Digital photography is one of the most versatile visual art forms. From marketing campaigns, to headshots, to documenting special events, a knowledge of photography opens the door to many career and artistic opportunities. One Leon County middle school teacher is emphasizing photography’s versatility through diverse assignments and interactive projects. Janine Falah has been the visual art teacher at Fairview Middle School for four years, but she has been teaching in the county for thirteen. Prior to her time at Fairview, she taught art at Sabal Palm Elementary School. During her four years at Fairview Middle, she’s introduced a number of new techniques, classes, and skills to her students, and digital photography is the newest of her courses.

The idea to teach digital photography came from several sources. Falah is a photographer, and has experience teaching both digital and film photography. She knew she wanted to introduce her seventh and eighth graders to advanced techniques by teaching a high school-level course and photography was accessible while still appealing to students. Digital photography eliminates the need for a dark room or any other film processing facility, so it was the clear choice for her middle school students. The administration at Falah’s school has been incredibly supportive, and she is now teaching her second year of the course. Fairview currently has ten digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras that the students share in groups. Falah stated, “I like the group aspect of it because it makes them work in a team.” The students are learning how to use a real digital camera and the challenges and advantages that come with it.

Since this is Falah’s second year teaching a digital photography course to seventh and eighth graders, she’s figured out what works and what doesn’t. For example, multiple months go by before the students even touch the cameras. They first need to learn the principles of photography, the different settings and lenses on the camera, and the prep work that goes into getting the perfect shot. After learning the basics, students can use the cameras and start taking photos. Once students start using the cameras, Falah provides them with real-life photography experience. They are tasked with photographing different events around campus, such as the Fairview Middle Valentine’s Day Dance, their Black History Month program, and their annual Career Fair. After photographing different events, students upload pictures to their blogs, where students, sometimes from other classes, will comment on their images. This way students receive feedback from their peers, and they take pride in the pictures they post.

Falah’s approach to the class is interdisciplinary. As the visual art teacher, she teaches several classes and techniques outside of photography, such as painting, drawing, and sculpture. In her photo class, students created 2D backdrops on which they posed for selfies. Falah emphasized how the backdrop assignment integrated drawing with digital photography. The students had to consider how the image would translate to a photograph when making their backdrops. “A backdrop or background is different because people are standing in front of it.” Falah explained. “If you draw something that’s innate or beautiful, and you draw it right in the middle, somebody’s going to stand in front of it and no one can see it.” Falah is also the yearbook advisor, so she uses pictures that her digital photography students take for the yearbook, further emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of her pedagogy and sharing her students’ photos with a larger audience.

Falah was selected as a COCA Arts Education Grantee in the Fall of 2023 for a Bicentennial printmaking project. Falah will be executing the project in the last semester of the school year, and she used the arts education grant to purchase printmaking supplies. Students will be studying Fairview Middle School and its history, researching how the school relates to Tallahassee’s broader historical context. In this way, Falah is connecting her printmaking project to Tallahassee’s 200^th anniversary. The project will incorporate all of Falah’s classes, including digital photography. We can’t wait to see what the students create!

When asked about the importance of arts education Falah stated, “Everyone always says creativity, but for me, it’s more about problem solving.” She continued, “Everyone separates art from everything else, but for me, art should be integrated into everything. Art education has more of a focus on the arts, but we use every skill, like writing, math, and science.” Falah hopes to continue teaching digital photography. After speaking with her, we have no doubt students will remain snapping photos of Tallahassee life for years to come.