FINAL SHOW/SCREENING!!!!!!!

We had a mini event yesterday. All the girls videos were screened and their photos were on display. The show was for the star after-school program participants as well as the staff. It was AWESOME! Our event on Wednesday is for anyone who wants to come see some really amazing artwork by some awesome west-side kids. Drop me an email at danielleboris@gmail.com or FB me if you are thinking about coming. If I can get any kind of a head count it will really help.

-Danielle

CEM Boys Youth Photography #4 The Zoo!

All photographs were taken by youth

CEM Boys Youth Photography #3 Portraits

CEM Boys Youth Photography #2

CEM Boys Youth Photography #1

CEM Boys "Field Day" #2

CEM Boys Week #2

Week 2 was a good one.

I am learning to adjust my lessons according to how the boys interact with the material and one another. Our Thursday workshop went pretty well, though I think next time I need to get through viewing everyones photos a bit quicker. I am trying to figure out how to settle the group down...or how to tire them out before beginning the days lesson. As of right now I am using Thursdays as a review and lesson day and Fridays are our official "field days" where we take the cameras out for shoots.


THURSDAY May 20th, 2010

After the boys got a chance to view some of their best photos from last weeks neighborhood "field day" I got them started on the activity for the day. I wanted them to learn how to pay better attention to all of the elements in their photographs and to start thinking about different ways to capture their images.

I set up 3 stations. Each station had an object and a camera. The boys mission for the day was to take 10 photographs at each station. Each photograph had to be different. I asked them to take a snapshot of themselves after they completed the 10 shots at each station...so that I could distinguish one boys photos from the next.

Overall, they seemed to enjoy the activity...some were very serious about the task at hand...and others much more playful. I definitely stated that the self portrait at the end of each station was just so I could tell which pictures were who's...but some of the boys decided to get really creative with them.

:-)

CEM Boys Begin!

I am very excited to be working with a group of boys over at CEM. I have to admit that this is the first time I've had a group of all males! I am excited, and nervous all at once. Here are some photos I took on our first neighborhood shoot. We had so much fun. We headed out to the neighborhood with wide eyes and energized spirits.

PARENT NIGHT

Last week I had a table set up at CEM's Parent Night. I brought a handful of the girls framed prints as well as their photo books for everyone to look at. Some of the adults thought the photographs were mine. Some of this kids couldn't take their eyes off of them (due to the fact that they were using the glass on the frames as mirrors to view their facepaint). But overall, I can honestly say that everyone was impressed...which is exactly the feeling I get when I sit back and think about how hard these girls worked over the past few months.

Editing is complete!

The girls and I have finished editing their solo videos. The girls worked really hard each day and I am very proud of all of them. Please take a look at their work...for now you can get a preview of the types of videos they made. I will post information about our final screening and photo show very soon. After the show all videos will be uploaded so stay tuned!

2010 CEM Girls Video Previews from Sharp Shooters on Vimeo.

When I catch myself inserting an opinion...I tell them "Listen, that's just my opinion. That's how I would think to solve the problem. Chances are you will find a different way, which might work out better for you. Just remember you are the director. You make the decisions. Im just here to help you along the way and offer some suggestions."

Editing challenges...

The other challenge I find, is trying to let them have as much control over their work as possible...I find that I have to tell them what to do in some instances because they simply haven't learned it...but there is a fine line that becomes harder and harder to distinguish from.

CEM Girls begin editing

The Girls have been editing for about 2 weeks now. So far the greatest challenges have to do with time restrictions and lack of more editing stations. I've been meeting with 2 girls at a time Monday through Friday. 4 days of the week we have 1 hour together. On Friday's we have 2. Anyone who has ever done any amount of editing knows that it usually takes an hour or two just to get warmed up! The girls get a bit frustrated...I can tell. They never want to leave.

REIGN made it to the next Competition!

© Sharpshooters Multimedia

Congratulations to REIGN for qualifying as "crowd favorite" at the Hard Rock competition last night. The girls will perform again on Friday, April 30th. Come out and show your support. These ladies deserve it!

Reign in forecast for Hard Rock Café’s Battle of the Bands

Reign in forecast for Hard Rock Café’s Battle of the Bands

Yet another mention of one of the group REIGN. Sharpshooters will be filming their show tomorrow night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls.

I'd like to wish the ladies lots of luck...and let them know that I have no doubt in my mind that they will kick some serious butt.

I can't wait!

Sharpshooters and CEM Girls are making a documentary!

In February of 2010, Sharpshooters and the CEM Girls (STARKids) began collaborating with REIGN...the musical trio consisting of Denisha Osbourne, Tomorrow Allen and Deana Barlow (A.K.A. Wenzday Atemz). Between the trips to recording studios, footage from concerts and one on one interviews-Sharpshooters have everything they need to begin editing their first documentary. I'd like to give a special thanks again...to these 3 wonderful women who made the past few months so worthwhile for me and my students. We had a blast, learned a ton and gained a new appreciation for those who give back to their communities.

THANK YOU! I know I won't say it enough.

-D. Boris

Check out this video clip (shot and edited by Sharpshooters) REIGN performing at Niagara Falls High school on Tuesday, February 23rd 2010. The footage represents a larger work-in-progress. Even though the video is just a "rough-edit" it still gives you a good idea of the kind of work these ladies do performing under the HEART Program ( a collaboration of Music is Art and the Mental Health Association of Erie County).

NFHS Performance from Sharp Shooters on Vimeo.

Also...check out the CHANNEL 4 news coverage of the NFHS show

So keep checking back with us...The girls are currently working on editing their solo videos. I am working on becoming better at teaching editing in Final Cut. We are all still having fun. It's fantastic knowing that filming for our group documentary about our favorite female hip hop artists is complete. All of us are eager to begin editing our group documentary, but we know we have to take things in stride. The next month is going to be a busy one. We are taking it one step at a time. First we edit solo videos and then we'll tackle our group documentary. Don't be a stranger. I'll be posting new material as soon as we start to make some edits.

Videos-Summer Youth Workshop 2009

Where I Come From from Sharp Shooters on Vimeo.

Buffalo is Fun! from Sharp Shooters on Vimeo.

Buffalo is... from Sharp Shooters on Vimeo.

Youth Photography: Cepa Gallery Day!

All photographs were taken by youth on Friday, March 5th 2010

Visit to Cepa Gallery!

We took a day trip to Cepa Galleries. We looked for inspiration in other peoples artworks and then we all took our own pictures.

We had a very small group this day. 3 girls and myself to be exact. While I did miss the girls who couldn't make it, I will say that it seemed like a treat being able to really focus on those who came along. Don't get me wrong, I like having more faces in the mix. All I'm saying is that when you get the chance to give a smaller group more of your attention...it's a pleasant change in pace. We had a great afternoon. We were the only souls in the Gallery and by the time we got outside to take our own photos, the sun was shining. I think all of us were happy to be outside without freezing!

Youth Photography: Forest Lawn and The Japanese Gardens

All photographs were taken by youth on
Friday, February 12th 2010

Youth Photography: Portraits

All photographs were taken by youth on
Wednesday, February 17th 2010

These pictures were taken the 2nd time the girls took their still cameras home. It was the second shooting exercise about 2 and a half weeks into our workshop. Prior to this, the youth learned the basics of digital camera operation, camera care, and a bit about how to take a good photograph. I had the girls start out by playing with each of the cameras available for our program and really getting to know how each of them works, some of the specific controls each has, and of course the strengths and limitations of each device. Shooting portraits was their 2nd take home exercise. All of the girls had some great photos. It was so nice to see their homes and families, parts of their lives that mean so much.

Youth Photography: The Neighborhood

All photographs were taken by youth on
Friday, March 4th 2010