Photography

Professional Level Performance is the Result of Professional Level Practice

Published November 21, 2017 | By Randy Evans
(Danville, Ky) – People who get better at any skill, do so through carefully designed purposeful practice. Purposeful practice focuses students on their learning zone, and develops a life-long learning attitude-a different way of learning.
We had the  opportunity to work with small groups of students in a Governor’s School for the Arts, photography ArtShops. The challenge was, how do you help the students improve their skills in just a few hours? More importantly how do you enable the students to take this short workshop experience and run with it the rest of their lives?
The four step design of our  GSA ArtShops target the goal of purposeful practice . Let’s consider the details.
 
Establishing Current Capability
The first step in designing purposeful practice was to identify specific skills the students needed to take better photos. Our students brought portfolios of their current work for evaluation. We set benchmarks of where the students were so we could decide where we wanted to take them.
Setting Goals
Three learning zones were considered when designing the student goals.
  1. Goals that were already mastered would have been in the student’s comfort zone.
  2. Goals too challenging would have put the students in their panic zone.
  3. Knowing where the benchmarks were, we set some goals just beyond their current performance levels. This was that magical zone where students push forward and learn best. Their learning zone.

With our goals in mind we introduced a discussion of concepts in lighting, composition, camera angles, leading lines, etc., that the students could use to improve their photography.

Our BASICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY video, and Keynote presentation (a Powerpoint version is also available) can be downloaded.
Hands on practice
The students were given a photographic assignment in their learning zone. We asked them to produce purposeful images, using the concepts and techniques we discussed. They were asked to be prepared to show their techniques later in a critique session. We accompanied them during their hands on practice, looking for teaching moments. This way we could observe and identify points of difficulty, gently providing guidance.
Critical review
Feedback was so important as we reviewed the work that the students produced. More importantly, the review included how to continue improving the images. Where to get help and what to do next.
Specific questions helped the students analyze what they saw in the images. What do you like? What captures your attention? Were specific compositional/lighting techniques used to create the images? Where do your eyes focus? Is there a mood captured? How will you use what you have observed in this image to improve your future images?
At this point, the students began to design their own purposeful practice. We stressed a model of deliberate, highly structured practice, with specific goals for each student to take with them. The discussions were carefully guided to enable the students to become “their own best critic”.
Review of purposeful practice
Purposeful practice starts by identifying what you want to accomplish.  Set goals that are just beyond current performance levels.  This is your learning zone.
Don’t work in your comfort zone, or your panic zone.  Work in your learning zone until you master the goals.  Seek feedback from experts. Blogs, podcasts, videos, classes, coaching, etc.,  are great sources.
Be your own best critic.  Never give up!  Be a life long learner!
Additional information and registration for GSA ARTSHOPS.

Crash Course In Modern Visual, Audio Communication – WKU MTN Workshops 2017

Published October 31, 2017 | By Dataseam

(Morehead, Kentucky) – Teachers from Lawrence, Meniffee, Lee, and Ohio Counties spent three long and productive days honing their skills in modern communications.  Today’s student is required to use visual, audio, text, speech, and all forms of communication to successfully navigate today’s working world.  The 2017 Western Kentucky Mountain Workshops Teacher Track exposed educators to an array of tools and techniques.

As you can see from the photos below, this was a sun up to well past sun down, hands-on workshop that pushed teachers out of their comfort zones and presented new opportunities for their students.  While much of the workshop is focused on photojournalism, it is really a program on CRITICAL THINKING.  Analyze.  Take appropriate action.  Evaluate.  Adjust.  Achieve best results.

It is hard to explain this experience, but we wanted to share some of the knowledge you can benefit your students.  Here are a series of links to video resources:

Basics of Photography  https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=738  Complete with downloadable presentation showing basic composition, lighting and ways to make more interesting, engaging and memorable photos.

Story Telling https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=1052

Sound https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=1051

Lighting https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=1050

Illustrating Your Point https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=1049

Editing https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=1048

The Interview-Better Story Telling  https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=1053  All the help you need to produce better video interviews.  Sound is important.  Preparation is critical.

The Process  https://www.kydataseam.com/project-review?pid=714  How to organize your students to help them evaluate information, create ideas, outline a story and produce a meaningful project.

2017 WKU Mountain Workshops  http://mountainworkshops.org

2017 WKU Mountain Workshops Video  https://vimeo.com/240334679?ref=fb-share&1

 

 

 

Demanding and Rewarding Visual/Audio Communication Skills Workshop- Register Now

Published August 14, 2017 | By Dataseam

The Dataseam Teacher Track at Western Kentucky University Mountain Workshops is a rare opportunity for educators to improve their ability to think and communicate visually – October 24-28, 2017 in Morehead, Kentucky.

While this digital media workshop focuses on photo, video and recorded communication, it will give you the skills, vocabulary and tools to help students process information, come to a conclusion and communicate a meaningful message in any subject.

This is a hands-on workshop. You will learn how to operate your camera; basic composition and lighting of good photos; fundamentals of visual story telling; and discuss how to integrate those skills into your classroom.

Western Kentucky University Mountain Workshops bring together shooting, editing and writing coaches from across the country — from The New York Times, from the Los Angeles Times, from National Geographic and a host of other media, to guide trainees and produce professional level content.

The Dataseam Teacher Track runs from Tuesday at noon to Friday 4:00 pm (October 24-27). You will spend sun up to sun down with professional journalism and photojournalism coaches, learning to capture attention and strongly communicate a story using words, photography and video. You will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with top-notch writers, photographers and film-makers from across the country.

You will never attend a more demanding or professionally rewarding workshop.  Hear what past attendees have to say.

This is open to Dataseam Participating Partner school districts. There is no workshop fee and most meals are covered. You will need to stay in the Morehead area.

If interested please send an email to (education@kydataseam.com). Include two sample photos you have created, along with a brief outline of what you teach and what you plan to gain from this experience. Deadline September 8, 2017.

Photography techniques that help create more impact-sample photo gallery.

Published April 19, 2017 | By Dataseam

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Level Performance is the Result of Professional Level Practice.

Published March 4, 2016 | By admin

IMG_2665

People who get better at any skill, do so through carefully designed purposeful practice. Purposeful practice focuses students on their learning zone, and develops a life-long learning attitude-a different way of learning.
We had the  opportunity to work with small groups of students in recent Governor’s School for the Arts, photography ArtShops. The challenge was, how do you help the students improve their skills in just a few hours? More importantly how do you enable the students to take this short workshop experience and run with it the rest of their lives?
The four step design of our  GSA ArtShops target the goal of purposeful practice . Let’s consider the details.
 
Establishing Current Capability
The first step in designing purposeful practice was to identify specific skills the students needed to take better photos. Our students brought portfolios of their current work for evaluation. We set benchmarks of where the students were so we could decide where we wanted to take them.
IMG_3067

Setting Goals
Three learning zones were considered when designing the student goals.
  1. Goals that were already mastered would have been in the student’s comfort zone.
  2. Goals too challenging would have put the students in their panic zone.
  3. Knowing where the benchmarks were, we set some goals just beyond their current performance levels. This was that magical zone where students push forward and learn best. Their learning zone.

With our goals in mind we introduced a discussion of concepts in lighting, composition, camera angles, leading lines, etc., that the students could use to improve their photography.

Our “Basic Photography” video, and Keynote presentation (a Powerpoint version is also available) can be downloaded.

Hands on practice
The students were given a photographic assignment in their learning zone. We asked them to produce purposeful images, using the concepts and techniques we discussed. They were asked to be prepared to show their techniques later in a critique session. We accompanied them during their hands on practice, looking for teaching moments. This way we could observe and identify points of difficulty, gently providing guidance.
IMG_5476

Critical review
Feedback was so important as we reviewed the work that the students produced. More importantly, the review included how to continue improving the images. Where to get help and what to do next.
Specific questions helped the students analyze what they saw in the images. What do you like? What captures your attention? Were specific compositional/lighting techniques used to create the images? Where do your eyes focus? Is there a mood captured? How will you use what you have observed in this image to improve your future images?
At this point, the students began to design their own purposeful practice. We stressed a model of deliberate, highly structured practice, with specific goals for each student to take with them. The discussions were carefully guided to enable the students to become “their own best critic”.
See images created by our GSA students on our FaceBook page.
IMG_5448

Review of purposeful practice
Purposeful practice starts by identifying what you want to accomplish.
Set goals that are just beyond current performance levels.This is your learning zone.
Don’t work in your comfort zone, or your panic zone.
Work in your learning zone until you master the goals.
Seek feedback from experts. Blogs, podcasts, videos, classes, coaching, etc.,  are great sources.
Be your own best critic.
Never give up! Be a life long learner!