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Beginning Digital Photography
*Disclosure and Syllabus
2015-2016
Frank A. Langheinrich
Room A201
[email protected]
http://east.slcschools.org
Instructor’s Introduction
Welcome to Basic Digital Photography. In this course students will learn and develop the skills needed to produce high quality photographic work. It will lead students to greater artistic heights that proceeds, via CTE pathways, to professional work and college levels of photographic study.
The class is modeled after small business. We organize in a way similar to a company, we have clients within the school and so on. Your pay, in grades, is based upon the quality of your work and your productivity. I hope that this will be your favorite class. Although there is a lot to do, what you do is creative and gratifying and valuable throughout your life, even as technology changes. The goal is that you never say, “I never used what I learned in photography.” If your time here proves successful, you will look back and this year with fondness for many years.
Objectives
By the end of the year the successful student will have developed a love of the art of photography and will have mastered the technical factors that make it possible to become a photographic artist. This means that students will have a greater understanding of art and will come to know how to fuse their technical and creative knowledge into artistic endeavors. They will know how to produce prints that can be displayed in public. Students will learn a bit about the business of photography. Finally, successful students will pass the Utah State competency examination(s) in photography.
Equipment and Materials
Resources available to students include everything needed to reach the course objectives. This includes, but is not limited to computers with Photoshop® software and a
photographic studio. There is access to photographic books and magazine subscriptions as well. The class involves photography as an art with a bit of commerce thrown in.
Some of the materials available in the class may contain mild nudity. This is not part of the course, is not a focus of the course and is rare; however, such photographs may be present in photographically orientated books, magazines or reference materials.
The book used for photography is Photography and Digital Imaging, revised fifth edition by Marvin J. Rosen and David L. DeVries (Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, ISBN: 978-0-7575-1159-2). Also available is the reference book The Adobe Photoshop CS4 Book, first edition by Scott Kelby (New Riders Press, ISBN: 978-0-321-58009-2). Additional reference books, magazines and articles will be available. Students must each own a flash drive memory device and an SD memory card if they want to check out cameras.
Camera Checkout
The photography department has a few cameras that are available for students to borrow. They are available for overnight checkout only. Students must use their own SD cards. By signing this document students and parents agree to be financially responsible for any damage to or loss of cameras. The rules and procedures are found on the class web site as
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Structure and Format
Learning activities include direct instruction (lectures), art presentations, slide shows demonstrations of equipment and practice. The process of taking photographs and presenting them is demonstrated as well. Consistent with the literacy goals of East High School, there are writing components. Since this is a class about producing a product, the majority of effort will be devoted to taking pictures, processing them digitally, retouching them, making prints, and mounting those prints for display. Students are required to enter their prints in one or more exhibitions that will be made available and disclosed to them.
Grades
Grades will be based upon a mix of undertakings; these include photographic projects, quizzes, class participation and a final project each term. Grades may also include notebooks, essays, term papers, final examinations, and participation in art/photography shows. There is a Utah State required competency examination given in May which serves as a final examination for the fourth term. There is a set of projects assigned for the year. The preliminary list is found on the class website and listed as Addendum One. Additional projects may be added or removed at the sole discretion of the instructor without prior notice, but will be posted on the class web site.
The Utah State competency examination in photography will lead, if passed, to a certification in photography. A score of 80% or higher is required to pass. The dates for these examinations are set by the Utah State Office of Education and cannot be made up if missed. Missing this examination will result in a significant grade reduction for the fourth term.
Students must return the attached agreement with parental signature or no grade or credit will be awarded. Ten extra points will be awarded if the form is returned within one week.
Ten class participation points are awarded each day in which the student meets certain minimum standards of class conduct, such as arriving on time and behaving in a respectful and productive manor (see “Class Participation or Payroll Sheets” below). Violating school rules of conduct, such as, but not limited to, wearing hats in class, using electronic devices, arriving late or violating the Authorized Use Policy, will cause a student to forfeit some or all of these points for the day. The instructor will determine the number of participation points to deduct for each
infraction. It is possible to have more than ten points deducted in one day. Repeat offenses may warrant higher deductions than first offenses. All of this will be solely up to the instructor and may vary from day to day. Any student conduct which hinders another’s education will be penalized through the class participation points program.
No participation points are earned for a student who is absent regardless of the reason. In other words, one cannot earn participation points without having been there to participate. Lost participation points may be recovered through extra credit as specified below. Although
insignificant per day, the loss of several days’ worth of participation points could bring about a significant reduction in a final grade.
There will be many opportunities for extra credit but extra credit means extra items, not points earned in place of assigned work. Students will earn no extra credit during a term unless they have turned in everything assigned for the term.
Course Requirements
Project Standards (assignments):
Projects will be subjectively graded on the basis of photographic merit (artistic merit, composition, etc.) and technical excellence. Specific standards are found on the class website and listed as Addendum Three (see directions below).
Photographs depicting obscene or disgusting materials will not be accepted. This includes, but is not limited to, nudity and “bathroom humor.” The instructor will be the sole judge.
Due Dates:
Each assignment has a specific due date. Any work submitted after the due date will receive a deduction of 10% of the possible points. No assignments will be accepted more than
3 ten (10) calendar days following the due date. The instructor may modify the due dates if
appropriate, in his view, for the good of the class.
Quizzes may be made-up during the two class periods following the student’s return to school. Make-up quizzes are more difficult than the originals (they are not multiple choice, for example). The responsibility for making up a quiz lies entirely with the student. The instructor will not seek out students missing quizzes.
Citizenship:
Good citizenship is expected as the norm and poor citizenship will not be tolerated. The school’s citizenship policy will be followed, including dress code, electronic device rules and attendance policy. The instructor may invoke whatever rules he deems necessary for the overall benefit of the class at any time.
Since accidents sometimes happen, students who break equipment will be required to fix or replace the damaged items. No reduction in grade will result for accidental damage reported by the perpetrator; however, if a student breaks something and does not take immediate
responsibility, a significant reduction in the final grade will result.
Plagiarism or other cheating will not be tolerated. A first offense of plagiarism or other cheating will result in a zero for that assignment without the option to make-up or repeat the work. A second offense results in a grade of “F” for the term. Classroom rules are posted on the class web site as Addendum Two. To put it another way, don’t steal others’ work or have your parents do it for you.
Class Participation or Payroll Sheets:
Students are supplied with “class participation” forms about every two weeks. To follow the business model used in this course, they are called “payroll sheets” in class. The forms must be completely filled in and returned on the due dates or point reductions will result.
Office and Lab Hours
The instructor is available before and after school by appointment, during lunch and during his preparation period, third block on “A” days.
Web Site
There are many pages of photographic study materials that are provided during the year. These include a detailed instruction sheet for each photographic project. There is also much that is specifically connected to particular topics; for example, there is a multiple page document that is a timeline of photographic history.
In order to insure that these are widely available and always current, each of these documents, beginning with this syllabus, is or will be posted to a web site for students. There will be sample photographs of each assigned project on the web to illustrate a successful result. Examples of failures will also be posted.
To access the site, open the East High School web page at http://east.slcschools.org. Click on “Our School” using the menu at the top of the page. From the ensuing page, click on “Faculty Directory” then on “Frank Langheinrich.” This will take you to a menu where you can choose your course among those taught by Mr. Langheinrich, in this case Basic Digital Photography. The direct address is www.simplyfrank.org.
Photography Club and Skills USA
The East High Photography classes sponsor a photography club affiliated with Skills USA. This club is recognized as an academic club by East High School and the Salt Lake City School District. The purpose of the club is to create opportunities for improving skills and developing leadership. The club goes to a number of locations in and around Salt Lake City to shoot interesting projects including, but not limited to those required for some class assignments. Membership is open to any current student at East High School. Membership in the photography club is free, but if the student wants to participate in the Skills USA activities, and they should, there is a one-time charge of $20 which includes a tee shirt. East High School provides no
4 transportation for these outings; students wanting to participate must arrange transportation and obtain required signatures on official release forms. The forms can be obtained from the
instructor. They are also available on the class web site.
Other Issues
There will be occasional opportunities for students to display their work in galleries or other public settings, including the Internet. Some of these opportunities require a parent signature granting permission. This is not required for the course. Those parents who wish to grant permission may do so by signing the permission section on the last page of this document.
No student may record the instructor by any electronic means at any time. Any student who does so will not receive a grade for this class.
Examples of extra credit include, but are not limited to, entering art shows not required for the course, attending approved art shows, providing photographs for the yearbook, submitting photographs to Pencilings, attending certain pre-approved school functions. Anything else the instructor designates as an extra credit opportunity will also be counted. Other items as negotiated may also be used.
Salt Lake City School District Non-Discrimination Policy
No district employee or student shall be subjected to discrimination in employment or any district program or activity on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The district is committed to providing equal access and equal opportunity in its programs, services and employment including its policies, complaint processes, program accessibility, district facility use, accommodations and other Equal Employment Opportunity matters. The district also provides equal access to district facilities for all youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United State Codes, including scouting groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries and complaints regarding unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: Kathleen Christy, Assistant Superintendent, 440 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, 801-578-8251. You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, Denver, CO, 303-844-5695.
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East High School
Beginning Digital Photography
Signature Page
2015-2016
We have read the above disclosure document, understand it and agree to
its terms.
____________________________ ________________________ ___________
Student Name (please print) Student Signature Date____________________________ ________________________ ___________
Parent or Guardian Name (please print) Parent or Guardian Signature DateOptional Permission for the Display of Photographs
We hereby give Frank A. Langheinrich, East High School and the Salt
Lake City School District permission to display the photographic work of this
student, without monetary compensation, along with his or her name in any
gallery or public or private area, including the Internet, without limitation or further
permission. Implicit herein is permission to make digital scans of the student’s
negatives or prints, to make reproductions of said prints, and to make whatever
modifications are necessary or desirable, including, but not limited to, size
adjustments. Furthermore, permission is granted for Frank A. Langheinrich to
use reproductions of said photographs as visual aids or examples to any other
photography class that he may teach now or in the future. No commercial waiver
is granted or implied by this release.
____________________________ ________________________ ___________
Student Name (please print) Student Signature Date____________________________ ________________________ ___________
Parent or Guardian Name (please print) Parent or Guardian Signature Date* ©F.A. Langheinrich, no reproduction without written permission
