Photo Safari Teacher NOTES

Photo Safari --- Teacher NOTES

Title: Photo Safari

Grade(s): 6-8

Subject: English Language Arts

Technology: Imaging

Estimated time for Completion: 4-6 hours / weeks (based on 1- hour per week)

OVERVIEW

In this project, students will be introduced to photojournalism. Students take digital images to document stories of the people (or places, or things) that impact their lives. PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE: This learning resource assumes the student has a basic knowledge of digital photography.TEACHER PREP TIME: 1 hour If you have not worked with a digital camera or photo editing software before you may want to practice. Review the Imaging training videos from Nortel LearniT (

DELIVERABLES: Students will publish and present their photo story as a result of their Photo Safari. EVALUATION / GRADING: Student's videos will be evaluated using a rubric provided in Evaluate.

Want to take this another step?
Have students prepare a PowerPoint slideshow presenting their photo story or have students create a class photo gallery on the Internet.

Only one computer in the classroom? Have students work in pairs.

Teacher Tips: If time allows, let students research various well know photographers on the Internet. Use a bulletin board to display student photo stories to share with the school.

Photojournalists tell stories with pictures.

Some of the most important people in our world—from presidents, to business leaders and heroes--have been remembered in photos.

In this project, you will be introduced to photojournalism and take a shot at shooting pictures to tell your own stories about the people you meet and interact with.

You’ll be going on a ‘Photo Safari’ to collect the pictures you want to help tell your story.

For this activity, you will need a computer with access to the Internet, a digital video camera and photo editing software.

Review the Imaging video tutorials from Nortel LearniT (
Newseum

Pulitzer – Photojournalist Archive

Forest Firefighter Journal

Electric Teacher

Be sure to document the source of your Internet research.

Last Name, First Name of Author (if known). “Title of work/article/page.” Title of Complete Document (if applicable). Date last modified. URL (date visited).

1. To help get your creative juices flowing, take a peak at some excellent, historical examples of photojournalism - (it will take a few seconds to load).

2. Choose three photos from the Newseum website and answer the following questions for each:
a. How do you feel when you look at the photo?
b. Briefly describe what story the photo tells?
c. Explain your overall response from the photo?

3. Brainstorm a list of topics you might like to use for your photo story.

4. Begin your photo safari by visiting the places where your subject is located. Take pictures that not only show your subject, but present it within context (e.g. Picture of Person vs. Picture of Person standing in front of their classroom or next to an item that represents their interests)

5. Read over the following TIPS:

• Remember the Rule of Thirds.
• Fill image with the subject (get up close or use optical zoom)
• Hold the camera steady while taking the photo
• Consider composition while taking the photo - editing on the computer is time consuming
• Be aware of shadows on the surface behind the camera when using flash - Try moving the subject further from the background, different angles or different camera settings
• Transfer your photos to a computer and save on a USB Drive (if available).

6. Use an Image Editing program (like PhotoShop Elements or GIMP) to prepare your photos (if necessary).

Each student will present their photo safari / photo story with the class.

Discuss the following information with your class:

Why you choose the subject you did?

Was your subject a good one for a photo essay?

At the end of your presentation allow your peers to offer constructive criticism:

What was done well in the photo essay? Explain.

What might have been done more effectively? How?

Discuss the quality of the photographs

Photo Safari Project Evaluation Rubric

Notes:

The assessment of photographs, are based on the student's ability to produce images that are in focus, clearly visible and properly composed.

TIP: A properly composed photograph should include three of the following guidelines: simplicity, framing, balance, lines, rule of thirds and avoiding mergers.

Good photo journalists often ‘map-out’ their photo safari before going on it. Do this by creating a list of images, ideas or questions you have about the specific ‘subject’ of your photo story.

Photo collages are another product of good storytelling through photo safaris. Use an Image Editing software program (like Photoshop Elements or GIMP) to create a collage.

NOTE: Collages are more than just a collection of pictures, they present ideas, themes and other important messages that can’t be conveyed in a single or a few photos).

Photo Safaris are meant to be shared with others. Consider posting your photos to a web site and sharing the web address with your classmates, friends and families.

NOTE: Be sure to follow copyright laws or guidelines (NO copyrighted works should be used in your photo safari project) AND practice cyber safety techniques by avoiding use of any last names or other personal information of individuals who may have their photos in your project.