Photography-HS Independent Study

Photography

Welcome! The Independent Study Photography course is designed to allow students to explore the art of photography as it relates to traditional design elements as well as modern content. Students learn the foundational building blocks of creating pictures and will study the styles of photographic artists. Students will learn how content can be conveyed through the use of photographs. The class culminates with a large capstone style final project that will feature a photo essay or other large approved project that will relate to a social justice topic important to the student.

Syllabus

Assignments

#1: Research some famous art photographers. What do you like about their styles? What "topics" do they convey in their art? How can you use their style to inspire your own?

#2: Framing: Frames are used to draw attention to the subject or the important part of the piece of art. In photography, just about anything can be used as a frame. Using your own camera, practice framing the subject of your image using the things naturally near your subject (naturally or artificially arranged).

#3: Rule of Thirds: The rule of thirds is a compositional theory that implies that the most appealing images have the subject of their image placed at the intersection of the imaginary lines that form the rule of thirds. The composition would be divided into 3 x 3 and the four spots where those lines intersect, are the options of where to place the subject of your image. Create a composition using the rule of thirds.

#4: Color: : Color is one of the elements of art. In this assignment, you must create an art piece that clearly focuses on color being the subject of the piece.

#5: Texture: Texture is one of the elements of art. In this assignment, you must create a composition that features texture.

#6: Portraits: Portraits are a way for people to communicate who they are in a picture. Practice taking photos that reveal something unique about your subject. What makes them who they are? Try to capture that in a photograph.

#7: Point of View: The way we see things is different from everyone else. The angle we hold our cameras can capture things in a unique way that allows the viewer to see things like no one else has seen them before. Practice taking photos of things from a different angle. Get on the floor, shoot from above, try some different and unusual angles to photograph usual things.