9th Grade American History – Western Expansion Unit
Discovering Community through the Camera
Ansel Adams and American Culture
What does it mean to photograph your community???
“To tell a story or portion of a story, of what you or your community values, what makes up part of a daily life,
what the community looks and feels like to live in, community landmarks, institutions, architecture, landscape,
groups of people, unique places or feature of the area, events, social/political norms, culture, food, dress, what
fuels the economy and any other unique or important feature”
Objective: After a brief study of Ansel Adams photography, students will attempt to capture the culture and
landscape of their own community.
Procedures:
1) Study the photographs of Ansel Adams in class and discuss the ways in which he represented community
through photography.
2) Capture your “community’s” culture through two photographs. For each photo, provide a oneparagraph explanation of your photo. In your description, you should (1) tell the story behind the
photograph (Who? What? Where? When?) and (2) explain how it represents either the “culture” or
“landscape” of your community (connect to one of the themes).
NOTE: Both photos must be original and taken after this project was assigned.
a. Your first photo should be landscape oriented.
i. Community landmark, institutions, architecture, unique places, features of the area, or
any other landscape.
b. Your second photo should be more culture oriented.
i. Values, daily life, what the community feels like to live in, events, social/political norms,
culture, tradition, art, dance, music, food, dress, other unique or important features.
3) Complete the “culminating worksheet” (attached) on how photography can help to portray culture and
community.
Grading Rubric:
Content (20-0)
1 photo (___) + 2nd photo (___)
Total = __________
Do your photos include a well-thought
out paragraph description of how they
represent “community” and “culture”?
st
First /
Second
Photo
Creativity (20-0)
1 photo (___) + 2nd photo (___)
Total = __________
Do your photos show creative thought
and a conscious effort to portray the
characteristics represented under “what
does it mean to photograph your
community?”
st
9th Grade American History
Western Expansion Unit
Culminating Worksheet
Discovering Community Through the Camera
Ansel Adams and American Culture
Directions: Answers should be completed in fully-developed, well thought-out paragraphs.
1) What is community photography? What are different types of “community”?
2) What parts of your community are you most interested in depicting? Why?
3) How was Ansel Adams able to represent the culture of the American West through his photography?
4) What process did you use to decide what you were going to photograph?