Photography 2 2015-2016
Course Overview: This photography course is designed to help students gain an understanding of the basic principles, techniques, and processes of photography. The emphasis will be on developing competencies in the use of photographic equipment, materials, and techniques. Students will also learn to critically evaluate their own and others’ photographs. Topics covered will include cameras, lenses and accessories, exposure, composition and digital printing techniques, including the extensive use of Adobe Photoshop.
Photo 2 is an advanced, college level elective course. Most of you are here because you want to be. You enjoy photography and want to become better at it. Hopefully this will be fun and will be a good experience for you. In order to get better at something, you must practice. You will be expected to spend one hour each week outside of class photographing! It is necessary to consistently, as in weekly, get out and practice. I will provide lab time to complete the Photoshop and printing work in class. If you decide to spend lab time out photographing, you will need to make up the lab time on your own.
Contact Sheets: Beginning the third week, one contact sheet with 20 images will be required weekly! This is due no later than the last class period each week. These images must be straight from the camera. Do not make adjustments to the images prior to making the contact sheet. All images must have been photographed within the week immediately prior to turning in the contact sheet. No archived images will be accepted! Late contact sheets will not be accepted!
We will be completing six major projects each semester. Pacing yourself and time management are critical to the success of a big project.
In-class projects, quizzes and preparedness: In-class projects and quizzes are a critical part of the learning process. If you are absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. In some cases, this work cannot be made up. It is necessary to be in attendance to obtain the information needed to succeed. If you know that you will be missing a day, talk to me ahead of time and I will be more than reasonable with you.
Please keep your folders on the server organized. If I can't find your work I cannot grade it! If you have questions about how it should be organized, please refer to the handout on file management.
Grading: Assignments will be graded on:
Technical quality (focus, exposure, contrast, cleanliness)
Assignment objectives
Composition
Creativity/difficulty
Overall interest
Late work is not acceptable! If there are extenuating circumstances, talk to me before it is due and I may work out other arrangements. Please remember, though, that lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!
Printing: Projects will be printed the way they are turned in. After grading, they will be returned with notes as to what should be corrected. If you want them reprinted after making corrections, you must pay for the ink and paper ($4.00 per sheet). Doing a job right the first time saves time, energy and money, just like it does in the real world!
Equipment and fees: We will be using Digital SLR cameras for this course. We do have some at the school that can be checked out to complete assignments. It is advantageous to have your own camera, as you can keep it with you at all times and are therefore always prepared to make photographs when the occasion arises. Each student will need an 8gb or larger flash drive or a portable hard drive and a 3 ring binder. There are no required fees for the class.
Course objectives:
Expectations:
From the Instructor:
Course Policies:
Attendance and Participation
Due to the high number of in-class demonstrations and the limited number of class sessions, attendance at all class sessions is extremely important to the student’s success in the course. Demonstrations given by the instructor require a great deal of preparation and generally cannot be repeated. Excessive absences may result in the reduction of the final grade.
Academic Honesty
Any work submitted for grading must be of your own design and execution. These standards require that you never present the work of others as your own. Misrepresentation can result with a course grade of “F” given for cheating.
Professional Behavior
Students are representatives of the photography program and, by affiliation, their respective schools and the Nampa School Board. Students need to behave as such. Photographing illegal or acting out illegal activities is not acceptable; photographing behavior that violates the schools’ code of behavior or place students at risk not acceptable. Photographs of illegal activity can be treated as evidence and turned over to the School Resource Officer and school administration.
Safety
Student will not engage in any potentially dangerous behaviors. This includes photographing while driving or in any moving vehicle, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding or bicycling. Student will seek permission before photographing on private property and respect the rights and desires of property owners. Student will not engage in or photograph illegal activities. Student will not photograph simulated illegal activities. Any and all images photographed by student is subject to review by ICAT Photography and Columbia High School Administration, and actionable by the appropriate authorities.
Student will adhere to school rules and, as a representative of the Nampa School District and ICAT, will hold themselves to professional standards of behavior including speech, action, attitude and safety. Failure to act in an appropriate manner or irresponsibly can result in loss of camera privileges and potential expulsion from the Photography program.
General Notes
No one is allowed to use specialized equipment before being instructed through class demonstrations, or otherwise trained.
Respect the property of others—this includes any equipment that someone else is using.
Don’t necessarily be satisfied with your first results. Make the best images you can and prints worthy of them. “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who completed it—autograph your work with excellence!”
Photo 2 is an advanced, college level elective course. Most of you are here because you want to be. You enjoy photography and want to become better at it. Hopefully this will be fun and will be a good experience for you. In order to get better at something, you must practice. You will be expected to spend one hour each week outside of class photographing! It is necessary to consistently, as in weekly, get out and practice. I will provide lab time to complete the Photoshop and printing work in class. If you decide to spend lab time out photographing, you will need to make up the lab time on your own.
Contact Sheets: Beginning the third week, one contact sheet with 20 images will be required weekly! This is due no later than the last class period each week. These images must be straight from the camera. Do not make adjustments to the images prior to making the contact sheet. All images must have been photographed within the week immediately prior to turning in the contact sheet. No archived images will be accepted! Late contact sheets will not be accepted!
We will be completing six major projects each semester. Pacing yourself and time management are critical to the success of a big project.
In-class projects, quizzes and preparedness: In-class projects and quizzes are a critical part of the learning process. If you are absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. In some cases, this work cannot be made up. It is necessary to be in attendance to obtain the information needed to succeed. If you know that you will be missing a day, talk to me ahead of time and I will be more than reasonable with you.
Please keep your folders on the server organized. If I can't find your work I cannot grade it! If you have questions about how it should be organized, please refer to the handout on file management.
Grading: Assignments will be graded on:
Technical quality (focus, exposure, contrast, cleanliness)
Assignment objectives
Composition
Creativity/difficulty
Overall interest
Late work is not acceptable! If there are extenuating circumstances, talk to me before it is due and I may work out other arrangements. Please remember, though, that lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!
Printing: Projects will be printed the way they are turned in. After grading, they will be returned with notes as to what should be corrected. If you want them reprinted after making corrections, you must pay for the ink and paper ($4.00 per sheet). Doing a job right the first time saves time, energy and money, just like it does in the real world!
Equipment and fees: We will be using Digital SLR cameras for this course. We do have some at the school that can be checked out to complete assignments. It is advantageous to have your own camera, as you can keep it with you at all times and are therefore always prepared to make photographs when the occasion arises. Each student will need an 8gb or larger flash drive or a portable hard drive and a 3 ring binder. There are no required fees for the class.
Course objectives:
- Identify and operate the controls of an adjustable 35mm DSLR camera, lenses, and accessories.
- Calculate proper exposures under different lighting conditions.
- Apply the elements of composition and lighting skills to create aesthetically pleasing photographs.
- Understand and use depth of field and motion creatively.
- Apply photographic techniques in the following areas:
- Photojournalistic and Documentary Photography
- Portrait Photography
- Still Life/Product/Commercial Photography
- Sport/Action Photography
- Scenic/Nature Photography
- Photojournalistic and Documentary Photography
- Camera, Lenses, Exposure
- Depth of Field
- Controlling Motion with Shutter Speed
- Sports and Action Photography
- Lighting
- Documentary photography
- Close-up Photography
- Creative/Abstract Photography
- Portrait and Commercial Photography
- Still Life Photography
- Photoshop Techniques
- History of Photography
Expectations:
From the Instructor:
- Be prepared and ready to begin class on time.
- Follow schedule unless you are otherwise informed.
- Answer questions during or after presentation of materials.
- Provide feedback on your work. Be open to ideas about your work.
- Maintain lab in working order.
- Provide you with additional material or help if needed.
- Arrive prepared and on time
- Attend all class meetings.
- Notify instructor ahead of time, if possible, if you will be absent.
- Ask questions when you are unclear about something.
- Listen closely to instruction and take notes.
- Listen to comments made about your work, and be respectful to other students.
- Clean up after yourself.
- Notify me if anything is broken, missing.
Course Policies:
Attendance and Participation
Due to the high number of in-class demonstrations and the limited number of class sessions, attendance at all class sessions is extremely important to the student’s success in the course. Demonstrations given by the instructor require a great deal of preparation and generally cannot be repeated. Excessive absences may result in the reduction of the final grade.
Academic Honesty
Any work submitted for grading must be of your own design and execution. These standards require that you never present the work of others as your own. Misrepresentation can result with a course grade of “F” given for cheating.
Professional Behavior
Students are representatives of the photography program and, by affiliation, their respective schools and the Nampa School Board. Students need to behave as such. Photographing illegal or acting out illegal activities is not acceptable; photographing behavior that violates the schools’ code of behavior or place students at risk not acceptable. Photographs of illegal activity can be treated as evidence and turned over to the School Resource Officer and school administration.
Safety
Student will not engage in any potentially dangerous behaviors. This includes photographing while driving or in any moving vehicle, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding or bicycling. Student will seek permission before photographing on private property and respect the rights and desires of property owners. Student will not engage in or photograph illegal activities. Student will not photograph simulated illegal activities. Any and all images photographed by student is subject to review by ICAT Photography and Columbia High School Administration, and actionable by the appropriate authorities.
Student will adhere to school rules and, as a representative of the Nampa School District and ICAT, will hold themselves to professional standards of behavior including speech, action, attitude and safety. Failure to act in an appropriate manner or irresponsibly can result in loss of camera privileges and potential expulsion from the Photography program.
General Notes
No one is allowed to use specialized equipment before being instructed through class demonstrations, or otherwise trained.
Respect the property of others—this includes any equipment that someone else is using.
Don’t necessarily be satisfied with your first results. Make the best images you can and prints worthy of them. “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who completed it—autograph your work with excellence!”