| Poetry
Through Photography
Poetry
Through Photography* is an inter-disciplinary art project
that offers youth the chance to explore their lives creatively using
the mediums of photography and writing.
The project can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months, with meetings
1-3 times a week. It consists of looking at the themes of Self-Portrait,
Friends & Family, Relationship to Nature, Community and Dreams
through imagery and words. There is a constant interplay between
writing and picture-taking, using the words to inspire the pictures
and vice versa. Participants are given a background on the process
and art of photography and how a camera works. There is a group
discussion on the elements of a photograph, including composition,
lighting, angle and juxtaposition. The kids are taught how to use
simple cameras, provided by Ritual Sunlight, and then given the
chance to start exploring their lives photographically.
If time and budget permit, the kids are taught how to process black
& white film and how to print a photograph in a darkroom. Alternatively,
simple digital cameras are provided which can be further integrated
into computer arts programs. Photographs are shared and discussed
in a group to better understand what worked and what didn’t.
Favorite images are selected and used as a springboard for writing
on a particular theme. Poetry is encouraged, but not required. There
is usually the opportunity to create an exhibition of the work created
by the kids at the end of the project.
This project has a profound effect on a child’s relationship
to the world around him or her. The innocence of a child’s
photograph and the stories that it inspires give access to deep
emotional and psychological reflection. Self-esteem is often strengthened
and kids are many times excited to share their work with family
and friends. The project is especially appropriate for literacy
programs and youth learning English as a foreign language.
Ritual Sunlight has facilitated Poetry Through Photography projects
at the following places: (please click on title to find out more.)
Tibetan Homes School Mussoorie,
India 2001
The Oz School Santa Fe, New Mexico 2003
*Poetry
Through Photography was born out of the Literacy Through
Photography program developed by Wendy Ewald over the past 30 years.
The program is part of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke
University and has been integrated into the Durham Public School
system in North Carolina. Gregory Gutin of Ritual Sunlight studied
with Ms. Ewald and was trained to facilitate such projects.
contact:
ritualsunlight@hotmail.com
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