We all have different Points of View...

After a few days away from Wasgamuwa, we were eager to return to not only see the images that the second half of our students shot over the weekend, but also to talk about some of the pictures that we have already seen and engage the kids in an English activity in their notebooks.

We began the day by discussing the concept of Point of View. All of the children's photographs thus far have been very visually different... we all see things in different ways, and photographs are a reflection of our varied ways of seeing. So how does this idea affect the images we capture? How many different ways can you take the same picture? How does the size of the subject change based on the vantage point and how does this affect the tone of the image? With help from SLWCS local employee, Samantha, these ideas were translated to the children by showing them their own work as examples of interesting points of view.

Maleesha chose to frame this image through the bicycle spokes. The lines in the foreground break up the image in an interesting way.

Maleesha also photographed this image of older kids in the village. The vantage point looking up at the teenagers exudes a sense of admiration.

Kelum's photograph of rice cultivation emphasizes the mass of crop that this farmer carries because he had chosen to fill the frame with the bail. In an area that depends heavily on rice cultivation, I thought this was a very smart image.

Chandra pointed the camera down at her own body to capture the vibrant color in her dress and flip flops. The point of view emphasizes the weight her feet hold.

Dilini made a visual decision to crop the head of her father out of frame. This vantage point places emphasis on his necklace. Perhaps it is of religious significance; we assume its importance because of its central position in the composition.

Vidovanga shot this artful photograph. A sense of danger is created by his vantage point looking up at barbed wire. Its silhouette against a dark sky makes for a simple provocative image.

We sent the children home with cameras to continue photographing their families as they keep in mind these many different points of view and how they affect their images.