"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." - Dorothea Lange

Monday, November 04, 2013

printing new work


Nicky

Today I've been printing some work. The images were not made by me; they are the creations of my amazing St. Mary Kevin Orphanage photography students.

Issy, Nicky and Brian are gifted artists. Put a musical instrument, a sketch pad, a blank canvas - and now a camera - in front of them, and you'll quickly be blown away.

I worked with these teenagers for only a few days this past August. By the end of the first, they were done with the old point and shoot cameras I had rounded up and brought over. They were hungry to learn much more. They wanted to know how to create movement, make things go out of focus or look very sharp. They wanted to know how to use light to their best advantage. They wanted to know about using different lenses. They were curious about how to approach potential subjects.

Yikes. I decided to let them take turns using my SLR. My Canon 5D Mark III.

[Me: Put the strap around your neck, and keep it there! Do not run with my camera. Do not climb any trees or large ant hills with it. Whatever you do, please bring it back to me in one piece!]

These young artists wanted assignments. They wanted to walk all day long with me and take pictures and watch ME take pictures. They wanted honest critiques of their work and assessments of their assignments. They wanted to see all of my pictures and hear me talk about why I made this one and why I liked that one. They wanted to know how I did this and when they could learn how to do that. They talked easily of what they felt worked and didn't work in their own pictures, of how they could make improvements, see more clearly, push themselves further.

It was exciting, exhilarating and inspiring (for me, absolutely!) It was great fun, too.

Other than to my own kids and to a class at Operation Breakthrough years ago, I had never really taught photography before.

These high school students made it easy. Their passion for image making was/is a beautiful thing. I maintain I have so much to learn from them.

(These photographs, and more, will be for sale at the Change the Truth Annual Fundraiser in March.)



Issy

Nicky

Brian

Brian

Issy

Nicky

Nicky

Brian

Brian

Nicky

Nicky


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful work.

Jessica said...

These are wonderful; one day I hope to take a photograph as beautiful as one of these! I very much like Brian's hand and Izzy's shadow on the steps.

Jessica said...

Sorry, Issy's shadow!

Anonymous said...

These are outstanding--I especially like the creative ways Nicky is looking at the world.
JD

Anonymous said...

These are stunning photos. I'm amazed by the "eye" and the talent of these young people. You have blessed them and they have blessed you.
- Jan

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL!
- Susan