12th Grade  Project 5 weeks

Snap Diego: A Cultural Lens Adventure

Devin M
Updated
Effective Communication
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Content Expertise
Collaboration
Self Directed Learning
+ 1 more
1-pager

Purpose

Capture the vibrancy and diversity of San Diego by delving into advanced photography techniques that emphasize lighting, composition, and cultural storytelling. Engage with the local community to develop professional photography skills while uncovering the city's unique cultural narratives. Share your journey through a dynamic exhibition that pairs your visual work with immersive soundscapes, creating a holistic exploration of San Diego's cultural essence.

Learning goals

Develop proficiency in key photography techniques such as lighting, composition, and context to effectively capture cultural narratives of San Diego. Engage actively with community partners through hands-on experiences in real-world settings, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills at cultural events. Foster a collaborative environment to share, critique, and refine your work with peers, while maintaining self-directed learning through reflection and personalized growth in understanding cultural contexts. Strengthen your academic mindset by exploring diverse urban environments and integrating sensory elements into your photo exhibition, establishing a deeper sense of identity and belonging within the community.

Competencies
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.

Products

Create a photo book that features your carefully curated photographs alongside annotated maps, detailing the locations and cultural contexts of each shot. During the 'Snapshots and Sounds of San Diego' exhibit, offer these photo books as takeaway guides to enrich viewers' understanding of your artistic journey. As you compile your scrapbook, ensure it thoughtfully captures the essence and diverse narratives of San Diego's cultural landscape.

Launch

Begin your project with an immersive walking tour of San Diego, focusing on the city's hidden cultural gems. Observe the interplay of natural light and urban settings as you capture images that embody the area's cultural essence. Use this experience to gather initial inspirations and reference points for your photography journey, setting the stage for the narratives you wish to explore and portray throughout your project.

Exhibition

Create an immersive 'Snapshots and Sounds of San Diego' exhibition by pairing your photographs with soundscapes that highlight the cultural narrative of each image. Arrange the venue to emulate a gallery experience, allowing visitors to journey through the distinct themes and locations captured. Offer an annotated photo book as a takeaway, detailing the stories and contexts of each image, and host an interactive session where guests can share feedback and discuss the cultural impacts of your work.