In Life through the Lenses students investigated the press and looked at the ways photography helps to tell the news. They explored some of the most influential photos of the last century, studied the life and work of the Hungarian-born photojournalist Robert Capa. Becoming photojournalists, students documented various aspects of life in Budapest by publishing their photos and recording their adventures in a blog. Finally, they selected the best photos and organized a school exhibition.
The project was organized around four main stages:
1. Introduction to Photojournalism
2. Photos that Changed the World
3. Robert Capa – The Life of a Photographer
4. Mission: Camera
In the next sections you can read about the project stages presented by some of the students.
By clicking on the links provided you can also check out on some sample student work.
(by Teacher)
First Encounter
Our first task was very simple: to sit in front of the screens of the small CMPCs (a type of notebook) and watch some photos. Well, actually not some usual photos: 11 iconic pictures that became world-famous only a few days after they had been taken :
We had to guess what they were about and write down our impressions, our feelings. There were photos the stories of which we guessed easily but in some cases we were mistaken too:
First Encounter (MS Word Document)
(by Zsófi)
The Story Behind the Photos
In the second stage of the project we searched information about the 11 pictures on the internet focusing on two questions: what do the images show and what is their historical background. We worked in groups and read articles about certain photos. Then we formed new groups and talked about our photos to the others and took notes while the others were talking. By the end of this lesson we had all the information about every photo. We talked about the photos once again thinking of our first impressions:
The Story Behind the Photos (MS Word Document)
(by Zsófi)
One of the photos we discussed was taken by the famous Hungarian photographer, Friedmann Endre, alias Robert Capa, entitled ’Death of a loyalist soldier’. Going on with our project, we started to focus on the life and work of Robert Capa.
In October 2009 we visited the Robert Capa - History in Making exhibition held at the Ludwig Museum, Museum of Contemporary Arts in Budapest:
We watched a movie about his life. Its title was Robert Capa: In Love and War.
At this stage we had two very important tasks. The first was to write the curriculum vitae of Robert Capa based on the knowledge we gained at the exhibition and some help from the internet:
Capa CV (MS Word Document)
The second was to write the script, then record an imaginary television interview with Robert Capa using some of his famous quotations :
It is clear that all the groups did a great job:
(by Zsófi)
The Blog
Our task was to write a blog about Budapest using the photos we were to take. We discussed the topics and chose one. This is how the Culture, Religion, Politics, Environment, Sport, Urban Life and People Teams were formed. Three people could work in one team, so the first problem was that all the boys wanted to belong to the Sports Team. Later it turned out that it was the most difficult.
Next, we wrote an introduction in which we wrote about what we would do. In my opinion the next part was the most interesting in the whole project. We walked in the city observing people, buildings, parks, squares, taking photos of anything we thought to be suitable for our project. We visited museums, went to concerts, sport facilities and even to the Parliament.
At the beginning we had some problems with uploading our posts and photos but by the end we all managed to do it easily.
We also had some arguments because there were some people who felt like doing nothing. However, at the cost of long discussions we were all able to cooperate. No one regretted it.
(by Reni)
The School Exhibition
The project was organized around four main stages:
1. Introduction to Photojournalism
2. Photos that Changed the World
3. Robert Capa – The Life of a Photographer
4. Mission: Camera
In the next sections you can read about the project stages presented by some of the students.
By clicking on the links provided you can also check out on some sample student work.
(by Teacher)
Introduction to Photojournalism
I think that everybody will agree if I say that the most stressful day of our project was the day when a Hungarian TV channel came to record us.
Our teacher held a very interesting Smart Board lesson. Most of the activities took place at the Smart Board, but we used the CMPCs (and the Internet) as well.
We had several tasks: searching information on the Internet, filling tables and quizzes, comparing newspapers and magazines. During that lesson we learned the terms related to journalism. At the end of the lesson, four of us were interviewed about the new technological methods used in our school.
(by Zsófi)
Our teacher held a very interesting Smart Board lesson. Most of the activities took place at the Smart Board, but we used the CMPCs (and the Internet) as well.
We had several tasks: searching information on the Internet, filling tables and quizzes, comparing newspapers and magazines. During that lesson we learned the terms related to journalism. At the end of the lesson, four of us were interviewed about the new technological methods used in our school.
(by Zsófi)
Photos that Changed the World
First EncounterOur first task was very simple: to sit in front of the screens of the small CMPCs (a type of notebook) and watch some photos. Well, actually not some usual photos: 11 iconic pictures that became world-famous only a few days after they had been taken :
We had to guess what they were about and write down our impressions, our feelings. There were photos the stories of which we guessed easily but in some cases we were mistaken too:
First Encounter (MS Word Document)
(by Zsófi)
The Story Behind the Photos
In the second stage of the project we searched information about the 11 pictures on the internet focusing on two questions: what do the images show and what is their historical background. We worked in groups and read articles about certain photos. Then we formed new groups and talked about our photos to the others and took notes while the others were talking. By the end of this lesson we had all the information about every photo. We talked about the photos once again thinking of our first impressions:
The Story Behind the Photos (MS Word Document)
(by Zsófi)
Robert Capa – The Life of a Photographer
One of the photos we discussed was taken by the famous Hungarian photographer, Friedmann Endre, alias Robert Capa, entitled ’Death of a loyalist soldier’. Going on with our project, we started to focus on the life and work of Robert Capa.In October 2009 we visited the Robert Capa - History in Making exhibition held at the Ludwig Museum, Museum of Contemporary Arts in Budapest:
We watched a movie about his life. Its title was Robert Capa: In Love and War.
At this stage we had two very important tasks. The first was to write the curriculum vitae of Robert Capa based on the knowledge we gained at the exhibition and some help from the internet:
Capa CV (MS Word Document)
The second was to write the script, then record an imaginary television interview with Robert Capa using some of his famous quotations :
It is clear that all the groups did a great job:
(by Zsófi)
Mission: Camera
The Blog
Our task was to write a blog about Budapest using the photos we were to take. We discussed the topics and chose one. This is how the Culture, Religion, Politics, Environment, Sport, Urban Life and People Teams were formed. Three people could work in one team, so the first problem was that all the boys wanted to belong to the Sports Team. Later it turned out that it was the most difficult.
Next, we wrote an introduction in which we wrote about what we would do. In my opinion the next part was the most interesting in the whole project. We walked in the city observing people, buildings, parks, squares, taking photos of anything we thought to be suitable for our project. We visited museums, went to concerts, sport facilities and even to the Parliament.
At the beginning we had some problems with uploading our posts and photos but by the end we all managed to do it easily.
We also had some arguments because there were some people who felt like doing nothing. However, at the cost of long discussions we were all able to cooperate. No one regretted it.
(by Reni)
The School Exhibition
The exhibition took place on March 4. We wanted to show our best photos to our schoolmates. The exhibition opening was held in the school yard. We hung our photos on a wire fence on the first floor terrace. During the opening we told a few words about our project and then invited people to take a look at our photos. At the end of the day we took the photos inside and put them to their final place which is the corridor. Since then during each break many of our schoolmates go and see it, so I think our photos are popular. We have become quite famous :. We like it!
(by Reni)
(by Reni)
