Pre-Safari Planning Ideas

Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) are called upon to be Advocates, Ambassadors, Authors, and Advisors.  As such, we ADEs have determined to lead a series of photo safaris wherever we gather, as a group, or as we extend our impact upon other audiences.

After a successful photo safari in Washington, DC in June, 2009, the ADE Photo Safari Leadership Team pledged to follow that experience up with another safari in Denver, during the annual ISTE Conference in June 2010. And now we are planning an ADE Photo Safari in Historic Piladelphia during ISTE 2011.

This site is devoted to pre-planning thoughts among members of the Safari Leadership Team.  We will build other pages in this site that enable you, as a potential participant in the safari, to contribute your ideas.

Feel free to “read over our shoulder” as we plan online for this great event in Historic Philadelphia.

2011 ADE Photo Safari – ISTE2011 Edition

Overview

This project is intended to fill a specific set of user needs.  It is based on the following data:

  • ADEs need to learn how to use their DSLRs appropriately.
  • ADEs need to learn proper techniques for choosing subjects for shooting, as well as the variety of composition considerations.
  • ADEs need another opportunity to engage in Challenge-Based Learning activities, focusing upon specific assignments, and determining some avenue for using what we produce in a learning environment.
  • ADEs need another opportunity to get together, to bond, to learn from each other, to see things in new ways–the ways that others view the same object we are seeing.
  • ADEs have many opportunities to stand before other audiences and demonstrate our expertise.  This activity will strengthen our ability and our credibility in this regard.

Objectives

This project should have the following impact on the success of our work as ADEs:

  • Participants will be able to convey a story effectively using one or multiple photographs.
  • Participants will learn how to view a photograph idea prior to viewing it through the viewfinder, then compose properly, and snap a photograph that aligns with what was envisioned and planned.
  • Participants will gain a better understanding of the features of their own camera, including but not limited to shutter speed, aperture, ISO, f/stops, depth of field, exposure bracketing, shutter priority, and aperture priority.
  • Participants will experiment with various pieces of photographic equipment they do not own currently (tripods, lenses, camera bodies, filters, accessories), in order to become wiser consumers, as well as informed advisors for other novice photographers.
  • Participants will gain an enhanced appreciation for the bonding experience among ADEs.

Leadership Team

 

Timeline

  • Kickoff: Sunday, June 26, 2011
  • Meetup Location: Old City Coffee, 221 Church Street, Philadelphia, PA  19106
  • Duration of Safari:  9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (or later)
  • Schedule – See sidebar for “Agenda, Location and Maps”

Deadlines

  • Registration deadline is Wednesday, June 22, 2011.  Don’t miss it!!

Tasks/Milestones

  • Engage/Invite pro photographer(s) [Larry]
  • Inventory equipment needed (Gordon) — tripods, GPS devices,
  • Prepare/maintain participant list (Craig)
  • Prepare name badges (Larry)  — use bright badge color that has high visibility from a distance
  • Secure ID photos of all participants (Larry) — this is to place on name badges, if possible
  • Obtain cell phone numbers for texting during the Safari (Craig)
  • Arrange photo upload site (John, Katie)
  • Marketing to ADEs and others (Craig, Larry)
  • Arrange for lunch location (on your own)
  • Compile and distribute materials for participants [maps, etc.]
  • Support from other vendors (_____) ex: Lowepro, Lexar, Gitzo, Manfrotto, RRS, Kingston, Hoya, Tokina, Hoodman, LensBaby, Adorama, B&H Video/Photo; Tamrac, Ritz Camera, Wolf Camera, Giotto, Joby (gorilla pods!), Acratech (tripod ball heads), Think Tank Photo (camera bags)  — [Larry]
  • Investigate possible locations and plan the route and timetable (Christine)
  • Would Apple Education be able to provide any matching financial support?  (nope)
  • Determine a capacity limit for participants.
    • Set a priority scale for participants if cap is not reached by ADEs. Possible priority ranking: ADE spouses, ADE family members, non-ADE participants from ISTE 2010, Friends of Leadership Team, participants in ISTE photography sessions.
    • Registration will be first-come, first-served–with few exceptions.

General Planning Thoughts

  • {This idea did not materialize, but it remains here for use in the future — Larry}  For maximum impact, we need to arrive on Saturday to be there early Sunday morning so could we offer a round robin of one hour classes Saturday night (perhaps, followed by a group dinner at some local venue)?
    • Topics:
      • Multi-segment orientation:  Preview of Photo Safari venue  and other sites (preparing participants for the views we will see tomorrow);  how to prepare for tomorrow’s Safari (what to bring, how to pack, working with a team); purpose of individual and team assignments; lunch/dinner planning; what the sponsors will be offering (ex: Canon bodies/lenses, with purchase options at end of Safari)
      • Digital SLR Techniques
      • High Dynamic Range Photography
      • Panoramas – equipment and techniques for shooting
    • From previous e-mail conversation about this topic:From Don:Bill Frakes and I led a photo workshop together in Monterey this June.

      <clip>

      We did not do the up front instruction, but instead focused on helping folks make better images while in the park.

      From Larry:

      I like the idea of not having a class beforehand….it’s just an idea that helped me when we were in Monterey.  However, ISTE is a much different vibe.  Among the ADEs who go, we’ll have a “captive” audience online, so we can pass along info beforehand, and maybe even do a little “webinar” kind of thing beforehand, just to get people’s minds right before we set out.  (Note:  The webinar idea seems to be a far superior idea to some kind of evening class on the day before.  Plus, the webinar should be captured and archived so participants who come into the fold late can go back and watch all the content.  Too, many of us will want to watch the programs again, as a way of refresher.) (Larry)

    • I feel that trying to do the workshops on Saturday is overkill for our purpose of this Photo Safari. Plus getting to bed early may be a priority for some of us older folk. I agree with others that we could provide tutorials and webinars that people could look at before traveling to Denver. I suggest the webinar I did for ISTE this past school year, though not on the level of what Don and others could provide, as a example of prior learning that could be helpful. (Craig)
  • Pre-Safari Tutorials or discussion topics (possibly online beginning in April or May to build excitement!)
    • Safari Equipment (Photo gear to bring and why)
    • Aperture Tutorials
    • Sharing of photos by members of the participant group — photos that might relate to the purpose of our Safari, except highlighting some aspects of local communities.  Sorta like “practice” at the local level.  Then, members of the participant group could critique each other’s work.  This would have the potential of elevating the quality of our work produced on the Safari.
  • Suggested topics for ISTE workshops to follow Safari, participants do not need to be part of ADE Safari but could be invited for added experiences (Perhaps we could submit these together and teach as a team)  [Gordon]
    • Aperture: Seeing the light of the photographer workflow (6 HR)  [Gordon]
    • HDR Photographic techniques (6 HR including local safari in the ISTE site city during workshop)   [Gordon]
    • Digital Stories: Creating photo books with Aperture (3 HR)  [Gordon]
    • One picture is worth a thousand worksheets! (session)   [Larry]
    • Podcasting with Pictures:  Mashups for Dynamite Podcasts! (session or 3-hour workshop)    [Larry]
  • Other items to bring along
    • Simple First-Aid supplies (band aids, lip balm, sunscreen)
    • Money for snacks, meals, souvenirs, camera equipment (in case Canon, etc., decide to sell their wares at the end of the Safari), etc.
    • GPS device
    • Sunglasses
    • Spare batteries
    • Spare Compact Flash or SD cards (memory)
    • Lens cloth
  • Food to eat while there?

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