Welcome to

BASIC
PHOTOGRAPHY

Ms. Lepine

COURSE DESCRIPTION
BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY ~ ART814 ~ MS. LEPINE ~ ROOM 230

The fine arts student will interpret and express visually the world around him/her, will make
aesthetic judgments, which will enable him to improve his surroundings; will become
acquainted with the different cultures of man, and how these cultures relate to the evolution
of her own art; and will be prepared for further study in various fields of art and art-related
occupations.
BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY: ART814 Prerequisite: None. Semester course. Requirement:
Students must have their own 35mm camera. A SLR or single-lens camera is recommended.
Basic Photography deals with the power and impact of visual images in our history and in our
society. Through a workshop-type approach to basic photography and its components, i.e.,
light, subject, camera, and film, this course attempts to describe methods of and approaches to
reading, understanding, and appreciating various types of visual images. Emphasis is on black
and white still photography from the shooting through the processing and printing, to final
mounting and framing techniques. Visual and written presentations, as well as reading
assignments also make up a substantial part of the course.
*Articulation Agreement: Upon completion of this course, the WSHS student would be
exempt from (and receive credit for) Basic Still Photography (Art 140) at Holyoke
Community College.

COURSE OUTLINE
BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY ~ ART814 ~ MS. LEPINE ~ ROOM 230
1. INTRODUCTION TO BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Outline of Course
Assignments Required
Evaluation of Grades
Classroom Expectations
Safety
2. HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY (Chap. 21, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)
The First Camera ~ Camera Obscura ~ Early 1800s
Early Inventors ~ Photographic Chemistry
Dauguerreotype, Calotype, Collodion Early Photographic Processes
Documenting Society & History War, Travel
Portraiture
3. PHOTOGRAMS (Chap. 3, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)
History of
Types of Photograms
Introduction to Darkroom Chemicals
Creativity
4. THE PINHOLE CAMERA (Chap. 4, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)
Origins of the Camera
Basic Camera Parts
Make a Pinhole Camera
Take Pinhole Pictures
Types of Pinhole Cameras ~ Getting Creative

6. LEARNING TO SEE: (Chap. 2, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)

Seeing as a Learned Ability
Composition ~ Design ~ Elements & Principles
Visual Selection
Determining the Subject
Camera Position
Framing the Photograph
Subject Placement (Rule of Thirds)
Background
Aperture
Shutter Speed
Deciding When to Take the Picture
Color vs- Black & White
Single, Multiple & Sequential Images
Symbolism & Metaphor
Finding Your Own Style
7. CAMERA & BASIC CAMERA FUNCTIONS (Chap. 5, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)
Types of Cameras
Point & Shoot/Rangefinder
Single-Lens Reflex SLR
Twin-Lens Reflex TLR
Medium Format
View Cameras
Specialty Cameras - Digital
Buying a Camera
Camera Care
Basic Camera Functions
Loading & Unloading Film (!)
Focusing Methods
Exposure Controls
Shutter Speed
Aperture
Film Speed (ISO)
Lenses

8. 20th & 21st Century Photography ~ Modern Photography

Pictorialism
Steiglitz ~ is it art?
Futurism/Photo Montage/Collage
Photo in Sports/Fashion
Color/Polariod
Since the 1960s
1. Space
2. Social Awareness/Causes
3. War
4. Portraiture
5. Self-Portrait/Personal Journals
6. Landscape
9. BLACK & WHITE FILM DEVELOPING (Chap. 10, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)
Roll Film Developing Process
Evaluating Processed Film
Storage & Care
10. BLACK & WHITE PRINTMAKING (Chap. 11, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)
Enlarger
Papers
Chemicals and Safety
Using Test Strips
Making a Contact Sheet
Making an Enlargement
Print Evaluation
Printing Problems

11. ADVANCED PRINTMAKING (Chap 12, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)

Corrective Darkroom Manipulations
Burning In
Dodging
Cropping
Vignette
Diffusion
Distortion
Texture Effects
Sandwiching Images
Multiple Prints ~ Combining Prints
12. OUT OF DARKROOM IMAGE MANIPULATIONS (Chap. 16, Photography in Focus, 5th Ed.)
Toning Black & White Prints ~ Toner, Coffee, Tea, Food Coloring
Masking ~ Using Rubber Cement or Tape
Hand Coloring
13. CONCLUSION
Final Exam/Portfolio Review

You will need:

35 mm camera
NO disposable, digital, advantix

3 ring binder
Your portfolio is 20% of your final grade!

Positive attitude

CLASSROOM GUIDELINES & EXPECTATIONS

MS. LEPINE ~ ROOM 230
RESPECT
The following, hopefully go without saying, and will not be tolerated:
~ negative comments toward a person or their work.
~ racial/religious/derogatory comments. absolutely not acceptable, ever.
~ interruptions during a lesson or when a classmate is responding to a
question. please wait until you are called on to comment.

SAFETY
~ running, wrestling, throwing objects, etc. in the classroom, darkroom, or
hallway is not acceptable and may seriously harm you or your classmates.
we use sharp objects, tools that cut, and toxic chemicals in this room & in
the darkroom. we must take every precaution to be safe.
TARDINESS
~ 3x = detention with me.
SKIPPING
~ absent from class 20 minutes without a pass = skip. cut slip issued.

PASSES
~ for nurse & bathroom only. use terrier house bathrooms. 1 person at a time.
please use an agenda book. I will check with the nurse.
ELECTRONICS
~ are off and put away. if i see or hear one i will take it and you may have
it back at the end of class. 3x = detention.
FOOD
~ light snacking is allowed in class as long as it does not interfere with your
class work. please do not bring an entire meal to class. there is no
food/drink in the darkroom. you may not leave class to go get food/drink. If
there is a mess left behind due to food, the whole class will not be allowed
to bring in food again.
FREE TIME
~ if you finish your project early, you may use class time to do homework.
you can not do homework or other class work if you have not passed in all of
your work for this class. if you are not using your time constructively, i will
find something for you to do.

WORK
~ assignments and due dates are on the board at all times.
~ every time we meet, i will give a lesson, review or update assignments, or
give a demonstration. after this, you will begin working on the assignment
and i will come around to advise. you will work for the entire period.
~ work to be passed in should be placed in the in box labeled for your class
period. work not placed in the in box on time will be considered late.
GRADING

Class Participation = 50%

Tests/Quizzes
= 20%

Portfolio (!!!)
Homework

I grade on: ~ BEHAVIOR

~ HOW WELL YOU FOLLOW DIRECTIONS
~ CREATIVITY
~ EFFORT
~ PRESENTATION

= 20%
= 10%

GRADING (continued)
~ projects passed in late automatically receive half credit.
~ projects not turned in receive a zero.
~ behavior counts toward your project grade.
~ every day you choose not to work you will receive a zero for the day.
with each zero, your project gets marked off one grade.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT OF ME
~ i will always enforce these guidelines.
~ projects will be graded and returned promptly. (once graded, it is
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to keep projects in your portfolio to be
reviewed at the end of the semester)
~ i will create a space for all to be accepted and to enjoy learning.
~ i will respond to your individual needs and advise you to succeed.

Questions?