Photography

Photo Art Expectations

Early Morning Passes

must have filled out to come in and work before school from 7:35 - 8:00

Photography is an 8th grade elective that lasts for 12 weeks. 

Photography is art and science: light, mechanical devices, chemistry, and beauty. Students learn to explore the world through the viewfinder of the camera and create images that are both meaningful and expressive.  During this course they become aware of the aesthetic and technical aspects of black and white darkroom photography.  The students learn the mechanical functions of the camera (aperture and shutter speed) and the artistic choices related to them (depth of field and image movement).  In the darkroom they experience developing film and making silver prints. They  learn about latent images, the impact of different parts of the light spectrum and chemicals that are acids or bases.  They learn to mount and present their work using the dry mounting process, using heat activated dry mounting tissue to adhere two substrates as opposed to the wet glue they are accustomed to using. Students are shown, they discuss  and experiment with how to use the elements of design to create better compositions and to better communicate their own messages in a visual way.  If time in the trimester allows, students are introduced to digital imaging using Adobe Photoshop Elements. They use a scanned copy one of their original black and white photos and learn to manipulate it with digital painting, stamping, collage and filter techniques.

Students must have their own 35 mm FILM camera. It does NOT have to be a manual camera.  It can be an automatic camera, although the class will be taught so that all students understand the relationship of aperture and shutter speed. Digital cameras cannot be used.

Students evaluate their artwork in similar areas to other art classes; Idea Development,Composition, Processing and Presentation. They critique and reflect upon their work in writing using the vocabulary and concepts learned in each unit.