I Am Here!

Many years ago when I arrived in this district I would discuss with students the essentials of framing and composing a scene with the camera lens before taking a picture. The importance of a steady hand. The placement of items in the foreground or background to enhance visual depth or provide story context. But times have changed. Today’s picture takers don’t need as much direction. So many of them naturally adhere to these photography basics. It would seem they are immersed in a world where picture taking and self-documentation is a cultural expectation. It’s the norm. A selfie projects self-confidence and is more about “I am here!” than “I was there.” But classroom teachers with access to cameras (who doesn’t?) must use this information as a way to turnkey new opportunities for developing literacy skills. If photojournalism was a standard of today’s curriculum, how easy would it be to get students motivated to discuss visual literacy and develop their writing skills through their photographs?

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