Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

Monday, November 8, 2010

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Maria, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Ariadna, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Jessenia, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Javier, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Lauren, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010 - 2011]



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Jocelyn, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Genaro, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010 - 2011]



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Crisante, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Erika, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Jackie, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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John, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Rene, 6th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Xiomery, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Aleza, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Richard, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Diana, 6th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Rachel, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Maribel, 6th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Jessenia, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Mario, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Javier, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Nayeli, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Jocelyn, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Crisante, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Erika, 7th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Fedrick, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Edward, 8th Grade, RYSS [2010-2011]



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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Cynthia, 8th Grade, RYSS


I like this picture because it has a very bright color, and a lot of focus towards the top of the plant. Another thing I like about this picture is the way I took it. It looks like as if a professional took the picture. I also like it because the leaves are very clean and have one solid color. The four seeds in the middle help the plant not look boring. This picture makes me smile because of its bright color.

Cynthia, 8th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Maritza, 8th Grade, RYSS


This picture is one of my favorites. I like the way I took this picture because of the shape and form, how the red shapes of the flowers are between the trees, and how the radiant clouds are between the trees ... the black shadow of the big tree between the other little trees. It makes it way different. Black, white, green, and blue is all you see, but the first thing I see is the beautiful, shiny flowers.

Maritza, 8th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

David, 6th Grade, RYSS


I like this picture because of the angle. It's in a good position. The tree looks kind of cool, and it's because of the light, how it's touching the tree and the leaves. The tree has some brown spots on it. The top of the leaves look light green, and the bottom part of the leaves dark green. One leaf looks kind of green and yellow. I chose this picture because it make me feel happy, excited and comfortable. It's a good picture.

David, 6th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Juanita, 6th Grade, RYSS


I like this picture because it shows the sun in the middle like an important source for life. This picture makes me feel protected because I think that the sun is me, and that the trees are my parents who are protecting me from danger. I like it too because the sun looks like it is a star at the end of the tree. My favorite part of this picture are the layers around the sun.

Juanita, 6th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Jessica, 8th Grade, RYSS


I like this picture because it looks very empty. There really isn't anything other than the water at the bottom, the sky at the top, and a little bit of land in the middle. The sky looks gray like if it was late, but it really wasn't. There isn't a cloud or a bird to see in the sky. The land looks empty like if it is abandoned. The thing I like is that there is no sun but yet, the water is still showing a reflection of light. The sea looks very peaceful because there aren't any big waves, only small ones. This picture makes me feel lonely.

Jessica, 8th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Maria, 7th Grade, RYSS


The reason I like this picture is because I like the birds that are there. You can actually see nine birds. It looks like they are looking for something, like food. Also when I look at this picture, it reminds me of this movie I love! Also I like this picture because the birds are so beautiful, and they make me happy.

Maria, 7th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Oscar, 7th Grade, RYSS


I chose this picture because of the beautiful trees. And the other reason is because of the cool background. The background of this picture is the sky, and it makes it look interesting. And the way I feel about this picture is that it makes me feel like I'm flying. This picture is a very good example of nature.

Oscar, 7th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Areli, 6th Grade, RYSS


I chose this picture because I like the way that I took it. I like it because there are some trees in the front. You can't see the leaves, and also it is kind of dark. Then there is the middle where there are more trees. You can see some of the leaves. Their color is dark green. You can also see a line in the middle that is the sun. At the back, there are more trees, but they are smaller. In the back, the sun is really bright. There is also grass growing, and it is tall. What I see in this picture are a lot of lines. I feel kind of dizzy when I look at it.

Areli, 6th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Anyssa, 7th Grade, RYSS


I like this picture because it was right before we had gotten to Galveston. It was Oscar and me on the seat next to the window. I also like the color of the water and how the sun reflects on it. The sun makes it seem like if it's never going to end, it's going to last for another million years. The exciting thing about this picture is that you can see a little bit of the town even though it's far away in the distance. As we were going to Point Bolivar, I was scared the closer and closer we got to the edge of the water.

Anyssa, 7th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Maritza, 8th Grade, RYSS


Have you ever felt the sun so hot that you almost burned yourself? Well that's exacly what I felt when I took this picture. In that same area, the same park, and felt the fire across the trees. With my eyes closed I just took one little step. I just looked straight up at the sun so beautiful. And with my eyes closed, I took this beautiful, artistic picture. Just looking at this picture makes me feel important with those four circles. It just describes my mom, dad, sister, and brother. They mean a lot to me in this world. So, I'm happy that this picture is beautiful and means my life to me.

Maritza, 8th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Cynthia, 8th Grade, RYSS


I like this picture because of the way the branches look and the sun shining between them. It looks very cool. The sun makes this picture look very interesting because of how the colors and light combine together. It looks like it is telling you the way to Heaven. The sun makes the branches look dark. Everytime I look at it, it reminds me of making good choices. It makes me think about a decision twice rather than once. Another thing it reminds me of is God and our respect in him. We know that things will be better whenever they are bad.

Cynthia, 8th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Eduardo, 6th Grade, RYSS


I like this picture because it is orange, and this is my favorite color. Also it looks like it is forming an S. You can see the trees behind the plants and all of the beautiful nature that surrounds it. It makes me feel like this picture is special. Also you can see the sky.

Eduardo, 6th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Manuel, 8th Grade, RYSS


This picture is really cool for me. It shows me the nature that surrounds me and its beauty. This kind of picture helps me think about nature and why we need to take care of it. I took this picture at the Big Thicket in East Texas on a school field trip. It inspires me to take more pictures, and show what the world is made of. This is a fallen tree that has fungus on it.

Manuel, 8th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Ashley, 7th Grade, RYSS


LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, AND WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING IT TAKES TO KEEP IT CLEAN AND NOT LET ANY ANIMALS DIE BECAUSE OF HOW WE LITTER. THE OCEAN IS A QUIET, BLUE PLACE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE GOING TO IT, AND IN MY OPINION, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE THE PRETTY BLUE WATER DISAPPEAR AND TURN GREEN. LIFE IS TOO SHORT, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PICTURE, IT MAKES IT SEEM THAT IT WOULD LAST FOREVER AND FOREVER, NO MATTER WHAT. THE ROCKS LOOK REALLY CUTE TOGETHER, LIKE PARTNERS, AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT COLORS AND SHAPES.

THEY LOOK UNIQUE, AND I THINK THAT UNIQUE THINGS ARE REALLY COOL. I LOVE NATURE, AND THAT'S WHY I LIKE THIS PICTURE. IT HELPS ME EXPRESS MY FEELINGS. THIS PICTURE LOOKS
EMPTY BECAUSE IT'S JUST WATER, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT EARTH HAS, WATER, AND I THINK THE COLOR OF WATER IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY WAY.

Ashley, 7th Grade, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas.

Blog Archive

Instructors and LTP

Instructors:

Harold Olejarz is Art and Technology teacher at Eisenhower Middle School, Wyckoff, New Jersey, U.S.A. He began his career as a sculptor and exhibited in Soho, NYC, in the early 1980s. His work evolved into Performance Art and his living sculptures installed themselves in museums and public spaces in the US and Europe from 1985 to the early 1990s. He has been exploring digital media as both an artist and an educator since 1997. “Capturing the Moving Present,” an essay by Harold Olejarz, is included in Video Art for the Classroom, a National Art Education Association publication. Olejarz has made presentations on the use of digital media at state and national educational conferences.

Tom Chambers is Technology Applications teacher at Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [Junior Academy], Houston, Texas, U.S.A. He was Visiting Lecturer in Digital/New Media Art for the Fine Arts Department at Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, China, 2005-2007. He was Executive Committee Member and Juror (2003 - 2005) for the International Digital Art Awards (IDAA), and was instrumental in expanding the content of the IDAA to include New Media Art, and served as on-line New Media Director (2004 - 2005). Chambers has been a documentary photographer and visual artist for over thirty years, and he is currently working with the pixel as Minimal Art (Pixelscapes) which begins to approach a true, abstract, visual language in Digital Art.

Tanya Heard is Art/Photo teacher at T. H. Rogers School, Houston, Texas.

2007 - 2008 school year participant:

Dorian Gillespie is Art teacher at Southmore Intermediate School in Pasadena Texas. Prior to coming to Southmore, he taught at Bailey Elementary. He decided to teach and mentor students in the arts in order to give them an opportunity to learn and advise them of the many career choices an artist has. Although he did not teach art at Bailey, he was able to incorporate many art lessons into the curriculum. He has taught after school art classes for the University of Houston Clear Lake as well. Rather than become a professional artist, he decided to mentor as a teacher.

This blog was a part of the FotoFest LTP process:

2007 - 2008
2008 - 2009
2009 - 2010

Literacy Through Photography (LTP), the educational component of FotoFest International (Houston, Texas), is a writing program designed to help classroom students achieve better communication skills through the use of digital or film-based photography.

FotoFest has combined with the instructors and schools to pursue a pilot program ... blog approach ... for LTP.

Students increase visual and verbal literacy while building cognitive thinking skills, self-esteem, and awareness of each other. The LTP curriculum provides students with meaningful subject matter to help them write about their own photographs, their own lives, with confidence.

This blog, founded by Harold Olejarz and Tom R. Chambers continues to be a significant tool to help students with their written expression.