Instructor Biography
Richard Stromberg, Program Director
Richard Stromberg started in photography in June 1964. He worked in various studios as an assistant and was trained first in traditional catalog photography, from table top up to full room scenes. Richard worked with photographers to create photos used for advertising, in industry and architecture, fashion, theater and editorial pieces. He shared and maintained studios with other photographers through the late 1980s.
Richard started the Jane Addams Hull House photography program in the fall of 1969, teaching classes in the evenings. During the day, Richard’s other work included managing a television theater, still photography (primarily editorial), film production, video production, audio production and work in public schools. He also participated in the design and installation of 40 advanced technology classrooms at universities and consulted on the use of media in education. Many of Richard's social documentary photography and editorial assignments focused on institutional racism in the City of Chicago and Cook County governments, exposing poverty and inequities.
The Jane Addams Hull House photography program ended in the summer of 2002, when Hull House sold the building in which it was housed. The Chicago Photography Center was created by Hull House photography students with Richard’s help to ensure that his work as a teacher would continue, as well as the community it fostered. Richard worked closely with volunteers to build the program in the new location, including general organization of the build-out, design and installation of plumbing for the new darkrooms and installation of some of his own equipment in the darkrooms. Many of those volunteers have remained with CPC to this day, serving its community in many ways, including as CPC instructors. Between the two organizations, Richard has taught photography for 39 uninterrupted years to over 11,000 students.
