Beginning Digital Photography
Course Overview
Photography is structured around four areas: developing craftsmanship and technique, organizing the art elements through the art principles, using the creative process, and communicating about historical and personal works of art. Students will explore a variety of digital photographic and editing tools, and techniques while applying the elements and principles of the visual arts. Studio activities will focus on composition, camera techniques, editing, and creating photographic works of art. Through the art that students produce, they will develop reflection and art criticism. Historical styles, techniques and artists will be studied in conjunction with current careers in art.
Student Expectations
To receive credit for course work, students need to do their own work and submit work that is original. Non-original work and work that is derived from another artist’s work without written permission are forms of cheating. Artwork must be appropriate for school (teacher decision is final) for work to be graded. Students must have their own digital camera with a minimum of 2 mega pixels.
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated on their photographs, worksheets, and a final project. Photographs comprise the major part of the grade. All photographs will be evaluated using “Photograph Assessment” rubric found in the course resources.
Grade Scale
90-100A
80-89B
70-79C
<70NC*
*Students have 1 additional quarter to make up work to convert the NC to a letter grade – if work is not made up by that time the NC will convert to an F.
Completion of all assignments70%
Career Project/Leadership15%
Final Project15%
Digital Photography Unit Outline
Unit One: Basics
History of Photography
Digital Camera Operation
Artistic Composition
Learning Goal: Understand the historical development of photography and the balance between technology and creating photographic images.
Unit Two: Workflow
Compressing
Downloading Pictures
Photo Editing
Saving You Files
Learning Goal: Understand the basics of saving and manipulating your photographs.
Unit Three: Journalistic Photography
Candid Shots
Action Shots
Group Shots
Learning Goal: Communicate through photographic images the range of human emotions caused by events in people’s lives. “Every one has a story to tell.”
Unit Four: Fine Art Photography
Abstract Lines, Shapes & Textures
Depth of Field
Long Exposure
Double Exposure
Learning Goal: Understand the need to look closer to see small details and basic artistic elements that combine to create complex images.
Unit Five: Landscape Photography
Rocks, Cliffs & Mountains
Sunrises & Sunsets & Cloud Formations
Trees, Plants & Flowers
Streams, Lakes & Ocean Beaches
Learning Goal: See the beauty of nature and the contrast of natural design elements through the observation and photographing of landscape features.
Unit Six: Studio Photography
Point Lighting
Posing Models
Short depth of field to blur background
Learning Goal: Communicate natural beauty and man-made design using professional studio photography techniques.
Unit Seven: Industrial/Architectural Photography
Houses, Barns & Factories
Bridges & Skyscrapers
Hand Tools & Power Tools
Cars, Trucks & Construction Equipment
Learning Goal: Compare and contrast variations of architecture and machines through photographic images.
Unit Eight: Graphic Design
Principles of Graphic Design
Advertising
Still Life Compositions
Learning Goal: Understand the combination of photographic images and text in graphic designs.
Unit Nine: Careers in Photography
Career Potential
Education and Experience
Salary
Related Careers
Learning Goal: Understand the skills, experience, and education necessary to become a successful photographer.
Digital Photography
Assignment Checklist
Week One
Discussion: Getting to Know You10 points
Century of Images Viewing Guide90 points
History of Photography PowerPoint Worksheet15 points
Getting Started Worksheet15 points
Understanding Image Size and Quality Worksheet15 points
Exposure Control Worksheet25 points
Week Two
Discussion: Is Photography Art?10 points
Introduction to Photographic Composition50 points
Digital Photography Workflow Assignment28 points
Downloading Digital Photos25 points
Week Three
Discussion: What Did You Learn About Composition?10 points
Composition Photo Assignment100 points
GIMP and Atomic Learning Tutorials50 points
More GIMP Tutorials and Editing100 points
Week Four
Discussion: Challenging Composition Photographs10 points
Candid Photo Assignment100 points
Group Photo Assignment100 points
Action Photo Assignment100 points
Week Five
Discussion: Photo of the Week Critique25 points
Advertising Still Life Photo Assignment100 points
Week Six
Discussion: Photo of the Week Critique25 points
Color Photo Assignment100 points
Week Seven
Discussion: Photo of the Week Critique25 points
Portraits Photo Assignment100 points
Week Eight
Discussion: Photo of the Week Critique25 points
Architectural/Industrial Photo Assignment100 points
Week Nine
Discussion: Class Evaluation10 points
Career Research PowerPoint Assignment100 points
Final Project - Picasa Movie200 points