Photography as Art In this class, students learn to use a digital camera as an artistic tool. While developing a diverse portfolio of work, creative and technical skills are acquired. The class is open to those in grades who have successfully completed either Introduction to Art or Drawing 1. A materials fee is required.

Rule of Thirds - 1 After lessons on depth of field, off centered auto focus, and ISO, students experiment with camera settings on a class walk. These images were composed using the rule of thirds.

Rule of Thirds - 2 Students follow-up the class walk choosing subject matter from a provided list. Both of these students chose Landscapes/Winona shots as subject matter for their images. Both students have utilized leading lines in their compositions while using the rule of thirds. The student to the left has also used framing. Both leading lines and framing are concepts also introduced in the course.

Plants, pets, hands/feet, architecture, and man made objects, are some of the other subject matter choices the student can work from while shooting for this assignment. Rule of Thirds - 2

On another class walk, students are required to focus intensely on subject matter and adjust camera settings as necessary. They are encouraged to crop in, consider shadows, reflections, unusual angles, abstracted qualities, and the rule of thirds as they compose and capture images. A Closer Awareness - 1

A Closer Awareness – 2 As a follow-up assignment students work outside of class further exploring their camera settings while cropping into chosen subject matter or considering unique surroundings and or conditions. The image on the left shows how cropping can create abstract compositions that hint at subject matter. The image on the right shows how lighting and shadows enhance and or alter a subject.

A Closer Awareness - 2 This shooting assignment requires the student to go beyond the ordinary in capturing exceptional images.

While taking pictures of friends and or family members students are challenged to create images that go beyond a frontal posed view. Portraits

In these images, friends were photographed from a unique angle. Portraits

The subjects appear to be unaware of the camera. Portraits Candid portraits feature the person in natural settings.

Framing and or the rule of thirds may also add interest to portrait images.

This student chose her sister as the subject for the portrait assignment. The images show how dramatic lighting can effect an image.

In this shooting assignment, students are challenged to create images that evoke moods, emotions, or feelings as they compose and select subject matter. Expressive Photography

Expressive Photography This assignment may also require that the student is ready with their camera for that “special moment”.

Photo Montage - Students are introduced to Adobe PhotoShop software and the art form of Photo Montage. Using their own photos, students recreate their work on the computer. Surrealistic, satirical or uniquely altered compositions are possible approaches.

Photo Montage may also produce “trick photography” images.

Theme Based Photography – In this assignment subject matter is motivated by a central idea. Jarod H.’s response to the 2011 PTSA Reflections Theme “Together We Can” received awards at both state and national levels. Maddie D.’s photo montage response to the 2011 “Water is Life” theme was selected to be on display at the regional competition.

Along with shooting assignments, students also complete in class art projects that relate to photography. >>>>>>>>>>>>

Expanded Photos, left, and Hand Altered /Hand Colored Photos shown below are two in class art projects introduced during the term.

Early in the term, students create and design a box folder, left, which becomes the enclosure for their course portfolio. The final portfolio, shown to the right, highlights mounted photos from each shooting assignment. It also includes a written self assessment addressing chosen work.

A book project utilizing student photographs is also introduced in this class. Shown are examples of book projects that have been studied in various sections of Photo as Art. Flag Books Carousel Books Tunnel Books Accordion Books

In this course students additionally learn the formal critique processes while analyzing their own and other’s work. At the end of the term students also work on a self directed independent project. These experiences have included the design and construction of picture frames, report writing on famous photographers, experimentation with film photography, advanced PhotoShop explorations, special effects with filters, experimentation with stop action, panned, or blurred motion photography, video and photo essays. Written work supplements artwork on this project. Upon successful completion of Photography as Art, students may enroll in Advanced Photography. Advanced Photography is open to juniors and seniors.