Hey Hans,
Macro was definitely something I'd thought about. The shutter
speed thing (and apertures) was something I wasn't sure would be a
good thing to get into, as I was worried that may be too tricky,
initially at least, but I do want to try and get them to
understand the camera controls. I love your analogy of learning to
control the camera, whilst trying to take control of their
lives...and the confidence boost that can be had from taking a
picture they're proud of is something I'd really like to achieve
(it still does wonder for me, even after years of snapping!) so,
it's just a case of trying to find subjects they can relate to.
Thanks though, I may be in touch off list for some more advice.
Cheers,
Jonathan.
On 16/01/2015 04:57, Hans Klemmer wrote:
Hi Jonathan,
I had the same kind of gig in Belfast a couple years ago
and found it immensely rewarding. With so many controls on
cameras that you and I may not even think about, the students
were fascinated with some of the controls that were available
with our little point and shoot cameras. Macro for instance
was popular as was some of the motion shots using a slower
shutter speed. My take on the class was that everyone wanted
to feel like they could have some control over something as
basic as a camera while they worked on taking better control
of their lives. Think of the camera as a confidence builder; a
student/client likes flowers or babies or architecture or
little toy trains, you show them some techniques that pair
with their interests and you'll be a popular teacher and
they'll happy with their knew found knowledge and abilities.
Feel free to email me off list if I can give you any more
info.
Hans
Sent from my iPhone
Well, they don't have any
cameras, so the kit they are using is mine (some simple
compacts I use for teaching workshops with kids, and a
couple of DSLR's) ...I think I can trust one or two of
them, but the nature of the group is that sometimes they
turn up, and sometimes they don't...so possibly best not
to let them all wonder off each week with the only kit I
have.
I guess they have their phone cameras...not sure how I
feel about teaching photography just using those though.
I agree though that their motivation to continue will
have to be from their results, which begs the question,
what can I do with a bunch of guys in a room... It's a
challenging one!
thanks,
Jonathan
On 16/01/2015 00:30, Lew Schwartz wrote:
Can you let them keep the camera between
classes so they can photograph stuff when you're not
there?
Sounds like cameras should be on auto for
this group, all their motivation will came from their
results, not technical/informational stuff.
On Jan 15, 2015 7:18 PM,
"Jonathan Turner" < pictures@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
So,
I have a question for all the teachers and tutors
among the forum;
I've just begun teaching a 10 week photography
course (once a week for 2 hrs). The group I'm
working with have varying degrees of mental health
issues, some of them are not very confident etc, and
some of them are not very mobile (so can't walk too
far).
I have some basic compact cameras, and a couple of
DSLR's to work with, and my aim is simply to engage
them in photography, nothing too complicated, and
get them all to make some work which they can feel
proud of, and hopefully which gives them a bit of a
confidence boost.
Given that some of them can't walk too far, I'm kind
of limited to being in a room (which I'm not at all
keen on...I always want to get students out and
about doing stuff) so am feeling a bit stuck for
ideas for what kind of activities I can do that are
room based, but interesting enough to keep them
coming over the duration of the course.
I can do things like portraiture (though some of
them don't want to have their picture taken), some
still life I guess, and light graffiti. I could go
into apertures and shutter speeds, but want to keep
things reasonably simple, as this is really about
giving them something enjoyable to do...
Any suggestions??
Thanks,
Jonathan
--
Jonathan Turner - Photographer M; 07796 470573 W; www.jonathan-turner.com
|