PHOTOGRAPHY 1 & 2

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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Photo 1 is a course in 35mm black and white photography that will cover basic functions of the camera, film developing, printing techniques and begin to teach photo manipulation.  Throughout the course students will study light, movement, composition, subject selection, lenses, filters, cropping, burning, dodging and other techniques and tools that will allow students to handle a variety of photographic situations.  Emphasis will be placed on improving content and composition of student work throughout the semester while developing a body of work that begins to show individual expression.  We will begin to experiment with alternative processes such as solarization, hand coloring, burning, sandwich prints, and toning.

 

Photo 2 will review the basics then start to learn more advanced techniques while using cameras and printing photographs.  We will experiment with additional alternative processes and specifically manipulate light to improve pictures.  A student in photography 2 should begin to find their own style while developing a portfolio that has a more professional and cohesive feel.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
  1.  Recognize how photography relates to history, cultures and other curricular areas
  2.  Apply functions of the camera to solve photographic problems
  3.  Produce properly exposed and developed negatives
  4.  Select from darkroom techniques, printing mediums and processes to enhance prints
  5.  Evaluate and compose photographs based on elements of art, principles of design, and other artistic guides

EXPECTATIONS
We aim at all times to honor our schools 4 cornerstones of Family, Pride, Grit, & Excellence.  Please be respectful of people and materials in general keeping it kind, clean, and safe. Act responsibly, come in on time and prepared to work and give your best effort throughout the class period.

MAKING THE GRADE IN PHOTO
Once we get started you will generally have one main assignment each week. These weekly assignments will make up the majority of your grade for this class.  Assignments will be graded on:

     1. contrast and density
    2. creativity and composition
    3. focus and technical qualities of the print
    4. quality of film and pictures taken on contact sheet
    5. meeting deadlines and project expectations (film due the first day of the week and print due the last day of the week)
     6. reflection and critique

If you complete any project and are unhappy with the grade you receive, you may redo it to improve that assignment and have it regraded within the quarter it was assigned.  Please note if the points you missed were due to the project being late, you may not get those points back.  For most assignments you are only required to print one picture for a grade.  Sometimes you will have quite a few good pictures to choose from.  If you choose to print multiple pictures or take extra rolls for fun and print pictures from those, you can turn in the prints or contact sheets for extra points which can help to lessen the impact if a print or roll had been turned in late or you had issues with it that could not be fixed.

* All work that is assigned during that 9 weeks must be turned in by the end of the that quarter's grading period if you would like a grade on it or like to improve it. Nothing from the first nine weeks of class will be graded, regraded or added in during the second 9 weeks grading period. Likewise for the second quarter all assignments, projects and work must be turned in before the week of finals. Please plan accordingly.

 

FINAL
Your final will account for 10% of your overall grade and will be a portfolio presentation of your work throughout the semester.  You will put together an artist statement and an online portfolio of your work then present it to the class during the last week of finals. For Photo 1 you will aim to present for 6 minutes and show 10-12 of your photos.  

 

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

1. SLR FILM CAMERA:
If you have access to your own SLR (single lens reflex) 35mm film camera please feel free to bring it in!  The school also has camera's available that can be checked out for free to you for the semester.  These are treated like textbooks and will become your responsibility once checked out to you so please be careful with them so no charges occur for repairs or replacements.

2. 8 x 10 RC PHOTOGRAPHY PAPER:
RC stands for resin coated.  You must buy this type of paper at the Spot(our school store), a photography supply store or online.  It is not the same as photo printer paper!  Buying larger packs are cheaper than buying multiple smaller sheet packages so if you can afford it at the beginning I would suggest going with the larger package. The finish of the paper is your choice though I would suggest either glossy, pearl, or matte as many students do not like fiber paper.  Please remember this paper is light sensitive so please do not open the package in a lighted room or the entire package of paper will be ruined! Most student will finish a 50 pack in the semester and then need a few extra sheets on top of that. I buy packs from our school store to help in the end so they can buy a few sheets individually from me as needed in the end at $1.00 a sheet instead of needing to get a whole other box. I prefer the Ilford brand of paper, it is reasonable and produces great results! 

   PAPER IN TOWN CAN BE FOUND AT:
   The SPOT! (our school store) 
   https://bvwthespot.square.site/product/photo-paper/6?cs=true&cst=customLinks to an external site. 
   A 50 pack of paper is $65 and checks may be made out to BVW or ordered and paid for online then picked up at school
   Fast, friendly, convenient, and it supports our students

​   Overland Photo Supply
   https://www.overlandphoto.com/pages/paper.htmlLinks to an external site.
   913.648.5950
   8701 Metcalf Overland Park, KS 66212
*big selection, mention you are a student for a 10% discount

  Online
   If ordering online make sure to search for 8 x 10 RC (resin coated) photography paper and make sure it is coming from a reputable source. Ilford or Kodak are both good papers.  Arista has very low contrast and really isn't as good as the other brands.

3.  3 RING BINDER:
This will be used for storing negatives, prints, and notes.  Size is your choice though a 1-2 inch binder will be perfect for most students. It is important to stay organized and keep all of your negatives, final prints, sketches, idea generation, research and handouts.  You should always keep your negatives and final prints in the photo room, please do not take them back and forth as they can be easily damaged or lost.

4.  COMBO LOCK:
It is suggested not required to have a lock for your locker.  Combo lock is preferred but a key lock is fine if you have a spare key to keep with me.

5.  BOX:
This can be any light tight cardboard, plastic, or wooden box that does not let light in.  It should have a removable lid.  Shoe boxes, oatmeal cans, clean paint cans all work well.  We will use this to make our pinhole cameras.

 

* THE CLASS FEES PAYED FOR DURING ENROLLMENT COVER:
Chemicals for processing film and prints such as developers, stop baths, and fixers.
Matt board, adhesives and materials to mount prints
Negative and print storage sleeves
Toners, oil paints, markers and other alternative printing materials
Materials used in developing and printing processes (developing tanks, easels, enlargers, brushes, canister openers, black changing bags, bulbs, etc.)
All film students need (usually 10 or more rolls in photo 1)
Gloves, aprons, goggles

*CHEMICALS WE USE IN CLASS:
Sprint systems film and print chemicals- Standard black and white film developer, quick silver print developer, block stop bath, and record speed fixer, isopropyl alcohol, 3M photo mount (spray glue), Elmer's glue, matte fixative spray,  Elmer's rubber cement, Sharpie permanent markers, Berg brilliant blue toner, rapid sepia toner, brown copper toner, formulary iron blue toner, ferric ammonium citrate, hydrogen peroxide, thymol, potassium bromide, copper 1 chloride, Kentmere liquid black and white photo emulsion, borax, calumet baking powder, potassium ferricyanide, lacquer thinner, baking soda, butane, citric acid, cyanotype sensitizer.