Tag Archives: photo essay

Weekly Photo Challenge: Monumental

Fresh Eyes

I live in a place where there are plenty of beautiful and interesting things to see…and I work to see my place anew each day. But it’s hard sometimes. And sometimes I end up seeing the same things I always see.

And I think that happens for students too. The classroom becomes familiar and learning looks like the same old thing. That’s where field trips come in…they offer opportunities for students to see learning through fresh eyes, in a different context, in a different place.

I was definitely feeling the need for some fresh eyes today. After working for eight straight Saturdays, today was rare free one and we made plans for a “field trip” to the desert. We’re lucky here in San Diego, we have coast–beautiful beaches–near where I live and not even two hours to the east, we have the desert. So today, we headed to the desert to see what spring had to offer.

We were hoping for a riotous spring bloom knowing that we’ve had a bit of rain since the new year. But once we arrived, we learned that spring had sprung…in February! Luckily, there were still beautiful desert flowers in evidence–maybe not a riotous display, but definitely worth the trip.

Our first glimpse of the desert this morning came from above. As we looked over the valley below, we noticed the quiet. I caught this moment of my husband drinking in the silence.

The desert is already warm this time of year, so we set out early for a hike, knowing it would likely be near 90 degrees by the time we got back to our car. We watched for desert flowers, for snakes (especially rattlesnakes), for big horned sheep, and birds and bugs too. And we weren’t disappointed.

The cholla cactus (the first photo), was pretty plentiful and many were blooming. The prickly pear was less obvious, and many were not blooming. I felt lucky to catch this one right near the end of our hike!

Lizards skittered across our path, sunned themselves on rocks, and raced into cracks in the rocks. Butterflies, moths, and bees were drawn to the plentiful yellow flowers. I noticed this caterpillar hanging from a slender stalk. (Love that caterpillars will pose!)

The snake we saw was slithering in the spaces between rocks…and luckily we only caught a glimpse…and it didn’t appear to be a rattler. We didn’t linger–no sense tempting fate when it comes to snakes! But we did catch sight of some big horn sheep. There was quite a group–12, I think–coming down to a stream near the oasis we hiked to. Here are a few we watched from some rocks above.

Their coloring is amazing–making them nearly invisible in the rocky locale. We saw babies as well as adults…you can see them stopping to check out whether to bolt back up the hillside!

It was surprising to see a waterfall deep in the desert. We could hear the running water before we saw it. And the California fan palm, the only palm tree native to California, completed that iconic image of oasis. Shade, water…and a nice place to rest before heading back into the hot sun to finish our hike.

My husband snapped this shot of me traversing a shallow portion of the small stream!

I feel like I got to view spring through fresh eyes today. I was looking closely and responding to novelty. I snapped photos and then when I returned home, looked up information about some of what I saw. I had to try and retry framing my shots, not sure how to capture the tall ocotillo reaching up toward the hot desert sun with the desert cliffs as backdrop.

Today’s field trip was just what I needed…a chance to see the world with fresh eyes, to go beyond the familiar and rekindle my interest in learning about this place I call home.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Study

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Anyone who reads my blog with any regularity knows that I spend plenty of time on the beach. And with my camera in hand, I find that I often begin to study the things that I see through my lens. I’ve been drawn to seagulls lately…as evidenced in the photo gallery above (all images posted on my blog over the last few months).

And as I take photos of seagulls, I have also studied them. Noticing their habits, their preferences, their personalities…and more. As I walk along the shore, I am drawn to the crowd of seagulls. They seem to be social creatures, gathering together to hang out. They seem to have some favorite spots…and I walk through them on a regular basis.

I love the way they casually walk away from me as I come near. Seldom do they take flight as I approach, they just seem to shuffle over a bit as they keep a close eye on my movements.

I am always surprised by their adaptations. The runoff from the storm drains flows into the ocean near the lifeguard station at our local beach. I am assuming that this is fresh (ish) water (at least not salt water). I often see seagulls taking a drink from this runoff–in spite of the fact that we humans get regular warnings to stay away from this water–especially after the rain because of the risk of bacteria. I caught this guy in action, taking sip from the flowing runoff.

I love to watch seagulls in flight. They seem so carefree and graceful in the sky…when they are not squabbling with one another over a bit of food. This guy today was nice enough to fly right in front of my camera.

And there are times when it seems that the gulls take to the sky in a carefully choreographed dance, floating on the air waves, dipping and turning, swooping and gliding. I notice this most often in the late afternoons when I squeeze a walk in after I am done with work. There was a beautiful performance going on this afternoon as I headed back to my car for my drive home.

So…what are you studying through your lens? Nearby birds? The light in the afternoon? The way snow melts? The plants in your garden or the tree you pass on your way to work each day? If you haven’t yet studied…this is your week for a mini study!

I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #study for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

So take a look around…what are you noticing? What questions does it raise? Use your lens as a tool for closer study… I can’t wait to see what you are learning as you study through your lens!

Architecture: The Structure of Learning

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We have a beautiful urban park here in San Diego. Open space, trees, a lily pond, fountains, trails, museums and restaurants…including some ornate and historic architecture that dates back to the Panama-California exhibition in 1915. In these storied surroundings, I’ve been spending time with a group of formal and informal educators investigating ways to improve school field trips through a project we call Intersections. (I’ve written before about it here and here.)

As I spent the day at the San Diego Natural History Museum today, observing a group of high school students on a field trip, I found myself thinking about architecture.

As the educator-researchers in our group discussed what we observed watching students during their field trip today, our conversation moved to the carefully planned structures that support students’ independence and dispositions toward learning. Field trips have traditionally depended on adult-centered structures that keep students “on-task,” ensuring that the trip has documented educational value in the form of completed packets of answered questions rather than trusting students to be interested in what they find in front of them.

Over lunch, our Intersections leadership team chatted with an external evaluator–a part of our larger National Science Foundation grant– about our observations and tentative conclusions. And we found ourselves thinking about and talking about all the learning that happens that we are not able to document. When we take students outside the classroom, what are we hoping for? What can they learn that the classroom environment doesn’t offer? And why then, do we keep trying to make field trips more like school?

As I look at this photo of a young woman using her cell phone to photograph an owl, I wonder how we encourage students to use tools and processes they use outside of school to support their own learning. How will this student use this photograph? What was she aiming for as she composed the image? How can students’ digital lives interact in positive ways with their school lives?

And as my colleague described her understanding of the development of social capacity, a concept important in her binational work, my understanding of the learning that happens on field trips continued to evolve. A field trip is not a classroom lesson, it is a social event, a shared learning experience outside the school environment. And while students certainly learn some content, they are also developing social capacity–as representatives of their school and class in a public arena. They are navigating unfamiliar spaces, coming in contact with people they don’t usually see, interacting with adults–docents, volunteers, vendors, scientists, researchers–and exploring materials not present in their classrooms and schools.

And in the best of situations they are figuring out how to interact with the space, people, and information in meaningful ways. I loved this informal game I observed today…a chaperone and his group spontaneously started counting the animals they spied in this coastal sage environment. Someone saw 9…and another saw 12, someone else saw 15. They started pointing them out to each other, looking closely, naming what they saw.

And another researcher watched a pair of students challenge each other on the native/nonnative quiz in the patio area. The goal was to win…and the game was calling on prior knowledge and combining it with what they were observing in the exhibit. And they were having fun…being social, laughing, enjoying themselves…and learning.

So what is the underlying architecture of a successful field trip…that structure that enables students to engage in learning on their own terms? That takes advantage of the place and the richness of expertise and artifacts that aren’t present in the classroom? And that honors the beauty and elegance of learning…not for a grade or a test, but because we are inspired and motivated to learn because we are learners–driven to make sense of our world, on our own terms.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Overlooked

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Some weeks I feel inspired and find lots to take photos of…I spend time outdoors, exploring the beauty of the natural world. And some weeks, like this one, I feel a bit overwhelmed with the responsibilities in my life and it seems like a stretch to find anything at all interesting to photograph.

But this week, in spite of only feeling like I have had mere minutes to devote to photography, I have been trying to take photos of things I might have otherwise overlooked. I’m sure my neighbors think I’m crazy as they watch me crawling around my front yard taking photos of dandelions!

I also noticed the way the light was playing with this crazy thorny tree near my driveway. The leaves have recently sprouted, bringing a bit of spring green with it.

With our kitchen remodel done and my hubby back to cooking, we are getting more interesting (and yummy) meals again. This week he experimented with a “South of the Border” pizza.

That’s enchilada sauce, red bell peppers, cilantro and avocado. Delicious! And today he was baking these vegan raspberry thumbprint cookies in his shiny new oven.

We had a much-needed rainy weekend that continued into Monday morning…and my morning playground duty (conveniently timed between rainy squalls) had me looking skyward, hoping students would have a little time for outdoor play before being cooped up inside most of the day. It was hard to overlook the rare dark clouds framing the playground.

Today I was at the university, thinking about how much time I spend driving around and around the parking lot looking for that elusive parking spot. I decided I should capture that struggle in a photo…which also had me noticing the light and shadows…and the many white cars!

I’ve been noticing the jacarandas in bloom this week as I turn from the major thoroughfare into my neighborhood. The pinkish purplish blossoms are stunning against the lengthening daylight as I head toward home from work. Today I took my big camera with me to work and reminded myself to stop, park my car, and take some photos on my way home. Here’s what I saw.

So, for this week, take a look around at what you may ordinarily overlook as you go about your busy life. What’s right under your nose? Out in your yard? Along the road on your way home from work?

I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #overlooked for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

So take a look around, what can you photograph that you may have overlooked in other circumstances? I can’t wait to see overlooked through your lens!

Connecting to Learn and Grow: March’s Photo-a-Day Challenge

Weekly Photo Challenge: Rule of Thirds

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One of the things I love about photography is playing around with composition…either while I am shooting or in the editing process. The Daily Post this week focused their challenge on the rule of thirds…so I think I will piggyback this challenge with theirs.

You’ve probably seen more seagull photos from me than you ever wanted lately. And I’ve been playing around with different angles and compositional elements. Here’s an unedited one of a seagull standing on the rocks in the surf.

And this one is also unedited…on a gray day I captured this seagull in flight, in the upper lefthand third of the frame.

And it’s not always seagulls that capture my attention. This pelican pair flew overhead, cruising the shoreline…they are almost in the bottom third of the frame.

And this egret was wading in the koi pond at Balboa Park…I especially love the colors and the way its mouth is open in this shot.

This was a favorite from the other day, taken with my iPhone…walking across the Target parking lot my eye was drawn to the gathering storm clouds in the sky…and the birds perched in this bare tree.

And just to prove that all my photos don’t include birds, here is a shot of a monarch caterpillar munching its way toward creating a chrysalis. This shrub was full of caterpillars…and people were delighting in pointing out the crawlers. We also saw a bright green chrysalis and a few butterflies too.

So, for this week, let’s play along with the Daily Post challenge and work on shots that follow the rule of thirds. (For more information about the rule of thirds, look here) You can frame your shots as you take them or play around with the composition in the editing process.

I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #ruleofthirds for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

So play around with composition this week and see how the rule of thirds impacts your photos.

Shades of Gray

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It’s not what you think…this isn’t about the book or the movie. Instead, this is about winter and all the grays I’ve been seeing lately.

I’ve noticed icy grays…not here at home, but while I was in Chicago and the temperatures hovered between negative numbers and teens I noticed icicles hanging from the bumpers of cars in the parking lot while I was taking a brisk stroll around the hotel where I stayed.

And after some adventures in the airport, I found myself in a window seat in the last row of the plane. On the positive side, I was able to take photos throughout the flight, including this one as we began to taxi to take off for the flight to San Francisco.

So much of the country we traversed from high in the sky was covered with snow. At one point when I looked out I noticed this snowy map, with roads and rivers etched into the landscape below.

I came back home to much more reasonable temperatures and headed off to Los Angeles to spend the day with my son. (You saw some pictures on this post) The historic Bradbury building offered a glimpse of some different gray…with lots of ornate metalwork including this amazing working elevator.

As we headed out of the downtown area, we traveled through this tunnel. And because I wasn’t driving, I got to take a photo and capture the gray textures illuminated by the row of lights.

From up on Mulholland Drive, the entire city skyline including the Hollywood sign were on display. Unfortunately, the day was gray and hazy, making the skyline a shadow in the distance.

And back at home, I made my way back to the beach. It wasn’t cold…sweatshirt and bare feet weather…but it was gray. I’ve been a bit obsessed with seagulls lately, and found myself taking shot after shot. This one captures the shades of gray visible on the beach this week.

So, for this week, as we head toward the end of February, look for shades of gray. Will you find them outside or inside? The result of weather, the color of metal, or on the feathers of a local bird?

I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #gray for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

So go out in search of gray…all the shades you can find! Let’s reclaim those shades of gray and capture images that reflect the range of grays that we see. I’m looking forward to seeing all the shades of gray in your life…through your lens!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Spirited

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Summer has burst into the middle of winter this week in San Diego. (Sorry east coast and mid-west friends…I know your weather has been brutally cold!) Blue skies, warm sun, and lengthening days have put many in great spirits. And this warming trend has people reaching for their summer wardrobe…flip flops are back in evidence, along with sundresses, tank tops, and the ever-present shorts. You can see some confusion about the seasons in the ways kids are dressing this week. I watched a second grader on the playground the other morning in his shorts and t-shirt…and thick gloves and ugg boots! His mother, who was watching him nearby, said he insisted on the gloves, and had even worn them to sleep overnight!

A week ago, our third graders club at school hosted a school-wide spirit day: Sports and Hobby Day. And students came to schools dressed in their favorite sports gear or somehow showing their interests through their attire. One of my students showed her artistic flair through her hair-do, sporting paintbrushes extending from her ponytail.

Later that same day, we headed out for an opportunity to engage in a popular new skill game that our students have become obsessed with. Kendama is a wooden skill toy from Japan—a ball on a string attached to a carefully crafted wooden handle. Since not all the students had Kendamas, my teaching partner asked students to gather in triads with the goal of having the Kendama owners share what they have learned so far and give those without Kendama a chance to try out this game. It was Ms. Esther’s last day with us before she flew back home to Australia, and at 85 Esther is a most enthusiastic learner! (She had shared her skydiving DVD with us before lunch.) It was such a spirited exchange to watch this second grader teach Ms. Esther how to use the Kendama…and then to watch her joy at trying! (He coached me too—this is not an easy game!)

With a kitchen remodel underway, my cats have spent their days cooped up in our upstairs bathroom. So when we get home at the end of the day, they are quite ready to come out and explore the house. In some ways they seem to be getting more exercise than usual (they are 16 year old cats)…seeming energetic and spirited in the evening. After all that running up and down and exploring every nook and cranny of new in the kitchen, I love that I caught this big wide spirited yawn of Jack with Phil resting in the background!

Over the weekend, we headed off to the beach for a low tide walk…my first in bare feet in a while. These boys caught my eye…both because of the brilliant green of the wetsuit and because they were so animated and playful. I just love their spirited energy!

And with my telephoto lens in place, I explored taking pictures of seabirds. The light was just right for capturing reflection in the wet sand and there was enough light for colors to be brilliant. I love the spirited mood of this seagull caught in mid strut!

Yesterday was the warmest day all week. 85 degrees at the beach! At the end of the work day, before the sun began to set, I headed to the beach just to see what was going on. There were lots of people on the beach…engaged in lots of spirited play. I was nearly beaned by a flying object as I watched waves instead of people playing while walking on the beach! My eye was drawn to this red bucket…and the spirited mood of summer on this February afternoon.

So, even if it is not summer in February where you are, where do you see spirited activity? Go out in search of that energy of spirit, in nature, with your pets, in the cold, in the warm… (And you may see some “colder” looking photos from me next week…I just arrived in chilly Chicago!)

I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #spirited for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

So go out in search of spirited…it might just raise your spirits! Can’t wait to see what spirited looks like through your lens.

Considering Scale

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Exploring different camera lenses changes my experiences with scale. With the macro lens, I am able to magnify things that are small and make them appear larger than life. The blossoms on this flowering tree look much different when you get up close.

Yesterday I was playing with my telephoto lens, and exploring the options it gives me when I take photos. Pelicans up close are huge birds…here’s an old photo I took on the Oceanside pier with my iPhone standing pretty close to the bird.

Here’s another I took yesterday using my telephoto lens looking out into the distance as I watched the pelican soar over the waves.

I also noticed these hang gliders in the distance as the fog began to roll in. They are tiny specks in the distance, framed by the beach cliffs.

I also had the opportunity to zoom in as the glider came closer and closer to me.

What I know is I have a lot more exploring to do with determining which kinds of shots lend themselves to which lenses. I was wishing for my smaller lens at some points during my beach walk yesterday when I had my telephoto with me. And I definitely have moments when I am wishing for my telephoto when I have my smaller lens. I’m not all that comfortable changing lenses in the moment…maybe I just need to accept that I will work with the lens I am using at the moment.

And as always, I find myself thinking about how this idea of scale works in the educational area. When do we need to pull back and look at the big picture, dismissing the fine details to see the overall view? And when do we need to zoom in…with the telephoto to bring things that are in the distance closer or with the macro to magnify the small details and make them visible? I definitely love the way my camera helps me think about my work…the macro, the telephoto, the big picture, and the individual learner. Scale definitely matters.