Photography

my future self

Josh Birnbaum, Instructor

The photographic project for this year, Future Self, intends to engage the kids’ imaginations while exposing them to various photographic skills and processes. The kids were shown examples of photographs that incorporate reflective writing and drawing. They were then tasked with creating self-portraits that contained ideas of what their future could hold. Will they be a doctor or a nurse? A lawyer? A construction worker? Will they have family? Where will they live? How will they look? What are their hopes and dreams for the future?

They learned how to use professional studio equipment — lights, backdrops, camera, tripod, LCD screen, and remote — to pose and direct their self-portrait. Next, using transparency paper and colored sharpies, students wrote and drew reflectively on their pictures. Some wrote narratives about the possibilities in their futures, others chose more symbolic communication. Everyone was able to project ideas of themselves and their goals into their work.

Through the processes of photographing and writing, we are enabling students to practice expressing the freedom of their imaginations by exploring their inner worlds. We are allowing them to step back from reality for a moment to think not about how things are, but about how they can look. Hopefully, by tapping into their creativity, they will be able to see the importance of dreaming.