The Heritage School Extended Day Program

Course Description:
This afterschool, two-afternoons-a-week course is designed for those students with little or no experience in photography. The student will learn the basic operations of the 35mm camera and workings of the black and white darkroom. By the end of the course they will be able to predict what happens when a subject in front of the lens is translated through lens, film, paper and chemistry. They will become aware of the diversity of photographic applications. They will learn to discuss images and image making.

The following will be covered in order to accomplish the above: the 35mm camera and its workings, film, film exposure and development, the darkroom, chemistry and safety in the darkroom, the enlarger, printing and finishing, mounting and displaying, print response and judgment. This information will be introduced in a series of exploratory exercises that increase in difficulty. Periodic exhibition of student work will be required.

Course Proficiencies:
The student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate facility with the common cameras and their basic operations.
2. Demonstrate mastery of film and print processing procedures and equipment.
3. Demonstrate and apply all laboratory safety procedures.
4. Identify a variety of photographic techniques and applications.
5. Demonstrate mastery of, and facility with, vocabulary appropriate to beginning photography.

1. Class assignments (craftsmanship, creativity).
2. Attendance.
3. Work habits and behavior.
4. Exhibition.

Lesson Plan #1

Lesson: Basic introduction to the camera and photography.

Activity: A class presentation of the basics of photography. Shutter speed, aperture, and film speed and their relationship to one another.

Objective: The students will have an understanding of the basic functions of photography.

Vocabulary:

Shutter speed Aperture/ f stop ASA/ ISO speed Emulsion/ base Density

Presentation: classroom presentation

Work period: 40 minutes

Evaluation: Does the student have an understanding of how a camera works, how film reacts to light, and the relationship of shutter, aperture, film speed?

Lesson Plan #2

Lesson: Intro dark room

Activity: Learning the basic gray scale

Objective: Students will learn that by making multiple exposures on a piece of photographic paper, they will create a gray scale. Students will learn the proper developing procedures for developing paper.

Materials: 5 x 7 paper. 8 x 10 cardboard or matte board

Presentation: Place negative carrier into enlarger without negative and raise enlarger heads all the way up. Set lens at f 16 and timer as short exposure as possible (1/2 sec if possible). With matte board, cover entire 5 x 7 except for 16th in. Make exposure. Move matte board 16th inch and make another exposure. Repeat until total paper is exposed. Demonstrate tray-developing procedure, covering developing time, fix time and wash. Demo print tongs and talk about contamination. Review safety procedures.

Work period: 40 minutes

Evaluation: Evaluate student's gray scale.

Lesson Plan #3

Lesson: Photogram

Activity: Cameraless photography

Objective: The student will learn to make images in the dark room without using a camera. The student will learn other photographers and artists have used the same techniques to create photographic works of art. The student will learn that by varying exposure times he/she will be able to get multiple shades of gray. The student will learn about making positives and negatives.

Materials: 5 x 7 photographic paper, many small found objects.

Presentation: Demonstrate the art of photograming and talk about other artists such as Man Ray who used these techniques to create their art. Demonstrate making positives from student's first photogram (negative). Show slides of photograms by both famous artists and students.

Work period: 4 - 6 classes

Evaluation: Student's positive and negative photograms.

Lesson Plan #4

Lesson: "First Time Out"

Introduction:
1. Choosing a subject
2. Anticipating a moment
3. Waiting for lighting conditions
4. Picking an effective angle
5. Discovering visual relationships

These are the basic elements you must consider when taking photographs. A successful photographic image comes down to what, when, where, and how you choose to photograph something or someone.

Your first assignment will provide you with the opportunity to investigate these concerns with your camera. To complete this assignment, each photograph must contain one of the following six conditions. Please shoot one picture for each situation.

1. Pattern of light and shadows.
2. A subject close to your camera relating to another subject further in the background.
3. A central, visually isolated subject.
4. A person at a distance of 4 feet or less, with his or her face NOT in the center of the frame.
5. Photograph something from above your head and below your knee height.
6. A person running, jumping, dancing, or otherwise VERY active, at a distance of no further than 8 - 10 feet from the camera.

This film is due on ____________________

Printing and presentation instructions will follow.

HAVE FUN!