Markeim Arts

Photography Bootcamp...

Sounds more intimidating than my class actually is. For one, this is my first year teaching - so there's already a learning curve there, and two, I am the least serious person ever when it comes to teaching art. Sure, art can be serious, but my priority for this class is that all of my students have FUN. Art exists to bend rules, so I let my students do that within the means of a classroom setting.

My Photography Bootcamp class runs throughout the fall/winter on a weekly basis for six weeks and is open to 9-12 year olds. Together, we workshop different styles of mixed media art in combination with photography practices, with a focus on collage and nature photography. My previous class enjoyed using a mix of found media from magazines and newspapers along with their own printed photos that they took. 

We start with the basics of photography: light, shape, color, and texture, and how all of those elements can be used to create a "good" image. Each student gets their own camera for the duration of the class, and I send them home with a photo assignment to complete for next class. One of my favorite parts of this class is getting to see what my students capture outside of class. We host group critiques each week at the beginning of class where the kids can share their photos. They learn to discuss their own work and individual process through the art of critique, as well as how to respond to others work when they are on the viewers side.

Our last portion of the class is spent combining all of the things the students have learned over the course of 5 weeks into one final collage piece. The final collage includes images that they have taken, as well as a fictionalized backdrops. Their collages are a mix of reality and fantasy; I emphasize the importance of getting EXPERIMENTAL. It's always been a dream of mine to teach my own photography class, and I never had the chance to take one when I was younger, so I adore the fact that I have been able to inspire young photographers through my course. I can't wait to see what other talented young photographers are out there!

If you are interested in signing your child up for my photography class next season, please reach out directly to: info@markeimartscenter.org