Photography 1: Introduction to Photography

Howard High School

Mr. Hensley & Mr. Hanson

Course Description:
In this course, students apply the language of art in producing fine art photographs. Primary experiences will
concentrate upon the use of a 35mm single lens reflex camera, film processing, darkroom techniques, print ma-
nipulation and the presentation of work. Technical skills evolve through the introduction of pinhole photography
and contact printing. Experiences throughout the course will include composing, exposing, processing, enlarg-
ing images in the darkroom, and basic experiences in digital imaging.

Course Objectives:
1. Identify characteristics and appropriate use of equipment, materials, and processes in making traditional
black and white and digital photographs.
2. Analyze and compare ways master photographers find and interpret subject matter to support an idea or
theme through the use of the stages of description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment.
3. Recognize various conceptual approaches used by master photographers for personal and public audiences
to elicit an emotional response to cultural situations.
4. Maintain an image bank/ sketchbook / visual journal, for the collection and analysis of image characteris-
tics and idea generation.
5. Construct and practice the use of early photographic techniques, including pinhole photography,
cliché-verre, and photograms.
6. Demonstrate the appropriate use of 35mm single lens reflex and / or range finder camera to control exposure.
7. Utilize basic black and white photographic processes including composing, exposing, processing, enlarg-
ing images in the darkroom, and presenting images.
8. Manipulate and modify a variety of conceptual and personal approaches master photographers use to com-
pose their subjects.
9. Utilize basic digital imaging equipment and software in the production of photographic work.

Required Materials:
1 inch 3 ring binder. The binder will be used for storing negatives, taking notes and sketching out ideas to solve
creative problems throughout the school year.

Suggested Materials:
35 mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Camera with MANUAL focus and exposure settings. Having a camera is
not required for this course, however it is extremely helpful to the student. Ask parents, aunts, uncles,
family, neighbors, etc. to borrow one for the class. If you are looking to purchase one, I recommend shopping
on ebay for a pentax k1000.
Studio Guidelines:
All students are expected to observe and adhere to all policies defined in the Student Agenda Book regarding
lateness and conduct. Lateness will not be tolerated. As a studio class, attendance and promptness are critical to
the success of the student in Photo I. Students are expected to maintain the studio and darkroom. The develop-
ing, enlarging and printing of black and white images takes place in the classroom and in the darkroom, where
chemicals are used and stored. It is very important that students are serious and thoughtful about their behavior
and actions. Dangerous or inappropriate behaviors will result in the loss of darkroom time. Students are respon-
sible to be where they are assigned during the class period. Students are expected to participate in class discus-
sions, critiques and activities.
Sequence Contact Person Consequence

Teacher Warning
1st offense Teacher
and Parental Contact
Detention and
2nd offense Teacher
Parental Contact
Grade Level Assigned Consequence
3rd offense Administrator and Parental Contact
Grade Level Assigned Consequence
4th offense PBIS Leader and Parental Contact
Grade Level Assigned Consequence
5th offense Administrator and Parental Contact

Photography / Darkroom Equipment Guidelines:

Because photography requires the use of many expensive, complex equipment and tools, you must treat all tools
(cameras, enlargers, filters, darkroom equipment, chemistry, computers, dry-mount press, etc.) with utmost care
and respect. Equipment that can be signed out for out-of-school use is used at your discretion. The cost of lost,
damaged, or broken cameras, tripods, etc. will be the responsibility of the student who signed out the equip-
ment. Failure to comply with proper use and responsibility of any or all photographic tools and equipment will
result in a phone call home and may result in loss of privileges in signing out or using the equipment.
Photo equipment can be signed out for 5 days, (if one student signs out), or 10 days (if two students team-up).
For each day past the date the equipment must be returned, the student will be penalized 5 points of his/her
grade for that assignment.

Photography Problem Structure:

We will assess each photo problem while it’s in progress and/or when it is complete by way of many different
methods. These methods may include: written reflections, individual critiques, peer critiques, or (most often)
group critiques. Intelligent, thoughtful, and open-minded participation in the assessment process is mandatory,
and will affect your marking period grade, (see below).
Step 1: Introduction of a New Shooting Assignment. To begin, the instructor will present works by exemplar
photographers and previous students that model strong solutions to the problem. Often students will critically
analyze the works, and engage in discussions about them together in class. Then a portion of class time will
be used to generate ideas for their own solutions to the new problem in their sketchbooks. All artist exemplars,
handouts, and other information regarding lessons are available on the Photo 1 classroom blog:
www.howardphoto1.blogspot.com
Step 2: Thumbnail Sketches and Written Proposals. Occasionally, students will be asked to “previsualize”
solutions to a problem by creating sketches along with any written reflection/ideas in their sketchbook.
Step 3: Contact Sheets & In-Progress Critiques. After students process their film and make a contact expo-
sure of these images, the student will have an independent in-progress critique/reflection to help the student
decide which negatives to print. Occasionally these in-progress critiques will count for a grade.
Step 4: Final Class Critique. The final assessment of a student’s artwork will take place during a final class
critique. The final critique is designed to allow students to personally reflect on the success of their own work,
as well as their peers.
During the final critique, students will:
1) Evaluate and score their final works using the assigned criteria.
2) Participate in the final critique by responding to a written reflection and sharing their thoughts.
3) Students will receive a separate grade for their participation in the critique. Students who are illegally absent
the day of the critique will receive a zero for this participation grade. Students who are legally absent that day
will receive an “incomplete,” (will not go against grade) as final class critiques cannot be rescheduled.
Step 5: Teacher Assessment. Lastly, the instructor will grade the work based upon the assigned criteria. I will
collect the work, along with the critique sheet at the end of the final class critique. The grade sheet I will use
will be the same as the one the student uses during the critique. Every assignment will be graded using the
criteria described below.

Grading Criteria:
Objective – Successfully solving the problem in a unique or elegant way. Critical thinking, brainstorming, and
the concepts expressed through the work will be assessed in this category.
Studio Skills – Handling/using the photographic tools and equipment in a way that helps effectively commu-
nicate the student’s solution to the problem. Studio skills may include actual physical processes like “correctly
selecting the right aperture and shutter speed on the camera,” as well as implied skills like “demonstrating cor-
rect application of principles of composition.” A student’s management of studio time and care for all classroom
studio materials will also be assessed in this category.
Craftsmanship / Presentation – Neatness and respect for your work should be evident in the appearance of a
completed assignment. This grade addresses overall presentation and physical care for the artwork and materials
in all stages, especially when matting final photographic prints.
Design – The use of the photographic principles of composition to create an elegant, “visual pathway” in a
photograph. Consideration of how the arrangement of the subject matter and the overall composition of the
photograph helps to clarify the concept or idea behind the work. Most times the sketchbook is the tool used to
previsualize a strong composition in a photograph.

Grading System
Grading for photography will be based on a point system. Assignments will be given a certain number of points based on
a variety of factors such as time, amount of work and importance. The amount of points each assignment is worth will be
at the discretion of the teacher.
Homework:
In Photo 1, the bulk of our homework will involve completing shooting assignments. Please plan your time ac-
cordingly to complete all shooting assignments on time. In addition to shooting assignments, Photo 1 students
will be required to research, critically analyze, and visually/verbally respond to various creative problems that
pertain to further understanding the historical events surrounding photographers and their work. It is in the
student’s best interest to use their regular class time wisely to complete assignments. If in-class time is not used
wisely, more out-of-class work may be the result. Parents can check on all due dates and assignments at any
time by looking at the classroom blog! (howardphoto1.blogspot.com)

Due Dates / Late work:

Assignment deadlines are set at the discretion of the instructor when the assignment is given. It is the student’s
responsibility to make up any missed work due to excused absences, and to collect daily objectives, handouts,
and notes. Students are also responsible for scheduling appointments with the teacher to discuss make-up work.
If the student is absent on the day an assignment is due, the assignment should be handed in on the following
day. Late work from unexcused absences or otherwise will not be given full credit. For each day late you submit
any assignment (homework and class-work), after the deadline, you will be deducted one letter grade, (or 10%).

Academic Integrity:
Each student is responsible for upholding and maintaining academic integrity. If there is a question in reference
to a student’s academic integrity, they will be referred to their administrator by way of a disciplinary referral,
given due process, and receive the appropriate consequence based on Howard High School’s Academic Honor
Code. Any violation of academic integrity will impact a student’s eligibility for credit in this course.

Denial of Credit / absences:

According to county-wide policy, students are not to miss more than 5% of any credited class for the entire
school year. Missing studio art classes can place a student in a difficult position for making-up work. All stu-
dents are responsible for making up missed assignments on their own accord. Only students who provide
proper notes documenting an excused absence will be given exemption from the daily letter grade penalty.
Students are responsible for keeping all proper documentation to defend their excused absences.
Howard High School Photography Department Syllabus Contract
This syllabus is a contract. By signing below, you and your parents / guardians are acknowledging that you have gone
online and read the entire Photo 1 course syllabus, and will abide by and support all of its stated policies.

Student Signature Parent / Guardian Signature

Student Name (printed) Parent / Guardian Name (printed)

I would like to provide an email address that can be consistently used if the instructor needs to contact me
regarding my child.

Email Address

I would like to provide a reliable phone number that can be consistently used if the instructor needs to contact
me regarding my child.

Phone Number

Best time to be reached

Cameras and photography equipment

I own / can acquire a 35 mm SLR (single lens reflex) camera with manual settings for the use during Photo I.

I plan on using the school provided cameras to complete the course work in Photo I.

I have photography equipment (cameras, darkroom supplies, etc.) I would like to donate to the
Howard Photography Program, please email me directly at Matthew_Hanson@hcpss.org

Parents, you are more then welcome to check out all of the classroom activities, assignments, student exam-
ples and obtain handouts through the Photography 1 website at howardphoto1.blogspot.com

Please feel free to contact me anytime through email at Matthew_Hanson@hcpss.org