By Whitney Stone, OSU College of Agricultural Sciences
We use our cameras every day to call, text, and scroll on social media. But have you used your camera to document how we grow our food? During Zero Week (June 15-18), students in our AGCM 200 Mobile and Drone Photography for Visual Storytelling in Agriculture and Natural Resources class did exactly that. They did it standing in the middle of a working farm.
That experience was made possible by a mini-grant from Oregon State University’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and we want to take a moment to share what it actually looked like.
Access first
One of the things we knew going into a course like this was that “bring your own camera” isn’t always a realistic ask. So this course was built around making it easier for students to do photography by using their own mobile devices or access to the Agricultural and Natural Resource Communication iPads. With support from CTL, students were able to access photography equipment, print their photographic work, and have transportation to a farm site—no cost, no barriers. For many students, it was the first time they would have access to equipment and visit a local farm.
Into the field
Sunbow Produce in Philomath welcomed our class onto their land and into their work. What we saw in the students’ photography afterward wasn’t technical growth. Students were noticing new things: a close-up of flowers, a farmer planting crops, and the quiet dignity in agricultural labor. Photography has a way of teaching people to slow down and see. A working farm turns out to be a remarkable classroom for that.
Seeing from above
Students also had access to aerial photography equipment including 360-degree cameras and access to drones. For many students, this was the first time flying a drone and experimenting using a camera that sees things from all angles.
Photo exhibition
With the grant funding, students were able to exhibit their work in a photo exhibition with light refreshments served. This was a way for students to show off their work and take-home prints of work from the class.
What students said
Students enjoyed the class and many reflected on how this was their first time visiting a farm and seeing how our food is grown. Students discussed how they learned how to use their phones in new ways and also to see the world from differing perspectives.
What comes next
We’ve received positive feedback from offering the course and would like to get more students interested in participating. We are looking to see when we could offer this course again to best accommodate students’ schedules. For more information about this course and other agricultural and natural resources communications courses, please contact Dr. Whitney Stone.
About the author: Whitney Stone, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Communication at Oregon State University. Stone’s teaching involves project-based learning and her research examines the social sustainability of the agricultural workforce.
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