Photography

I want to say, that I am very much NOT a photographer.  In fact, I don't really have too much interest in photography.  Maybe someday.  However, I was pretty excited by this project when we got some snow last week.

I need to explain here.  I live in the Pacific NW.  Our winter consists of lots of rain, usually about 40F weather, some wind, lots of clouds.  Not a lot of snow or ice, or anything else most of you would consider "winter."  So when we get snow, everyone tends to freak out.  And I thought, "wow, I can get some really beautiful photos!"

But then, the ice storm hit.

 I was able to get not just beautiful photos, but ones that combine beauty and terror.  In each of the photos, I worked to design a compelling experience using what I had learned in our readings.  Lines, framing, background, placement (rule of thirds).  Some were more successful than others.

I learned a lot with this project.
1)  I'm not a photographer.  Really, I'm not.  This was HARD.
2)  I do have some ability, now, to perhaps create a more compelling experience with a photograph, but I'll prefer to let the experts take and choose the photos.
3)  The effects of the ice storm were devastating.  Today, we're still out of power.

How can I apply this unit to my teaching?  Well, I'm unlikely to really use much in the way of photographs to attempt to create a more compelling experience.  But, I did learn more about compelling experiences that I can use in my teaching.

Compelling experiences speak to the audience.  They don't all say the same thing.  What I see in my photographs is going to be different from what you see.  And that's okay, as long as I take that into account.  But I want each of my students to be able to connect, on a personal level, with what I am trying to teach.

Different elements can help to make an experience more or less compelling, but they're not guarantees.  I can follow all the rules to create a compelling photograph and still not take a successful photo, because the rules don't make the photo.  Similarly, there are some elements that can help a lesson to be compelling, but they don't make the lesson.  So I could have a hands-on experience that my students can really connect with on a personal level, but unless the lesson works, it's no good, as far as a compelling experience is concerned.