Huntington High School student-photographers are always working on something spectacular. Advanced Photo class members recently developed a series of stunning and captivating images.
The teenagers worked with photography teacher Pamela Piffard-Williams on a self-portrait project created as a collage piece. “Students took portraits of themselves then created a watercolor version of the image,” Mrs. Piffard-Williams said. “Once the watercolor image was complete they scanned it into a computer and created the collage in Adobe Photoshop by combining the two images together. The end results display a wide variety of outcomes all with a different look and feel.”
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque are credited with coming up with the term “collage” early in the 20th century when it became a distinctive component of the modern art scene. The term “collage” is derived from the French word “coller” or “to glue” and signifies a coming or putting together.
“Throughout the 20th century, creatives across many movements, mediums and styles began to explore the practice of collage art,” according to the My Modern Art website. “The inventive and innovative approach to art attracted artists due to its one-of-a-kind aesthetic and unique, pieced-together process.”
The Advanced Photography students thoroughly enjoyed the project. “Each student was able to give their work a personal touch and decide just how they wanted the final image to appear,” Mrs. Piffard-Williams said. “This project is different than any other we do throughout the year. It is nice for the students to have a chance to explore different medium.”
Mrs. Piffard-Williams has been a Huntington art teacher since September 1998. A graduate of Sayville High School, she obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees from Parsons School of Design/New School University, Teachers College at Columbia University, Long Island University and Chapman University. She served as the Huntingtonian yearbook faculty advisor for 14 years. The longtime educator coordinates her students’ participation in several major photography competitions and shows each year.
A professional photographer in addition to serving as a high school art teacher, Mrs. Piffard-Williams also works with many well-known bands. A sampling of the bands she has shot includes Blink 182, New Found Glory, Thrice, No Doubt, At The Drive In, Alkaline Trio, Brand New, Green Day, Taking Back Sunday, Story of the Year, Linkin Park, Morrissey, Glassjaw, Midtown, Hot Rod Circuit, The Beastie Boys, Dashboard Confessional, The All American Rejects, Incubus, Thursday, Good Charlotte and many others. Her work has been featured as album covers and merchandise, on websites and in magazines.
Mrs. Piffard-Williams is also involved in a private international travel program designed to help students discover the world outside of Huntington.
