900 Days of School: An Exciting, New Direction

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
― Marcel Proust

Two years ago, I began a five year project, titled 900 Days of school.  In this project, I decided to take one picture a day at school for my last five years of school before retirement.

Since the beginning, this project and my students have taken me in directions I never imagined.  Whenever I was asked what I photographed, I always responded that I photographed anything except people.  As the years have gone by, I have found people (my people) have been making their way more and more into my photographs.  By my people, I mean members of my family and closest friends.

This year, as a part of the project, I began making portraits of members of my school family.  It all started when I made one picture that seemed more like a portrait than a typical snapshot.  I then began looking for different lighting situations and ways to make portraits of my kids.

I have often wondered how I would find a way to hang out with little people once I finish my 35 years teaching.  There are so many things I will miss about being with children:  their honesty, their energy, their views about life.  Perhaps, this year during the project, I found my answer.

I will always cherish these pictures and the incredible students who helped me create them!