JEA Photo Critiques and Students

At the Washington, D.C. Convention, Bradley Wilson and JEA used online judging and critiquing. I missed having students in small groups and talking with fellow judges late Friday night, but I also enjoyed the new process. Bradley deserves a great deal of credit for the change. You can't tell from the first photo, but he also enjoyed that we finally are looking at online photos.

By having the online competition, the judges and educators could talk to hundreds of students about our decisions. Students could see that we disagreed about certain photos. Sometimes, it looks as if we are fighting. I have even changed my mind about some photos. Students can learn more from this discussion than by looking at awards. Awards do not always equate excellence or predict success.

Two of my favorite photographers did not win the top award. One, Suzie Reecer, didn't enter photos, but I saw her portfolio. She came prepared, and we discussed her work. Check out her website at www.suziereecerphotography.com. Remember Zach Hetrick? Suzie learned from Zach; she actually uses the term "sportrait" like it is a real category, and the way she and Zach shoot, maybe it should. I hope that other students learn from Suzie.

I also enjoyed Ina Herlihy. She has covered national politics and concerts; NOTE: FROM FEB 23 (HERE IS INA'S WEBSITE http://inaherlihy.com/) I am still waiting for her website. You can see her work at the Broadview, where she is Editor-in-Chief. When she has her domain, I will add it here. Ina has also presented at JEA national conferences, something rare for a student. She is so good, that I think she people assume she has some special connections. You know, like Anderson Cooper is the son of _____-. Her special connection is that she works hard.

There are a few other high school photographers that I want to mention. One is Leila Farhood. In April, she had a simple site showcasing her work. Now, she has her own domain and website at http://www.leilafarhood.com/. It is important to visit both students sites. First, it will help others learn what high school students can do, but also this increases their web traffic. Please, click on their sites.

And for those other students who have sites, please send my your links, and I will be glad to post them if it works for another blog post.

 

JEA Photo - Images by bryan farley

There are other students who have contacted me who I want to mention. I don't remember Ally Strickland or Kia Peters' photos, but I know that they have vision. Both students are trying to get better. Both are discerning whether this is something they want to do, and they are looking for information in the right place. I hope they keep looking.

I know as an educator that I have an impact on students. Now that I am older and I have stayed in touch with some of my old teachers, I have accepted that students have an impact on teachers. Even when I forget names, I remember the student who showed me his photobook, or many brave students who were examples for me and the other teachers.

Comments

[Ally Strickland]

In Suzie's pictures, I liked the senior portfolio the best. I liked how she incorporated nature in pictures. It brings something more to both the pictures and the people in them. But i liked how she used the nature and the emotion of the people together.

I liked all of Leila's pictures. The random things said so much about the people in the pictures. They told indivisual stories.

[bryan farley]

Ally,

I know I sent you a personal message thanking you for reading and commenting. I am sure Suzie appreciated it as did Leila.

Have you heard from them?

How has your photography been going?

BF