Twenty lucky students in Metro Detroit participated in the ACCESS Youth and Education Department's summer Aim High Photography Program. The introductory class on photography is for students who want to get the most out of their cameras and improve their photographic skills as well as for those more experienced students who want to enhance their skills.
The class began with lessons on the camera's aperture, exposure, under exposure, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity. Using Nikon and Canon cameras, students learned how these controls impact the final image.
Once students understood the basic functions of the camera, they went on a field trip to Belle Isle State Park to explore the island as a group and photograph historic buildings such as the conservatory, aquarium, casino and Scott fountain, as well as the natural scenery on the island. For many students this was their first experience on the island and one of their first experiences in the inner city.
“Photography can be an opportunity to explore unfamiliar spaces, and a medium for me to interact with those spaces. Giving students the skills to control a camera and introducing them to new places each year invites them to look at the world differently through their lens and engage the spaces in a unique way," stated instructor Idrees Mutahr.
Students spent two days developing the film and making prints in the dark room at Wayne State University's photo department.
The ACCESS Youth and Education Department offers a variety of programs during the summer and through the academic year to enrich, develop and provide students with new opportunities.
For more information on youth programs, contact Sarah Shoucair-Chaar, supervisor of Academic Youth and Development programs, at 313-342-6757.
