Parish Episcopal School

Photography Program

 

Goals:

Ø       To cause students to fall in love with the visual arts, starting with photography

Ø       To teach students fundamental principles and techniques of the medium

Ø       To stimulate students to open their minds and think creatively

Ø       To provide a means of reflection, self expression and personal growth

Ø       To equip students with visual communication skills

Ø       To develop appreciation for the need to preserve individual and collective memory

Ø       To establish a visual link with history

Ø       To support school publications such as the yearbook by preparing students to produce quality images and assisting as applicable

Ø       To provide orientation and support for students who will prepare a portfolio for college and scholarship applications, AP credit and personal fulfillement.

 

 

Themes covered:

Ø       Photography History (in the context of art and visual communications history)

Ø       Masters of Photography – the great photographers, their style, importance and legacy

Ø       Great photographers today

Ø       Social and historical role of visual communications

Ø       Fields of Photography: Documentary, fine arts, photojournalism, portraiture, life-events, commercial

Ø       Learning how to critique a photograph

Ø       Composition principles

Ø       Traditional photography: camera types, film characteristics, output, darkroom techniques

Ø       Digital photography: capturing the image, file handling, digital darkroom editing

Ø       Graphic design –visual communication through digital imaging software.

 


 

Project Arsenal:

 

My Life Project >> comprehensive self portrait based on AmEx campaign >> 1 TRI

 

Digital Monograph >> Develop one theme as a monograph and produce a collection of 10 matted 8x0 photographs for exhibit >> 1 TRI

 

Textures and patterns >> traditional B&W / open aperture / play with light, shapes, textures and patterns >> goal >> familiarize students with SLR functions and darkroom

 

Favorite Photographer Paper >> digital or traditional

 

Landscapes >> traditional >> closed aperture // goal >> work on composition skills and technique for traditional B&W

 

Themes >> selected themes (substances/emotions/concepts/shapes, etc) for skill development >> Digital Photo 3 (bi-weekly draw from bowl at random)

 

Night photography with tripod >> traditional Photo 2 or Digital 3

 

Environmental Portraits >> traditional Photo 1

 

Studio Photography >> when we have a studio on campus >> traditional 3?

 

Still Life >> indoor/outdoor >> created compositions >> Traditional Photo 1

 

Photojournalistic assignments >> Yearbook Photojournalism

 

Collective montage >> body parts / architectural montage >> traditional 3

 

Individual cubist montage “a la David Hockney” >> traditional 3, or digital 3?

 

Abstract concepts >> extending the limits of photography >> digital 3 or AP

 

Color contrast >> digital 3 and or/AP

 

Polaroid transfers >> traditional 3 and/or AP

 

Polaroid Emulsion Lift >> traditional 3 and AP

 

Mixed media >> digital 3 and/or AP >> cotton rag prints with acrylic and pastels

 

Photo webpage >> automated function in photoshop >> Digital Photo 2&3

 

Image inspired by a song >> produce image(s) inspired by a favorite song/show in class with soundtrack

 

Appropriation >> select favorite photographer/painter/visual artist and produce a piece based on their style with your own interpretation

 

Illustrate a text >> select a favorite poem, song lyrics, short story or book and produce an image that illustrates that theme

 

Field trip >> class trip to Deep Ellum or other location in the Metroplex for creative/documentary photography

 

Field trip AP >> Day at museums in Fort Worth or Dallas Arts District depending on exhibits available.

 

Words and image collage >> create a layered digital montage with an original photograph and text (quotes or your own)

 

Tradigital print >> produce a traditional B&W image with full frame border on glossy paper.  Scan, optimize and edit in Photoshop and produce large print on Ink jet printer.

 

Polaroid transfer enlargement >> produce Polaroid transfer, emulsion lift (single or montage).  Scan, edit in PS and print on large inkjet paper.