![[Lesson Plans Banner]](/US/en/digital/edu/images/bannerLessonPlans.gif)
Photography for Creative Writing
Catherine A. Lutz
Georgia Military College, Kingsville Naval Air Station, Kingsville, Texas
Subject: English/Composition
Grade: Higher Education
"... the purpose of this project was to create excitement
and interest in writing by using pictures they had taken as the
basis for their themes.... This type of writing seemed to help
the students overcome the fears they have toward writing."
Purpose and Description of Project
Catherine Lutz implemented creative writing activities based on
student-taken photographs in her composition course as a way of
generating excitement and an interest in writing among her students.
Each student was given four writing assignments, each to be illustrated
by a picture taken for the class: the first two themes were to
be able to express the thoughts of a person, either alone or in
a group, with the students using
light
and composition to create
a particular mood in each photo; the third theme was to be based
on a picture of a road or path, with the student expressing her
or his thoughts while looking down the road; the final picture
was to be of an inanimate object with the theme expressing what
the student imagined the object might be thinking if it could
think. Lutz hoped that a challenging and yet enjoyable activity
such as this should not only strengthen students' writing skills
but also improve their attitude toward writing and their confidence
in their own abilities to write a good theme.
Activities
To prepare her students for the writing/photography assignments
Lutz held several class discussions. She provided example photos
of people and objects, and they discussed how to use camera filters
and how to create moods photographically through lighting and
composition. The class made two field trips to a local park where
students experimented with lighting effects as they photographed
people, paths, and interesting objects for their themes. After
the photos were developed and the themes written, Lutz's students
discussed which photos they liked best and why. Some of the themes
were also discussed in class.
Materials, Resources, and Expenses
Lutz's students provided their own cameras and film for the project.
The only expenses involved were for the pictures she took for
class discussion and transportation for the field trips.
Outcomes and Adaptability
Because Lutz's main concerns were to stimulate student interest
and to develop creativity, she did not stress grammatical mistakes
as much on these assignments as she would on later themes. First,
she wanted to help students overcome their fear of writing, to
convince them that each had something of value to say. After the
students had developed confidence in their writing ability, she
planned to place more emphasis on correct grammar, punctuation,
and spelling. Lutz deems the project successful because of the
enthusiasm expressed by the students for the assignment. They
showed interest and eagerness as soon as she explained the project.
She also found that the project activities fostered class involvement,
class participation, and cooperation. A number of students also
developed a continuing interest in photography.
Lutz suggests that her project could be used in almost any English
class. The activities stimulate interest and creativity since
each student is producing original writing as well as photographs.
If cameras are not available for every student, she recommends
dividing the class into small groups that could then share cameras.