Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. ~Twyla Tharp

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Summer

Summer is upon us here in the middle of North Carolina and when I say summer, I'm not kidding.  The last week has seen record breaking temperatures often over 100 degrees and it has been muggy.

I also ended up having a sinus infection and a nasty case of bronchitis so my summer hasn't been off to a great start.  I have taken this week to sit quietly and fold laundry and get all my photography gear in place and ready.  I'm planning on doing a lot of wandering this summer and need to have my camera by my side.  I also purchased a couple of new batteries because the original battery isn't holding it's charge as long as it did when it was new.  Along with the packs, I purchased a battery grip as well. I've never used one before, even when I had my old Canon slr, but I like the fact that if I need to, I can use double A batteries in it.  I have been told however, that rechargeable double A's are better and don't drain as fast.

All this camera and photography talk has me really wishing that I could teach a photography class.  The problem is cameras.  Most of my students have smart phones and I am wondering if there is a way that I can use what the students already have available to them in a visual literacy project.  It might have to be a partially in - partially out of class assignment where they are tasked with taking different kinds of pictures, which we can then manipulate in class and then write about.  I've always been a proponent of visual literacy and interpreting signs and symbols.  I also think that images that we create ourselves are easier for us to write about.  It's still early in the summer so I have some time to think about this.

I wonder if my students are getting bored yet?  I hope not, but here is my annual summer drawing challenge if any of them are interested.  I can't take credit for most of the challenges as I gleaned them from more than one site, made some up and changed some to be regionally appropriate.  

If you are bored, get creative! 
 
I promise to take lots of pictures and I'll try to post them often.

In the meantime, enjoy your summer!