Cougars' Perspective

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Ahhhhhhh October. The little month with a BIG Napoleon complex!

I think when every school-related entity from kindergarten through college was asked "When do you want to have your (insert major project deadline here)?" . . . they all said "OCTOBER!" So, from Literary pumpkins to bike rodeo. Hispanic Heritage to Pink Out. Red Ribbon Week to PTA Reflections. We're going to cram into 31 fun-filled chaotic days. But Wait!!! There's more!

Every October our classroom turns into a photographer's dream . . . and a neat-freak's nightmare. The deadline for one of our favorite ( and biggest) contests of the year was last Friday. ATPI (The Association of Texas Photography Instructors) plays host to over 6500 photo entries in 19 categories from schools across the country -- and the best of the best come out to play.

So, for the past six weeks, 50+ student photographers have been working like mad to create entries for everything from advertising and fashion to still life and sports action. We have had field trips, model shoots, advertising units, and some super-fun high shutter speed experiments. Although my classroom looks like a war-zone and I have reoccurring nightmares involving candy-corn and Halloween peeps, it truly is one of my favorite times of the year. Despite the stress, it's when I truly get to see my students' creativity and vision come to life; when our little 3A high school shows the big-boys that we can take a stand on the playground.