The click of a shutter echoed in front of a young boy’s face, sparking a fascination with a new gadget, a 35mm SLR camera. It belonged to his neighbor, who guarded it carefully but once allowed him to peer through the viewfinder. In that moment, he realized the magic of photography. The ability to isolate a scene to focus on small pieces of the world in black and white instead of its overwhelming whole. From then on, he knew photography would always be a part of his life.
Chris S. A. Gould was born in San Francisco, California, and moved to Santa Rosa when he was 4 years old. Like most kids, he grew up surrounded by noise and chaos, but what grabbed his attention most was how quiet and still a photo could be. While other kids were running around, Chris loved how a single click could freeze everything, letting him notice details he might’ve missed before.
Photography really took off for Chris when he was a teenager. He spent most of his time skating around with friends, and they always had a camera with them. Taking photos became part of the routine. It wasn’t about setting up the perfect shot; it was about catching real moments. “You’d take pictures so you could make prints and show your friends,” Chris said. That’s when he realized photography wasn’t only about cameras or technique. It was about telling stories, connecting, and building memories with people around him.
Now Chris leads the darkroom photography class at the Youth Art Exchange, a program that gives free art classes to SFUSD students, which is just a short walk from Mission High School. He spends the end of his day teaching students how to shoot black and white film, process it, and watch their photos slowly appear in the developer trays. Outside of teaching, his own photography has shifted. Instead of pictures with friends, he’s drawn to the way light hits buildings on his commute or how shadows fall across the sidewalk. Lines, reflection, and shadows. For him, photography has become about paying attention to the little things most people walk right past.
If he’s not at YAX, you might see him at the Harvey Milk Photo Center at the top of Duboce Park. The Harvey Milk Photo Center is the oldest and largest black and white photo center in the United States, open to the public through San Francisco Parks and Rec. Chris can be found giving classes to adults on how the whole process goes, dedicating his days to sharing and teaching something he loves.
But to Chris, teaching isn’t just about photography skills. “I don’t care about the camera stuff,” he admitted. “I want everybody to have somewhere that’s cool and comfortable… a little town square where we make something together.” His class is less about stressing over perfect photos and more about creating a space where students can be themselves.
In the dark room, kids don’t just develop film; they trade ideas, laugh, and build friendships. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t have to be a fancy matter. For Chris, the real takeaway isn’t the stack of prints his students leave with but the fact they felt comfortable, connected, and part of something bigger. In the end, the best thing he’s developed isn’t just photos, it’s the community in his classes.
