Primary School Photography Workshop

[Nicole]

Just have to share this with you...

I've been running a photography workshop for 22 primary school students from years 5,6 & 7 over the past 3 months. You may recall my plea for help here to find black & white disposable cameras for my students. I tracked 22 cameras down and the students have all been so keen and dedicated throughout the entire workshop!

I have chosen one (the best) negative from each student and have been busy printing them over the past 2 weeks for an exhibition of their work. I am so excited, because their work is absolutely fantastic! I'm so proud of my young students! They have produced such innovative and excellent photography and I can't wait to see it on display!

Just had to share my quiet leaps of joy...

[Fireguy2002]

Will we get to see? I'm rather interested.

[MikeSeb]

This is fantastic. They have the patience to forgo digital's instant gratification?

[Dan Henderson]

This sounds like a great project. I wish there was something like this in my area that I could volunteer for.

BTW, nice to see you here, Nicole. You've been missed.

Dan

[Christopher Walrath]

Hey, Nicole, long time no hear. That's great news about your students. I, too, would love to see what they have done under your tutelage.

[blaze-on]

Good for you Nic...very cool project.

[benjiboy]

It's a wonderful idea, the sort project that has so many rewards for the teacher and the children, with people like you around Nicole, film photography will never die.

[Nicole]

Chris, I'll give an introduction to some of the images once the Opening Night is over, which is this Wed, 28th Oct.
Mike, isn't that just fantastic. It can be done, all we need to do is give young students an opportunity, rather than take the quick'n'easy road.
Dan, hey there, great to see you again, too.
Chris, thank you, same to you. Will post later in the week.
Matt, I'm so not cool... just a happy little dinosaur. :) Good to see you again.
Ben, thank you. If we can inspire young minds, the future always looks a little brighter. Nice to hear from you.

[lxdude]

Reminds me a little of many years ago when I would go to the local elementary school and show them how to make photograms using printing-out paper. I showed them how to make masks and use things like dried grasses and found objects to make shadow images. It was so much fun seeing the kids' reactions as they took their creations out into the sun and watched them develop before their eyes, then brought them indoors to fix them in a big tub. They made oatmeal carton/shoebox cameras next and did some pinhole photography using POP. It was out of pocket and worth every cent.

I'm sure they'll pick up on your delight and enthusiasm for their work.

[SuzanneR]

I'm looking forward to seeing the work your students have produced. Sounds awesome!!

[papagene]

Nicole - this is great, and I also can't wait to see their photos. And yes, you are coooooooooool! ;)

gene

[Kevin Caulfield]

Hi Nicole. Well done, and I look forward to seeing the photos.

[Valerie]

Looking forward to seeing the kids' works! Its a great thing you are doing, Nicole.

[Nicole]

The open night at the school was a huge success. The room was overflowing with viewers impressed by the student exhibition, a total of 22 matted 6x9" photographs. The students matted their own prints. We had over 250 votes for the People's Choice Award and I presented a Student Award. The prizes were fantastic - a high resolution Sony digital photo frame and a Nikon point & shoot camera. I've attached a snapshot of their work here for you. The exhibition will remain at the school until 11th Nov 09 and then travel to local libraries.

During the workshop, the students were given strict guidelines to only shoot 4 frames covering various genres, such as landscape, environmental portrait, abstract, self portrait, movement, etc... A total of only 27 frames over 9 weeks. They did extremely well, with just a plastic throwaway camera - and film!

[polyglot]

Spectacularly good results they got! Interesting that your prizes are digital.

[Nicole]

Hi Polyglot, I knew that would come up (fast). My choice of prizes are not open for debate (here on apug). It was a thoughtful, conscious choice though. Until students success rate improves digi is a good practice run. Save the art for when they are serious about creating something unique and Mum & Dad don't mind investing in their craft.

[Fireguy2002]

Very nice work. Not that you were accepting criticism on your choice, but I think the prize was a fine one with good thought. Congratulations on the outcome.

[polyglot]

Oh I don't disagree with your choice of prizes at all and am sure the winners will get great value from them; I am largely a digital photographer myself. I just found the juxtaposition of the prizes with the process used to win the prizes interesting.

Kudos for not only introducing the kids to photography, but getting them to the point where they've produced work of such quality. Not a trivial task.

[Nicole]

Thank you Chris and Plyglot. No offence taken at all. Better not say much since I just got back from a fantastic 40th birthday bash! :) Have a great night.

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Home run, Nicole! Great job on the whole project!

I would LOVE to see these prints as more than thumbnails. Is there any chance that we can see them as individual scans or digisnapped?