Digital Photography Syllabus
Course Objectives
-Explore techniques and terminology related to all Photography
-Learn how to take better photographs
-Utilize photo editing (Adobe Photoshop), photo sharing (FlickR)
Materials
I will provide:
Computers, Adobe PhotoShop (you can download a free 30-day trial version from Adobe website to use at home if you’d like), **3 new Digital SLR cameras to use in school!! Woot woot!**, Course content via weekly handouts and on my Teacher Page
You must provide:
*Digital Camera (I do have a few to load out – see me)
Folders for hard copy materials and grade sheets
Knowledge of how to access your school e-mail and network space:
Desktop>Go Menu>Connect to Server>Log in>Server ID should be there>Connect>Enter Username and Password
Coursework
We will use the site FlickR to organize our photos. Each week, you will be introduced to a new “Module” that will explore specific themes and skills related to photography, design, and photo manipulation. For each module, you will:
- Learn the material through lecture and discussions
- Create a FlickR “Gallery” of example photos that demonstrate the material we discuss
Each Gallery should be labeled by number (Ex. Gallery 1) and add a description that explains how you know it’s a good example of your assigned photos.
- Take pictures of the assigned concepts, manipulate photos, and create a FlickR “Set” of pictures that will be due Wednesdays at midnight. These photos will primarily be your homework, but we will also have some opportunities to take photos during class time. Each Set must also be labeled by module number and self-graded in the “description field.”
You will also have a long term “Humans of Mount Horeb” assignment, where you will be expected to turn in at several dates throughout the semester.
Modules (Units) **subject to change/rearrange
1-Your Digital Camera
2-Composition
3-Lighting and Portraiture
4-Motion
5-Depth of Field, Abstract, Macro
6-Panorama
7-Photo Series
8-Intro to Photoshop
9-Filters
10-Color Adjustments
11-Photomontages
12-Digital Paintings—Homage Images and “Watercolors”
13-Photoshop Actions
14-18 So much more fun stuff!!
Locations for Class
We will primarily meet in the Mac Lab for class. However, there will be some days that we will meet in the Art Room or another location around school to take pictures. Stay tuned.
Quizzes and Final Exam
A few quizzes and a final exam willgive you the opportunity to demonstrate your gained knowledge.
Grading Policy
I will have grades for specific Modules updated within 5 school days of the due date. If your Module is late, I will grade and update as soon as I can. New photos are expected for each assignment, and I will not grade the same basic image twice.
Activity Grades – These include discussions, written work, and participation grades in class and on photo shoots.
Module Sets – All images must be to be organized into a complete Set on FlickR and include the self-critique
before they will be graded. Sets due Wednesdays at 12am. Each assignment will have a
specific grading table that evaluates specific aspects of your photo. Each photo is worth 20 pts.
FlickR Galleries– Galleries are graded at the end of the quarter.
Quizzes and Final Exam–Three quizzes are worth 16-20 points each. Your Final Exam covers ALL course
content and is 10% of your Final Grade.
Late work
Late assignments will be deducted 1/2 point for every day late. A photograph is considered late if it is not uploaded to FlickR by the due date by midnight. If you upload and organize photos into a set after the due date it is your responsibility to send me a FlickR message so that I know to look for it! Minimum grade for a WAY LATE, but completed assignment is 50%, which is still an F.
Extra Credit
A student is eligible for extra credit opportunities if they have turned in all other assignments. Moduleshave Extra Credit opportunities listed below the regular assignments. These projects MUST be put into an “Extra Credit” Set in FlickR. Points for E.C. will be added at the end of the semester.
Course Management and Classroom Expectations
Be Respectful of people and this space. All people should feel safe in this room. You help create a positive atmosphere by keeping a good attitude, working and talking quietly, listening to people with an open mind, and by keeping cell phones away and silent. If I see your cell phone out, I will take it and it will go to Ms. Hook in the main office.
The MacLab is a communal space, and these machines are used by many people every day. Please save your files to your student folder (versus the desktop), take your materials with you when you leave, and be good to the computers. No food or drink please.
Be Responsible. Come to class on time, work hard and use your time wisely. During class time, I expect to see you:
- Reading through Modules and course materials
- Working on written assignments such as highlighting, taking notes and quiz corrections
- Uploading photos to computer, FlickR account,
- Saving photo files to network or flashdrive
- Using FlickR and Google to find examples for projects (you may not use any portion of an image from the internet in any of your projects– it is a violation of copyright laws) to put into Galleries
- Manipulating photos in PhotoShop
It takes a while to navigate FlickR and Photoshop, so don’t hesitate to ask questions!
Be Ready. Come to class with your homework done (photos taken)! Bring your camera to class. Be ready to learn new things, see inspiring work, participate in discussions, and explore digital photography!