Grade 5

Exploration of Photography

20th July - 23rd August (Lessons 1-5)

Why are we studying photography? Because it is a great way to understand how a 2D artwork works.

Materials:

-Digital camera (phone, I-pad, or any device you have access to that takes digital photos).

-Capability to digitally store your favourite photos (at least 3 photos per week over 5 weeks).

Intro to Unit:

In this 5 week unit, we will explore:

-How a camera works

-Some of the history of photography.

-Design Principles

In week 1 we will do a tiny bit of research on how a camera works and the history of photography. In the following weeks we will explore the ‘design principles’ through taking our own photos. Hope you enjoy the unit.

20 July-24 July (Lesson 1):

Have a look at the black and white photo to the left. What do you think this photo is depicting and why do you think it is so important?

Once you have had a guess, look up this site to find out what and why. You might want to have a look at all the photos there and read some of the history. Very fascinating: https://mymodernmet.com/first-photograph-photography-history/

Now time to discover a bit more about the history of cameras, how they work, and what they have evolved into today. View this YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNA97LaWLF0

So, cameras have come a long way in a short amount of time.

Now it’s time to get organized and start to get used to the process over the next 5 weeks:

1. With your digital camera, take 20 photos around the house. No rules, just you taking some photos.

2. Look through your photos and select your favourite 3 photos.

3. On a digital device, or through your email, save these 3 photos

4. From now on, each week you will be taking lots of photos, and then selecting your top 3. The rest of the photos for that week can be deleted. You need to work out a safe place to digitally keep these top 3 photos. At the end of the unit, you are going to pick your overall top 3 photos from your weekly top 3. This is a big photography tip. The more photos you take, the luckier you get. BUT… don’t take any old photo, make everyone count and try to make the next one even better than the last.

Examples of contrast photos

Example oh emphasis photos

27 July - 31 July (lesson 2): Contrast and Emphasis

OK, so I mentioned ‘Design Principles’ in the intro. What are they? They are basically theories that make a 2D artwork look awesome. Different people describe different lists of design principles, there is no correct list. But it is really worth being aware of some of them. Take a look at the Design Principle list to the left.

Here is your first task for this week: With each of the design principles to the left, I want you to do a google image search with the word ‘artwork’ at the end. So for example, your first image search would be ‘pattern artwork’, your second would be ‘contrast artwork’ and so on.

Now you have done this, you should have some understanding of design principles and how they relate to art. If you want, you could go on a YouTube search to discover more.

Now for the practical side. Turn your digital camera to black and white mode.

Now walk around the house looking for high contrast scenes and emphasis scenes and take at least 25 very well considered photos. You might notice a stream of light bursting into a dark room. You could even use lights to create high contrast photos (contrast). You might see a shoe on the ground with nothing else around it (emphasis). You can create your scenes if you like. Remember, art is all about cheating.

Now look through your photos and select your favourite 3. Remember to store digitally store them in a safe place so you don’t lose them.

Examples of nicely 'balanced' photos where the weight is evenly dispensed.

Scale examples

3 August - 7 August (lesson 3): Balance and scale

Think of what you discovered last week. What worked and didn’t work (feedback). Now, think of what you are going to do the same, and what you are going to do differently (feedforward).

Now take at least 25 photos that are about balance and scale.

Balance: The feeling of balance results when the elements of design are arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically to create the impression of equality in weight or importance.

Scale: The relationship between objects with respect to size, number and so on including the relation between parts of a whole.

Remember, you can create scenes. This might be a good opportunity for you to play around with objects that are really close to the camera, and really far away. You know, the old Eiffel Tower looking like it is being held in your hand.

Tip for creating a scene of scale: Try extreme angles!

Pick your top 3 and save.

Pattern example

Harmony photo

Rhythm example

Unity example

10 August - 14 August (Lesson 4): Pattern, Harmony, Rhythm, Unity.

You know the drill now, and if you don’t read over the last few weeks. You might want to remind yourself of exactly what Pattern, Harmony, Rhythm and Unity are.

Once again, I would suggest you try for really interesting extreme angles for this one. It’s amazing what you can achieve from a seemingly boring scene when you play around with the angel. For example, when you place your camera low to the ground, suddenly your boring carpet/floorboards create a really interesting, repetitive pattern.

If you are not sure of what a pattern, harmony, rhythm or unity photo looks like, do a quick google image search.

Remember, at least 25 photos, keep your top 3.

17 August - 21 August (Lesson 5): Free Choice Photography.

Now you are at one with your camera, it is time to unleash your skills! Look at your top 3 photos from each week. Ask yourself, why were these your favourite photos? Is there a common connection between them all? Why are they working?

Now write down on a scrap piece of paper 4 things that made your photos great. Here are some examples:

-Great angle

-Really balanced

-Weird/interesting

-Has a story to it

-Looks really classy

-It looks abstract

Now, take your final 25 photos and try to outdo your previous top 3.

Lastly… Copy your overall to 3 photos onto your Google Class site.

Look at all the photos from the grade 5 students. One of them is a picture of Mr Hudson. Hope they help inspire you :)

Congratulations, hope you learnt something new and I hope you transfer your knowledge into future art classes J

24 -28 Aug: Being Assertive Salvador Dali Art project

Now that you have completed your SEL (Social and emotional learning which you will find in the SEL Tab), we are ready to link it to our Art!

Let's start our art.

Over the next 4 weeks, we are going to be creating Salvador Dali style Art pieces that relates to each SEL topic. Each week, we will be creating a new Art piece.

You will need:

A3 paper (or 2 A4s stuck together)

Pencil

Rubber

Internet for videos

Let's begin....

Watch the video to see who Salvador Dali is.
Now you know a bit about Salvador Dali, have a look at the images on the left hand side to see his style. Salvador Dali was part of the Surrealist Movement.

Surrealism is combining multiple strange images together. It combines normal images with strange images that don't make much sense (known as juxtaposing/juxtaposition). Look at the telephone image with the lobster. This is surrealism.

Salvador Dali is one the most famous modern surrealist collage artist.

Now watch the video on surrealism.

Now Draw

Watch the video on how to draw a Salvador Dali style image:

https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FH025Ekv6KVY&data=02%7C01%7Cnikki.olsen%40education.vic.gov.au%7C2543f7a13557410af62a08d83a8f3fe7%7Cd96cb3371a8744cfb69b3cec334a4c1f%7C0%7C0%7C637323734214399773&sdata=lX%2Fk75Uu%2FhdJYUoJ17noAbH45T8tI3TIiOKFa4zAeQI%3D&reserved=0

Now we're going to draw our own interpretation of this image from the video. This video shows how to draw a Salvador Dali style face but we are going to draw our own assertive face instead.

Look at the images of the faces on the left to help you.

When you draw this image ask yourself:

Is your Dali Face looking assertive?

Can't wait to see you artwork uploaded to Seesaw.

What you need to do:

1. Watch the video on Salvador Dali

2. Watch the video on Surrealism

3. Look at the images of Salvador Dali (on the left) and do a Wikipedia search on 'Salvador Dali’s Paintings’ to gain more information.

4. Watch the video on how to draw a 'Salvador Dali’ drawing. Your drawing of this image can look very similar to the Salvador Dali face on the left or your own interpretation but the face must look assertive!

31 Aug - 4 Sep: Recognising Bullying - Salvador Dali Art Project

Now that you have completed your SEL (Social and emotional learning which you will find in the SEL Tab), we are ready to link it to our Art!

Let's start our art.

This week, we are going to be creating a Salvador Dali art piece that relates to our SEL topic (Recognising Bullying).

As you know bullies try to dominate, overpower and stand taller over people they are trying to bully so we are going to draw Salvador Dali’s tall elephants.

To make our elephants look like an aggressor or bully, try to create features on the elephants face that make them look like a bully.

What You Need:

A3 paper (stick two A4s together).
Grey lead and coloured pencils.
Rubber.

What You Need To Do:

Watch the video on how to draw a 'Salvador Dali’ elephant drawing. Your drawing of this image can look very similar to the Salvador Dali elephants but the elephants face must look aggressive!

Can't wait to see you artwork uploaded to Seesaw.

Don't walk away when you see bullying (like these elephants).

Don't be a bystander. Stand up to bullies.

7 - 11 Sep: Don't be a Bystanders Art project

Now that you have completed your SEL (Social and emotional learning which you will find in the SEL Tab), we are ready to link it to our Art!

Let's start our art.

This week, we are going to be create our own Salvador Dali art piece that relates to our SEL topic (not being a bystander).

As you know bullies try to dominate, overpower and stand taller over people they are trying to bully so are going to draw standing up to bullies using Salvador Dali’s style.