Photography 1

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: None
Length: One trimester/one-half credit (may be repeated for credit)

Course Description

Students who take this course for the first time will be introduced to the basics of digital photography including: shutter speed, aperture, ISO, depth of field, camera operation, handling & safety, light quality & quantity, composition and professional photo editing software. Students who re-take this course develop and further their skills in digital photography, project-management, team-work and leadership. 

Students use Adobe’s Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator) and other photography software to create various independent and group projects with some of them benefiting the school and broader community.

Course qualifies for Fine Arts and Career & Tech credit.

Taken Photography before? Check here for the advanced assignments.

Required Material

  • OHHS Google Account
  • Chromebook or other type of computer
  • Digital Camera – can be checked out from the school

Course Resources

  • Nikon Website
  • Digital Photography School Website
  • Lynda.com
  • Adobe Website
  • other texts and websites applicable to the field

Course Calendar

Course Overview (tentative)

Daily Lessons

  1. Course Introduction
  2. What is Photography?
  3. What is a good photo?
  4. Introduction to Lightroom Web
  5. Camera Basics
  6. Aperture Part 1: Learn
  7. Aperture Part 2: Apply (combined with Lesson 6)
  8. Aperture Part 3: Importing Photos (combined with Lesson 6)
  9. Shutter Speed Part 1: Learn
  10. Shutter Speed Part 2: Apply
  11. How to motive yourself to do anything
  12. ISO Part 1: Learn (What does ISO control? How to control ISO?)
  13. ISO Part 2: Apply
  14. Careers in Photography
  15. Creating Great Images with your phone
  16. Exposure (How do SS, A and ISO work together?)
  17. Composition
  18. Lighting
  19. White Balance
  20. Focus
  21. Photography Keywords (Learn the language) –> includes test to check for understanding (Google Form)
  22. A Brief History of Photography
  23. Portfolio
  24. Ideation Process (How to come up with good ideas? Inspiration Toolbox)
  25. Introduction to Photopea
  26. Introduction to Adobe Mobile Apps
  27. Elements of Art & Principles of Design (Brief Overview)
  28. “Technical Stuff”
  29. Copyright
  30. Masters of Photography: Ansel Adams
  31. Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz
  32. Masters of Photography: Vivian Maier
  33. Portfolio Review

Daily Challenges

Instructions

  1. Your Distance+ Desk/Work-Area
  2. Something you love
  3. The color Red
  4. Fall
  5. Your favorite Shoes
  6. M is for …
  7. Super Close
  8. Shallow Depth of Field
  9. Deep Depth of Field
  10. Frozen Motion (everything in focus)
  11. Blurred Motion (background in focus, subject blurred)
  12. Lightpainting
  13. Zoom Effect (click here for tips)
  14. The Color Blue
  15. Texture
  16. Shapes
  17. Time
  18. What are you thankful for?
  19. Water
  20. Something Shiny
  21. Yourself
  22. Together
  23. Low Angle
  24. Abstract
  25. Eyes
  26. Broken

Other Ideas

  1. A pattern
  2. A plant
  3. High Angle
  4. Silhouette
  5. Into the Light
  6. Black & White
  7. What makes you smile?
  8. Signs
  9. Colorful
  10. Something New
  11. Panning (background blurred, subject in focus)