Shortcut to Learning: Teach!

125 • 6/08/2026

When I first started teaching, I was looking for something to do to make an extra few bucks. At the time, my friend and photographer Pat Berrett and I shared a studio. Pat suggested I teach for Continuing Education at University of New Mexico (CE). Pat knew I didn’t have a college degree, but he suggested it shouldn’t matter because I have been carrying a camera around for more than 50 years. I also have a few years in as a photo-magazine publisher, as well. I should have something to share.

Publishing works because I have been publishing photography magazines and related materials for more than 25 years. In that time, I have viewed and curated more than 700 photographers who have submitted thousands of images for publication consideration. If that didn’t serve to inspire me then I need to pursue another line of work.

The magazine experience is key in relation to teaching because it presents many different methods of presentation, and varying methods of seeing creatively.

It remains as one of the best things I have done because it “forced” me to learn more if I was going to teach. That decision led to many positive turns in my slightly jagged path of life. It gave me creative inspiration in so many ways.

I also belong to a small photography group and in that group, we are regularly tasked with coming up with thoughts and ideas about what inspires us. For me, the answer is clear. I don’t have to think too hard or lose any sleep over it because the answer comes in two formats: teaching and publishing.

Teaching works because I can collaborate with people who are genuinely interested in making better images. In each class I teach there are invariably one or two students who shine. The results are similar whether I work with photography or poetry, which is another class I teach at CE.

For each class I teach I need to develop subjects and assignments that will serve to (hopefully) enable students to think differently about how they make images or write poetry. And that requires research and requires me to stretch myself in an effort to present challenging concepts and patterns of thought to inspire students to continue to grow and evolve.

In this, my ninth year of teaching at CE, I will be adjusting my lesson plans for both disciplines in order not only to make the material fresh for my students, but for me as well!

The caveat, however, is when we are viewing homework assignments and one image comes up and I can say, “You did it!”

In order to teach them I have to continually “teach” myself…

Image ©Lonnie Gallegos, Class of 2022 (Spring)

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Please pass this along to others of like mind. We do need to spread the positivity around! Know that I will be working hard to make the starter better with each issue. It will come into your inbox at 8am, each Monday morning. Comments are always welcomed! Enjoy!

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“A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops.” Henry Adams

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The Art of Living a Creative Life | Peter Spirito: “Living a creative life is more than just a passion or hobby—it’s a transformative journey toward self-discovery and personal growth. In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, many of us feel overwhelmed by the demands of modern life, often losing sight of our inner spark. However, by cultivating creative reflection, we can unlock new perspectives, find meaning, and foster a deeper connection with ourselves. This article delves into the essence of living a creative life, exploring what it means, how it impacts our daily routines, and the practical steps to embrace it as a life-skill. From understanding creative reflection to mastering techniques for effective reflection, we’ll guide you through the process of becoming your own source of inspiration. Whether you’re seeking ways to overcome creative blocks or looking to integrate creativity into your lifestyle, this exploration will shed light on the importance of embracing creativity as a vital part of your existence.” ©Peter Spirito (ed. Basically, all that you need to know about living a creative life might just be contained in this essay.)

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The Power of Choice | Anna Engelschall: “You are the powerful creator of your life and reality - every day you can CHOOSE how you start into your day, you can CHOOSE what to focus on and how you use the time you have. Watch this video if you need motivation, hope you like it.” ©Anna Engelschall (ed. Clocking in at just over 2 minutes, this delightful and compelling video may enable you to make a wiser choice. Just sayin’! )

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Shadow & Light Magazine Archives | Suzanne Roland, Beauty is… Beyond the Veil: “This series began as a deeply personal journey, inspired by my time living in Mexico and subsequent visits thereafter. I had the privilege of photographing these beautiful women. My approach was introspective, seeking moments of connection that move beyond appearance. In these quiet exchanges, beauty became more than the literal; it became an invisible presence that lingers beyond the frame.©Suzanne Roland, text and image

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Poetics | Amanda Gordon: We made need this poem more than ever, at this time of significant derisiveness, fractions, polarity, and so much more. Sometimes, it is even a challenge to breathe. I am forever thankful I was able to watch her read this at Biden’s inauguration. Take some time, read every line, take a deep breath and climb! (ed. I remember watching her read that poem at the inauguration. Here’s a link, if you want to watch it, for the memory.)

The Hill We Climb

When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry, a sea we must wade.
We’ve braved the belly of the beast.
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace.
In the norms and notions of what just is isn’t always justice.
And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it.
Somehow, we do it.
Somehow, we’ve weathered
and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken,
but simply unfinished.

We, the successors of a country and a time
where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president,
only to find herself reciting for one.
And yes, we are far from polished.
Far from pristine.
But that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to forge our union with purpose,
to compose a country committed to all cultures,
colors, characters and conditions of man.

And so, we lift our gazes not to what stands between us,
but what stands before us.
We close the divide because we know,
to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms to one another.
We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true.
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped;
that even as we tired, we tried;
that we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.
Not because we will never again know defeat,
but because we will never again sow division.

Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree,
and no one shall make them afraid.
If we’re to live up to our own time,
then victory won’t lie in the blade,
but in all the bridges we’ve made.
That is the promise to glade,
the hill we climb if only we dare it.
Because being American is more than a pride we inherit;
it’s the past we step into and how we repair it.
We’ve seen a forest that would shatter our nation
rather than share it.
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed,
it can never be permanently defeated.
In this truth,
in this faith we trust.
For while we have our eyes on the future,
history has its eyes on us.
This is the era of just redemption.
We feared it at its inception.
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour,
but within it, we found the power
to author a new chapter.
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves.
So, while once we asked,
“How could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?”
Now we assert,
“How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?”

We will not march back to what was,
but move to what shall be:
a country that is bruised, but whole;
benevolent, but bold; fierce and free.
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation,
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation.
Our blunders become their burdens.
But one thing is certain,
if we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy,
and change our children’s birthright.
So, let us leave behind a country
better than one we were left.

With every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the gold-limned hills of the West.
We will rise from the wind-swept Northeast
where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states.
We will rise from the sun-baked South.
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
in every known nook of our nation,
in every corner called our country
our people diverse and beautiful
will emerge battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade
aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.

©Amanda Gordon

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