T/F and Teaching!

for my first lesson I taught the kids about contrast and values, something to keep in mind when taking pictures. In order to help them think about it we did some painting with only white and black. The second lesson we learned about framing and did quite a bit of writing. I had them free write about their day. They were to use descriptive words to explain their day as if the were writing to a friend on the other side of the world. From the writing we were able to pull things to take pictures of and how. One example I used was from a kid who had a dog that needed training, I told her that a great way of showing this would be to have her finger in the frame reprimanding the dog with an demeaning angle of her pooch. She liked this idea and drew further upon it which is good. Beyond teaching I sandwiched some T/F Film Festival. I helped Vanessa Andrew with the doors into the Windsor/ Hive entrance, we spent 8 hours on Wednesday night before the festival. here is a look at one of the pictures I took on my phone. It has been really fun teaching and I have one more class to teach photo and I can't wait to see the images! This is such an exciting experience.

TEACHING!

So I have started to teach!

Ann Mehr sent me this:

this is a picture from the first class I taught. This lesson was about me and my ideas as an artist. it was a combination class with both Seek and Corley. This class was intended to be an introduction to the project, myself- their teacher, and some history about photographers that have influenced my interest in photography.

This class was quite an eye opener to me about how teaching goes, some of the students seemed responsive and asked questions pertaining to the subject, others wanted to trail off on stories about their experiences. I learned alot from these students and cant wait to teach and be taught more this coming thursday and friday! This week we will be discussing all this stuff I have worked out! they finally get to take home cameras! I do believe we are 3 short so hopefully in the next few days I get a hit on Freecycle, or here!

I will be posting more pictures from the lessons and the Kickstarter should be launched this week for funding on the books!

Yippy! this is actually happening!

Some Information

I had a thought. I don't think that many of my viewers know why I am exactly doing this project. So I figured I should give you all a little information.

When I was in the second grade I received my first camera, a Polaroid. I was mesmerized by that moment, I was a photographer for life. I was usually in charge of taking the photos for family and friend occasions, or so I thought, and I sometimes am to this day. I currently attend Stephens College for Film and continue to take photos of my own things on the side. I even have a separate blog for the food I make and photograph.

I think art education is very important to teach young children, it hurts my heart when I hear that music and art education is being cut from schools. One thing that I love about Columbia is that the community is very supportive in the arts and education of it. There is even a school dedicated to the education at the elementary level, Lee Elementary.

Because I believe that art education is important and I have benefited from it, I want to give back to my community and teach children the art of photography. Not only will the children be experiencing the art of photography, but they will be teaching me about the 2011 3rd grade experience. I believe that both the children and I have a lot to learn from each other, as well as the community. Something I am wanting to do with this project is not only teach the children and give them the experience of taking photos and sharing them with each other, but also to share this experience with the community around Columbia, MO.

The more specific details of this project are that I will be teaching the children through the guidance of Ann Mehr, several times through out the semester about photography as an art. The 3rd grade classes of Carissa Seek and Kathleen Corley after learning about photography will be given a disposable camera for 1 day and be asked to document their entire day from beginning to end. Along with the photos each student will be asked to write a story about their day, together the students and I will compile a book of everyones work to share with each member of the class. I am hoping this experience will affect them to look at their lives in a different way. These children already have a step ahead of many, looking at life through an artistic lens, but what I hope to do is to make them look at every aspect of their life through a photographic almost documentary lens. I feel many people do not view life in such a manner, they allow the small things to easily slip from their minds, I tend to find these to be the most beautiful things.

I am very excited about this project and hope that those of you who read this become as excited about it as I am. I will be using this page as an outlet to educate the community and viewers about the project and my progress physically and mentally. There will be many events throughout the community to be involved in and a fundraising page set to launch in mid to late February. Coming soon is and event at the Blue Fugue on FEBRUARY THE 5TH with bands and other fun activities that will help purchase the cameras and development of the film.

This project will only be possible with the help from the community members who participate.

To those of you who donate I am forever grateful, as are the children and Lee Elementary.

Feel free to pass this site on to those who may be interested, and to contact me with questions via comments on this site or my email. WyndstormN@gmail.com

Thank you so much for your time and participation.

Wynde

New Deal

So a slight change of plans has occurred. The project will not be launched on Kickstarter for another month. I am waiting until March. I am currently in the process of researching and educating myself on the wonders and trials with teaching children photography. Beyond that I am also creating the Best Video Ever... My first shot was a good practice and rough cut, I am now going to reshoot and get more experience and face time with the kids. In other notes the first of February I am going the be a "Visiting Artist" and show the Third graders my chops as a photographic artist. I am quite excited for this presentation and will be spending the next week preparing for this. Following that visit I will teach them a few times about the basics of photography as well at the importance and some tricks to documenting. I am very excited for this and will be taking notes and blogging about my experiences here.

To post another day.

1/18

Hello there.

So today was my personal get things together with the video day, but alas it has fallen apart. 3 hours into my video and things are just not coming together. The audio and visual elements are ready, for some reason the exporting is not going so well. Tomorrow is another day that shall be the best day for this project to get Kickstarted! Look out World! Tomorrow is the day.

Good night.

January Update

Hello those who like to view.

I took a lengthy winters nap and did not bother to share that information. This week has started off busy and shall continue in that fashion. Something that has been mixed into the business of the week has been that of FILMING for the Kickstarter website! This is going to happen on the 13th of January. The Filming will take place at Lee in the morning with one of the 3rd grade classes and then will be edited and hopefully posted to this as well as the kickstarter. Look for the video and launched site this weekend of the 14th! Things are coming together and schedules have been made! yay!

See you all in writing in a few days!

Let Me Explain A Little

Here is a little information on my project:

I was in the Second Grade when I was given my first camera, Polaroid to be exact and was able to experience the art of photography, or at least I thought what I was doing was art, and that is all that matters. In today's digital age children are being surrounded by instant photos with the digital camera, what I am wanting to do is give each child in the class at least 10 frames on a disposable camera where they shoot a day in the life of themselves. A long with the photos of the day I want a story to accompany them. With this I will create a book, 1 page per student for their story along with a photo for each part of the day. I feel this would be a wonderful experience for children to capture a moment with a bit of thought put into it, knowing their photographs are more permanent than disposable like with most digital images. Not only do I want to give children the experience with more permanent images, but give them the experience I was able to have as a child, experiment with photography as an art, without that camera I would not be where I am today. Each child will get a copy of the book free of charge as well as the cameras, the only thing this project needs from them is their time and effort. Their experience is all I am after.

I am currently talking to Ann Mehr at Lee Elementary and we are having a meeting tomorrow about the details of working with the school in the next months to come.
Along with talking to Ann I am awaiting a confirmation of my projects approval from Kickstarter and once that project has been approved I will be posting the official link to the blog. I will be needing funding for this project and that's what Kickstarter is all about, getting funding for projects in the arts. check out the site and keep a look out for Wynde's links to the official Day in Their Eyes project!