Viewfinder Project- What Is Ugly?

The first real lesson of the Viewfinder Project poses an interesting question to our photography students....What is ugly?  The student quickly agreed that it can be pretty easy to find the ugly things in our neighborhood and the world in general.  The challenge of the day was to try and see the ugly in a different way.  The ugly can always be redeemed and can serve a purpose.  The kids then went out to walk the streets and find the messy, run down, neglected, rusty, unloved things, and then turn it into art -through the viewfinder of a camera.  The devotion for the day spoke of what is ugly in all of us: sin.  The students were able to see how selfishness is really the root of all sin against God and others.  We each become trapped by our own self interest until we are literally 'slaves to sin;' love cannot get in or out.  But true love, the love of God, brings freedom from self and sin.  Beauty defeats the ugly when we open ourselves up to God's love and love others before ourselves.

"I decided to take this picture because there is trash everywhere and the place is abandoned; and it looks ugly.  I like this picture because it looks like the bottle is close up and the door is far away."   

Katie (age 11)

 

"I decide to take this picture because it looked like the trash was made into art.  Also we needed to take pictures of ugly and littering is ugly.  I like this picture because...it looks awesome!"

Emma (age 11)

 

The Viewfinder Project- Intro.

Day one of The Viewfinder Project helped to teach students new to photography about the basics of taking a good photograph.  They learned about the importance of things like taking multiple pictures of the same object at different angles, applying the rule of thirds, filling the frame with the subject, and drawing the eye to certain points in the picture.  It did not take long for these photography proteges to catch on to these principles and come up with some truly creative images while touring the neighborhood.
Here are a couple of the students' favorites from the day.

 "This is one of my favorite pictures that I took; because it's close up and far behind it the blue background looks really good with the silver and gold can."  Katie (age 11)

"I like the swing photo because you can see the swings through the first swing hole.  You can also see the poles; the big ones are blue and when they get smaller they're yellow."  Emma (age 11)

Kid's Kitchen Cakes!

Yesterday was the second day of Kids Kitchen, where twelve kids gathered at the LYN House to create their own 8in. mini cakes.  Mrs. Carol, who has been making cakes for years, was our guest ‘chef.’  The kids had a terrific time preparing and mixing their own cake ingredients, making decorative cake plates, and preparing colorful butter cream icing.  While the cakes were baking and cooling, the children learned about the value of patience in the daily devotion.  We all knew good things would come out of us patiently waiting for our cakes to bake; in the same way good things come out of our being patient in all areas of life.  Being patient with other shows true love.  Patiently waiting on God shows trust in his perfect timing and gives us strength.  In addition, journal entries were made by each child on the steps to make a cake.  After the cakes had cooled, the students enjoyed decorating their vanilla and chocolate cakes with colorful icing and various cake decorations that Mrs. Carol had brought for them to use.  The kids couldn’t wait to get home and show their families their beautiful, sweet creations!....And of course, eat them!