In a first, an exhibit by the Technology & Engineering division’s photography department at Fullerton College was hosted by the Fine Arts division’s art gallery this January. It showcased current and former students’ works in different styles of the medium and highlighted the photography department’s incentive to help students break into the competitive industry.

Photography, often considered separate from fine arts, can struggle to be solely represented as a medium in traditionally artistic spaces. Ken Starkman, Technology and Engineering division dean, supports a broader representation of student talents. “Our mission is to have different styles of exhibits. It’s a great reflection of our students,” Starkman stated.

The three-week display ended Jan. 23 with a notable closing ceremony, attended by dozens of guests of the college community and public figures like NOCCCD Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland and California State Representative Sharon Quirk-Silva.

During their ceremony speeches, Starkman and photography department coordinator Melody La Montia emphasized the importance of not separating the creativity and art of a photographer from their vocational or commercial pursuits.

“We want to authentically prepare them to make a living with photography,” La Montia said. “There’s nothing wrong with making money.”

“Photography is a valuable skill to have,” Starkman said. “If you’re in architecture, you’re going to have to have photos; if you’re in marketing, you’re going to have to have photos; if you’re in fashion design, you’re going to have to have photos.”

La Montia also thanked adjunct faculty for their voluntary, unpaid involvement in the exhibit’s set up. Adjunct faculty are part-time professors, often teaching at more than one institution and making up a majority of the instructors at colleges.

According to La Montia, the photos at the exhibit were judged and selected by four faculty members on three criteria: creativity, quality, and technicality.

Theresa Gaston, a photographer and recent FC graduate attending the exhibit, confirmed these were also some of the criteria she had to consider when submitting assignments in photography class.

Gaston is currently in the process of starting her own photography studio business. As a fine arts major, she also knows first hand what a collaboration between fine arts and photography is like. She has used her landscape photographs (some of which were on display) for inspiration in oil painting before.

Kevin Bergen, whose photograph of a model graced the cover of the exhibit’s invitations, broke into the photography industry while at Fullerton College. Although he had always loved photography as a hobby, Bergen was pursuing an associate degree in mechanical engineering. However, he started shifting into photography throughout his time at FC.

“It wasn’t until I took classes that I realized I could do that and get paid in a job that isn’t stressful,” Bergen said.

One of the photography classes Bergen took was an internship class that ultimately landed him a position that he still holds today at a Los Angeles studio. He works full-time as a professional photographer, partnering with famous brands like SKIMS, Puma, and Savage X Fenty.

A day in his life as a photographer is never exactly the same as the day prior. He spends his week shooting in different Los Angeles settings or at the studio. His projects include product, on-model, and flat lay photography. According to Bergen, the once-small garage studio he started with is now rapidly growing. And he is not the only FC alum working there— there are four others who have joined him.

Towards the end of the ceremony, Starkman expressed his excitement in collaborating with the Fine Arts division in a statement to The Hornet, mentioning that this is only the beginning. He teased upcoming displays focusing on other disciplines (such as architecture and fashion design) for which Hornets should be on the lookout for.

This is also the first time that the FC art gallery has held an exposition during a winter intersession. La Montia explained that this was a first and rare opportunity presented to the department from the Fine Arts division. According to her, the gallery is usually already booked for a couple of years.

Although the exhibit was held during a time when most Hornets are away for winter break, La Montia mentioned that it is precisely during this time that numerous high school excursions are held at Fullerton College. According to her, more than 600 high school students from areas surrounding Fullerton had visited the display and learned from the photography program at FC.

In an increasingly visually reliant world, La Montia expressed that the photography department at Fullerton College wants to “prepare students to go out and make some change.”

*This article was updated on Feb. 24, 2025.*