Photography
Students learn applications of film and digital photography. Focus is on developing composition and design skills using elements and principles of art to enhance visual literacy and applications based on professional practice. Project-based assignments integrate art history and current events in traditional categories of portraiture, landscape, photo-essay, and street photography. Digital applications include file management and editing in Photoshop, Lightroom, and iPhoto, cellphone apps, slideshow exports and file sharing in online applications like Facebook, Vimeo, and Tumblr. Film applications include introduction to photochemistry and darkroom printing through photograms and cyanotype printing. Students contribute to project blogs and submit images for local and regional contests, as well as printing for exhibition and school displays. One actual gallery visit, three virtual gallery reviews, and class critiques are required to develop viewing and commentary skills using art vocabulary to explore historical and cultural aspects of expression and representation. Foundational skills are acquired to apply in Advanced Photography, AP Studio Art, Graphic Publication and Journalism classes. (Year 9-12 UC-Approved ”f”)
Advanced Photography
Course builds upon skills developed in beginning Art or Journalism classes. Focus is on practicing technical, cultural, and expressive skills for visual literacy while developing a passion for image making. Students will explore film and digital techniques and expand composing skills using digital, film, and darkroom technologies. Projects include Photojournalism, Collaborative Web site, Mixed Media, Social Issues, and Series photography. Techniques using framing, perspective, Gestalt, studio and outdoor lighting will be expanded for dynamic composing. Student will design final project book publication using InDesign. Study of significant historical movements, artists and professional practice in Photography will be linked projects. Students explore a wide range of photographic styles from documentary to alternative process to integrate into their topic focus for each project. Focus is on developing advanced skills for portfolio development, exhibition, contest entry, college/job interviews, and preparation for AP Studio Art, Yearbook, Journalism, and Video Production courses. This course can satisfy Career Technical Education (CTE) graduation requirement. Please see instructor. 21 Palo Alto High School Course Catalog 2021-2022 (10-12 UC-Approved ”f” Prerequisite: Photo 1, Art Spectrum, Digital Art Spectrum, or portfolio review for Journalism Photography or Video Production students to demonstrate visual arts basics. Interested students may take this course to use design, coordinate, and compile content for the school Arts magazine [proof]. Participation in the [proof] Club and review with editors and Photography teacher for permission to take Advanced Photography for Arts magazine credit. As a non-Honors class, students will not need to do the level of research and project submissions required in Advanced Photography.)
Advanced Photography Honors
Course builds upon kills developed in beginning Art or Journalism classes. Focus is on practicing advanced technical, cultural, and expressive skills for visual literacy while developing a passion for image-making with applications for career skills development in digital and studio photography. Students explore film and digital techniques to expand advanced composing skills using digital, film, and darkroom technologies. Projects include Photojournalism, Collaborative Web site, Mixed Media, Social Issues, and Series photography. Techniques using framing, perspective, Gestalt, studio and outdoor lighting will be expanded for dynamic composing. Students will design final project book publication using InDesign. Study of significant historical movements, artists and professional practice in Photography will be linked to each project. Students explore a wide range of photographic styles from documentary to alternative process to integrate into their topic focus for each project. Focus is on developing advanced skills for portfolio development, exhibition, contest entry, college/job interviews, and preparation for AP Studio Art, Yearbook, Journalism, and Video Production courses. Students will do extended research to build their creative process and submit work at an Honors level of Advanced Photography. This course can satisfy Career Technical Education (CTE) graduation requirement. Please see instructor. NOTE: UC/CSU will only grant honors weighting for up to 2 courses taken during 10th grade. (Year 10-12 UC-Approved ”f” Prerequisite: Photo 1, Art Spectrum, Digital Art Spectrum, or portfolio review for Journalism Photography or Video Production students to demonstrate visual arts basics. This course can be repeated for credit upon recommendation of the instructor.)
AP 2-D Art & Design
(Photography as Primary Media) 6448PH AP Stud Art (Photography Focus with 2D Media/Mixed Media) Year 11-12 UC-Approved ”f” Prerequisite: Successful completion of one year of Photography and one year of Advanced Photography (two years of previous work). Portfolio review for Advanced Journalism/ Media and Graphic Design students with advanced study in Photography or Art media. Quality and quantity of work in the portfolio must reflect the AP standards in preparation, technical refinement and creative achievement. 2D Design Portfolio may include artworks from 2D media, including graphic design, printmaking, collage, photography, and digital art. AP portfolios for College Board submission consist of two sections. The first section includes 15 online submissions for the Sustained Investigation with specific narration of use of materials, process and ideas on a student selected topic demonstrating a thematic approach of exploration, experimentation, artistic and aesthetic development. The second section consists of 10 Selected Works that demonstrate synthesis of materials, process and idea for technical skill and artistic range. Artworks for the Sustained Investigation section must be completed, photographed, and digitally uploaded to an AP online portal with narration, and 5 artworks ready for Selected Works submission by May 1. College Board will review portfolios and scores are posted in July.
