I sit here and list all I need to do. Investigate further: Action Research, Narrative Research Methods, Plan interviews with educators, students, and contemporary artist using film based methods. work on my methodolgy section, my literature review section (the fun part!). I also have to make an example of the image transfer project I'm doing with my photography students. It's Chihuly inspired. Between all my students should end up with about 1260 pieces. We also have to begin working on our Gold Leaf prints and we have two shows coming up......My student in 3rd hour has to finish her prom dress made out of fabric we transferred pictures (she took through out highschool about her life during that time) before prom which is April 14th. Continue experimenting with prints made from objects found in nature and all students need to continue their digital portolios (scanning prints, bios etc.) So I start searching and searching online and BINGO! The perfect interview with Jerry Uelsmann (2007), I have always been inspired by his work but his story and what he says about his teachers really resonates with myself. Like him, I had teachers that not only let me experiment but encouraged me to investigate ideas that were otherwise and by some, "not photography". Now I have a few students continuing to push these ideas as well. I'm so excited every day to discuss, brainstorm, and experiment with them.
In my teaching practice I tell my students that photography is more than just a picture. I challenge them to think of what this means to "record light". I try to encourage them to think of the camera as a tool, like a paint brush. To see it as just another means or medium to express their interpretation of light, shapes, experiences. I want them to see that they aren't here to just make good pictures, but to use the camera, processes and materials to express their interpretation of the world. When we have "presentations of work" I don't allow them to say things like, "Here's a picture of a tree" it's more like, Here's this thing, it's vertical and has this texture running up and down it and then there's this bulbous stuff going this way and that way kind of attached and light goes in and out and there's pattern and shadows etc. This tends to get them away from seeing photography as just producing a picture, a copy of reality but that the processes and act of photography are just as important.
Anyway, where was I?? Oh yes, in the interview Uelsmann says, "I fell in love with the alchemy of the photographic process and to this day, watching that print come up in the developer is magic for me. I still find it a wonderful, challenging experience. It’s also a kind of personal therapy for me just to engage in that process". I second that!!
