely published and exhibited in physical and online forums, most recently in Diffusion X, and his work is held in several corporate and individual collections. Frank is represented by the Maine Museum of Photographic Art and will launch a solo exhibition at the Landau Gallery (Pleasantville, NY) in March of 2025.

Upcoming Exhibitions:

Emanations, Landau Gallery Exhibition, March – May 2025
The uniqueness of the project is that the gallery is the size of a dollhouse. Frank created unique 1/1 miniature works of art using the Chromoskedasic Process (or simply Chromo) on silver gelatin fiber-based paper. These will be shown inside the gallery along with larger versions of his main portfolio, Manifestations of Light and Energy.

The exhibition will be shipped to Dallas, TX beginning April 12^th and hosted at Photographique Bishop Arts .

Trace, Maine Museum of Photographic Art, April 4 – May 25, 2025.

Website: franklopez.com

Instagram:@franklopezimages

Elizabeth Stone is a Montana-based visual artist exploring potent themes of memory and time deeply rooted within the ambiguity of photography. Stone’s work has been exhibited and is held in collections including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX, Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ, Cassilhaus, Chapel Hill, NC, Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT, Candela Collection, Richmond, VA, Archive 192, NYC, NY and the Nevada Museum of Art Special Collections Library, Reno, NV. Fellowships include Cassilhaus, Ucross Foundation, Willapa Bay AIR, Jentel Arts, the National Park Service and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts through the Montana Fellowship award from the LEAW Foundation. Process drives Stone’s work as she continues to push and pull at the edge of what defines and how we see the photograph.

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