As Mike Jin hung upside down from the Upper Campus water tower, Darian Shen ziplined toward the edge of the frame and Cole Huey sped down the hill on his mountain bike, OVS photography teacher Ryan Schude snapped the photo.
This live-action scene – known as a Tableau Vivant – is a classic style of art that dates all the way back to the 18th century, and it’s now part of the photography curriculum at the Upper Campus.
A Tableau Vivant is the art of a motionless group of people arranged to represent a scene or incident. The resident photography teacher has spent years mastering this style, and he has now introduced Photo 2 students to this creative style.
“I told them I want all of us to be involved in the collaborative process, so everyone has a say in every single step of the way,” Mr. Schude said.
It’s been a long road from college to working as a teacher.
Once he completed his business degree at St. Mary’s College of California, he decided to take up photography and apply to the San Francisco Art Institute. After graduating he started shooting for a rollerblade magazine in San Diego. When the magazine shut down he moved to Los Angeles and started to explore his own style of photography.
He was inspired by Gregory Crewdson – an American photographer who specializes in Tableaux Vivants – and many other photographers to practice the Tableau Vivant style. In Los Angeles, he got a job at a camera and lighting rental store.
“Having access to all that equipment was a huge influence on creating the big scenes in the beginning,” Mr. Schude said. “It really shaped my career.”
After he started getting noticed he was able to come out with a book and a website. People and companies started reaching out for his services, and he built a thriving business as evidenced by the work that can be viewed on his website. All of this has led him to OVS where he has brought his passion to our students.
Mr. Schude explained that the first step of any photo like this is once you have the idea you have to scout the location. The class went around to many places on campus and shared their input.
“We went around as a class and everyone suggested a location they thought would be good,” Mr. Schude said.
The students were extremely involved in the creative process for this photo.
“It was super fun to think of different scenarios for the photo to be,” sophomore Frances Wilsrud said.
Each student got to choose the photo of themselves that they liked best and then were taught how to layer it onto the original picture.
“It was cool to learn the process for a photo this complicated,” Cole Huey said.
Mr. Schude helped combine creativity and education to help these students progress in a fun way.
“I’ve never been a teacher before so it’s awesome to see how much the students can teach me, and watch them progress as well.” Mr. Schude said.
