Changing Things

So I have become kind of frustrated with that lack of deep thinking in the students' photography.  I thought about it a lot this summer.  So for the first new shooting assignment in Photo II, I decided to inject what I learned after my visit to the Holocaust Museum and reading a survivor's book.  For the liquid emulsion assignment, the students are to shoot a bit differently.  They are to examine an event that changed things for them - positive or negative.

As a warm up, we did an activity form the museum's website.  They looked at pictures from WWII Germany, with no captions.  They answered questions.  Then, they received the images with the explanatory captions and answered another set of questions.

We talked about how what one knows and one's life experiences can affect one's reading or interpretation of a photograph.  They are to consider this when they shoot.  What will the viewer know or not know?  How will you address the possibility of misinterpretation or will you at all?

There came a point after I told them their assignment that they were all quiet.  Confused.  The silence was awkward, but I let it go.  I wanted the ideas to sink in.  Then, slowly, the questions started to come....  They started to get it.  One said this was going to be hard.  I could tell the wheels were turning....  And I was happy.  I feel like my plan is working.

I was also being observed and that always causes the kids to clam up.  I never let them know beforehand when I am being observed, so I guess they are shy or scared.  But when my department head left, the conversation picked up.  I told them I am tired of seeing the same pictures of the tank in the park in the center of town.  Why take that picture?  Because it is there.  I want their pictures to mean something to them.  Some were clearly ready to shoot and took cameras.  Others will wait, and that is ok.