Photography I

 

Curriculum: Photography is an elective class. To take Photography,  you must have first passed Art Fundamentals.  In this class, you will learn the basics of black and white photography, including composition, film development, and printing your own images.  We are also transitioning into digital photography, which will focus further on composition and editing. (Please be patient while we add to our program!)

 

Assignments and Grading: Once you learn to develop negatives and print photos, an assignment will be due approximately each week.  Use a different negative for each photo. Assignments handed in ON time may be redone for an improved grade.

Late Work: will be docked 10% and cannot be redone.

Make up work: You have as many days as you were absent to turn in an assignment. After that, it’s considered late.

The Final assignment of each term will not be accepted late. No exceptions!!

Citizenship Grades: Citizenship grades are based on behavior, completion of work in class, and on unexcused absences and tardies. I will work with you to improve your citizenship grade, but YOU must make arrangement with me to do this before the end of the tern in question.

1. Failure to follow the rules or act appropriately will result in a “O”
2. Failure to work in class or turn in assignments will result in an “O”
3. One sluff = “1”, Two sluffs = “0” (If I cannot find you during class, you’re sluffing)

Cheating: I expect each of you to do your own work in this class. Develop your own negatives, and use only your negatives to print your own photos.  Any student who uses someone else’s negatives or photo is cheating. Any student who allows someone else to use their negatives or photo is cheating. Both students will receive a “0” for that assignment, and your parents will be notified. Citizenship will drop by 1 point.

Photography 1 Curriculum

 

Week 1: Introduction to the camera – first week will be spent familiarizing students with cameras and

                  film.

               Handouts (worth points) on light settings, loading and unloading film, care of negatives, etc.

Week 2: Composition: Practice taking “good” photos.

                Darkroom: Students should be making negatives this week!

                Printing: Contact sheet and test strip

                Students should familiarize themselves with chemicals and clean up procedures.

 

The rest of the semester will go roughly as follows (if we can get the digital portion working!)

• Assignment #1 – Photogram  (Bring objects from home for photogram)
•                                   Contact sheet of your first set of negatives
• Assignment #2 – Bicycle parts AND a “test strip” of your bicycle parts negative (same
•                                enlarger, done on the same day)
• Assignment #3 – Animal close-up
• Assignment #4 – Landscapes: One vertical and one horizontal
• Assignment #5 – Professional Portrait (pay attention to lighting, background, pose, etc.)
• Assignment #6 – Action shot (outdoor lighting works best)
• Assignment #7 – Toner—I will demonstrate.  Subject of this photo is student’s choice.
• Assignment #8 –  6-Photo Story (tell a story using 6 photos, mounted attractively)
• Assignment #9 –– Solarization – Two photos -  one of an object and one of a face. I will demonstrate this technique.
• Assignment #10 – Texture – Bring something with an interesting texture that lets light pass through (cheese cloth, lace, fine mesh bag) – Subject of this photo is a group of people.
• Assignment #11 – Hand coloring – Three photos (one may be of previously submitted work, two must be new). One using watercolor, one using colored pencil, one student’s choice.
• Assignment #12 – Editing digital photos with Picasa, part 1:  file organization, cropping, fine tuning
• Assignment #13 – Editing digital photos, part 2:  Special effects (turn in 5 different techniques)
• Assignment #14 – PhotoStory, part 1:  Choose a theme for your story, take photos and edit                                     PhotoStory, part 2:  Add music, text, transitions, and SAVE
• Assignment #15 – Digital Video, part 1 (group project):  Commercials or Public Service Announcements (PSA’s).  Learn effective use of this media.  Storyboard your ideas, decide group member’s rolls.
•                                     Digital Video, part 2:  Shoot your video, edit, and SAVE
• Assignment #16 – Turn in a Photo Journal!  You should have saved all your photos and contact sheets and compiled them into an attractive journal!

Photos handed in on time may be re-done for an improved grade. For this reason, here is no extra credit on photo assignments.

Late assignments during the first term of class will be docked 10% and the photos may mot be redone for a better grade.

**Please use a NEW negative for each assignment.

***Cleaning up is part of your grade. You will be placed on a clean-up team the first part of the term.