A.R. Gurrey Jr. Surf Photography Competition – Educators Information

Welcome, Educators!

Thank you for the important work you do every day to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence in your students. At the California Surf Museum, we’re honored to support your classrooms with resources that bring California’s coastal culture, history, and visual storytelling to life. Our A.R. Gurrey Jr. Surf Photography Competition offers students a unique opportunity to explore art, journalism, and the ocean through the lens of one of surf photography’s earliest pioneers. We’re grateful for your partnership and excited to help inspire your students as they learn, create, and discover the power of images to tell meaningful stories.

To support students participating in the A.R. Gurrey Jr. Surf Photography Competition, we’ve gathered a set of resources along with key areas of educational focus. This collection highlights how the contest aligns with California’s Visual Arts, Media Arts, and History–Social Science standards—bringing together support for teachers in one place.

Background: A.R. Gurrey Jr. in Context

A foundational resource to help students understand the photographer who inspired the competition.

Includes:

  • Short biography of Gurrey
  • Early images from The Surf Riders of Hawaii
  • Historical context: early 20th-century Hawai‘i, surf culture, the evolution of photography
  • Discussion prompts on culture, technology, and storytelling

Aligned California Standards:

  • HSS Historical Analysis Skills: Chronological and spatial thinking; interpreting visual sources
  • Media Arts MA:Re7.1 & MA:Cn11: Relating media to history and culture

The History of A.R. Gurrey Jr.

Artistic Photography Skills

Foundational photography concepts to support student work:

Includes:

  • Composition (Rule of Thirds, leading lines, framing)
  • Light and shadow
  • Vantage point and perspective
  • Motion in photography
  • Choosing meaningful subjects

Aligned California Standards:

  • Visual Arts VA:Cr1 & VA:Cr2: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas; organize and develop artistic work
  • Media Arts MA:Cr2.1: Experiment with tools and techniques for artistic purpose

Storytelling Through Photos

Introduction to Photojournalism

Support students in understanding how images communicate stories and information.

Topics include:

  • What makes a photograph “newsworthy”
  • The role of context and truth in visual storytelling
  • Ethical considerations when using images of people and public places
  • Caption writing and narrative support

Aligned California Standards:

  • Media Literacy / Media Arts MA:Re7.2: Analyze how media messages create meaning
  • ELA Literacy RI.6–12: Integration of visual information for comprehension
  • HSS Inquiry Standards: Evaluating sources; understanding point of view

Photojournalism 101

Creative Prompts & Assignments

Structured activities to help students produce work for the contest.

Includes:

  • Capture movement along the coast
  • Storytelling triptych: three images that tell a narrative
  • Environmental portrait (human or natural)
  • “Sense of place” coastal culture assignment
  • Textures of the coastline: close-up photography task

Aligned California Standards:

  • Visual Arts VA:Cr3: Refine and complete artistic work
  • Media Arts MA:Pr5: Select, analyze, and present media artworks

Ethical & Safety Guidelines

Especially important in outdoor and ocean-adjacent settings.

Includes:

  • Safe distance from waves, cliffs, rocks, and piers
  • Never enter the water unless trained and supervised
  • Respect for wildlife and protected areas
  • Permission for identifiable portraits
  • Ethical representation: accuracy, dignity, cultural respect

Aligned California Standards:

  • Media Arts MA:Cn10: Apply ethical practices to media creation
  • Health & Safety Practices (General Safety Expectations)

Contest Preparation Checklist

For classroom or independent use.

Includes:

  • Select strongest photograph
  • Confirm file quality and format
  • Complete optional student caption
  • Review contest rules and theme alignment
  • Submit entry through teacher or contest portal

Aligned California Standards:

  • Media Arts MA:Pr6: Convey meaning through presentation

Sharable Materials:

  • Student Worksheet
  • A.R. Gurrey & Contest sheet
  • Alfred Richard Gurrey Jr. history sheet