San Diego Stories: A Photographic Journey

12th Grade

Project
6 weeks

San Diego Stories: A Photographic Journey

Logan Amaya

Purpose

Capture the vibrant essence of San Diego through your unique photographic lens, exploring its cultural and natural landscapes. Utilize this opportunity to refine your photography skills while expressing your personal perspective of the city. Engage with the community and peers to share and gain insights, ultimately creating a compelling visual narrative that reflects your journey and discoveries.

Learning goals

Develop your ability to capture and convey unique perspectives through photography by mastering techniques such as composition, lighting, and perspective. Enhance your understanding of San Diego's cultural and natural landscapes, and learn to express these through your lens. Cultivate skills in digital storytelling by creating a portfolio and interactive website, showcasing your photographic journey and engaging with diverse audiences.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.5: Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

Products

Develop a captivating digital portfolio that chronicles your photography journey, showcasing your growth through before-and-after comparisons, and highlighting the techniques you've mastered. Create an interactive website or blog where visitors can explore San Diego through your lens, engaging with the cultural narratives your photos depict. Conclude with a virtual or physical exhibition, inviting community feedback and personal storytelling to enrich the experience.

Launch

Begin your project with a 'Photo Scavenger Hunt' around San Diego, where you capture images based on a list of themes such as 'urban life,' 'natural beauty,' and 'hidden gems.' Use this activity to practice initial photography techniques and start seeing the city through your unique perspective. Share your favorite shots with peers to spark discussions on different interpretations and storytelling approaches.

Exhibition

Host a 'San Diego Through My Eyes' exhibition at a local community center or online platform, where you display your curated collection of photographs. Accompany each image with a personal narrative that explains your perspective and the story behind the shot. Invite community members, family, and friends to view the exhibition and participate in a storytelling session where they can share their interpretations and experiences related to your work.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Participate in a 'Photo Scavenger Hunt' around San Diego, capturing images based on themes like 'urban life,' 'natural beauty,' and 'hidden gems.' This activity will help you practice initial photography techniques and start seeing the city through your unique perspective.	Attend a workshop at the San Diego Museum of Art focused on basic photography techniques, including composition, lighting, and perspective.	Begin researching and exploring different neighborhoods of San Diego to plan your photography explorations. Create a list of potential locations and subjects that interest you.	Share your favorite shots from the scavenger hunt with peers in a virtual gallery walk, discussing different interpretations and storytelling approaches.	Start a photography journal to document your thoughts, ideas, and reflections on each photo you take, including what you learned from the scavenger hunt and workshop.
Deliverables	1. Curate a selection of 5-10 photos from the scavenger hunt that you feel best capture your initial perspective of San Diego. 2. Write a one-page reflection on the techniques and insights gained from the museum workshop and how you applied them during the scavenger hunt. 3. Submit your photography journal entries for Week 1, detailing your exploration plans, reflections, and any new insights about the neighborhoods of San Diego.
Preparation

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Explore and photograph different neighborhoods of San Diego, focusing on capturing diverse cultural and natural landscapes. Pay attention to varying lighting conditions and how they affect your images.	Attend an advanced photography workshop at the San Diego Museum of Art to learn about advanced composition techniques and editing tools to refine your photos.	Begin editing your photographs using editing software, experimenting with color correction, cropping, and other enhancements to improve the visual storytelling of your images.	Facilitate a peer feedback session where you present your edited photos and receive constructive criticism on your use of composition, lighting, and storytelling elements.	Expand your photography journal to include reflections on how editing has changed your perception of the images and any new insights into the neighborhoods you explored.
Deliverables	1. Submit an edited collection of 5-10 photos from your neighborhood explorations that demonstrate your understanding of advanced composition and editing techniques. 2. Provide a written reflection on the advanced photography workshop, detailing new techniques learned and how you applied them in your photo editing process. 3. Share your revised photography journal entries for Week 2, including reflections on the peer feedback session and how it influenced your editing choices.
Preparation

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Conduct an in-depth exploration of a specific neighborhood in San Diego that resonates with you, capturing its unique cultural and natural elements. Focus on using different perspectives and angles to tell a story through your images.	Participate in a peer-led workshop where you share a photo essay idea centered around your chosen neighborhood. Discuss potential narrative structures and receive input on how to enhance your storytelling.	Develop a series of 5-7 photos that collectively convey a narrative about the neighborhood. Pay close attention to the sequence of images and how they work together to communicate a cohesive story.	Engage in a virtual or in-person gallery walk to present your photo series to peers. Provide and receive feedback specifically on narrative flow and emotional impact.
Deliverables	1. Submit a draft of your photo essay, including a brief written narrative or captions that accompany each photo and explain the intended story. 2. Compile and submit feedback received during the gallery walk, along with your reflections on how this feedback might influence the final version of your photo essay.
Preparation

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Refine your photo essay by selecting one image from your series and experimenting with different editing and enhancement techniques to emphasize its storytelling elements. Consider using filters, adjusting lighting, and cropping for impact.	Participate in a collaborative critique session with peers, focused on the revised image from your photo essay. Discuss the emotional resonance, technical aspects, and narrative strength of the images.	Begin designing your digital portfolio, outlining how you will organize and present your photographic journey. Consider including sections such as 'Before and After,' 'Techniques Learned,' and 'Reflections on San Diego's Landscapes.'	Draft captions and narratives for your digital portfolio, ensuring they effectively convey the intended message and context of each photo. Use concise and evocative language to engage your audience.
Deliverables	1. Submit the final edited version of one image from your photo essay, including a brief rationale explaining the editing choices made and how they enhance the narrative. 2. Provide a summary of feedback received during the critique session and reflect on how this input will guide your final portfolio presentation. 3. Create an initial draft of your digital portfolio layout, including a table of contents and a description of each planned section.
Preparation

Week 5	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Finalize your digital portfolio, incorporating feedback and ensuring the layout is visually engaging and easy to navigate. Focus on curating your photos and narratives to create a cohesive story that reflects your unique perspective of San Diego.	Work on developing your interactive website or blog. Use website-building tools to create an engaging platform where visitors can explore your photography journey. Ensure that the site includes sections like 'Neighborhood Explorations,' 'Technique Insights,' and 'Cultural Narratives.'	Integrate multimedia elements, such as video clips or audio narrations, to enhance your digital portfolio and website. This could include personal reflections, background music, or sound bites that complement the visual storytelling.	Conduct a trial run of your virtual or physical exhibition. Present your digital portfolio and website to a small group of peers or mentors, simulating the final exhibition environment. Gather feedback on the presentation flow, clarity, and audience engagement.
Deliverables	1. Submit the final version of your digital portfolio, complete with curated photos and narratives. 2. Launch the initial version of your interactive website or blog, ensuring all sections are functional and content is accessible. 3. Provide a reflective summary of the trial exhibition feedback, including any adjustments or enhancements you plan to make for the final presentation.
Preparation

Week 6	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Organize and set up your 'San Diego Through My Eyes' exhibition, ensuring that each photograph is displayed with its corresponding narrative. Prepare the space to be inviting and conducive for audience engagement.	Facilitate a 'Photography and Storytelling Night.' Present your photographs, share personal narratives, and invite attendees to offer their interpretations and stories related to your work.	Engage in a reflection session post-exhibition where you analyze audience reactions. Compare these to your intended message, and document any insights or surprises in your photography journal.	Finalize your digital portfolio and website, incorporating any last-minute changes or feedback received during the exhibition. Ensure all elements are polished and ready for public viewing.
Deliverables	1. Host a successful 'San Diego Through My Eyes' exhibition, complete with shared narratives and interactive audience participation. 2. Submit a comprehensive reflection piece analyzing the exhibition's audience feedback and personal learning experiences. 3. Provide the final version of your digital portfolio and interactive website, accessible to peers, mentors, and the public.
Preparation