Photography

Instructor: Josh Birnbaum

Intern: Amelia Myers

For this year's photographic project, / Fashion Myself, the kids were tasked with creating their own "fashion" portraits that exemplify how they would like to be seen. Using photography and collage, they tried to communicate something about themselves.

Kids were guided in how to use cameras, pose, and direct a studio self-portrait. They went on field trips and took their cameras home to photograph items, scenes, and textures as source materials. Students were also allowed to cut out images from magazines. in the

process, some students decided they wanted to make thematic collages rather than self-based imagery. This approach fits within the tradition of photography and collage, and even shows that students are looking to use representational media to express larger concepts.

Through the processes of photographing, collaging, and writing, we are enabling students to practice expressing the freedom of their imaginations and explore their inner worlds. Hopefully, by tapping into

their creativity, they will be able to see the importance of seeing beyond the surface.

"/n fashioning myself, / fashion man."

-Jean-Paul Sartre, 1946