Advanced Placement (AP) 2D Design Portfolio Susan Fink (Digital Photography) Room 118 Qualifications Students who have already taken Creative Digital Photography and a Computer Graphics class or yearbook class may qualify for AP 2D Design Portfolio (Digital Photography). If you have not taken the above classes but, already have good photography and photoshop you may also qualify. In either case, all interested students will schedule an interview with Ms. Fink in room 118 to show your portfolio. Portfolios may be shown on photo paper, memory card, flash drive or online. If you are in the Academy of Communication & Digital Media or Film & Entertainment, this course qualifies as part of your coursework. Syllabus Overview The general goal is for AP students to work toward the development of a comprehensive portfolio that may meet requirements for entry into college-level and possibly earn college credit for their portfolio, depending on the requirements of the college each student chooses to attend. Through the process of building a 2-D Design portfolio with photography as the emphasis, students will come to understand that it is an evolving process that uses informed decision making and critical thinking skills to determine solutions to problems. Students will develop mastery of concept, composition and execution of finished photographic works. Students will accomplish this through class lab time as well as disciplined home study. This is necessary due to limited class time, lack of resources for imagery in the school setting and portfolio requirements that equate to an average of one new piece due per week. Procedural Requirements Advanced Placement students will ideally be placed in a single class in order to maximize focused instruction, as well as suggestion and critique time by the instructor. Every two weeks students will be given a lesson plan to follow with more detail about the two breadth projects to be completed to include class, homework procedures, props and resources. AP students also benefit from group interaction and critiques from each other. In addition to the regular class critiques, there will be class time set aside once every two weeks for students to post two newly completed works to determine their understanding and success in attaining the goals of all works of photographic art. At the time of assessment, each student is graded individually, which allows for a one-on-one critique with the teacher. -1-
A total of 24 photographic works of art utilizing mixed media such as computer manipulation, emulsion transfers and flatbed scans are required: 12 Breadth works, 12 Concentration works and 5 Quality works are required. The 5 Quality works must be derived from the previous 24 pieces in the portfolio. These 5 works must be matted. Size must be no larger than 18 x 24 matted and no smaller than 8x10 matted. Breadth Portfolio Requirements At the beginning of the year, students are given a list of projects (see page 3) to complete for the Breadth portion of the portfolio. This will be their focus for the first semester. To produce good photographic works students must utilize the principles and elements of art. At the onset of each new project, the Instructor will show visual material of relevant photographers work and have analytical discussions about the photographers style and composition of photographs with regard to principles and elements of art) To aid students in keeping their focus, they will fill out a form for each photographic work they attempt, detailing the process, procedures, elements and principles of art used. They will also write titles for each completed work. The instructor will keep a list and review with students when appropriate. Students will work in the order listed on the next page to take advantage of the visual presentations and analytical discussions. Several photos will be taken and computer manipulation or other techniques will be applied where appropriate of each project listed to explore subject, composition, color and lighting. All 24 projects will be completed and the 12 best will be chosen for submission to the College Board. Concentration Portfolio Requirements In the second semester, students will focus on their Concentration portion, which means they will investigate one subject, idea or theme that has personal interest to develop a body of work. Before they begin, they will have completed Think Sheets 1,2,3,4 and 5 to aid in developing their Concentration. Students will also explore ideas for their concentration through various sources listed on page 4 and other appropriate sources of their own. Each student will then write a commentary describing the central idea for their concentration and when the photographic works are completed, the student will describe in writing how this idea has been demonstrated. Students are instructed to pace themselves and not take on two labor intensive works at one time. This will insure that students do not fall behind the two works per two weeks schedule. They are reminded to keep the 3 C s in mind at all times: Concept, Composition and Craftsmanship. -2-
Artistic Integrity Students are not to copy published photographs. These are the property of other artists and may be used only for reference. A published image may be altered in such a way that it becomes the basis for a new idea if it does not closely resemble the original image. Breadth Portfolio Projects 1) Focus on repetition of shape or form 2) Extreme close up of an object to detail texture 3) Objects from an unusual angle 4) Choose a simplified angle or section of an object or scene to create an abstract work 5) Still life of a group of objects using a strong light source (lamp, window, flashlight) 6) Stilll life that tells a story 7) Still life of an uncommon group of objects that follow one of the principles of art (harmony, unity, symmetry, rhythm etc.) 8) A still life of reflective surfaces 9) Still life showing unusual scale and or proportion 10) Portrait using dramatic lighting 11) Portrait using mixed media to tell a story or send a message about that person 12) Full body portrait in a setting with an unusual perspective 13) Full body self-portrait or other person 14) A highly emotional experience 15) Family or cultural experience 16) Political/ social statement 17) Person, animal, thing that was in motion but frozen in time and space 18) Extraordinary nature close-up or distant (plant, animal, tree, flowers or combination) 19) Mixed media landscape (outdoors or indoors) using unusual combination of objects 20) Mixed media (optional) of your own version of one of the seven deadly sins 21) Mixed media to create an image focusing on radial balance, symmetry, rhythm etc. 22) Mixed media of a social or political statement 23) Mixed media of an old master s art work into a contemporary form or setting 24) Mixed media to create surrealism (something from your dreams or an unusual arrangement of objects, scenery, people) -3-
Resources Textbooks Focus on Photography by Hermon Joyner & Kathleen Monaghan, Davis Publishing The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes by Christopher James Dynamic Learning Photoshop CS3 by Jennifer Smith Digital Photo Projects by Nick Vandome Digital Photography Expert Techniques by Ken Milburn The Photoshop 7 Wow! Book by by Jack Davis Digital Hardware Canon One Shot Cameras IMac Computers Epson Flatbed scanner/printers Digital Software Photoshop CS Adobe Illustrator I Photo Photographers Ansel Adams Jerry Uelsmann Maggie Taylor Lynn Johnson Cindy Sherman Hermon Joyner Imogen Cunningham Alfred Stieglitz Edward Weston Others Other Emulsion Transfer Procedure (a handout) Photography Magazines http://apcentral.collegeboard.com www.kodak.com/eknec www.ruleofthirds.com/what.html www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html -4-
Materials Requirements $20 materials tickets must be purchased to cover printer ink, paper and mats for portfolio completion and competitions. Digital Camera & Memory Card (Required and supplied by NMB) Computers (required and supplied by NMB) Assessments Grades will be given for each breadth and concentration photo, for the evaluation forms due with each assignment and for participation in critiques and other discussions. Lower grades will be given for late work. Attendance Tardies- you are required to sign in on the Tardy Sheet if you are more than a minute late. If I see a student is late on a regular basis (once or more a week), there must be an explanation given and teacher contact with a parent. If the tardies continue, a referral to the office may result. Absences- More than (10) unexcused absences and you must have a doctor s note or your grade will be withheld. Remember, we are on the block schedule and each absence counts as two. Classroom Policies and Procedures 1. ID s must be worn visibly. If no ID, student is sent to the auditorium to get a new one. 2. Sit in your assigned seat and keep your area clean and free of litter. This Means do not leave trash in, on or around your desk and no writing or drawing on the desk as well. 3. When working independently on an assignment, students are to work quietly and only leave their seat to see the teacher, pick up or return supplies, wash hands etc. 4. Students who disturb others by talking or another inappropriate behavior will get a verbal warning by the teacher. If you continue to talk after a warning,you will get a point taken off your conduct grade. 5. Cell phones, music devices, hats or other attire worn on the head must be kept put away and at no time taken out in class. 6. NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED IN CLASS. It brings in roaches and rats and sometimes ruins a good work of art. -5-
7. Students receive (3) passes per quarter to leave class. When you hand over a Pass, sign out in the notebook on the white counter at front of the room and put the date and time left and returned. Students leave the room during independent work time only. No one is to use the Hall pass in the first or last ten minutes of class. 8. Students are asked to help pass out and return books and certain art supplies for their table. But, it is still your responsibility to be sure no items are left at your desk or your work ethic grade will drop by one grade level. 9. Supplies may be checked out on a sign out sheet to finish an assignment at home. Otherwise, all supplies, equipment and textbooks are to remain in class. No textbooks are signed out. We only have one class set and need all to remain in class. 10. If you have an unexcused tardy or absence, you may not make up an assignment for a grade. If it is a multiple class day assignment, you may work on the assignment and receive a grade for the amount completed by the due date. You will not be given any extra time to finish the assignment. The teacher explain the assignment to an individual who has an unexcused tardy or absence. 11. Those with excused absences are responsible for checking with the teacher or a classmate to get make-up work. 12. There are trays set up in the front or side of the room labeled with your period on it. These are for turning in assignments and picking up graded ones. Notebook or copy paper assignment go in the box and larger art assignments are placed under the box. 13. All students are to be at their seats when the bell rings. At the end of the class do not approach the door until AFTER the bell rings. 14. Bring notebook paper, pen, pencil and eraser to each class. 15. Please be kind, courteous and respectful to your classmates and teacher and everyone will be happy. Thank you and let s have a great year. Ms. Fink