Photography Educators: Dana Fritz & Josh Birnbaum
Lenscratch, the daily online photography journal established by Aline Smithson in 2007, highlights a unique contemporary photographer every day and stands as a vital platform within the photography world. As a guest editor for Lenscratch, I spotlight photography educators who inspire through both their artistic practice and their dedication to teaching.
For the month of September, I featured photographer, book artist and educator Dana Fritz and a few of her students. Dana’s dedication to her own photographic practice is readily apparent in the deeply researched and visually sophisticated books she shared for this article. As a Professor of Art in the School of Art, Art History & Design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Art, her teaching approach centers on immersive creative exploration, encouraging critical reflection and the growth of independent artistic voices within a supportive community. Her students’ work is conceptually strong, diverse and interesting, a testament to Dana’s commitment as an educator. Dana’s thoughtful responses to my questions in this interview make clear that she is deeply invested in supporting her students, going beyond expectations to help them cultivate a rich and long lasting artistic practice.
In October, I interviewed documentary photographer and educator Josh Birnbaum. While I haven’t had the chance to meet Josh in person, his unwavering dedication to documentary photography and to his students is unmistakable in both his work and his teaching. Josh’s deep commitment to storytelling, empathy, and authenticity comes through in every project he undertakes.
Josh teaches photojournalism and documentary photography to undergraduates and graduates at Ohio University during the nine month academic year. During the summer, he serves as executive director and photography instructor for Circle Round the Square, a holistic, non-profit arts and wellness program for at-risk youth in Nelsonville, Ohio.
