Mrs. Goeke’s photography class was challenged to capture, in one picture, the contribution of a well-known African American. They had one week to complete the project and their work will be on display in the Grand Entry during Black History Month.

“The guidelines were for each student to find an African American who helped make the world a better place through their accomplishments, whether it be science, math, art, inventions, or entertainment,” said Lara Goeke, middle and upper school art teacher.

Students’ work had to be original and they were instructed to do editing through viewfinder, which is the frame the artist is looking through. The project’s standards ensured that students would apply ample time brainstorming their thoughts and ideas for potential photographs, rather than applying minimal effort and submitting work that reflected such.

“The challenge is that they cannot use pictures of [the African Americans themselves]. They have to find objects or things that represent that person’s accomplishment and make [the pictures] look aesthetically pleasing,” said Goeke.

Students agreed that it was difficult to portray the person by their accomplishments and simultaneously capture their audience.

“The most challenging part was figuring out how to accurately represent the person we researched but at the same time making it creative and interesting to look at,” said Caleb Jansen, senior.

The project was based off what the students could do to convey to the Westminster body the important contributions of African Americans.

“[I got the idea by] having a conversation with Mr. Layton [middle school Learning Center teacher] about what we could do for Black History Month and what we could do to honor the African Americans in our country,” said Goeke.

Overall, Goeke believes that her students responded well to the project and stepped up to the challenge. They were given an opportunity to communicate the importance of African Americans through their points of views. Students were able to grant viewers varying perspectives on how African Americans have made a difference in the lives of Americans today.

“In general, I think everyone takes advantage of what black people did and their contributions to society. [This project is a] nice way to open peoples’ eyes to it through art. Art and photography, in general, give you a different perspective on life. You are able to see things in a simpler way. Art is a big part of my life- with stress it’s like a getaway. I had always loved taking pictures, but I wanted to get deeper into the technique. It’s a way to express creativity,” said Olivia Willis, junior.

Goeke’s hopes for her students not only consist of whether or not they successfully convey their messages to the viewer, but also how they can represent Christ through the art of photography.

“[I hope that my students will learn] to see the world in a more creative way, where they’ll see the world differently. And be able to shed light and bring Christ in the world through a creative avenue,” said Goeke.

So far, the students seem to be on the right track in using art as a tool and a way that can benefit both themselves and others.

“[Through this project, I have gained] perseverance and diligence in all projects and things I take in life…the ability to look at things uniquely and portray things creatively,” said Jansen.

A picture can mean many different things to someone, but to students and teachers who have a passion for photography, it is always more than “just a photo.”

“A successful picture is something you can look at and see different things. [Something which you can] study and therefore appreciate the world around you or the works of an artist,” said Goeke.

“[I see a picture as] something that makes the viewer think: anything to keep them for a few seconds. [It should hopefully] spark emotion or interest,” said Willis.

“A picture is a way to capture a moment or a thought or some sort of creative angle that we don’t take the time to observe in real life,” said Jansen.

Artists use pictures to convey to others how they see the world.

“My hope is that a picture can help you understand your world, or the world through the eyes of another person,” said Goeke.