A few weeks ago we worked with several classes from Clay, Lee and Owsley County schools exploring basics of photography to creatie pictures with a purpose. Students are working on various projects involving landscapes, portraits and stories about their communities.
Exercises are designed to get the student thinking about how they can help the viewer engage with the image and understand what the photographer is trying to communicate.
During the individual classes, we covered common techniques used by many professional photographers – Basics of Photography. Each student then created images demonstrating those techniques. In the tradition of any good project-based lesson, we shared our photos and spent time critiquing the work so we could all benefit from the examples of what worked and what didn’t. Mistakes make you better.
Students got hands-on experience using light, leading lines, patterns, unique angles, rule of thirds, framing, and negative space to bring interest and focus to their images. Students spent time thinking through the process to make an impression with their viewer.
You can view the Basics of Photography video and download the PowerPoint for your class. These techniques are clearly illustrated and will help your students improve their work.
Teachers, mark your calendar for the Western Kentucky University Mountain Workshops October 24-27, 2017. Dataseam is once again sponsoring a select group of educators for this year’s Dataseam Teacher’s Track to be held in Morehead, Ky. This is a once in a career opportunity for teachers to work with photo and journalism professionals from across the country to better understand how to help students enhance communication skills using images, text, video, and audio. Official application should be available as soon as you get back to school in the fall.
