It’s easy to send photo students into the field, digital cameras in hand, to begin their photography studies. It’s quick and easy; go take some pictures.

But the quick and easy assignment skips over some fundamental understandings and history.

In this classically hands-on exercise of progressive education, Midland School 9th graders build pinhole cameras and process their images.

They take their homemade cameras into the field to photograph their subjects- followed by processing and responding to their work.

The nature of the project leads to good deal of planning and thought from the students. Their written pieces about their results show flexibility, creativity, and understanding.

The students gain a fundamental and elemental understanding of photography from a practical, hands-on, creative exercise.

Photo credit: D.Hyuk