Discovering hidden
photography talents
Students in Visual Storytelling learn to create photo stories
By Christina Stavale
for The Co-Lab
School of Journalism
& Mass Communication
Kent State University
Related Links
Junior photojournalism major, Sam Twarek, took this photo as part of a story on people who deliver food in University Circle in Cleveland. The rest of the photos in the project called "Food Not Bombs" may be seen here. |
JMC adjunct professor Gary Harwood calls Visual Storytelling the class where photojournalism majors discover their hidden talents.
"It's kind of the moment that people realize they can do it," said Harwood, university chief photographer and course instructor.
Class member, Glennis Siegfried, took this photo on her way home to California as part of a photo story on landscapes. Says Siegfried: "I love landscapes, and mostly people don't see that side of the country because they're flying."
Harwood said the class was created to give sophomores a chance to really dive into their major by doing long-term documentary work.
From day one of the semester, students begin work on two photo stories. Harwood emphasizes the long-term nature of the projects to help students realize their full potential.
"They shoot, edit and go back and get better each time," he said.
Harwood said the photo stories allow students to develop these skills all at one time:
*Creative ability
*Artistic skills
*Social skills
*Technical skills
And though the class does not directly emphasize online material, Harwood said it gives the students a strong foundation for what is to come.
Then, when they work with things such as audio slideshows in upper-division course, they will be producing quality -- not mediocre -- photographs, he said.
Students in Visual Storytelling also have a special opportunity to work with the Hattie Larlham Center, in Mantua, which provides care to children
|
'They shoot, edit
and go back and
get better each time'
Gary Harwood,
Course instructor |
and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
Harwood said is important for students in his class to learn how to gain acceptance and access into a place or a person's life.
The experience at Hattie Larlham, he said, teaches students how to be thoughtful with every shot they take.
Both Twarek and Siegfried participated in the project by doing one of their photo stories on the Center.
Twarek said doing this photo story in particular, taught him the importance of access.
"We went through several people to get in," he said. "There was a list of kids that you could or couldn't take pictures of. It's a good thing to learn."
Siegfried said she enjoyed doing the project because it taught her that the children there live normal lives. |
Back to JMC home page
|