2. 25 camera to photograph their
subjects in a studio environment.
They developed the film, scanned
their negatives into the computer,
and used an image manipulation
program to perfect their images.
The finished photographs were
printed using a high-quality inkjet
printer on archival paper at 16 x 20"
( 41 x 51 cm). Part of the magic and
power of the final images comes
from their large
size. These prints
were framed and
exhibited in the
school, and then
in the community
library. Each photograph is accom-
panied by a statement from the per-
son in the photograph.
The project and the stunning
exhibition are the fruits of a high
school photography program that
was carefully nurtured for years.
The teachers wrote grants to fund
the acquisition of the printer, photographic paper, and frames
“It was very brave of them to
share their experiences with us. It
seems as though everyone gained
a great deal of knowledge and
life lessons from the immigrants
that we photographed.”
—Jessie Egles, student
for the exhibition. But the best part
of this story is what happened to
students in the process of creating
their photographs.
Student Responses
Many students expressed reluctance
to start the assignment because
of the difficulty in starting a con-
versation with someone they did
not know. But once they began,
amazing things
Art has tremendous power happened. Their
to develop student’s inter- words tell it best:
cultural competence. “I really enjoyed
shooting my own
dad, and inter-
viewing him. I was able to learn
things about him that I otherwise
might never have learned.”
—Matt Glickman
“It opened people’s minds to the
fact that there are other people in
the school besides their friends.”
—Vicky Trinko
“This project helped me recognize
t hat differences in people are what
them special.”
h Spergell
migrant experiences ranged
hose of fellow students who
een in the country for only
months, to parents or estab-
members of the community
ave been here much longer:
only did I make a friend, but
ed about a life I couldn’t
ne.” —Nicole Siegel
he beginning I was hesitant
use I feared it would be awk-
. I am so grateful for Rahad
eing so open to me and invit-
me into her life. Her story of
migration is truly inspiring.”
rin Johns.
“It was hard to leave all my
friends and family, but they
were understanding. It was
hard to meet up with my
father after five years away
from him.”
—Rahad Rahman
(Bangladesh), Erin
Johns, photographer
I mmigrant Stories
cerpts from the interviews
ere displayed with the pho-
graphs, making a poignant
mmentary about culture,
iversity, struggle, and cour-
ge:
“ We didn’t think we were
leaving our homes forever.
W e took only the bare essen-
t ials because we thought we
would be able to return.”
—Aldona Marijosius,
Lithuania
