DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY I
Digital Photography I
Digital Photography introduces students to basic concepts for acquiring digital images and the process of manipulating images through Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom software. Students examine and practice the art of photography, while exploring the technical and stylistic aspects of digital photo making. By analyzing the work of other photographers, students investigate the various concepts, skills, and techniques used. Using Adobe software, students work with their own photographs in the digital realm applying what they learn to select, manipulate, display, and print their work.
Overview
Digital Photography I class offers an introductory exploration into the world of digital image acquisition and manipulation. Through the use of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom software, students learn the fundamental techniques of working with digital images.
The course places a strong emphasis on understanding and practicing the art of photography, allowing students to delve into both the technical and stylistic aspects of digital image creation. By studying the work of established photographers, students gain insights into the various concepts, skills, and techniques used in the field.
Hands-on experience is a key component of this class, as students use Nikon Cameras and Adobe software to work with their own photographs in the digital realm. They apply their newfound knowledge to select, manipulate, display, and even print their work. This class serves as a foundation for students to develop their skills and artistic vision in the realm of digital photography.
Student work
Scanography
Scanography is a unique form of art that involves creating images using a flatbed scanner as the camera.
Unlike traditional photography, scanography involves placing objects directly onto the scanner bed, where they are illuminated and captured in high resolution. This technique allows for highly detailed, crisp images with a distinctive, flat perspective.
Focusing on their own identity, students experiment with personal artifacts, including natural objects, everyday items, textiles etc. By arranging and layering objects on the scanner bed, students have the creative freedom to compose unique and visually captivating images.
Through scanography, students gain a deeper understanding of composition, texture, and lighting. They also learn how to use the scanner as a creative tool, manipulating settings to achieve desired effects.
Cyanotypes
Students learn about the cyanotype process, which involves coating a surface (usually paper) with a light-sensitive mixture of chemicals, primarily ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. When exposed to UV light, these chemicals react to produce the characteristic blue color.
Using pre treated sun print paper, students choose subjects that translate well to the cyanotype process. This could include objects with interesting textures, intricate details, or strong shapes even photo negatives. They will also explore composition principles like framing, balance, and focal points.
Light Exposure Techniques: Students will practice controlling exposure by varying factors like exposure time, distance from the light source, and the use of masking techniques. After exposure, students will wash their prints to remove unreacted chemicals. This process brings out the final blue tones and ensures the longevity of the image.
Shutter Speed
Students will be introduced to concepts such as freezing motion with fast shutter speeds and creating motion blur with slower shutter speeds.
Students capture a series of images that demonstrate their understanding of shutter speed. They will choose a subject or scenario where motion is involved, such as a moving vehicle, a person walking, or a flowing stream.
Fast Shutter Speed: Students will set their cameras to use a fast shutter speed (e.g., 1/1000 sec or higher) to freeze motion. This can be used to capture a moving subject in sharp detail.
Slow Shutter Speed: Students will experiment with slower shutter speeds (e.g., 1/30 sec or slower) to intentionally introduce motion blur. This can create a dynamic and artistic effect, especially with subjects that have repetitive or continuous motion.
Light Painting
Students are exploring the captivating art of light painting through the technique of long exposures. Long exposures involve keeping the camera's shutter open for an extended period, allowing for the capture of dynamic and ethereal light trails. Students will learn the basics of long exposure photography, understanding how extended exposure times impact the final image.
They experiment with various methods of creating light paintings, which may include using handheld light sources, LED lights, or even carefully choreographed movements with illuminated objects.
Students will select subjects and plan compositions that lend themselves well to light painting. Students gain practical experience in adjusting exposure settings such as aperture, ISO, and shutter speed to achieve the desired effect. They'll learn how these factors influence the appearance of light trails.
After capturing the images, students refine their light paintings through post-processing techniques. This step may include adjusting contrast, brightness, and fine-tuning colors.
Kaleidoscopes
Students employ Adobe Photoshop by transforming their original photographs into mesmerizing kaleidoscopic designs. This project combines technical skills with artistic vision, allowing students to reimagine their images in a visually captivating way
After an introduction to the concept of kaleidoscope art, showcasing examples and explaining how symmetrical patterns can be created from existing photographs, students choose their own original photographs as the foundation for their kaleidoscope designs. These images can be selected based on interesting textures, shapes, or patterns.
Students duplicate, rotate, and mirroring sections of the photograph to achieve the desired kaleidoscopic effect. Students will be encouraged to experiment with different techniques and settings within Photoshop to create unique kaleidoscope patterns. They can adjust parameters like rotation angle, symmetry, and blending modes to achieve diverse results.
Students will learn how to overlay textures or patterns onto their kaleidoscope images, adding depth and complexity to the final designs.
