Photos Framed: A Fresh Look at the World's Most Memorable Photographs
by Ruth Thomson
Candlewick Press, 2014
review copy provided by the publisher
"When photography began, it was an elaborate, expensive, time-consuming, elite activity, using heavy, cumbersome equipment. Today, taking photographs can be instant, cheap, and accessible to anyone. Despite the enormous changes in photographic equipment and technology since the nineteenth century, the purposes of photography have remained essentially the same, whether immortalizing, exploring, documenting, revealing, or showing us what we can't see with the naked eye." -- from the introduction of Photos FramedIt's amazing, isn't it, that in less than 200 years, photography has become a universal art form? Children can take photographs before they have learned to hold a crayon. I think I can confidently say that every student in my class has taken a photograph. And because of that, I can't wait to share this book with them and dig into the history of photography and the art of photography.
Photos Framed is divided into four sections: Portrait photography, Nature photography, Photography as art, and Documentary photography. Each of the sections features examples from the 18th through the 21st Centuries. And each of the photographs is explored in the same ways: there is a section of text describing and discussing the photograph, a section that tells about the photographer, three questions ("Photo thoughts") for the reader/viewer to consider, a sidebar ("Blow Up") that features one tiny bit of the photo and a question to consider, and another sidebar ("Zoom In") that helps the viewer to consider the photo as a whole. Finally, there is a quote from the photographer that accompanies the photo.
I'm thrilled to see that there are multiple copies of this book available in our metro library system. I am imagining a whole-class study of this book in the first weeks of school which would lay the groundwork for students to build a photographic/visual portfolio alongside their digital portfolio/notebook (folder in their Google drive) and their pencil/paper writer's note/sketchbook.
Writing that last convoluted sentence made me realize that there just about isn't such a thing as a plain and simple Writer's Notebook anymore. All of these digital and non-digital spaces need to be developed to provide students with opportunities to capture and hold creations of all kinds at all stages of the process. Maybe it really is time to stop calling it Writers' Workshop and call it Composing Workshop.
Hmm...the wheels are turning...
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Ana would now like one of these puppies!
I've begun calling mine the Creation Station. While we will continue to write, we're using our writing to create pieces for different audiences. When we began the wiki this year, I asked my students if they thought this was writing and they said no, just reading and talking. Once they realized that they compose a thought, write it, edit/revise to their liking, and then publish on the web, it was an "AHA" moment. So many possibilities!
I enjoyed this post. I enjoyed what Franki wrote about her students the other day. I found the conversation that started an interesting on. I believe it was a teachable moment. I love opportunities like that. I also find what you have done with writer's workshop interesting. I agree that it is important to cover district standards. I think giving children as much choice as possible is important, as well. This is just another way to give our students choice. What a great way to have an opportunity to incorporate tech into the classroom, as well.
I like the idea of calling it composing workshop. I think calling it as such would give students their own permission to think beyond paper pencil. Recently, during writing workshop my students were exploring with flip video. The idea's they were coming up with about how they might use it were amazing. My only response to them was "Go for it...anything is possible during writing workshop."
I like that idea, "Composing Workshop!" I also like the pups video!!! :)
I'm fascinated by the idea of a composing workshop. I watch my boys spend hours on end drafting and revising and editing songs on Garage Band. Their process reminds me of what I do when I write. At the same time, they rarely, if ever, apply these skills to their writing. Hmmm.
I love the puppies too. I want to learn to do some of the fancy stuff you do!
I love the value you have placed on the creating, thinking and communicating in your workshop! Perhaps we are growing a new generation that will proclaim, "I love to write!"