Isfeld Advanced Photography

 Intro to Photo 11/12

Photography is not about the camera but how you use the camera. You can have an expensive camera and still take bad pictures. The focus of this course is not on the many technical aspects of how to use a camera but rather on how to compose great shots and extending your knowledge into creating using photography as a medium. 

We will be learning how to use and expand the use of Photoshop and other editing programs to create advertising, a magazine cover, videos, and conceptual photographic art. ( more for grade 12's )

The visual world is becoming part of our everyday life. Most people on the internet are focused on photos and video to get across ideas. Logos and photos are an instant way for people to get an idea across. It is important for young people to be able to navigate the ever increasing world of visual literacy.

Requirements of this course:

• a decent digital slr or camera phone for taking photos, school cameras will be allowed to go home with permission.
• a usb drive and/or an extra phone cord for use at school for transferring photos 
• a card reader/phone cable at school for transferring photos to the school computer
• a 16 gb card that can be used for taking photos with the school camera
• the ability to use some of your time to take photos outside of school 
• a desire to learn and grow through digital media
• ability to work with others and be a good model
• time management skills
• You may want to install the Flickr app on your phone for faster digital uploads, but this is not a requirement

Assessment:

This course is assessed based on student's ability to push boundaries, meet assignment deadlines and progress in their ability to become better photographers/videographers and visual artists. Students are expected to push themselves at the level they are at to improve and produce quality work. A high standard is expected, and poor quality work will not be accepted. You will be asked to Re-do an assignment if it does not meet expectations. 

FYI:

Photos showing as HEIC instead of JPEG/JPG Sync uploads the photos as they are saved on the device. With the release of iOS 11, Apple replaced JPEG with a new image format called HEIC.To set your Apple devices to take photos in JPEG/JPG instead of HEIC:

Go to Settings,Tap Camera,Tap Formats,Tap Most Compatible

Write up and hand in

Name, grade, type of photography you like, what you want to learn this semester, and anything I should know...job, strengths and areas needing improvement, trouble meeting deadlines, learning difficulties etc

Group brainstorm: How is Photography used in our world today?

As photographers and videographers we are learning to embrace the technology for multiple uses in our world. List some of the potential jobs someone with photo experience could get...or put another way what jobs involve a photo or videography skillset?

 Click on this LINK: Check out these new Flickr Groups to help keep you inspired

Composition is the strongest way of seeing. —Edward Weston

A good photograph is knowing where to stand. —Ansel Adams

Composition noun com·po·si·tion : the way in which something is put together or arranged : the combination of parts or elements that make up something.

Welcome to the wonderful world of photographic composition. In its most general terms, photographic composition is the art of composing an image through framing. And there exists the problem. How is it that one thing that almost everyone agrees is critical to the success of a photograph is completely subjective—an art unto itself? Composition is in the eye of the artist, however we know there are many techniques to help with good composition.

You Create Composition

There are three basic ingredients to a good photographer: knowledge of camera, an eye for composition, and artistic vision.

Today’s cameras have such amazing technology that they can do everything but make a great photograph for you. That “but” refers to composition. Composition is the aspect of the medium that is 100% dependent on your efforts as the photographer. It is the one part of photography that the camera cannot do on its own. Therefore, good composition is not something that can be achieved by expensive photography gear alone. Along the same lines, you may have the most astute eye on the planet, but, without the aptitude to effectively use your camera, you may lack the ability to make the photograph that you perceive in your mind’s eye. Photography is a technically based art form. Even the world’s best composition can be ruined because the image is out of focus, badly over- or underexposed, or the victim of some poorly chosen camera settings.