Yes, I'm assigning work over Thanksgiving. I know... 

But, I'm asking you to document interaction with family. Try not to think of it as "work" but an opportunity to artfully approach something that you probably already do as a part of the holiday celebration. 

Photography is an artform, and when someone takes photos, even with just a smartphone, they are participating in art making. It's an art practice that tends to flow very seamlessly into contemporary life, and getting better at it offers inherent rewards in helping to preserve memories. 

Washatonian and Contemporary Native American Photographer and Designer Matika Wilbur has undertaken a project entitled 562. 

562 is a national documentary project dedicated to photographing contemporary Native Americans. This project works to counteract stereotypical images of American Indians by creating images of positive indigenous role models of today.

Click Below to see how Matika presents Project 562. 

Likewise to Matika's goal of photographing native peoples to create positive role model images, the Tacoma Art Museum recently curated an exhibit of artworks by artist with similar goals. They were kind enough to share the powerpoint of the work with me as the museum is closed to the public in order to avoid COVID spread.  

Click on the button below to visit the online exhibit: 

• What feelings or emotions are being expressed in these photographs?

•  What or how do the portraits make you feel?

• What kinds of stories can you imagine about the person in the photograph?

• What artistic or visual choices Is Matika making to create these feelings? 

consider the following:

1. Lighting

2. Space

3. Balance

4. Tap your phone for appropriate exposures

5. Your/ Camera Position and Placement

6. Keep the background simple if possible, you can even download an app to blur it, or use portrait mode if you have that. 

7. Your interactions with the person you are grateful for. Can you make them laugh with an inside joke? Can you make them express something more sincere by discussing a vital or important memory? This is directing your subject vs. posing them. Let them react naturally to you and the camera. 

8. Take more than one photo, you only have to turn in one, but I suggest taking more and choosing the best. The others you can delete.

9. Try not to take the photo at school. If you do go outside or find someplace beautiful, not a classroom. We all know what those look like and it can make your photo more boring. 

1: Composition 25pts

2: Lighting 25pts

3: Subject Interaction 25pts

4: Background 25pts

I will give you the week of Thanksgiving to complete this homework.