Photo Marathons

Using New Technologies to Support Student Learning and Assessment on

Field Work

TimetableTime (1435 – 1545) Activity

15 mins Photomarathon Introduction

5 mins Competition organisation

35 mins PHOTOMARATHON

15 mins Results and voting

Workshop Aims:• Participate in small Photomarathon• Establish how such exercises may be run• Realise the potential value of such an approach to fieldwork• NB. No conclusion to workshop, but happy to discuss later

What is a Photo Marathon?• Photomarathons have been around for 25 years, with

regular events in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, the Czech Republic, France and Russia

• The Copenhagen Photomarathon is the longest running event, having started in 1989

• The first UK Photomarathon was held in Cardiff in the summer of 2004 when 120 people took up the challenge. Last year, on June 20th 2009, the fifth UK Photomarathon saw over 350 entrants taking part.

• Digital photography makes competition accessible as most people now take photographs using cameras, phones and PVDs

Photo Marathons and Field Work• Used on introductory and residential field

courses, often as a daily exercise• Essence of Photomarathon competitions is 12

images, on 12 given topics over 12 hours• Within our working day, maybe 4 images in 2

hours, on 4 given topics• Photographic skills are not the point, rather the

way GEES students view the world!• A sense of improvisation, fun and creativity is

stressed throughout the Photomarathon

Photo Marathon Rules

• Students participate with a digital camera or mobile telephone

• Students capture 4 images on 4 given topics, in the same order that the topics appear on the list provided

• Images must be stored in the order of the list• Students are free to use flashguns, filters and

tripods, and any in-built effects• No image may be edited or image-processed

Reflections on Photo Marathons

• Enhances student engagement• Rapid way of assessing new environment• Challenges traditional perceptions of subject• Breeds healthy competition!• Inclusive exercise• Vehicle for further analysis• Low intensity – high impact

Photomarathon Wall

Now It’s Your Turn!

As individuals:• 20 minutes to photograph– GEES– Urban Plymouth– Recreation– University

• Photograph in that order; submit 4 images• ONE image each FIVE minutes