Welcome to Intro to Photography class! We are going to have a great time together and we are going to learn a lot. I am so excited for us and I look forward to our time together this 12 weeks!

Course description: Great photography comes from a combination of being in the right place at the right time and on having a strong skillset to capture the moment. People who take consistently great photos have an understanding about the elements of great photography and technical knowledge of camera operations. This class is intended to provide the basic techniques and procedures for taking great pictures. We will learn basic camera operation (including shooting in manual mode), composition founded on design principles and elements, digital editing, and portfolio presentation. Students will use the techniques and projects presented to begin to develop their own photographic style.

Typical Class Schedule: 

I want to maximize our time together and give you a lot of class time to experiment and have fun with photography. I find this schedule works best for this class:

• Mondays and Tuesdays: These are days to introduce the weekly concept, to learn about cameras,  to work on our inspiration books, to share our work, and to participate in photography contests. Your inspiration book is due every Tuesday. It stays in my room.
• Wednesdays and Thursdays: You get time to take pictures and play with editing software. 
• Fridays: Your photography assignments are due on Fridays. Put on PowerPoint or Google Slide. Log into Canvas and turn them in and print a copy. Need more time? You can also use this day to work and turn it in by Sunday. Assignments will close after two weeks and they will not re-open.

PREPARATION AND WORK

• Please have a logbook or notebook to be used just for this class.  You will use this logbook daily for notes, assignments, and handouts. I will collect it from time to time and score it and to offer you feedback on reflections and creative projects.
• To be successful in this class, you will come to every class everyday prepared to work. We will have daily discussions on various aspects of photography, including technical details and style and structure, along with making connections to the larger purpose of the works. We will spend a lot of time on photography projects. This is not designed to be an on-line class and if you have major issues with attendance, it will be challenging to pass.
• If you are absent, I expect you to check Canvas for class materials and activities. I expect you to look at it if you are out for extended periods. I promise to always have the modules updated for you before the school week starts.
• It will be rare that I assign homework. When homework is assigned, students are expected to always come to class with evidence of having tried to do the work independently. If you do not understand a question or a piece of an assignment, do it in the way it makes sense to you. Perhaps your way may better.
• Photo of the day (optional but encouraged): Beginning today, make it your goal to make one photo every day on your cellphone that is significant to you. At the end of the day go through every photo you have taken, whether it is one or 500, and select the one that you want to remember that day by. Even if you have taken one hundred good photos that day, limit yourself to choosing the “one” (don’t delete the others, though). Save your “one” photo in a file called Significant Photo with the day’s date.

¡bienvenidos a la clase de Introducción a la Fotografía! Vamos a pasarlo muy bien juntos y vamos a aprender mucho. ¡Estoy muy emocionada por nosotros y espero con ansias nuestro tiempo juntos estas 12 semanas!

Descripción del curso: La gran fotografía proviene de una combinación de estar en el lugar correcto en el momento correcto y tener un gran conjunto de habilidades para capturar el momento. Las personas que toman buenas fotos consistentemente tienen una comprensión de los elementos de una gran fotografía y conocimiento técnico de las operaciones de la cámara. Esta clase está destinada a proporcionar las técnicas y procedimientos básicos para tomar excelentes fotografías. Aprenderemos el funcionamiento básico de la cámara (incluido el disparo en modo manual), la composición basada en principios y elementos de diseño, la edición digital y la presentación de carteras. Los estudiantes utilizarán las técnicas y proyectos presentados para comenzar a desarrollar su propio estilo fotográfico.

Horario típico de clases:

Quiero maximizar nuestro tiempo juntos y darte mucho tiempo de clase para experimentar y divertirte con la fotografía. Creo que este horario funciona mejor para esta clase:

Lunes y martes: Son días para introducir el concepto semanal, aprender sobre cámaras, trabajar en nuestros libros de inspiración, compartir nuestro trabajo y participar en concursos de fotografía. Tu libro de inspiración vence todos los martes. Se queda en mi habitación.
Miércoles y jueves: tienes tiempo para tomar fotos y jugar con el software de edición.
Viernes: Sus trabajos de fotografía vencen los viernes. Póngalo en PowerPoint o Google Slide. Inicie sesión en Canvas, entréguelos e imprima una copia. ¿Necesito mas tiempo? También puede usar este día para trabajar y entregarlo antes del domingo. Las asignaciones se cerrarán después de dos semanas y no se volverán a abrir.

TYPICAL BREAKDOWN OF GRADES*

The majority of a student’s grade is determined by earning points from assigned projects. All photography must be new, shot for this class and a majority of photos taken outside of the classroom to facilitate productive use of class time.  Reflection and goal setting are also critical element of growth in this class.

• Assignments/ Projects (photo of the day, creative projects, inspiration journals, reflections, published work) = 80%
• Participation/ Professional skills (a weekly grade for engaging actively in small and large group conversations, for bringing in new ideas and insights to share, for class leadership, and for on-task behavior. Unauthorized cell phone use will equal points lost for the week.) 20%

* The grades are roughly broken down this way to ensure that there is a fair balance between the kind of work that is done and the grades that are received.  Therefore, I reserve the right to adjust percentages if workloads shift at any point in the trimester.

MY DOOR IS OPEN TO YOU:

MY CLASSROOM IS YOUR SANCTUARY. I have an open classroom during lunch. If you need a quiet place to work, read, study, rest or unwind, come on in.  I will give you the space you need. My only request is that you give others the space they need in here too.

After school I am here most days (except Fridays) until at least 3:00, often later. If you need help with assignments or a quiet place to work, come on in. The only request I have is that you let me know if you need me to work with you so I do not schedule meetings with others. If you do not see me in room 206, look for me in the library.

Disclaimer for Photography Students
You currently will have access to, and will be entrusted with, the use of equipment not largely available to other students. This is a privilege which comes with elevated responsibilities. Be aware that you could be held liable for any damage that occurs to this equipment, through negligence or abuse, while in your possession. That means if things break because you are mistreating the tools, you could be made to pay for the damages. Please treasure the equipment and inform me IMMEDIATELY if you are noticing issues with any of your equipment, to help avoid this unpleasant situation.

• In order to use this equipment, you must sign a digital camera user agreement. No cameras will be signed out to you without a signature on this form.

MI PUERTA ESTÁ ABIERTA PARA USTEDES:

MI AULA ES TU SANTUARIO. Tengo un salón de clases abierto durante el almuerzo. Si necesitas un lugar tranquilo para trabajar, leer, estudiar, descansar o desconectar, acércate. Te daré el espacio que necesitas. Mi única petición es que les des a los demás el espacio que necesitan aquí también.

Después de la escuela estoy aquí la mayoría de los días (excepto los viernes) hasta al menos las 3:00, a menudo más tarde. Si necesita ayuda con las tareas o un lugar tranquilo para trabajar, acérquese. El único pedido que tengo es que me informe si necesita que trabaje con usted para no programar reuniones con otros. Si no me ves en la habitación 206, búscame en la biblioteca.

Descargo de responsabilidad para estudiantes de fotografía
Actualmente tendrá acceso y se le confiará el uso de equipos que no están disponibles en gran medida para otros estudiantes. Este es un privilegio que viene con responsabilidades elevadas. Tenga en cuenta que podría ser considerado responsable de cualquier daño que se produzca en este equipo, por negligencia o abuso, mientras esté en su posesión. Eso significa que si las cosas se rompen porque está maltratando las herramientas, es posible que deba pagar los daños. Atesore el equipo e infórmeme INMEDIATAMENTE si nota problemas con alguno de sus equipos, para ayudar a evitar esta situación desagradable.

Para usar este equipo, debe firmar un acuerdo de usuario de cámara digital. No se le asignará ninguna cámara sin una firma en este formulario.

Have Questions? Need anything? Reach out...

Amy Charles (she/her)

amy.charles@rentonschools.us