Photography Class Needs a High Quality Printer

Funded Sep 12, 2023

I wanted to follow up to let you know how much of an impact this technology has had for my students. In today's digital era, so many kids have never actually printed a photograph. They are used to being bombarded by digital media to the point where they are desensitized to photographs as being a form of art. In the beginning weeks of our class, students spent a lot of time snapping photos without a lot of planning or intention, and then gradually learned about the formal elements of composition and design as they pertain to photographic art. But still, a lot of them didn't see themselves as artists yet...

Once we got the printer up and running, I began assigning projects where they had to intentionally think about and apply design concepts into their compositions. For our first project, students developed a print advertising campaign for a product of their choice. They researched different styles and techniques in product advertising and developed inspiration boards to guide their own campaign. They set up mini-studios in class, worked together to create bold and dynamic photographs of their products, and then used photo editing tools to make their advertising posters. I told them in advance that these would be printed and displayed around the school. Kids were so excited that they requested to come in after school and during lunch/prep times to perfect them and finish their projects, even though it was only worth the same amount of points as every other assignment...

I printed their work off over the weekend, and the looks on their faces when they came into class Monday was PRICELESS. They were amazed at how professional their work looked, and they finally started seeing themselves as creators and artists. For many of them, this was a major tipping point for engagement and enthusiasm toward photography. The large-format prints are such high quality and are so vibrant that they really emphasize the details of the imagery in a way that doesn't get though on a phone or computer screen.

I am thrilled to proudly display my students' work in our locker bay and around the school, and kids are able to see how their photographs can make an impact on their school environment. We are all eager to print more of their work as the year progresses and the positive impact it will have on the climate around our school!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Cummings