Personal Documentary – Chad Collier

The Personal Documentary Class at Flower City Arts Center is an outlet for photography students to practice critically looking at and discussing photo edits, essays and bodies of work. It also serves as a building block for the students to start making their own body of work and thinking of how to present their body of work in forms of edits.

Each week, the students shared their edits and their experiences during the pandemic. Together in class, we discussed what works and doesn’t work in the edits and the experiences in building our bodies of work. In just eight classes, each of the students were able to discover using photography as a tool to not only document their life but as an attempt to make sense of and/or cope with the world around us.

My vision for this class was for the students to have their own pop-up show for the last class as part of the learning experience, inviting members of the Flower City Arts Center community. Since that cannot happen, some students have chosen to display their work on this blog.

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I grew up in this house. The Green and White House. Moved out and came back more times than I’d like to admit. This house has been one of the most consistent things throughout my life. Along with the people inside it, it has always been here no matter what stage I’m at in my life. Graduating kindergarten, or high school, or college. Got a new job or lost a job. Visiting with a partner or living here single. As a child and as a parent.

This personal documentary class has allowed me time to capture my life and interactions within the “Green and White House” during a strange time for all of us. From giving myself a haircut in the bathroom to being a home school teacher in the kitchen.

Chad Collier
IG: @ca.collier

Class Roll:
Kathryn Mariner
Chad Collier