Each True Colors project is slightly different. When I started this project, I was working in television full-time. Having just received my Masters in Teaching from Willamette University in June, 2010, my entire focus is now teaching. This project began in my oldest daughter's third-grade class on Bainbridge Island, WA. It was re-created in my second daughter's third-grade class in Hillsboro School in Franklin, TN. It was re-created most recently in that same daughter's 4th-5th at Cedaraok Primary School in West Linn, OR.

The assigned words change, it now includes a literary element, and the time lines change. But the focus is always the same: I tell the students that this assignment is about their vision of the world, not mine. My goal is to give them the tools to find and express their own voice through photography - before the world tells them what things are supposed to look like. And they never fail to amaze me!!

It always starts like this: I lecture the kids four times over week or two on light, composition, angles and vision. I try not to overwhelm them with information but it goes sort of like this:

On Day One, I will cover some of my own background and career ideas that involve photography and video, and also show them some of my Bill Nye, the Science Guy work. Over the next few days, I cover what makes a good photograph; composition, lighting, balance, color, shooting styles, and the basics of how a camera works. Then on the final day we discuss the assignment, hand out the cameras, then set them loose!

It's VERY IMPORTANT that the cameras have an ASA of at least 400 and have FLASH, so if you buy any, remember this. Also: Family members - please don't touch your student's camera!! - this is their project not yours, and they are only given 27 frames to complete the assignment. Get your own camera!

The kids just love the freedom of this project and never cease to amaze me. Years later, I had parents telling me it was their child's favorite project in all of their elementary years - they just really rise to the occasion and love the freedom. And often the best pictures came from the most unexpected kids - the ones who perhaps had been unable to shine or express themselves well in more traditional areas of learning. But I have learned a few things along the way and need to offer some tips to parents...

**First off, do NOT take your child's camera and shoot with it! This is THEIR vision, not yours. If they didn't  shoot the picture, we can't use it - and they only have a small number of frames to complete this project. Each one counts. (You would be AMAZED how many parents did this!)

** Also, do NOT tell your kids what to shoot! Many of the parents told me they had no idea their kids were even shooting, while many of the kids told me they sneaked around doing it just so their parents WOULDN'T tell them what to do. I think this project becomes intensely personal to the kids and they are thrilled to be told it's nobody's business but their own what they bring back - and especially, that there can be no wrong. (I tell them the only WRONG picture is a BORING picture.) It's like a secret from the adults and they want to keep it. Respect that and relish their enthusiasm.

** A final note: Please, Parents and Family - Do NOT give your child your own fancy digital or film camera to use. There are very good reasons for using the throwaways and it hurts the process I am trying to teach.

And finally, I am adding a new component this time. I plan to follow up this project with a lecture on how to use Google's free photo editing software, called Picassa. If you haven't used it, I highly recommend it. It's very kid-friendly (even for adults!) and photo editing is an essential component to creating great pictures. Taking them is just the start. Plus, there are all kinds of creative effects they can do and then upload them to albums or prints. Just go to the Google page and find it under "Photos" or "Other" in the drop-down menu. The download is free. Other photo software works on the same principles, even PhotoShop, so it's good for them to get a handle on the basics early. Plus, it's eye-opening what can be done once you get the shot, and this will really expand their thinking for future projects - school, and otherwise.

NOTE TO PARENTS:

PARENT PROJECT TIPS

(If you haven't read the Tennessean article on this site, start there for a basic understanding of this project.)