The feelings of isolation that come with marginalized identities are lifted when safe spaces are created to show members of our community that they are not alone.

Our view of affinity groups as being an intentional and appropriate grouping that provides support to members of the community that often feel “othered” is crucial. Reframing this mindset is essential as we move forward with this initiative. As a community, we accept and even celebrate these types of affinities.Ĭriticism of affinity groups often centers on the perception that they are exclusionary. Even Park itself – the larger community our families join when deciding to send their children to Park – is an affinity group. Various spaces, such as the faculty room or gendered bathrooms, similarly exist already as “affinity” spaces. Each athletics team, advisory group, and grade level represents an affinity group with which its members identify. While we don’t label them as such, it’s important to recognize that many affinity groups already exist at Park. Affinity and alliance groups have been a part of the Park student experience for several years, and members of the parent/guardian community have hoped to create them for parents as well. Created in partnership with the Parents’ Association, the program seeks to bring together community members who share common backgrounds and lived experiences. Smartphone devices also have a tendency to over saturate images so I reduced this to make it look more natural.This year, Park launched an affinity group program with the hope of engaging families across the Park community in thoughtful conversation and connection. In this final, before and after image you can see how I edited the photo to compensate for the fact that mist can make images look grey and murky. Go up to a local high point and see if the sky clears as you rise, when the mist sits below you get the effect of a white ocean, often affording you tantalising glimpses of hills, trees or buildings poking through. At certain times of the year, you will be able to photograph valley mist at dawn too. Often the most dramatic scenes happen as a sunbeam pierces through the clearing mist and casts a glow across a partially shrouded landscape.Ī misty sunrise is ethereal and otherworldly. Hang around long enough to watch the mist dissipate as the day heats up.

Look for urban lights that pierce through the gloom. The things I love about shooting in mist apply to urban photography as much as landscapes.

Affinity at winter park