I Wanna Take Me a Picture: Teaching Photography and Writing to Children

by Wendy Ewald

Acclaimed photographer Wendy Ewald has worked with children around the world, using photography to enable them to express what they think and feel. I Wanna Take Me a Picture is an accessible and practical guide to getting children involved in photography. It uses basic assignments—self-portraiture, family portraiture, community, and dreams—to teach everything from framing and point of view to how to set up a darkroom and develop film.

"Ms. Ewald was one of the first—and remains the most committed—artists to bring photography into the lives of children who have little else."
—Taylor Holliday, The Wall Street Journal

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Education

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Wendy Ewald (born in 1951) is an American photographer and educator.

Wendy Ewald was born in Detroit, Michigan, graduated from Abbot Academy in 1969 and attended Antioch College between 1969–74, as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she studied photography with Minor White. She embarked on a career teaching photography to children and young people internationally. In 1969 & 1970, she taught photography to Innu and Mi'kmaq Native-American children in Canada. Between 1976–80 she taught photography and film-making to students in Whitesburg, Kentucky, in association with Appalshop, a media co-op. In 1982, she traveled to Ráquira, Colombia, on a Fulbright fellowship working with children and community groups; spending a further two years in Gujarat, India. Ewald is married to Tom McDonough, a writer and cinematographer. They live in the Hudson Valley of New York with their son, Michael.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd say that this is more of a memoir than a how-to book for teaching photography to disadvantaged kids. The author is an important name in the history of the participatory photography movement and shares her philosophy & experience in that, along with a very brief description of her teaching process.

Ultimately, the book helps not with methodological insight (for that, see Getty Museum's online publications), but with the feeling that there's nothing too technical or methodologically complicated to teaching photography for social change. What's important is the inspiration and the social goals, good communication and creative freedom. If you are a good teacher, you can teach this, too. If you are just a good photographer, that's not enough.

[Medusa · Rating 5 out of 5]

En memoria de nuestro amado profesor Kiyufomi MOTOYAMA, estás siempre en nuestro corazón y en cada paso que damos.
Somos los hiciste de nosotros.
D. E. P.
2022

- I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
J.R.R. Tolkien

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by the well-respected photography educator, Wendy Ewald, this book is a fascinating look into the power of photography & literacy programs to help children explore and express their identities, values, and dreams while developing their self-esteem, critical thinking skills, and capacity for empathy. Though I couldn't help but miss my Salvadoran photography students while reading this book, I consider it a truly inspiring resource that I will continue to reference.

[Linda Dextre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy is an inspiration. I've used her methods with yearbook club and in the classroom for poetry projects. Her book was the source of inspiration for a week-long literacy exploration at NCCAT through Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies. She shares a passion for life through the lens of a camera and the magic of expression through printed images. LOVE her and her work.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for LTP at TTP, fall 05. Pairs well with the documentary "Born into Brothels."

[Anda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really found a couple chapters useful and well-written. The lesson plans alone are why this book merits any stars at all. The in-between was a lot of fluff and such.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to truly understand Literacy Through Photography,this is a must read!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power of art demonstrated.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the idea of teaching kids how to take pictures and incorporate it with writing. Great way to motivate kids to be creative and learn about photography.

[Daniela Scrima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an inspiring book.