Field Study Photography & Bay Area History (Photojournalism)

The class will explore the history of the Bay Area while also creating a group photo project exploring one theme as it relates to each part of the Bay Area with students doing individualized projects where they live. Through readin

gs, discussions and student interests, the class will decide on a central theme relevant to the Bay Area. Each student will explore that theme through a photo and research project in their own area. In the end, we will have one large project in the form of a website and an exhibition that covers the diversity and personality of the Bay Area while showing its past and present. A sample theme could be the housing crisis, racial tension, or transportation. This class would be a great fit both for students with a passion for photography or a passion for historical primary source research.

Face to face meetings will include a trip to the Mission District of San Francisco as a case study, one or two photo field trips at locations connected to the class-selected theme, a studio visit with a photographer, and a culminating group critique and editing session. There will also be online, live discussions and office hours with the teachers throughout the semester.

Adam Thorman –  The Athenian School
Adam teaches Photography I and II, Advanced Photography, Humanitas, and Arts, Culture and Identity at the Athenian School. Before coming to Athenian, Adam taught at Prescott College, Art Institute of Pittsburgh- Online Division and Arizona State University. He also teaches workshop classes at Berkeley Art Studio at UC Berkeley. Adam earned a BFA in Photography from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and an MFA in Photography from Arizona State University. He is also a working artist and has shown nationally, including exhibitions at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, AZ, Sam Lee Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, and Pictura Gallery in Bloomington, IN. He also has work in the collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Miranda Thorman – Marin Academy
Miranda teaches Modern World History II, Introduction to International Relations, and Latin American Studies: Mexico and Central America at Marin Academy. She’s a freshman advisor, a member of the Diversity Council, and the faculty advisor to the Model United Nations club. Before coming to Marin Academy, Miranda taught History at University High School in San Francisco and at Berkeley High School, where she was a founding faculty member and Co-Lead Teacher for the International Baccalaureate program. Miranda is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego, where she majored in History and minored in Vocal Music Performance and Women’s Studies. She received her MA in Education from Stanford University.