Welcome to

BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Ms. Lepine

The fine arts student will interpret and express visually the world around him/her, will make aesthetic judgments, which will enable him to improve his surroundings; will become acquainted with different cultures, and how these cultures relate to the evolution of her own art; and will be prepared for further study in various fields of art and art-related occupations.

BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY: ART814 Prerequisite: None. Semester course. Requirement: Students must have their own 35mm camera. A SLR or single-lens camera is recommended. Basic Photography deals with the power and impact of visual images in our history and in our society. Through a workshop-type approach to basic photography and its components, i.e., light, subject, camera, and film, this course attempts to describe methods of and approaches to reading, understanding, and appreciating various types of visual images. Emphasis is on black and white still photography from the shooting through the processing and printing, to final mounting and framing techniques. Visual and written presentations, as well as reading assignments also make up a substantial part of the course.

*Articulation Agreement: Upon completion of this course, the WSHS student would be exempt from (and receive credit for) Basic Still Photography (Art 140) at Holyoke Community College.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONBASIC PHOTOGRAPHY ~ ART814 ~ MS. LEPINE ~ ROOM

230

1. INTRODUCTION TO BASIC PHOTOGRAPHYCourse DescriptionClassroom ExpectationsEvaluation of GradesAssignments RequiredSafety & Appropriate Behavior

2. HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY (Chap. 21, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)The First Camera ~ Camera Obscura ~ Early 1800’sEarly Inventors ~ Photographic ChemistryDauguerreotype, Calotype, Collodion – Early Photographic ProcessesDocumenting Society & History – War, Travel, PortraitureAmerican Photography

3. PHOTOGRAMS (Chap. 3, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)History ofTypes of PhotogramsIntroduction to Darkroom ChemicalsCreativity

4. THE PINHOLE CAMERA (Chap. 4, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)Origins of the CameraBasic Camera PartsMake a Pinhole CameraTake Pinhole PicturesTypes of Pinhole Cameras ~ Getting Creative

COURSE OUTLINEBASIC PHOTOGRAPHY ~ ART814 ~ MS. LEPINE ~ ROOM

230

5. VISUAL LITERACY (Chap. 1, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.) The Power of the Image as a Communication Tool What Makes a Good Photographer Aesthetic Comprehension ~ What is Beautiful???

6. LEARNING TO SEE: (Chap. 2, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)Seeing as a Learned AbilityComposition ~ Design ~ Elements & PrinciplesVisual Selection

Determining the SubjectCamera PositionFraming the PhotographSubject Placement (Rule of Thirds)BackgroundApertureShutter SpeedDeciding When to Take the Picture

Shooting TipsFinding Your Own Style

7. CAMERA & BASIC CAMERA FUNCTIONS (Chap. 5, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)Types of Cameras

Point & Shoot/RangefinderSingle-Lens Reflex SLRTwin-Lens Reflex TLRMedium FormatView CamerasSpecialty Cameras - Digital

Buying a CameraCamera CareBasic Camera Functions

Loading & Unloading Film (!), Focusing Methods, Exposure Controls, Shutter Speed, Aperture, Film Speed (ISO), Lenses

8. 20th Century PhotographyPictorialismSteiglitz ~ is it art?Photo Montage/CollagePhoto in Sports/Fashion/AdvertisingColor & Instant PhotographySince the 1960’s

1. Space2. Social Awareness/Causes3. War4. Portraiture5. Self-Portrait/Personal Journals6. Landscape

9. BLACK & WHITE FILM DEVELOPING (Chap. 10, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.) Roll Film Developing Process Evaluating Processed Film Storage & Care

Contact PrintingEditing Contact Sheet

10. BLACK & WHITE PRINTMAKING (Chap. 11, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)EnlargerPapersChemicals and SafetyUsing Test StripsMaking a Contact SheetMaking an EnlargementPrint EvaluationPrinting Problems

11. 21st CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHYModern AdvancesCurrent Issues, Digital -vs- FilmContemporary Photographers

12. ADVANCED PRINTMAKING (Chap 12, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)Corrective Darkroom Manipulations (covered only if we have time)

Burning In, Dodging, Cropping, Vignette, Diffusion, Distortion, Texture Effects, Sandwiching Images, Multiple Prints ~ Combining Prints

13. OUT OF DARKROOM IMAGE MANIPULATIONS (Chap. 16, Photography in Focus, 5 th Ed.)Toning Black & White Prints ~ Toner, Coffee, Tea, Food ColoringMasking with Bleach ~ Using Rubber Cement or TapeHand Coloring

14. CONCLUSIONFinal Exam/Portfolio Review

You will need:

• 35 mm camera

• 3 ring binder

• Positive attitude

NO disposable, digital, advantix

Your portfolio is 20% of your final grade!

Be HereBe ResponsibleBe Respectful

GRADING:

Class Participation = 50% Portfolio (!!!) = 20%Tests/Quizzes = 20% Homework = 10%

I grade on: ~ BEHAVIOR ~ HOW WELL YOU FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ~ CREATIVITY ~ EFFORT ~ PRESENTATION

The FINAL EXAM will cover all the material studied during the semester and is worth 20% of your final grade.

LATE WORK RECEIVES HALF CREDIT (unless you have an IEP, 504, or doctor’s note)~ Projects not turned in receive 0%.~ Behavior counts toward your project grade!~ Every day you choose not to work you will receive 0% for the day. (with each zero, your project gets marked off one grade)

WORK:

~ Assignments and due dates are on the board at all times.~ Every time we meet, I will give a lesson, review or update assignments, or give a demonstration. After this, you will begin working on the assignment and I will come around to advise. Working for the entire period will earn you the most class participation points.~ Work to be passed in should be placed in the “in” box labeled for your class period. Work not placed in the “in” box on time will be considered late.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY:

~ Positive daily class participation.~ The keeping of a portfolio with all artwork, tests, quizzes, homework, reports, projects.~ The completion of all artwork, tests, quizzes, homework, reports and projects.~ Follow all rules outlined in the Student Handbook and all classroom rules.~ The cost of lost or damaged equipment supplied by the school.~ The use of safe working techniques at all times including eye and hand protection.

SAFETY:

Equipment and chemicals in the PHOTOGRAPHY DARKROOM are safeguarded as much as possible. Safety, in general, and safe tool practices are emphasized repeatedly. However, bodily injury can occur through carelessness, misuse of equipment and/or disobedience.

Running, wrestling, throwing objects, etc. in the classroom, darkroom, or hallway is not acceptable and may seriously harm you or your classmates. We use sharp objects, tools that cut, and toxic chemicals in this room and in the darkroom. We must take every precaution to be safe.

I understand that:

1. I must observe all safety regulations.

2. I must abide by all rules pertaining to all safety devices.

3. I must wear appropriate clothing/eyewear when required by the instructor. 4. I should not jeopardize the safety of my classmates by carelessness, indifference to safety, and/or indulge in improper school behavior. 5. I must tell my instructor immediately if someone’s safety is at risk.

6. I must tell my instructor if I have any health concerns that may jeopardize my safety around chemicals (asthma, migraines, allergies, pregnancy, etc.)

Questions?

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT OF ME:

~ I will always enforce these guidelines.

~ Projects will be graded and returned promptly. (once graded, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to keep projects in your portfolio to be reviewed at the end of the semester)

~ I will create a space for all to be accepted and to enjoy learning.

~ I will respond to your individual needs and advise you to succeed.