In photography, there are several ideas behind the creation of a strong composition. The first of these is called the rule of thirds, which refers to breaking your frame into three parts either horizontally or vertically and weighting the composition along one side or the other and not fully centering every image. The second is called the golden ratio or golden spiral, putting more focus in the corners of the image and spiraling outward. Both are extremely successful but should be considered while photographing and not after the fact. Another major compositional technique is called leading lines—this refers to perspective or actual lines in the image leading to the part of the image you want your viewer to notice. It is essentially highlighting the important subject of your photograph. Last is framing--use natural framing (windows, doors, etc.) or make sure to compose your image how you want it to look while taking the photo and not later in post-production. Cropping is an option but it is always better to frame the image with intent. Assignment: Shoot between 25-50 images showing off the rule of thirds and a second compositional element from the above video (there are 8 more). You should be shooting brand new photos using your phone (hint: try keeping them in separate project folders on your phone to make life easier later on). You will be editing and passing in your best 10 photographs. Steps:
How to take better photos with your iPhone Here are some quick tips to maximize your photo taking success. 1. First things first...don't zoom! This adds a lot of digital noise to your image and instantly decreases quality. If you need to get closer I would crop something out in post-production rather than zoom in during the photo taking process. But better yet, physically get closer to your subject. 2. Don't use flash, if you need more light use a friend's phone to add "off-camera" lighting. 3. Try using the grid option on your camera to help compose your images (hello rule of thirds!). 4. Change your exposure. While taking a photo, click on the screen to focus and expose for your subject, when the box with the sun pops up slide your finger up or down to brighten or darken your image. Below is a quick video with 5 tips for making better iPhone photos.  A pinhole camera, also known as camera obscura, or "dark chamber", is a simple optical imaging device in the shape of a closed box or chamber. In one of its sides is a small hole which, via the rectilinear (straight lines) propagation of light, creates an image of the outside space on the opposite side of the box. Aristotle wrote about a rudimentary concept of the pinhole camera. Today, photographers continue to use pinhole cameras for artistic purposes. Many pinhole cameras can be bought (even pinhole kits can be purchased), but we are going to make ours from scratch! This week we have been making real working cameras out of a can of oatmeal, a piece of aluminum with a tiny hole poked into it, some paint, and a whole lot of tape. I promise these are real working cameras and they give a very nostalgic, almost dreamlike quality to the images. Here are a few examples of homemade pinhole cameras.    Objectives:
Materials:
Steps:
Grading Criteria: always refer to the BHS photography grading rubric Content
Tips to Get Started:
Start timing your exposures using this chart:
http://www.pinhole.cz/en/pinholecameras/whatis.html  Eleni Nacopoulos, class of 2011 Project Description: A pinhole camera, also known as camera obscura, or "dark chamber", is a simple optical imaging device in the shape of a closed box or chamber. In one of its sides is a small hole which, via the rectilinear (straight lines) propagation of light, creates an image of the outside space on the opposite side of the box. Aristotle wrote about a rudimentary concept of the pinhole camera. Today, photographers continue to use pinhole cameras for artistic purposes. Many pinhole cameras can be bought (even pinhole kits can be purchased), but we are going to make ours from scratch! Objectives:
Materials:
Steps:
Content
Tips to Get Started:
Start timing your exposures using this chart:
http://www.pinhole.cz/en/pinholecameras/whatis.html *Borrowed and adapted from Mr. Mistler's blog
 How do we see the world around us? If we start looking at the shapes created around us, we can start to see the letters of the alphabet emerge. This project will stretch your creative outlook on the "normal" world around you. Some letters are easier than others to see—I's and X's and T's are very common, but where can you see curved letters like C and S and M, or even O? For this project you are going to create an alphabet grid and spell out your name using the natural world as your alphabet. Assignment: You must first photograph the entire alphabet, A-Z, in nature. The natural elements can be man-made but cannot be actual letters written on a sign or wall. You will be creating an alphabet grid like the one pictured above using Adobe Photoshop, you will then create a poster of your name using the letters of your alphabet.  You will be passing in the following to the class google drive folder: - 1 alphabet grid - 1 name poster using your alphabet letters Steps: • Think outside of the norm and consider helping nature to create some letters—for example, S is very hard to find in nature but your shoelace is a perfect tool to make an s-shape. • Shadows can help to enhance a letterform, think of how this either adds to or takes away from the overall composition • If your name has two of the same letter you may want to consider photographing different options to make your name poster more interesting • I'd like to see natural elements but you can use man-made objects (i.e. bike wheels, lamp posts, brick buildings, etc.)              Nathan Siket :: class of 2016 Your final project is to choose two famous paintings and recreate them using any interpretation you think would be appropriate. The photography final is a major assessment with a personal explanation. The technical assessment will be worth 80% and the rationale will be worth 20%. You must approve your choices with me before you begin. You will pass in the recreations along side the original image (as seen in the gallery below). Things to think about:
Resources: Recreate A Famous Painting Pinterest board  A glitch is a momentary fault in a system. The last few years all of the photo I classes have played with the idea of glitching photographs that they made and we came up with some really awesome results. Glitching is fun and easy. To glitch, all you have to do is the following:
Assignment: You are creating 10 different glitched images. You can use photos you have already taken (but not ones you've passed in) or you can shoot new imagery for the project. You will be passing in your best 3 glitches and printing and mounting your favorite one. Steps:
If you glitch too much you may not be able to see the photo so take your time and check back on what you have done every once in a while by changing the extension back to jpg. If you like the glitch the way it is but want to play more, duplicate that photo and try making more changes again. You will have the option of doing Photoshop editing once you've finalized your glitch.  Richard Avedon What is a portrait? What makes an image of someone a portrait instead just a snapshot? Intention. For portraiture you need to make an interesting photograph of someone with intent. A portrait grabs our attention. People are fascinated by other people and since the advent of photography, images of people have saturated our lives. You cannot get through a day without seeing a portrait of someone, whether it be in advertisements, on walls, or on a Facebook profile. Almost all professional photographers have worked with people taking portraits. Artists to consider: Man Ray, Richard Avedon, Alfred Eisenstadt, Annie Liebowitz, Helmut Newton Assignment: Your assignment is to photograph multiple portraits using 50 frames. You must photograph: yourself (self-portrait), and then photograph someone else in three different settings: 1. in the studio with lighting (using either side lighting, back lighting, full lighting, bounce lighting, or a combination) 2. a full crop of the face (breaking the frame) 3. using natural light in an interesting setting. Be careful not to take a snapshot (Tell your friend to stand over there and smile brightly, saying “cheese”). Photography as a fine-art does not allow for snapshots or cheesiness. In this project you must focus on the figure. Try to express the personality and expression of your subject through photographs. Put your viewer in familiar situations, so they don’t think about the fact that they are being photographed. You must not forget about the background however, your subject should be complemented by his/her surroundings. You must turn in the following: 4 images uploaded to google classroom (the three of someone else and one self-portrait) and one final 8x10 print* of your favorite image. *A high quality print includes: Full range of values, pleasing composition utilizing the elements and principles, utilization of contrast (s-curve), manipulation of lighting. In addition, the print should be evenly mounted on black paper with all edges glued down. Steps:
PASS IN:
Objective: Use the studio to learn how to direct models/subjects to capture portraits. Use lighting to enhance and add emotion to imagery. Resource: Pinterest Board for portraits
Resource: Still life pinterest board, 5 lighting tips for beginners Assignment: Your assignment is to photograph 50 frames of a still life. You will pass in 3 high quality images to google classroom from the shoot and print your most successful still life. You will manipulate lighting. You will also learn about ISO and shooting with a tripod. One final 8x10 print must be mounted on the front of black paper. Steps:
PASS IN:
Objective: Use the camera to capture still life, both in studio and outside of the studio. Use lighting to enhance the image and shallow depth of field to focus on specific pieces of a composition. Resources: Still Life pinterest board  This project will be your first project in film and using the film cameras. There is a LOT to consider with film and you need to be more aware of your camera settings, composition, and focus. Your assignment is to find the beauty in nature through the use of pattern and texture. Pattern is identified as a repetition of a certain element or elements. Texture refers to the properties held by an external surface. Although we cannot actually feel the texture in a photograph, implied texture will give the viewer the feeling that he or she can actually reach in and touch the image. Assignment:
Grading Criteria:
Tips to Get Started: You should decide how you are going to frame your subject. Use the rule of thirds. Consider your outdoor lighting. Is it sunny or cloudy? You must use the focusing ring so you do not get blur. *Remember, do not use a shutter speed lower than 1/60th. Guiding Questions:
Resources:
Assignment: For this assignment you must study photograms and create two interesting compositions with objects (both transparent and opaque--natural and man-made) and cut paper. 2 Photograms must be passed in. They must contain different objects and look like two different compositions. Steps:
Tips:
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