Through Clyde’s Eyes: Photographing Florida with Purpose

The goal of this project is to give high school photography students an authentic encounter with the work, setting, and environmental purpose of a major Florida photographer. A visit to Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery will allow students to examine professional photographs in the landscape that inspired them and experience the detail, tonal range, physical scale, and emotional presence of large black-and-white prints. The project will strengthen students’ skills in photographic analysis, artistic intent, environmental photography, critique, historical and cultural connections, and career exploration. It will also provide equitable access to a professional arts space while supporting student engagement, environmental literacy, and community-based learning.

Before the trip, students will study selected Clyde Butcher photographs and use the Feldman method to describe, analyze, interpret, and judge an image using visual evidence. A privately chartered motorcoach will transport students from Barron Collier High School to Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Students will participate in a presentation about large-format cameras, black-and-white photography, darkroom and printing processes, conservation storytelling, and photography-related careers. They will rotate through guided gallery observation, a field-notebook activity, and photography in a gallery-approved outdoor area. After returning to school, each student will create an original black-and-white Florida photograph inspired by one principle learned during the visit. Students will write artist statements, participate in critique and revision, and curate their final work for a class exhibition titled “What Is Worth Protecting?”

Students will improve their ability to analyze photographs closely, support interpretations with visual evidence, and explain how scale, tonal range, composition, light, and printing choices communicate meaning. They will connect photography to Florida’s environmental history, explore photography-related careers, and experience professional gallery practices. Students will then apply what they learn by creating an original black-and-white environmental photograph and artist statement. Success will be measured through pre- and post-visit critiques, completed field notebooks, original photographs assessed with a common rubric, artist statements, post-project reflections, and participation and completion data. Charter transportation will remove the project’s primary financial barrier, ensuring that participation is not determined by a family’s ability to pay.

The requested funds will provide a privately chartered motorcoach for an approximately five-hour field experience, support a gallery educator or environmental presenter if a fee is required, and purchase reusable field-study materials. CCPS school-bus transportation is unavailable for this trip, making commercial transportation essential. Without transportation funding, students cannot participate in the gallery experience. The request includes $1,200 for one 56-passenger charter motorcoach, $250 for a presenter honorarium if required, and $100 for reusable field notebooks, clipboards, pencils, and a protective supply pouch. This shared experience will provide approximately 60 students with direct learning in visual arts, environmental literacy, writing, critique, and career exploration. No student will be charged for transportation or excluded because a family cannot contribute.

1550

Private 56-passenger charter motorcoach with professional driver, including travel, waiting time, taxes, and fees

1200

Gallery educator, photographer, studio representative, or environmental presenter honorarium,

250

Reusable field notebooks, clipboards, pencils, and protective supply pouch

100