On journaling...

I have given my Photo II students an new weekly assignment - they are to keep a visual journal. The requirements are loose - images, words, sketches, thoughts, dreams, inspirations. Yet, they are having trouble with this! Some were so excited when I assigned it, I knew I was doing something right. However, for an age group that has NO trouble expressing itself, teenagers just don't want to commit something to paper! The funny thing is that when someone does begin to think about their work and do the journal, I am so pleased with the insights and ideas expressed. I do not want to just assign a topic a week - that will only be done occasionally - because I feel that will be too restrictive. But I want them to THINK about the images they compose. They know how to take the pictures and print them. Now they need to focus on technical expertise and refined subject.