Lesson: Smartphone Macro Photography

Transcription

1 Teacher: Analisa Shinn Date: Class: Art 1 Grades: 9-12 Lesson: Smartphone Macro Photography BIG IDEA: manipulation ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are the rules of composition most important to photography? How can we use those rules to produce quality photos? OBJECTIVES: - TSW understand important compositional aspects/vocabulary in macro photography, such as rule of thirds, balancing elements, leading lines, cropping, and background. - TSW apply their knowledge of the aspects of macro photography by taking ten macro photos around the school on their smartphone. - TSW evaluate their photos and the photos of their classmates. MATERIALS: - Intro to Photography PPT - Small objects to photograph if outside is not available - Simple backgrounds (white paper, colored paper, student artwork) - Student smartphones DIFFERENTIATION PLANNING: If some students do not have their own phone, students may work in pairs or small groups, using only one phone. TEKS: - 1a, 1b, 1c students will use direct observation and imagination to compose shots; identify specific elements of art (line, texture, color, space); identify specific principles of design (emphasis, balance, contrast). - 2a, 2c, 2f students will create original artworks through direct observation; understand that the easiest way to avoid plagiarism is to use their own source photos; demonstrate effective use of art media in digital art (photography). - 3a, 3d students will compare/contrast a variety of historical and contemporary photographers; consider different vocational careers in photography. - 41, 4b students will complete both self and peer evaluations and critiques. DAY 1: 1. Using the Intro to Photography PPT, give students an overview of what photography is, and introduce them to the four featured photographers. While going through the slides, ask students to identify important elements and principles within each photo. 2. Continue through the PPT to the rules of Macro Photography. Explain that, while not every photo will use all of the rules, the rules will enhance the students photos where applicable. 3. Conduct a short demonstration using a smartphone and a small object in class. Through the demo, talk about the background of the image, the part of the object you want in focus, and how you are approaching the use of the rules of photography. 4. Have students practice taking photos in class using small personal objects (necklaces, rings, pencils, etc) or art tools. As they are practicing, walk around and give feedback are they close enough to their subject? Do they have the proper point of focus? Is there enough contrast with their object and the background?

2 5. With the remaining 5-10 minutes in class, have students show their tablemates their favorite photo. Ask students to evaluate each other s photos, highlighting both the positive aspects, and the concepts to be improved upon tomorrow. DAY 2: 1. Begin class by reviewing the rules of macro photography with students. Again stress that not all of the rules need to be applied to every photo, but that the more students can use the rules, the stronger their photos will be. Also remind students about the specific elements and principles they noted in the first four photos of yesterday s PPT, and remind them to pay attention to those while taking their photos as well. 2. Weather permitting, walk students to a safe outside area to take photos (a spot with greenery/flowers works best!); if no outside spot is available, provide students with a variety of small objects and simple backgrounds to use in class. Give students the majority of the class to set-up and take their photos. With 10 minutes remaining, ask students to select what they feel are their strongest five photos to be evaluated by peers tomorrow. DAY 3: 1. Ask students to pull up the five photos they selected at the end of class yesterday. Remind the class again of the macro rules and the elements/principles they should have paid attention to while taking their photos. Display the Macro Photo Rubric on the projector and have students pair up. 2. Have one student use the rubric to critique the other student s five photos. Use the results of the rubric critiques to determine which photo is strongest. Then, have the students switch and critique the other student s photos. 3. Once the strongest photo has been determined for each student, have the class use their smartphones to that one photo to the teacher. Instruct students to write their full name and class period number in the subject line before sending. 4. As their exit ticket for the day, have students fill out the Macro Photo Rubric for their photo (self-critique), give themselves a grade, and justify why they feel their photo deserves that grade. *This assignment can be continued into a drawing/painting project. To do so, print student photos (4 x6 ), then have students grid their photos onto 8 x12 or 12 x16 papers.

3 INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY A LOOK INTO THE ART AND ARTISTS

4 WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPHY? Photography is the art and practice of capturing images or moments in time. Historically, film cameras captured the image through light emulsion onto a piece of photographic film. Most contemporary photographers have now turned to digital photography, which captures images through an image sensor. Currently, the majority of the US population carries a camera with them at all times. What type of camera equipment do they use?

5 PHOTOGRAPHERS THROUGH HISTORY There have been a number of significant photographers through the past century; here are a few. Ansel Adams You don t take a photograph, you make it. Henri Cartier-Bresson Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing is a meditation.

6 PHOTOGRAPHERS THROUGH HISTORY There have been a number of significant photographers through the past century; here are a few. Dorothea Lange The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera. Yousuf Karsh Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.

7 MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RULES Macro photography consists of images of small items that appear to be larger than life.

8 Rule of Thirds With the Rule of Thirds, the basic idea is: DON T put your main subject in the MIDDLE of your frame. Instead, move your subject to the right or left to create a more interesting composition.

9 Balancing Elements By using the Rule of Thirds, your photo can tend to feel unbalanced unless you fill the empty space around your subject with something. That something can be a simple background (even if blurred), but will still give a visual weight to the otherwise empty space around your

10 Leading Lines Lines, especially diagonals, will tend to lead your viewer s eyes around your photo. The more purposeful you make the placement of lines, the more powerful your photo will be.

11 Background The background in a photo is just as important as your main subject. Does the background enhance your photo? Or does it distract from the main subject? If your photo is a simple portrait, is the background pleasing and complimentary to your subject? Or does your subject clash/blend in?

12 Cropping By cropping tight around the subject, you eliminate the background noise, ensuring the subject gets the viewer s undivided attention.

13 MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT RULE OF THIRDS USED BACKGROUND CONSIDERED BALANCED ELEMENTS LEADING LINES VISIBLE TOTAL POINTS EARNED MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT RULE OF THIRDS USED BACKGROUND CONSIDERED BALANCED ELEMENTS LEADING LINES VISIBLE TOTAL POINTS EARNED MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT RULE OF THIRDS USED BACKGROUND CONSIDERED BALANCED ELEMENTS LEADING LINES VISIBLE TOTAL POINTS EARNED MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT RULE OF THIRDS USED BACKGROUND CONSIDERED BALANCED ELEMENTS LEADING LINES VISIBLE TOTAL POINTS EARNED MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT RULE OF THIRDS USED BACKGROUND CONSIDERED BALANCED ELEMENTS LEADING LINES VISIBLE TOTAL POINTS EARNED