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Contribute to our classroom projects online!
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Scholastic Art Awards is a prestigious award that recognizes excellence in the arts. This is a required application for all 8th graders and open to 7th graders who are interested.
Scholastic Art Awards is a prestigious award that recognizes excellence in the arts. This is a required application for all 8th graders and open to 7th graders who are interested.
Click HERE ------------->
Arts Connection frequently posts calls for artwork. If you are selected your artwork is custom framed and returned a year after the exhibit AND you will receive a $100 gift certificate to Blick Arts or B&H!
Arts Connection frequently posts calls for artwork. If you are selected your artwork is custom framed and returned a year after the exhibit AND you will receive a $100 gift certificate to Blick Arts or B&H!
Call for Art
Take a look back. old projects, old students, great memories. |
6th GradePhoto 'Boot Camp' SlideshowsPrep for your QUEST (Quiz/Test) by playing Jeopardy at home!
Your QUEST is on __________. A great way to practice and review is playing jeopardy at home - you can be a contestant by yourself or with a friend. Click on the Jeopardy photo to play! Silhouettes! Our first 'Light Drawings'
The word photo means 'light' and graph means 'to draw'. Therefore any drawing that is a direct result of light is technically a photograph!
Our 6th grade classes went back in time to explore the origins of Photography, and create their own primitive photographs. 6th Graders making Silhouettes
Class of 2016
Class of 2015
Photograms & The darkroomPhotograms are a simple method of putting objects on top of photo sensitive paper in the darkroom. Wherever the object blocks light the paper stays white, and wherever the light hits the paper it turns black. Our 6th graders took advantage of this process in order to create images in the darkroom for the very first time.
Class of 2019
Class of 2016
Fun with Pinhole Cameras!
6th grade students built their own pinhole cameras and will start to photograph with their new homemade cameras. Using special photo paper as film, our students will start to expose negatives by shooting within our classroom. They will learn how to make positives from paper negatives - check out what they made below!
Class of 2019:
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PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT: OUR FIRST REAL ROLL OF FILM!
6th graders just learned how to load their film cameras, so we left school and photographed in Washington Park! Kids started to look at the world differently, photographing "something circular", "something up close (and in focus)", and "something from a bird's eye view", among many other things. See photos of their trip below:
Student Scavenger Critique & ImagesClass of 2019:
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Class of 2016:
5 PRINTS PROJECT
As a transition into working in the darkroom, our 6th graders were asked to choose one negative and print the same thing 5 different ways. This allows students to explore all the different possible variations available whenever they print images.
They will use this skill set when printing other photographs from their first roll of film. Class of 2019:
Class of 2018:
COMPOSITION - Rule of Thirds & Diagonals
Now that 6th graders have experience using their cameras, each student has the opportunity to go out into the world and photograph on their own.
Using technical skills and some new tips on how to achieve strong composition, 6th graders will look for diagonal lines and use the rule of thirds in their images. Film is Due on 2/13. Any late film will be graded as a 55%. Composition Critique
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Compound Words
Compound words are usually reserved for ELA, but our 6th graders will try to create their own visual compound words by breaking down a larger word into smaller components in order to photograph it. For example, BUTTER + FLY = BUTTERFLY. Students will go out and photograph parts of their compound word along with the complete word. See the project PowerPoint below for more information:
Film is due on Tuesday March 12th. Class of 2018:
Representational & Abstract
6th Graders are exploring the difference between representational and abstract photography. Looking at examples by great masters such as Blossfeldt and Callahan, they will try to photograph subjects in two different ways, as both representational and abstract. See the project PowerPoint below for more information:
Film is due on Tuesday April 23rd. Check back to see what they created! Reflections & Shadows - 2014This year, we have the pleasure of working with Ms. Cavaliere, a student teacher from Pratt University. She is leading our next project "Reflections and Shadows" which will give our 6th graders another compositional strategy when shooting film. Please take a look at the slideshow that students explored in class.
Film is due on Tuesday 3/11. All late film will be graded as a 55%. Good luck shooting! |
7th GradeTest Your color vision
Click HERE to complete your beginning-of-the-year survey (it's homework!)
Digital Terms & Vocabulary
Please review the slideshow to go over some terms in basic and creative editing. We will have a digital QUEST at the end of the unit.
Prep for your Digital QUEST (Quiz/Test) by playing Jeopardy at home!
All 7th graders are having a QUEST is on Thursday September 27th. A great way to practice and review is playing jeopardy at home - you can be a contestant by yourself or with a friend. Click on the photo to play! Photo Restoration Project - Our First Digital Assignment!After a year of anticipating this moment - we are here! 7th graders are finally learning the ins and outs of Photoshop, specifically Photoshop Elements, as they edit their first digital images.
Students will explore the power of restoring damaged photos, after watching this powerful TED Talk Becci Manson: (Re)touching lives through photos: 
Mini Project 1:
Choose one of the images below. Follow the following steps: 1. Save a large copy of the .jpg file to a properly labeled sub folder within your own folder. 2. Follow the order of operations to restore this image - Consider white balance/ color balance - Make sure all spots are repaired 3. When complete, save a copy of your restored .psd to the sub folder within your own folder 4. Save a properly labeled COPY of the restored image to the "SAVE FILES TO PRINT - NO COPIES" folder Color Photos to start with:Choose either Mini Project 2 or 3 below:
Mini Project 2: Find an old and damaged paper photograph from home, like an old family photo. Either scan the image at home, or take a digital photo of the paper image with a smartphone that is at least 5 megapixels, and email it to yourself so that we can open it in class. The app Genius Scan is great for this! Restore the photograph and save both the original version and the restored versions to your folder, and properly labeled COPIES of the restored image to the "Files to print COPIES ONLY" folder. Mini Project 3: Choose one of the 5 images below. First, restore the black and white photograph and then hand color the image using Photoshop. Once this is done, save a properly labeled COPY of the restored image to the "Files to print COPIES ONLY" folder. 
Choose one of the images above.
Look at the images to the right as an example. The 'before' photo is old and worn, and the 'after photo' is restored with natural-looking color. Good luck! Create-Your-Own Animal!
Now that 7th grade students have some experience with Photoshop Elements, they were asked to find two very high quality images of animals on Google (at least 300 dpi) and merge them together to create a new creature. Students studied the difference between plagiarism and appropriation. Understanding that appropriation is when artwork is manipulated and changed to create something entirely new, our 7th graders made appropriated versions of animals never seen by human eyes.
Look below to see what they created! Click below to see Erik Johansson's Ted Talk about creative editing:
Class of 2014:
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Double Exposures - Faked Spirit Photography
"Spirit Photography" in the mid 1800's was a complete sham. It was believed that double exposures captured real ghosts, but in reality skilled photographers made these fakes for financial gain. Our purposes are much more sincere! 7th grade students will be exploring "spirit photography" by creating double exposures at Green-Wood Cemetery, using both film and DSLR digital cameras.
Click HERE to learn more about Spirit Photography. 7T2 will go on Wednesday Nov. 6th and 7T1 will be shooting on Wednesday Nov. 13th. Class of 2018:
Our Trip to Green Wood Cemetery
Students learned how to trick the film camera to make in-camera double exposures before the trip - they used their skills to create faked ghostly double exposures at nearby historic Green Wood Cemetery.
Thank you Susan, Tom, and Beth - the trip would not have happened without you! IMAGES FROM OUR FIELD TRIPOUR CRITIQUEMood Lighting
Building on our light lab, 7th grade students will spend two classes shooting in the Black Box Theater. In groups of either 4 or 5 they took turns taking the role of photographer/director, model, or grip. As a team, students had to manipulate light to create strong lighting that captures either "Old Hollywood" or "Sci-fi/Horror" lighting.
Click here to see an AMAZING video that demonstrates how light changes a person's face. Check back to see what they create! Light Lab
As an introduction to lighting, 7th graders participated in a 'Light Lab' where they explored various modifiers to change light. Using a clementine as their model, students observed how each modifier effected the highlight, core, shadow, and cast shadow.
This experiment really allows each student to understand how light can change the way their subjects look, whether its a clementine or a real human being. Stay posted to see how they use these skills for their upcoming 'Mood Lighting' project. In the meantime, take a peek at their experiment: Light Lab SlideshowStudent Light LabClass of 2014:
Class of 2015:
Class of 2017:
Class of 2018:
Mood Lighting Slideshowstudent mood lightingWARNING - Images for this project were created after students found inspiration from horror and old hollywood photography. Some images may allude to violence based off of this theme and were created for dramatic purposes only. The photo program does not condone violence.
Class of 2014:
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Fast & Slow
This is the first project 7th graders are asked to photograph outside of school this year. Students must shoot a full roll of film (or at least 30 digital images). Half of the film will be exposed with a shutter speed of 1/4 of a second or slower - this will require a tripod or placing their cameras on a sturdy surface. Half of the film will be exposed at a shutter speed of 1/250th of a second or faster.
Exploring movement, images with a slow shutter speed will generally show BLUR, while images with a fast shutter speed will generally show STOP ACTION. Images with a slow shutter speed will generally be taken at night and may demonstrate RECIPROCITY FAILURE, while images taken with a fast shutter speed will generally be taken during the day time. Check back to see what our 7th graders create! In the mean time, check out the slide show students looked at in class: fast and slow student critiqueClass of 2015:
Class of 2017:
David Hockney Project: Piecing It Together
Students looked at the photographic work of artist and painter David Hockney. After exploring his process, each student went out into the world to create their own versions. Looking at space with the intention of breaking it down into pieces, each student then edited and printed the work to piece it back together.
Digital images are due on Wednesday May 28th. The final artwork was one large image that was created by piecing many small photographs together. See what they did below: Hockney SlideShow
Student websitesMake-Your-Own Website!
After two years of Photography at MS 51, our students have the opportunity to create their own online portfolios!
Designing these online portfolios will give students a chance to reflect on the work they've created in middle school, while presenting the work in a way that is easy to share as they begin the high school process next year. We are using Weebly, a template site that allows students to easily design their websites in a fun an intuitive way. Students can sign in here. Check the student gallery page to see what they are working on. (Note: these are password protected to ensure the safety of our students. Email me at [email protected] if you need the password) |
8th GradePrep for your QUEST (Quiz/Test) by playing Jeopardy at home!
If you are in 8T1, your QUEST is on Friday September 29th. If you are in 8T2, your QUEST is on Monday September 27th. A great way to practice and review is playing jeopardy at home - you can be a contestant by yourself or with a friend. Click on the Jeopardy photo to play! Photography Careers
If you are in 8T1, your QUEST is on Monday October 17th. If you are in 8T2, your QUEST is on Tuesday October 18th. A great way to practice and review is playing Jeopardy at home - you can be a contestant by yourself or with a friend. Click on the Jeopardy photo to play! Below is a copy of the PowerPoint presentation that our 8th graders went over - feel free to use this as a study guide as well. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHERS ON PHOTOGRAPHINGPhoto Career Slide ShowWhat photography career would our 8th graders Choose??The President's Photographer
During the time that students are going out into the world to photograph their 'Photojournalism Projects', 8th graders had the opportunity to watch 'The President's Photographer' a fabulous PBS film about Pete Souza, the designated White House photographer.
Watch the film online, here. Kids with cameras
Part of the 8th grade introduction to photojournalism, is understanding that there are plenty of news-worthy stories in the world around you. Students watched the academy award winning documentary Born into Brothels, which beautifully demonstrated that point.
The kids in the film took images of the world they experience, and ultimately, those images allowed many of them to escape what seemed to be a difficult and inevitable fate. Click the green links for more information on the children, their images, and the charity Kids with Cameras, which helps give kids of poverty a voice. Teenage Paparazzo - A film by Adrien Grenier
As students finish shooting their 'Photojournalism Project', 8th graders looked at the documentary Teenage Paparazzo by Adrien Grenier. His work as Vincent Chase in HBO's show Entourage, elevated his career so that his own life as a celebrity mirrored the character he played on TV. When 13-year-old paparazzo Austin photographed Grenier, he turned the cameras around and gained access to the world of the paparazzi.
Our students watched the film, and considered the differences and similarities of the paparazzi to the world of photojournalism. They thought about whether they would be capable of becoming a paparazzi, the moral questions surrounding the job, and what that says about our culture. Here's what they had to say: Photojournalism Project
The 8th grade is exploring photojournalism. After completing a number of brain storming worksheets, watching films (Like "The President's Photographer"), and talking with their peers, they will start to shoot their own photo essays. The topic is up to each student, but it must be engaging.
The term photo essay refers to a news topic that unfolds like a story. This can show a theme over time or a pressing issue, and ultimately is used to get an emotional reaction from the viewer. 8th grade film/digital images are due in class (30+ digital images or 1 full roll of film):
The project should include the following:
Creative Resource: Nat. Geo. Photographers on Shooting National Geographic Photographer shoots Deadly Leopard Seal Know your rights! When shooting it is important that you stay safe and know what you can and cannot legally shoot. Click here to find out what you are legally allowed to photograph in the United States. CLICK HERE for Printable Photographers Rights Form - Print PDF and keep in your wallet or in your camera bag. Students were asked to explore the NY Times Photo blog for inspiration after viewing a PowerPoint presentation about Photojournalism. See below: Photojournalism Project Results
Autobiographical Self-Portraits
Although a "selfie" is technically a self portrait, it often says very little about who you are as a person.
Digging deeper into personal identity, students created portraits that say something about who they truly are (or are not). Check back later to see how students view themselves.
Culture Project
As we transition into the middle of the year, our 8th graders are going to explore their own cultures. Keeping the term open, our students selected their own nationalities, ethnicities, religion, food, current geographic location, etc. to explore.
Keeping the exit project in mind, students are beginning to consider their own identities as a subject for creative expression, and will consider various ways to explore identity. Some resources we've explored in class include: National Geographic's "The Changing Face of America" which explores multi-ethnicity. The Mimi Foundation's Images of Cancer Patients viewing themselves after a unique makeover. Elaborately costumed LARPers outside of context (so funny!)
8th Grade Culture Project Critique
Commercial Photography
After an introduction to Commercial Photography, 8th grade students will be exploring advertizing around NYC. Students will bring in examples of incredible ads that they've found in magazines, or the newspaper so they can brainstorm what makes an amazing advertisement.
Students will choose a product that they would like to create a campaign for, select their target audience, and then shoot images that will help persuade people to buy their product. 8th graders may choose to include text or a logo. Check back to see what they made! Commercial Photography Homework:Based on the slideshow we looked at in class (displayed on the right), students were asked to do two things for homework:
- List 3 specific products each student might want to create an ad campaign for (e.g. Nike Wave Nirvana Sneakers). Bring the list in for credit, or email the list to [email protected] - Bring in an INCREDIBLE ad that you find in a newspaper or magazine. Film or Digital Images Due: 8T2 - Monday Nov. 26 8T1 - Wednesday Nov. 28 Take a look at our 8th Grade Ads & Commercial Photographs:
Looking for inspiration?
Check out some of the commercial photographs that 8th grade photographers at MS 51 created in the past. You do not have to create a finished ad, instead try your hand at commercial photography. You can create a finished ad for extra credit. Exit Projects!
Though it breaks my heart, our 8th graders will have to leave MS 51 as they pursue bigger things in high school. As a culmination of their time in Photography, each student will create their own final project to explore until the end of the year. This is probably the most difficult thing they have ever been asked to do!
Focusing on something they never had a chance to photograph, or exploring a photographic topic further, each student will select their topic, number of prints, and final presentation. With guidance and support, students explore the work of famous artists that relates to their project in order to decide how they can create the strongest series of images possible. Some of our students will go on to become photographers as adults, some will be hobbyists, and some will never take a photography class again. Either way, this project is intended to give each student an opportunity to take ownership over their artwork as they leave my classroom and enter high school. Some Creative Resources: http://www.miguelvallinas.com/ Strangers as Intimate Portraits What I Be Project Just the Two of Us: Larpers at home Stephen Wilkes: Day to Night Slow Motion Animated Gifs WARNING: Don't do this at home! Crazy Russian skywalkers take photos at the top of the world. JR's Video about how Art Can Change the World8th Grade Exit Projects:Former Student, Chris P.'s Exit Project VideoStudents giving each other feedback mid-process.
8th Grade End of Year Survey - Click Here!Exit Project Peer Feedback:
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Call for art & Activities
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Submit artwork to the Scholastic Art Awards call for art. This is an AMAZING opportunity to show your work and it looks great for both high school and college applications!
Just click on the link, create an account, and cross your fingers! DEADLINE - Wednesday December 16th FYI - Ms. Flatow should be linked to all student accounts using email address [email protected]. Good luck!!! |
PS ART
Public school opportunity to show your work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!!! P.S. ART 2016: CELEBRATING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF NYC KIDS MORE THAN A COMPETITION... AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY Deadline: February 4, 2016 P.S. Art acknowledges through an exhibition and a catalogue, artwork created by New York City public schools in grades PreK to 12. More than a competition, P.S. Art is an opportunity to build our visual arts community by reflecting on the qualities of exemplary teaching and learning. Final selections highlight outstanding artwork by our students and model practices of their teachers as they relate to the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Visual Arts. This is the 9th year P.S. Art will be exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this year from June to October 2016. For Information and Guidelines click here. Link to the online submission form: http://www.cvent.com/d/8fq8df |
Join us @ Powerhouse Books!
WANT AN EXTRA CREDIT POINT?
Go to the TEDYouth event on November 14th at the Brooklyn Museum and email [email protected] with your selfie and you can get an extra credit point! You can also post to Instagram with #ms51 photo or to our Facebook group! IT'S SATURDAY NOV. 14, 2015- More info HERE WanT extra credit?! Go to Obscura/gowanus on 9th st!Obscura/Gowanus from The Vanderbilt Republic on Vimeo. |
NO KID HUNGRY PHOTO ESSAY CONTEST
WIN UP TO $500 FOR YOUR TAKE ON CHILDHOOD HUNGER. ENDS OCTOBER 25TH - Click here |
Special Guests & Programs
Exploring the Holocaust: The Images of Roman Vishniac
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Photography students looked at the work of Roman Vishniak. A photographer of Jewish descent, Roman Vishniac took images of Berlin throughout the 1930's as the Nazi Party took power in Germany. Due to massive restrictions on the rights of Jewish, Gypsy, homosexual, and developmentally disabled, among others, he was not allowed to photograph in public. Though he risked his own safety, Vishniac took some of the most striking and important images of the Warsaw ghetto, and of restricted communities all over Eastern Europe.
See more of his images at the ICP in Manhattan or through a recent Time retrospective online. |
A Visit from Professional Photographer (AND Astor's Dad!) Aeric Meredith-Goujon
Just a week after our winter photography exhibition, 6th grade students had the pleasure of visiting with working photographer Aeric Meredith-Goujon. Aeric, who often works with models for print, shared hand picked images that relate to the composition project that 6th graders are just finishing up. Our 6th graders were very responsive to Aeric's work - we were very impressed by their articulate questions.
Thank you so much Aeric for visiting our classroom - it was a meaningful experience for everyone! |
