join us and share what you see
TWiSi students strive to be creative, dare to be courageous, and have tons of fun in the process!
We are surrounded by beauty every day but do we actually see it? The constant noise and interruptions may not allow us to stop and experience what is happening all around us. The Way I See It photo camp introduces students to four genres of photography but more importantly, it offers an opportunity for young people to look more closely and share what they see in a safe and supportive group. There is no right or wrong answer...it's all about the way you see it.
"We do not see things as they are.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Seeing In Style
TWiSi photo camp introduces four photography genres, with assignments each week, and ignites creativity during our ‘go and seek’ games.
Portraiture
Who do you love? Who do you admire? Who do you want to get to know? Students explore portraiture, with a lighting lesson, location scouting, and posing. They pick a person, a location, and a time of day. Once all the details are in place, they photograph that person in their place of work; at home; playing a sport; or anywhere that resonates with them. The portrait should say something about the model and the photographer.
Composition
Students find scenes and photograph them from varied angles and at different times of the day: sunrise and sunset. What would a bird see? What would a worm see? Focus on what you love and find a scene/landscape that represents your passion.
Photojournalism
Students are introduced to caption writing beginning with the five W’s of journalism: who, what, where, when, and why. They are encouraged to find a scene where they feel comfortable and to document that scene and describe it. They learn to see even in environments that are familiar, to be a bystander documenting the scene and recording the facts.
Re-creation
Imitation is the highest form of flattery! During re-creation week, students pick a famous photograph or piece of art and work to imitate it. Emphasis is placed on composition and lighting but creativity is encouraged.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
– Edgar Degas
THE SOUL OF TWiSi
Meet the Visionary
Kathleen O’Rourke is a visual communications professional who started her storytelling career as a photojournalist. Her work has been published in several national and international publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the L.A. Times, Houston Chronicle, Time and Newsweek.
She took her skills to the independent school landscape where she worked as a marketing director, but it was her immersion in the student culture that compelled her to recreate her career around kids. She sought to bring her passions together: visual storytelling and students, and TWiSi was born.
Kathleen believes that joy and learning go hand-in-hand, and that learning is deepened when it is done in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Central to the TWiSi culture is fun. Art can be intimidating, and creativity can call for courage, but at TWiSi, art meets courage and everyone has fun! (And if you’re lucky, there might even be some dogs in the mix too!)
WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING
Testimonials
Caleb, Grade 7
“I love history so I photographed the Amagansett lanes and the Amagansett coastguard station at Atlantic beach on August 17 and 18. The coast guard station was where two Germans washed up on shore during World War II. The Amagansett lanes include Miankoma, Atlantic, and Meeting house lanes. TWiSi combined my love of history and creativity.”
jane, Grade 5
“Why I liked most about photography camp was the assignments. My favorite assignment was the photo walk and I learned that photojournalism is not just taking photos. It involves writing about what is happening and having people naturally doing what they do.”
Leo, Grade 7
“Although many people pass through Downtown East Hampton, few actually stop and look closely at the shops or take a photo of the iconic Old Hook Windmill. When I actually took the time to look around, I found many surprises that I never noticed before. Although I had passed through the area countless times, when I stopped for a minute and looked around, it made the experience so much more worthwhile.”
Lucas, Grade 6
“I love photography because it captures a great moment so you can re-experience it as many times as you want. I’ve learned a lot from this class such as the rule of thirds, the grid, and depth of field. This has been a great experience for me. Thank you!”
THE DETAILS
Dates for Summer 2021
June 28 – July 23, 2021
TWiSi meets twice weekly and offers three options for time frames.
Camp is recommended for students entering Grades 5-8.
- Sessions run for 4 weeks. Minimum 5 students, maximum 9 students, per session. Sign up early to guarantee your spot!
- Session 1: Monday & Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
- Session 2: Monday & Wednesday at 12:00 p.m.
- Session 2: Monday & Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
- Please inquire about adding different days for 5+ students
- Each meeting runs for one hour
- Tuition is $275 per camper
- Payments via Venmo or check
- Contact Kathleen to register
Zoom
TWiSi leverages technology so we can all be together wherever we are! We use Zoom for each session.
Cameras
At TWiSi we may be apart but we like to collaborate, therefore campers are encouraged to use iPhones so they can transmit images during our sessions. Please contact Kathleen if you have an questions.
Throughout the course and during the classes themselves, we communicate and share using Google documents. Please create an account before we start. Feel free to contact Kathleen for help.
