As part of The Links’ arts program, the students will learn a skill that could become a profession.
By Tracey Edwards
For the past nine years, the Inglewood Pacific chapter of The Links, Inc. has partnered with Inglewood High School with the goal of mentoring and educating minority male students through the organization’s Arts Facet national program. They created a photography class where the students learn the technical aspects of the camera, as well as composition rules to create engaging photographs.
“This Arts Facet Program is becoming an integral part of the successful development of the participating students,” said Links member Rhonda Cotton. “The instructor provides the students with a variety of experiences with hands-on techniques using professional cameras. Students are able to capture scenic and historic school and community events during the field trip component of this program.”
The class meets monthly during the school year, with multiple photography field trips. In culmination of the program the community and community partners are invited to view the photos, which allows the students to showcase their experiences in participating in the program.
This class also introduces the students to a form of art and profession that’s not as accessible to students of color.
“By bridging the educational gap between minority students in urban areas with their mainstream counterparts, those who desire and have a passion for a career in photography will be able to enter the market on a leveled playing field,” Cotton said.
This school year, Los Angeles Standard Newspaper Publisher Jason Lewis will be the instructor of the class. Lewis hosts a monthly camera club that has professional and amateur photographers.
“These students have access to some very good D-SLR cameras,” Lewis said. “They’ll be able to learn how to shoot on manual mode, and they’ll learn about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Then we’ll add in the composition rules so that they’ll understand how to create good images.”
Lewis will also discuss the various career paths that the students can take if they decide to become photographers. The students’ photos will also appear in The Los Angeles Standard Newspaper.
For more information about the Inglewood Pacific chapter of The Links, Inc., visit www.inglewoodpacificlinks.org.
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