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I'm the one they warned you about
FotoSynthesis is a social business and education program that strives to connect students in the United States and students in foreign countries by combining social media and photography.
Our program is unique and progressive thanks to its combination of social media and social business. In the past, people have used visual media platforms (Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, etc.) to share pictures – we are using these new technologies and resources to break cultural barriers.
FotoSynthesis addresses the problems associated with negative cultural stereotypes and misconceptions by establishing relationships among middle school students. Based on monthly prompts, students will share photographs online to establish cross-cultural communication, practice a new art form, and learn about the importance of social media. At the conclusion of each program cycle, prints and photograph books will be sold to program supporters; profits will be reinvested in FotoSynthesis to provide funds to expand the program to other schools and countries.
Our pilot program is currently establishing connections with 7th grade students in the United States and Mexico and will begin in fall 2013.
Mission
To create a self-sustaining middle school program which fosters transnational communication and awareness through art and social media.
My job for the final client project with Fotosynthesis was to coordinate all types of social media and to promote it a bit more. When I first got the job, the Facebook page only had 147 likes. In a matter of just three days I made it go all the way up to 386 likes, a 153% increase since the last time. And it was this that I wanted to point out. If someone is solely dedicated on finding new followers or asking people to like the page while explaining what Fotosynthesis really is in a personlized message, people will indeed go ahead and like the page as well as get involved with Fotosynthesis. I also made tweeks on the Facebook and Twitter page like changing the profile pictures to the new Fotosynthesis logo and changing the cover/banner photos to something more exciting like a world map and a picture of someone with a camera to also demonstrate to viewers what Fotosynthesis really is about. I also went ahead and created a YouTube account in which I already uploaded the promotional video other teammates of mine did. For future goals, we plan on expanding into using Instagram and create a photo contest displaying cultures of everyone around the world. Winners of this contest will be displayed on the Fotosynthesis website. Social media is important and if someone keeps up with all of these pages and/or apps, then it is possible for Fotosynthesis to grow immensly. My suggestion is to create groups in which everyone is assigned one of these pages/apps in order to be in order.
Other teammates worked on the logo, promotional video, and the website and overall everything came out fantastic. I was really glad to work on this project with my friends because it really brought us all together day and night working to create just the perfect piece to show the Fotosynthesis officers. Although tensions did arise whenever we would get stressed, we got through it and pulled it together. Whenever one was down, another one of us or a group of us would go and help that one person out and it is this that Visual Literacy is all about; teamwork. To be honest, I never work well in groups, but this time it was different; everything just flowed easily and I didn't go crazy over anything. Working with a client is a great experience and I would highly encourage any freshman or student out there to do it. On the day we had to present all we had worked on, we all dressed nice and showed them what we had to offer and we rocket it. We worked hard, and sometimes cried and laughed, but had fun as the family we have come to be.
I would like to personally thank my Fotosynthesis group for being so amazing and for doing such a great job with this final client project.
Thank you Charlotte, Jailen, Katie, Mariana, Ian, Hannah, Alice, and Leila.
But most importantly, I want to thank my teacher, Professor Menke-Fish for allowing all of us to be part of this amazing experience!