Photography - Syllabus
Please read this Web-based Syllabus here ...
Web-based Photography Syllabus for this class:
Photography - Syllabus
Tom Relth - [email protected]
“A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.”
- Ansel Adams (American Photographer, 1902-1984)
The goal of this class is to increase student knowledge about basic photography concepts as applied through a digital medium while increasing their artistic skill as a photographer through practice.
Students will learn skills to the digital camera to shoot viable photographs as opposed to “snapshots”, along with a vocabulary of principles and elements of solid basic picture-making (story-making) using a variety of methods and informed by a historical focus on Straight Photography (definition elsewhere).
Students will also learn some basic skills in digital photo editing and demonstrate the ability to maintain an organized digital portfolio of their work.
Course Overview: Photography is a semester-long elective course. It builds and focuses on a “Triangle of Theory”, Photographic History, Vocabulary, and Practical/Projects at the center we use a method of Critique.
This course is exclusively a digital photography course.
The course is for creative students who have a strong interest in photography.
Photographs of subjects will be taken both in and out of school. (during school hours and as homework).
Note: The class requires taking photographs on location, outdoors, and in “street” and marketplace environments.
Grades: 10th, 11th and 12th.
Prerequisite: Strong Interest
Students will study how the camera works and the principles of composition, technique, and expression.
Students will practice doing photographic story-telling, portraits, still life, action pictures etc. in black & white and color.
Students learn how to use camera functions, including shutter speed, aperture( f-stop) and ISO, different lenses.
Students will also learn how to edit and exhibit a photograph.
Students will Exhibit work during or after the school year.
Required Materials MUST HAVES:
Digital Camera with the following functions:
Minimum of 6 megapixels (10+ megapixels recommended)
preferably an DSLR or digital compact camera with * manual mode.
Required Camera Features for the class:
- Macro
- Zoom and Optical zoom
- Flash
- Exposure Compensation EV (+/-)
- Optional but preferred: shutter speed control, aperture control
- 2- 4GB+ (or larger) storage cards (1 in Camera, 1 in Camera Bag)
- A4 notebook. You must maintain it.
- Computer and internet access (from home)
- USB Flash Drive 16GB+ (or Larger) (recommended 64GB+)
- Camera Manual or find the website manual (PDF) and load it to your computer
- Camera bag
- Card Reader or Camera-to-Computer Cord that works to move your photos
- Battery Charger and/or 2 sets of fresh charged rechargeable batteries on hand (in your camera bag)
Basic Photography Syllabus:
- Digital Camera and Images
- Understanding Exposure
- Controlling Sharpness
- Capturing Light and Color
- Lenses
- Flash Photography / Painting with Light
- Straight Photography
- Street Photography
- Editing a Photograph
- Displaying a Photograph
- Master Photographers
- History of Photography (specifically ‘Straight Photography” 1901 ~ 1970)
Steps for Success
In order to be successful in Class, the student will be expected to:
Come to class prepared (with all required equipment) and on time
And TURN IN ALL ASSIGNMENTS:
BRING A CHARGED CAMERA AND ALL MATERIALS TO CLASS EVERYDAY.
A daily grade will be given for being prepared for class.
- Show respect to the teacher, classmates, and yourself.
- Turn in assignments on time. You will be allowed one late assignment per quarter.
- If grading is required, the Second late will be 50% off of original grade. All remaining late assignments will receive a zero.
- Written homework and other homework assignments will be deposited in the homework tray as soon as you enter class. Homework will be considered late if put in the tray (or otherwise as instructed) after the beginning of class.
- Also Remember - No name of the file = No credit
- A warm-up will be completed in the first five minutes of class. Completing the warm-up will be part of your daily preparation grade.
- The professor will dismiss the class. The clock does not end the class! You are expected to clean up your area and to push in your chair when you leave.
- Web assignments should be checked AND read carefully. All of the assignments and homework as well as bonus projects will be posted there. There will be check-ups to see if you are using the site.
- ESPECIALLY CHECK THE CLASS WEBSITE IF YOU ARE ABSENT.
Grading Policy
There will be several types of assignments – tests, quizzes, classwork, projects, and homework.
Your grade is based on total numeric points. For example, tests and larger projects will be worth more than daily classwork assignments.
Extra credit will be given throughout each quarter.
Student Signature ______________________________________________________
When grades are required for Lab Classes; i.e Art Fund, 2D & 3D, Photography
Sketchbook & Journals 15%
Unit Projects / Assignments 20%
Lab procedures, Work process & Use of time. 15%
Participation, Attitude and Behavior 15%
Final Project and Written Reflection 20%
Critiques, Essays, Reflections 10%
Creativity/Originality 5%
+ Extra Credit (up to +10%) 10%
Total Possible: 110%
