1. Photography as Art In this class, students learn to use a digital camera as an artistic tool. While developing a diverse portfolio of work, creative and technical skills are acquired. The class is open to those in grades 10-12 who have successfully completed either Introduction to Art or Drawing 1.

2. Outdoor Photography Shooting Landscapes - 1 After lessons on Depth of Field, Rule of Thirds and ISO, students experiment with camera settings on a class walk.

3. Outdoor Photography Shooting Landscapes - 2 Students follow-up the class walk with Winona Shots/Landscapes taken outside of class. Both students have utilized leading lines in their compositions. The student to the left has also introduced framing. These concepts are introduced early in class lessons.

4. Winona Shots/Landscapes are open to interpretation.

5. On the initial class walk, students are also required to focus more closely on nature and adjust camera settings as necessary. They are encouraged to crop in considering shadows, reflections, unusual angles, abstracted qualities and the Rule of Thirds as they compose. Outdoor Photography A Closer Focus on Nature - 1

6. Outdoor Photography A Closer Focus on Nature - 2 As a follow-up assignment students work outside of class further exploring their camera settings while cropping into chosen subject matter. The image on the left shows how cropping can create abstract compositions that hint at subject matter.

7. Outdoor Photography A Closer Focus on Nature - 2

8. Outdoor Photography A Closer Focus on Nature Note, weather conditions may require that some of the concepts in this unit be applied to indoor subjects. Outdoors is preferred due to lighting factors.

9. Portraits - while taking pictures of friends and or family members… students are required to create images that go beyond a frontal posed view.

10. In these portraits, subjects were approached from a unique angle.

11. Candid portraits feature the subject in natural settings.

12. Framing, above, and Cropping, below, may also enhance portrait photography.

13. In this shooting assignment, students are challenged to create images that evoke moods, emotions or feelings as they compose and select subject matter. Expressive Photography -

14. Expressive Photography This assignment may also require that the student is ready with their camera for that “special moment”.

15. Photo Montage - Students are introduced to Adobe PhotoShop software and the art form of Photo Montage. Using their own photos, students recreate their work on the computer. Surrealistic, satirical or uniquely altered compositions are possible approaches.

16. Photo Montage may also produce “trick photography” images.

17. Theme Based Photography – In this assignment subject matter is motivated by a central idea. Jarod H.’s response to the 2011 PTSA Reflections Theme “Together We Can” received awards at both state and national levels. Maddie D.’s photo montage response to the 2011 “Water is Life” theme was selected to be on display at the regional competition.

18. Along with shooting assignments, students also complete in class art projects that relate to photography.

19. Expanded Photos, left, and Hand Altered /Hand Colored Photos shown below are two in class art projects introduced during the term.

20. Early in the quarter, students create and design a box folder, left, which becomes the enclosure for their course portfolio. The final portfolio, shown to the right, highlights mounted photos from each shooting assignment. It also includes a written self assessment addressing chosen work.

21. A book project utilizing student photographs will be introduced under the direction of Jill Krase, a Winona area book artist. This term flag books will be explored as part of the Artists in Residency Education Grant project.

22. Previous Photo as Art books introduced through this artist in residency project have included Carousel, Tunnel and Accordion Books:

23. At the end of the term students also work on a self directed independent project. These experiences have included the design and construction of picture frames, report writing on famous photographers, experimentation with film photography, advanced PhotoShop explorations, special effects with filters, experimentation with stop action, panned, or blurred motion photography, video and photo essays. Written work supplements artwork on this project. Upon successful completion of Photography as Art, students may enroll in Advanced Photography. Advanced Photography is open to juniors and seniors. If you have any questions regarding course content, requirements, equipment, supplies… contact Barb Walker at: barbara.walker@winona.k12.mn.us