Student art – NH photo education
February 14, 2011
One of the hardest things for many people is to step back from your work and see where its going. Most artists suffer from that myopic vision. Either you think your work is amazing, super important and you can’t understand why the phone isn’t ringing off the hook from galleries and clients – or you are so down on your work that its value and impact is lost in a sea of self doubt.
Its even harder to do when your teaching photography. Suddenly the works of 35 people are lumped into a mass of incoming assignments, helping kids learn the tools and terminology, trying to promote love affairs with light … the tsunami of working in a classroom.
I’m teaching two classes of photography to students at Great Bay eLearning Charter School in Exeter.
Since we’re working with digital point and shoot cameras, much of the technical aspects of photography are out the window – aperture and shutter speed concepts are only theory if you’re using cameras where those adjustments aren’t possible.
The impetus of the classes becomes providing an environment in which students are free – and encouraged – to experiment. Its about widening people’s horizons, expanding their vision and view of the world around them.
Its tough! Unlike teaching at a college level, not everyone in the class is interested in photography. So there are frustrations – but the rewards are huge. Especially when there’s a chance to step back and take a look at the overall work.
That’s what happened when I needed to chose some photos to be in the student art show. I figured it would be easy to pick a had dozen to be printed…after all, the work had felt pretty uninspired as the semester went along.
Wow was I wrong! Stepping back provided window on some pretty fabulous photographs, and picking 6 became picking 25 – I just couldn’t edit it any tighter. A lot of good work was left out of the show ( a learning experience for me – next semester I’ll be far more prepared).
Here are a few of the photos that hung in the show. Would love to hear any feedback or comments.
i was at the Gbec’s exhibition and was left speechless by the profundity of the pictures taken by the students and the artwork they produced. maybe that sounds corny, but these pictures show that the Gbecs truly has made an atmosphere of safety for the kids to allow them to produce real art. thank yu.
Outstanding photographs…Outstanding students…Outstanding teacher…we are truly blessed to have you at GBeCS