National Geographic Crimea Photo Camp & Horizon’s 4th Grade Photo Class
In early June, I was in the Crimea (Ukraine) working with Lindsay Greer, Matt Moyer, Ross Goldberg, Jim Webb, Alex Garcia and Katel Ledu on the National Geographic Photo Camp which was founded by Kirsten Elstner of Vision Workshops. These are incredible workshops, hosted both domestically and internationally, working with young photographers in a unique learning situation. I’ve worked with 4 Photo Camps previously: San Francisco, Baltimore, Cambridge (Maine) and Costa Rica.
I’ve also just completed the Horizon’s photo class. Horizon’s is a 6-week long, summer program for K-8, primarily working with kids from under-served communities. I started these photo classes in 2004, and in the last few years, I’ve had the honor of teaching these classes with my good friend and great photographer, John Leyba. John has saved my tail more years than one, when I couldn’t make some or all of the 4th grade photo class. Both of our kids (Matt and Maggie) have worked with Horizon’s for multiple years, Matt for nine years, Maggie for 5 years. They both work as teacher assistants for the program, and I approached the Horizon’s director, Jenny Leger in 2004 about teaching a photo class to the kids. Since then we’ve conducted the week-long class as part of their daily schedule. I’m a believer that photography plays such a big part in our lives, recording our history, both in terms of our society as well as personally. Our minds think in terms of still images, and a good/great still image will often be that foundation for our memory of time or place. Getting these kids to become comfortable with the Olympus cameras they use is important, as this will give them the confidence to photographically record their own lives. I believe introducing art into a child’s life makes a kinder and gentler person.
I’ve watched the work the 4th grade Horizon’s photo class has produced, and I’m impressed with the beautiful and powerful photography coming from these young photographers. The same holds true for the Photo Camps. I think we are in safe hands, in terms of the future of still photography.
Enough said on my part, let the images speak for themselves. Below, a few images, and to view selects and videos from both events, click here
Also, to visit the National Geographic Crimean Photo Camp website, click on this link
The four photos seen below are from the Crimea Photo Camp:
These four are from the recent Horizon’s 4th Grade Photo Class
