Photography syllabus
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This class is an introduction to photography concentrating on many areas of photography: technical skills, creativity, composition, computer/digital imaging, and some alternative processes. Control of photo equipment and techniques, experimentation, problem solving, abstract thinking, creative production, and portfolio development are the central components of this course, and you will be developing these skills throughout the year.
Welcome to a new way of seeing, and the world of an artist. In this class you will be asked not only to produce photographs, but to think and view through a different lens – the lens of a photographer. You will begin to see light differently; colors, shapes, and lines will evoke new meanings to your eye, and your mind will create new possibilities in a dimension that you have never noticed before. As artists, we are infinitely capable, because our production is a reflection of ourselves. As we create from our internal commotion, we begin to not only understand who we are as individuals, but how we want to present ourselves and interact with the world. The process of making art is a journey of self-discovery, and the process of taking photographs is a form of documenting the world and your perspective on it. You will be asked to think critically, creatively, and with reflection, and you will be required only to do your best.
This course requires that you attend class, arrive on time, and take pictures outside of class. The life of a photographer requires that you are always shooting or you will miss the shot. The assignments are designed to build technical skills and creative expression, and they must be completed on time. On critique day, all student work will be displayed and discussed, providing substantial information and feedback on each individual's work. Since these critiques are vital to making progress in this course and as an artist, assignments will not be accepted late unless dire circumstances present themselves.
The first semester of this course is designed for students with little or no photography background. First semester instruction will cover all aspects of both black and white and color photography. We will discuss the use and proper handling of the different types of cameras, composing the shot, light reading as a creative tool, working with photoshop and digital imaging, and mounting and preparation of photographs for exhibition. Creative and technical instruction will be presented through lectures, study of the great masters of photography along with the history of photography, in class critiques, as well as through individual discussions with the teacher.
Second semester instruction will advance in difficulty and we will broaden our technical Photoshop skills and deepen our exploration of fine art photography, using it as both a creative tool and for documentary photography.
II. TEXTBOOKS
- MAIN TEXT: The A-Z of Creative Digital Photography by Lee Frost
& Several Photographic Resource Books
- Videos (may include):
Ansel Adams Photographer, Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light, The History of Photography, Microcosmos, Turtles can Fly, National Geographic: The Photographers, Contacts Photography Series
**Various short historical and biographical video clips and excerpts from television programs will be used to provide context and information related to units of study.
III. MATERIALS
1. Composition book/Sketchbook (for class notes, journal entries, and ideas) & pen/pencil
2. Memory card/flash drive
3. Personal camera, if so desired
4. Suggested Lab Fee Donation: $25 per semester (for equipment, technology, etc...)
As the school provides Canon SLR Digital Cameras, memory cards, tripods, batteries, carrying cases, Macbook computers, printers and photo paper, as well as the complete Adobe suite of design applications, students are expected to treat the provided materials with respect and care, and any damaged items are the responsibility of the student to replace.
Students may check out equipment outside of school hours with the expectation that they will sign a contract for the equipment, have it back during school hours, or they will replace what has not been returned in working order.
IV. GOALS
The main purpose of this course is to continue the advancement of students understanding of the visual arts, specifically photography.
ARTISTIC PERCEPTION: Standard 1
Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. Students use the vocabulary of photography to express their observations.
CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Standard 2
Students apply artistic and photographic processes and skills, using a film and digital media to communicate meaning and intent in original photographs.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT: Standard 3
Students analyze the role and development of photography in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to visual arts and photography.
AESTHETIC VALUING: Standard 4
Students analyze, assess, and derive meaning from photographs, including their own, according to the elements of art, principles of design, and aesthetic qualities.
CONNECTIONS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND APPLICATIONS: Standard 5
Students apply what they learn in photography across all subject areas, developing competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources, which contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. Students learn about careers in and related to photography.
**In addition, students will be expected to explain or demonstrate:
a. how light works on paper and film
b. use of the SLR digital camera, film/print scanners and various computer output devices, Photoshop, i-movie, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Lightroom, and Dreamweaver
c. computer manipulation of digital images
d. the photography of motion, still life, landscapes, & portraits
e. the principles and elements of composition as they apply to photography
f. an understanding of craftsmanship & presentation of work
g. individual style and creativity in their photographs
h. creative problem solving
i. a knowledge of the history of photography, study of the masters of photography
j. the development and presentation of a web-based fine art portfolio
V. UNITS OF STUDY
VI. METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
1. Projects are assigned a letter grade, worth 100 points. (notes, photos taken, technical skills, organization, craftsmanship, problem solving effort, creativity, and matting are taken into consideration.)
2. Classwork - students will receive a total daily point score out of 20 points, assessed on attendance, participation in discussion & lesson, completion of skill tasks & assignments
3. Portfolio contents and presentation
4. Website
5. Peer & Self-Assessments
6. Final projects
Grades will be based approximately on...
50% Projects
50% Classwork: written quizzes, journals, and classwork, citizenship, effort, and participation
VII. CLASS PROCEDURES (missed assignments, make up work assignment format)
You are expected to attend this class every day. Each class period will consist of a warm-up assignment, a lecture and presentation of photographic works for discussion and analysis, and independent work time. If you are absent, you must make up the time and/or the class work missed. You are responsible for getting the notes from another classmate. No final projects will be accepted late, so stay on top of the work.
If you miss class, refer to the website and complete the missed work on your own time, or SEE ME for alternative credit.
VIII. BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS (and consequences)
CONSEQUENCES:
1. verbal warning
2. conference after class
3. phone call home
4. referral to principal & behavior contract
**Consequences for misuse of technology
1. First offense - loss of technology for the day & technology behavior contract
2. Second Offense - Loss of technology at Cypress permanently
IX. FIELD TRIPS
We will be going on a lot of field trips in this class, either walking, or with parent drivers. Possible field trips may include: (*please contact me if you can be a driver for these trips)
X. **Please email me that you have read and agree to the following:
I HAVE READ & UNDERSTAND THE "COURSE SYLLABUS" FOR PHOTOGRAPHY. I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL HAVE TO SPEND TIME OUTSIDE OF CLASS TAKING PHOTOS, AND I COMMIT TO THIS TASK.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IF MY STUDENT BREAKS OR LOSES A PIECE OF PHOTO EQUIPMENT BELONGING TO THE SCHOOL, THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE EQUIPMENT OR REIMBURSING THE SCHOOL.
Print Student Name_____________________________________________________________
STUDENT Signature _______________________________________DATE...............................
PARENT/GUARDIAN Signature__________________________________________________
*Parent I give permission for my student, __________________________________, to participate in the walking field trips that leave campus as a part of the Photography 1 Course at Cypress High School.
Parent/Guardian Signature_________________________________________________ Date_____________
*Student In having the right to participate in walking field trips, I promise to stay with the group, follow all school rules, and conduct myself in a responsible and cooperative manner that will reflect positively on the school that I represent.
Student Signature___________________________________________________________ Date_____________
This class is an introduction to photography concentrating on many areas of photography: technical skills, creativity, composition, computer/digital imaging, and some alternative processes. Control of photo equipment and techniques, experimentation, problem solving, abstract thinking, creative production, and portfolio development are the central components of this course, and you will be developing these skills throughout the year.
Welcome to a new way of seeing, and the world of an artist. In this class you will be asked not only to produce photographs, but to think and view through a different lens – the lens of a photographer. You will begin to see light differently; colors, shapes, and lines will evoke new meanings to your eye, and your mind will create new possibilities in a dimension that you have never noticed before. As artists, we are infinitely capable, because our production is a reflection of ourselves. As we create from our internal commotion, we begin to not only understand who we are as individuals, but how we want to present ourselves and interact with the world. The process of making art is a journey of self-discovery, and the process of taking photographs is a form of documenting the world and your perspective on it. You will be asked to think critically, creatively, and with reflection, and you will be required only to do your best.
This course requires that you attend class, arrive on time, and take pictures outside of class. The life of a photographer requires that you are always shooting or you will miss the shot. The assignments are designed to build technical skills and creative expression, and they must be completed on time. On critique day, all student work will be displayed and discussed, providing substantial information and feedback on each individual's work. Since these critiques are vital to making progress in this course and as an artist, assignments will not be accepted late unless dire circumstances present themselves.
The first semester of this course is designed for students with little or no photography background. First semester instruction will cover all aspects of both black and white and color photography. We will discuss the use and proper handling of the different types of cameras, composing the shot, light reading as a creative tool, working with photoshop and digital imaging, and mounting and preparation of photographs for exhibition. Creative and technical instruction will be presented through lectures, study of the great masters of photography along with the history of photography, in class critiques, as well as through individual discussions with the teacher.
Second semester instruction will advance in difficulty and we will broaden our technical Photoshop skills and deepen our exploration of fine art photography, using it as both a creative tool and for documentary photography.
II. TEXTBOOKS
- MAIN TEXT: The A-Z of Creative Digital Photography by Lee Frost
& Several Photographic Resource Books
- Videos (may include):
Ansel Adams Photographer, Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light, The History of Photography, Microcosmos, Turtles can Fly, National Geographic: The Photographers, Contacts Photography Series
**Various short historical and biographical video clips and excerpts from television programs will be used to provide context and information related to units of study.
III. MATERIALS
1. Composition book/Sketchbook (for class notes, journal entries, and ideas) & pen/pencil
2. Memory card/flash drive
3. Personal camera, if so desired
4. Suggested Lab Fee Donation: $25 per semester (for equipment, technology, etc...)
As the school provides Canon SLR Digital Cameras, memory cards, tripods, batteries, carrying cases, Macbook computers, printers and photo paper, as well as the complete Adobe suite of design applications, students are expected to treat the provided materials with respect and care, and any damaged items are the responsibility of the student to replace.
Students may check out equipment outside of school hours with the expectation that they will sign a contract for the equipment, have it back during school hours, or they will replace what has not been returned in working order.
IV. GOALS
The main purpose of this course is to continue the advancement of students understanding of the visual arts, specifically photography.
ARTISTIC PERCEPTION: Standard 1
Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. Students use the vocabulary of photography to express their observations.
CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Standard 2
Students apply artistic and photographic processes and skills, using a film and digital media to communicate meaning and intent in original photographs.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT: Standard 3
Students analyze the role and development of photography in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to visual arts and photography.
AESTHETIC VALUING: Standard 4
Students analyze, assess, and derive meaning from photographs, including their own, according to the elements of art, principles of design, and aesthetic qualities.
CONNECTIONS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND APPLICATIONS: Standard 5
Students apply what they learn in photography across all subject areas, developing competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources, which contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. Students learn about careers in and related to photography.
**In addition, students will be expected to explain or demonstrate:
a. how light works on paper and film
b. use of the SLR digital camera, film/print scanners and various computer output devices, Photoshop, i-movie, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Lightroom, and Dreamweaver
c. computer manipulation of digital images
d. the photography of motion, still life, landscapes, & portraits
e. the principles and elements of composition as they apply to photography
f. an understanding of craftsmanship & presentation of work
g. individual style and creativity in their photographs
h. creative problem solving
i. a knowledge of the history of photography, study of the masters of photography
j. the development and presentation of a web-based fine art portfolio
V. UNITS OF STUDY
- The Camera
- Composition of the Photograph
- Lighting & Exposure
- Symbolism & Representation
- Digital Storage and Organization
- Digital Imaging & Manipulation
- Landscapes & Sculpture
- Patterns: Color, Lines, Shapes, & Form
- Portraiture
- Photoshop & Presentation
- Photographers who have impacted the world
- Photo Narratives
- Juxtaposition/Conceptual Photography
- The Photo Documentary & Essay
- The Portfolio
VI. METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
1. Projects are assigned a letter grade, worth 100 points. (notes, photos taken, technical skills, organization, craftsmanship, problem solving effort, creativity, and matting are taken into consideration.)
2. Classwork - students will receive a total daily point score out of 20 points, assessed on attendance, participation in discussion & lesson, completion of skill tasks & assignments
3. Portfolio contents and presentation
4. Website
5. Peer & Self-Assessments
6. Final projects
Grades will be based approximately on...
50% Projects
50% Classwork: written quizzes, journals, and classwork, citizenship, effort, and participation
VII. CLASS PROCEDURES (missed assignments, make up work assignment format)
You are expected to attend this class every day. Each class period will consist of a warm-up assignment, a lecture and presentation of photographic works for discussion and analysis, and independent work time. If you are absent, you must make up the time and/or the class work missed. You are responsible for getting the notes from another classmate. No final projects will be accepted late, so stay on top of the work.
If you miss class, refer to the website and complete the missed work on your own time, or SEE ME for alternative credit.
VIII. BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS (and consequences)
- Arrive on time and attend all classes
- Bring all necessary materials (including SD card/photos taken) every day.
- LISTEN to the person addressing the class
- FOLLOW procedures and routines
- RESPECT each other
- USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE to express thoughts
- HELP MAINTAIN a clean classroom
CONSEQUENCES:
1. verbal warning
2. conference after class
3. phone call home
4. referral to principal & behavior contract
**Consequences for misuse of technology
1. First offense - loss of technology for the day & technology behavior contract
2. Second Offense - Loss of technology at Cypress permanently
IX. FIELD TRIPS
We will be going on a lot of field trips in this class, either walking, or with parent drivers. Possible field trips may include: (*please contact me if you can be a driver for these trips)
- San Francisco: MOMA, Legion of Honor, De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park
- San Jose Museum of Art
- UCSC Arboretum
- Land of Medicine Buddha
- Niscene Marks State Park
- Beaches
- Schwann Lake
X. **Please email me that you have read and agree to the following:
I HAVE READ & UNDERSTAND THE "COURSE SYLLABUS" FOR PHOTOGRAPHY. I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL HAVE TO SPEND TIME OUTSIDE OF CLASS TAKING PHOTOS, AND I COMMIT TO THIS TASK.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IF MY STUDENT BREAKS OR LOSES A PIECE OF PHOTO EQUIPMENT BELONGING TO THE SCHOOL, THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE EQUIPMENT OR REIMBURSING THE SCHOOL.
Print Student Name_____________________________________________________________
STUDENT Signature _______________________________________DATE...............................
PARENT/GUARDIAN Signature__________________________________________________
*Parent I give permission for my student, __________________________________, to participate in the walking field trips that leave campus as a part of the Photography 1 Course at Cypress High School.
Parent/Guardian Signature_________________________________________________ Date_____________
*Student In having the right to participate in walking field trips, I promise to stay with the group, follow all school rules, and conduct myself in a responsible and cooperative manner that will reflect positively on the school that I represent.
Student Signature___________________________________________________________ Date_____________