This is an advanced course in photography. You will review functions of the camera; including shutter speed, f-stop, and how these work together. You will review the process of exposure and image processing. You will review the technical aspects of printing black and white and color files. You will be introduced to advanced compositional skills and aesthetics of both shooting and printing photographs. You will participate in class critiques where your assignments will be discussed both technically and aesthetically. A large portion of the class will be spent working as if you were an actual professional photographer. You will be given a variety of commercial assignments.

1. To implement sound design elements and principles in a creative fashion
2. Create digital images using digital cameras.
3. To be able to identify and utilize appropriate file compression standards.
4. To create composite images.
5. To understand various output options.
6. To color correct and retouch digital images.
7. Begin to identify and develop you own photography style.
8. Identify and develop the skills required to run a successful photography business.
9. To use Photoshop's advanced features like actions and batch commands.

Evaluation is based on the following requirements:
1. Attendance
2. Project evaluation
3. Quizzes (normal weight grade)
4. Written and performance test(s) over book(s), readings, and lectures, etc. (normal weight grade)
5.Portfolio (normal weight grade)

Late assignments will be accepted for one week after their due date (the grade will be reduced one full letter). If assignments are more than one week late they will receive no credit.

You can redo your projects to improve their grades (not tests and quizzes).

1. After the critique, you and I will look at your image(s). I'll make suggestions and show you ways to correct any problems. I will give it an "as is" grade.

2. If you make corrections I will regrade it and you will receive the new grade. The goal is to help you create great looking work.

What letter grades mean to me:

A - Your assignment is great. Much better than average-above and beyond the call of duty.
B - Your assignment is above average. More than the minimum. Really looks good.
C - An average grade. Your assignment possesses the minimum requirements. No errors or omissions.It is in focus, not blurry, and has good exposure.
D - Below average grade. Your assignment does not possess the minimum requirements (bad focus, bad exposure, inappropriate subject).There are errors or omissions.
F - You didn't do the assignment or it was really, really, bad

I follow the school tardy policy.

You will be doing most of your photography at home with your digital camera. You will have a new assignment the first day of each week.The pictures need to be taken by the first day of the next week. That way you will have a week to shoot that includes a weekend.

If you check out a camera for an in class exercise or to use in the studio you are responsible for it until it returns to my hands.

No music devices during class.The first offence is a reminder, the second time I'll take it and one of your parents will have to pick it up from school.

File management/backing up (make a folder on your server space named -Photo. In that folder make a folder for each assignment. Name the assignment folders the first 3 or 4 letters of the assignment name and your last name example: compwilson (for the composition assignment). In the assignment folder should be the finished high rez jpegs-nothing else. Name the finished files what the online assignment sheet indicates. You will need all of your assignment files at the end of the semester for your portfolio.

Back-up your Photo folder every week or two. Servers go down. You would lose all of your work for the semester. You can back up to:

1. Flash drive if you have one, then move the files to your home computer.

2. Burn them to a CD in class (don't lose the CD, I'll store it for you if you like).

3. Save them to your iPod or music player.

Unless your files are in 2 different places, they are not secure. It's not if you will lose them, its when. As a teacher I have seen it happen dozens of times. If your files vanish you will need to redo them - not fun : ( It is not the computers fault, it is your fault for not backing them up). When you tell me you don't have your assignment done because the computer messed-up I will refer you to this paragraph.

I had a hard drive go bad this summer that had 50 thousand pictures on it. Did I have a back-up? Yep : ) But if I didn't I would have been cryin' : (

Exercises/Mini Lecture -You will be doing a photography related exercise or listening to a mini lecture at the beginning of each period. It will be a real world application of a technique you learn in class or additional info to improve your photography. The topic will be determined by the needs observed in class. If there is something that you would like covered, let me know.

Leaving the classroom

1. If you need to go to the bathroom sign out and in on the sign out sheet and bring the pass with you.
2. If you want to go anywhere else, check with me first, then sign in and out (bring the pass with you).

If you leave the class without permission ( signing out, and/or checking with me first ) you will be marked absent.

The photo classroom is never a study hall. All activities must be photo related.

It is not OK to go to vending machines during class time.

Please don't use the class computers for conducting personal or commercial business.

Please respect school and student materials.

All assignments need to be shot and processed by you after the assignment is given. Don't use your old photos for our assignments. Don't use pictures from old assignments for new assignments. You must shoot and process your own work.

Turning in another student or persons work as you own is plagiarism . It will be dealt with as outlined in the student manual.

As the semester progresses I will be changing things in the weekly schedule.

Learning
This is how things work in the Photography Lab.

1. Instructional Input-Class lecture, info to read etc. The theory for what you are about to learn.
2. Modeling-Showing you how to do something, things I show you in the classroom.
3. Guided Practice-Helping you with projects, assignments, etc.
4. Independent Practice-This is where the actual learning occurs. It is you doing it by yourself. If someone is helping you it isn't independent practice. No independent practice, no learning. YOU need to do the independent practice. If you feel like you aren't learning it may be because you aren't doing enough independent practice.

CLASS CULTURE

All classes and teachers are different. These are some things that are "really" important to me.

I expect the room to be silent when I am speaking or demonstrating.

I expect the room to be silent when you are speaking or presenting.

I want you to create exceptional photographs, not average photographs. Digital imaging has created a wonderful opportunity for fast and easy revision. Redoing things is part of the process. Don't expect to get it right the first time. Leave time for revising.

Read the web site daily. I will be making updates weekly. The web site is an integral part of the class. I use it instead of a text or handouts. Don't print out the web site at the beginning of the semester, it will be out of date by week 2.

NOTE:
As you know I teach three different levels of photography each period: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. The only way this can work is if you follow the web site. Do whatever the web site tells you to do. If after reading the web site you have questions - ask me, I'm more than happy to help. I need to spend the majority of my time with the beginning students. If you follow the web site everything will be fine. If you don't, and wait for me to tell you what to do, you will get left behind.

The shooting room is for shooting. Your classroom is the same as the beginning students.

The Intermediate and advanced students will be doing the same assignments the first few weeks of the semester.This should ensure that you all have the skills you need to do the more advanced assignments. You all come to these classes with different skills and abilities (different teachers, different classes, different schools, changes I make from year to year as we get new equipment) this should put you all on the same playing field.

Our photo program is articulated with Clover Park Voc Tech. Even if you don't plan on going to Clover Park, those college credits can usually transfer to other colleges. See me for more details.

School Master Calendar

First day of the week:

A video overview of what you will be doing this semester:

OK, maybe not exactly, but it's interesting to see how things have changed in 50 years. I will be putting up some tutorial and lecture videos as we go along. I'd like you to see if this video works at home.

The photo programs at GHHS and PHS are based on the state guidelines for commercial photography. By the end of this semester you should know everything that is outlined (read through pages 8 -10) in this document.

You have all arrived at this class by different paths. You aren't all starting with the same abilities and skills. The first thing we need to do is assess where you are and what you need to do to before you begin the advanced projects.

1. Pass the intermediate PS test. This might take a day or it might take a week. Bring the videos home if you need to.

There should be tutorial videos on the computers. If not, let me know.

2. Here are the camera instructions. Mostly they are from the class camera manual. Find the answers to any questions you didn't know. If you can't figure it out from reading about it, and experimenting with the camera, ask me to help you. When you think you can answer all 20 questions without help I will test you to be sure. I will pull up the web page and ask you to show me how to do everthing that is there.
Read through this info at home if you need to.

There are 2 different models of cameras. There will be some differences,but they are basically the same.

I made a DVD explaining all of the controls on the digital SLR cameras (full screen video).

Get one from me and watch it a couple of times. Bring some headphones so you can listen to it.

Here is a 2 part web size version. It will be easier to watch the DVD but the web version is OK for review.

Part 1

Part 2

Exposure video

Exposure modes.You really need to know the difference between, AV, TV, and Manual.

To review, everyone needs to know what I consider to be the Photoshop basics (covered in #1 above), and camera basics (covered in # 2 above).

After you can do those things move on to the assignments.

Camera safety tips:

1. Always use the camera strap.

2. Ask your teacher for a camera. The camera cabinets are off limits to students. When you check out a camera write your name and the last 2 numbers of the serial number on the check-out list.

3. Return the camera and card to your teacher at the end of the period. The teacher needs to sign you off. Don't leave the camera unattended.

4. Turn off the camera before inserting or removing the memory card. Be careful when inserting the memory card. If it doesn't go in easily, take it out and try again. Ask for help if you have trouble.

5.If you check out a camera for the period, don't give it to someone else to use until you check it back in.

6. Don't place the camera on the edge of the table (so people don't bump into it and knock the camera off the table). Keep the camera strap from draping over the edge of a table.

7. Don't let the camera get wet.

Middle of the week: Continue above

School Master Calendar

First day of the week:

Read this stuff. Be sure you understand everything. If not ask me for help.

Aperture: One of the components of exposure.The aperture is an opening in the lens. The opening is controlled by a diaphragm that is made up of a variety of adjustable metal blades on modern lenses. The early apertures were a series of small holes that increased in size and ran around the outside of a circular piece of metal. The aperture controls the depth of field and how much light enters the camera.

For the purpose of this class we will consider the aperture options or settings as being: 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22. In the real world there may be more numbers at each end as well as intermediate settings between the numbers listed.The numbers listed are considered full "stops".

Some depth of field examples: examples 1 examples 2

Depth of field video

Shutter Speed: One of the components of exposure. The shutter speed determines the length of time light enters the camera--the longer the time, the more light enters. It also controls how sharp or blurry your photograph is. It is controlled by either an electronic or mechanical shutter. It is usually in the camera directly behind the lens but is also sometimes housed in the lens itself. On early cameras the shutter was a lens cap that was placed over the lens.For our pinhole cameras the shutter will be a piece of electrical tape.

For the purpose of this class we will consider the shutter speed options or settings as being: 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, of a second. Like the aperture setting in the real world there are more numbers at each end of the scale as well as intermediate shutter speed settings. The numbers listed are considered full "stops".

Read and understand the following five links.I want to discuss each of them individually or as a group after you read them. Find me when you are ready

Read this about ISO

Read this about shutter speed and aperture

Read this about exposure controls

Read about the shutter

Read about the aperture

Exposure: It is controlled by two things: shutter speed (how long the light is contacting the imager), aperture (how wide the opening is in the lens the light is coming through). It is the amount of light coming into the camera -- usually measured by either an internal light meter, or a hand-held light meter.The film (or imaging sensor on a digital camera) needs a particular amount of light to be properly exposed. Too much light and it will be over exposed, too little light and it will be under exposed. If you go back to our ever expand water analogy it goes something like this: the aperture is like the size of the opening in a faucet. A larger faucet will release more water than a smaller faucet in a given amount of time. The shutter speed is like the amount of time you leave the faucet on--the longer it is on the more water will come out given the same size opening. The ISO is like a bucket under the faucet. The higher the ISO the smaller the bucket. The smaller the bucket the less water is needed to fill it up. Confusion arises when you are changing more than one variable at a time.

Some shutter speed examples: examples 1

ISO: On a film camera it is also referred to as film speed. It indicates the speed or light sensitivity of the film or imager. Larger numbers indicate faster film or a more sensitive imager. The larger the number, the less light is needed for proper exposure. Faster film usually has larger grain (the little dots-film grain- that make up the photograph). On a digital camera higher ISO settings turn up the gain - like electrical volume-on the sensor creating more noise (also looks like small colored dots). Some common setting are: 50, 100, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200. The larger the number, the more sensitive the imager is to light--meaning it needs less light to be properly exposed.

Additional exposure info: short courses

If some of the photo vocabulary is unfamiliar to you , look up the words here: vocabulary

Be sure you can answer these questions.

Exposure video

Exposure modes.You really need to know the difference between, AV, TV, and Manual.

To review, everyone needs to know what I consider to be the Photoshop basics (covered in #1 above), and camera basics (covered in # 2 above).

WEEK 3 – Sept 15 - 19

School Master Calendar

Intro to Photoshop notes

Listen to the "Is Art Important?" Podcast. We will discuss it the next time I see you. If you don't want to discuss it you can always write about it : )

Discussion topic: Studio lighting /camera meter.

Studio exercise: Take some pictures in the studio of each other. I want each of you to have at least 5 good head shots with different poses using at least 2 different backgrounds. Each person needs to light, meter, and shoot their own shots. Like everything you do, they should be your very best. Work with the andavced students if there are any.

This isn't a graded assignment, but I still want to see the finished pictures. We will discuss what worked well and what didn't work well.

These 4 guys do nice work. Steal some ideas from them. Try to make your pictures look like theirs. Be sure the eyes (near eye if the face is at an angle) are in focus, and the highlights aren't burned out. Shoot for an 8x10 aspect ratio. Ask me why.

Kevin Major Howard

Chris Macke

Mark Robert Halper

Peter Hurley

Head Shot Assignment - Due by the end of week 5.

Flash Meter manual

Flash meter video

The person is using the same meter we have in class. He is using a second light for a fill instead of a reflector, but everything works the same way.

In case you don't know, the camera should be turned off before you remove or inset the memory card, if you don't the camera or card could be damaged.

School Master Calendar

Try using Rick's top ten tips

First day of the week: Keep working on the headshots. Let me know when you are done. I want everybody to be done with them this week so we can move on.

Read this, try this about getting rid of red in skin (really common problem).

Last day of the week: Headshot critique.

First day of the week: Time to split off from the intermediate students. See me first thing this week so we can make a plan.

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First day of the week: work on current assignments.

Middle of the week: work on current assignments.

WEEK 8 – Oct 20 - 24

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Good Contemporary Photographers

Dark Chamber

A Lot of History

George Eastman House

PBS Photography

Glazers

B&H

DP Review

Using Your Digital Camera

Color Information

Communication Arts

Webster

Google Groups

Photo Links

GHHS room 312