This article describes how Paul Duncum teaches elements of realististic-style imagery. The elements he teaches are framing, angles of view, lighting, depth of field, and body language. He stresses how each of these elements contributes to meaning, and shows how they apply equally to old master paintings and today's digital photography.

Whaling emerged in ancient times, when whales served as a source of food, fuel, and other everyday resources that were vital for human civilizations. Prehistoric images of whales are found on rocks in a few areas throughout the world, most notably the famous petroglyphs at the Bangudae cliffs in Ulsan, South Korea, which depict whales and other…

In this article, Miguel Aguilar describes the process of mental preparation he performs before beginning a new graffiti mural. This may include reviewing recent sketches and his lists of color palettes. Aguilar mind maps ideas he wants to connect, thinking about intentions or the goal he wants to accomplish. Aguilar further states "this…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how purposeful and substantive visual art experiences might support the literacy learning of elementary-aged boys. The overarching research question that guided this exploration was: What happens when Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) art discussions and related artmaking are infused into a…

Children and burgeoning adolescents' creativity blossom in play-based environments. Likewise, students as active social agents have the opportunity to examine the structures and processes that shape them. The photographic image intimates an aura of credibility, providing the students pause to reflect upon their socialized interactions. These…

With the rapid advancement of technology in the photographic industry, more photographers than ever (willingly or in response to this shift) are replacing their darkroom-based facilities with digital ones. This technological shift has changed the focus of the artmaking process in that photographers now spend more time editing their photographs…

For many artists, visual representation begins with the creative exploration of real and personal experiences. The primary challenge in creating such introspective works is maintaining the ability to connect with a broader audience. For high school students specifically, tremendous pride manifests in the creation of artistic works that represent…

E-learning has seen incredible growth in the first decade of the 21st century. This growth is particularly noticeable in institutions of higher education. Even though distance learning has long been the method by which remote students have obtained course credit through correspondence study, e-learning is popular even among traditional on-campus…

It is said that "a picture is worth a thousand words" as visual images can express complex and multilayered ideas. Sometimes photographic imagery is so strong and resonant of certain success, struggles, or events that it becomes key to a community or generation. As historic records, photographs are uniquely able to present not only success and…

In this article, the author discusses Y Se Repite [And It Repeats Itself], a project she conceptualized due to the growing number of Latino/a Mexican migrant workers in dairy farms in the state of Vermont. In 2006, approximately 2,000 Latinos/as--most of them undocumented Mexican migrant workers--worked throughout the state's dairy farms, yet…

Studying images of families in works of art and in snapshots is compelling, and the author wondered if looking at both types of images side by side might help students understand both kinds of images more fully. Snapshots often prompt detailed and vivid stories among family members and friends. Therefore, she wondered if dialogue about snapshots…

According to van der Veer and Valsiner (1991), a creative individual is a co-constructor of culture, rather then a mere follower of the efforts of others. This instructional resource discusses the work of Juan Miguel Ramos (b. 1971), a Post-Chicano artist, who makes use of representations to produce new meanings about the world in which he lives.…

In 1888, when George Eastman introduced the "Kodak" camera, with the slogan, "you push the button, we do the rest," he ushered in a new era in documenting family history. Photography left the professional studio and entered the home, where the camera became the primary instrument of self-knowledge and self-representation. The camera allowed the…

Identity is a vital topic for discussion, exploration, and discovery in the art classroom. The artwork of Nikki S. Lee provides an opportunity for students to begin reformulating their notions about selfhood. The work of Nikki S. Lee is significant because it blends documentary, fashion, and staged and unstaged photography to allow viewers to…

Photography is a powerful medium with which to explore social issues and concerns through the intersection of artistic form and concept. Through the discussions of images and suggested activities, students will understand various ways photographers have documented and addressed racism and discrimination. This Instructional Resource presents a…