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Teaching a Basic Photography Class

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digirob

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I've been asked to teach some basic photography concepts as a guest lecturer to a group of high school students in their yearbook class. The students (approx. 12) photo skill ranges from "average P&S user" on up to more advanced. e.g. One student just got a DSLR and another one has a prosumer-level digicam, along with a number of P&S cams.

While I've not worked out the precise details with the class teacher, I'll probably have about 3-5 hours of class time in 20-30 minute chunks, 2-3 times a week for several weeks.

I could sit and develop a curriculum on my own, but I figured that something probably already exists that would suit my purpose -- and probably do it better. Something that lays out a logical progression of what to teach and in what order, based on the number of hours available. e.g. How much theory and concept vs. practical instruction?

While I have no doubts about my subject expertise, presenting it in a cohesive and logical manner as an instructor in a reduced time frame is something else again. I mean, a good teacher knows more than his/her subject -- S/he knows how to deliver it.

I've googled the subject and find mostly photo courses that I can attend as a student myself, rather than teaching aids that I can buy.

Anyone else done this, or have a recommendation for teaching materials?

thanks!

--
dpreview & pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/digirob
 
I've done something similar for yearbook students and also taught the photography merit badge for scouts. In the age of digital, it can be really fun if you can give the students some shooting assignments and have them take shots on their own cameras that demonstrate things you've just taught them, even if you just have them do that in 5 minutes of class time, but even better if they can take a little longer to do some shooting homework.

Here are some things I like to cover in a beginning class (off the top of my head) and I try to use lots of example pictures to show these concepts and give shooting assignments for them to shoot shots that illustrate many of these:

o Mechanics of holding the camera properly and releasing the shutter smoothly
o The basics of how a digital camera works
o The basics of exposure including shutter speed, aperture and ISO
o Exposure compensation and when you might need it
o Zoom lenses

o Long discussion of lighting including sunlight, backlit, side lit, front lit, flash, indoors, shade, fill flash, etc...
o Focus and depth of field and aperture

o Lots of things related to composition: rule of thirds, level horizons, awareness of the background (things sticking out of your head, for example), planning a background, moving in close and filling the frame, framing your subject, point of view (low angle/high angle), leading lines, people shots.
o Shooting action shots
o Cropping after the fact

--
John
Gallery: http://jfriend.smugmug.com/portfolio
 
How about finding a good introduction to photography book, and making it the text book. You could then use the table of contents/chapters as your outline for the year.
--
Warm regards,
Dad-of-four
 
There are so many ways to teach, it's really just up to you.

A more interactive and fun way for the children, instead of hearing it from you, is to allow them to experiment and research information which will be delivered to the rest of the class.

You choose the areas they research and present:
1. Types of photography: (Portrait, landscape, sports, etc)
2. Exposure, ISO, Aperture
3. Handling a camera
4. Types of cameras
.. and the list goes on. (see previous posts and whole webpage for info)

You can allow students to work in groups to present information on 1 or a number of subjects. An example of this might be, students are in groups of 3's. They will need to present to the class information and examples relating to 'Portrtait photography'.

You'll need to be explicit about the amount of information, and exactly what you want. You'll probably need motivation for each subject (examples) and information on each subject.

Find out if they have previously used presentation software/hardware. (projector, etc.) Preferably and a favourite among most teachers is Powerpoint.

Basically, at the start.. you give the students the motivation.. give them a choice, they research the information with you helping out and then they present it all. Just bring along some books (from the library) and any pre-planned information that you think is essential.

Toward the end of it all, each group presents the information. Students take turns in talking through each slide (Hopefully not just reading information but passing information gained). All other students listen to the group (and if you want, they give feedback to the group).

This is just one approach, it's a little more interactive and gives the students an option and a sense of ownership of what they chose.

You may wish to keep it very simple and allow students to just research the types of photography. They may then photograph friends/teachers (portraits), or pictures of the school/buildings (Landscape), students playing sport/recess (sports)... and so on.

There is no limit.
Sorry about the long post.
 
Since the students are working on the Yearbook, I would start by having them each take one or two yearbook style pictures. Then as a group critique them for technical and artistic merit. This gives you a starting point for the level of the class. Next I would talk about those things they were weakes at, whether it be composition, focus, DOF, etc. Spend a couple classes on those topics and then have them shoot another 2-3 yearbook pics and again critique them as a group. Since you only have a limited time with them, get the most in about why they are there - the yearbook. This may also give them some very usable shots for the yearbook - and ideas for future shots. Make sure they have fun with it all!
 
To fully engage them on the first day take them out of the class onto campus and have them each shoot one shot, just one. The go over each shot with the class and ask them why they shot that image, what settings they used. Are the happy with it? what could make it better, etc.

This will do two things. 1. get them involved practically because most of learning photography is by shooting and analyzing. 2. You will get both an idea of the skill level of each student and each photo is a wealth of teaching the basics on its own as you critique each shot for how well or how badly the basics were used and understood.

Once you get a sense of the level of understanding of photography from these shots you can tailor the rest of your classes to suit.

Robert
--
http://www.streamlinestudio.com
 
I just purchased a Canon SD700IS. Great little camera. But if its like lots of other P&S that you would find your students bringing to class it might be hard to teach with. Fundamentally it has a Manual mode, but strangely you cant set f stop or shutter speed or see what the cameras shutter and lens were set to after you take a picture. It effectively isolates the photographer from knowing what is really going on with its various special shooting modes.

I'd glade I have my D2x to show newbees whats going on.
--
Ken Eis
 
Thanks for this thread, it’s great. I’m planning to teach a course this next spring at the local Community Arts Centre. At the moment I really have very little planned in the way of course structure so this has been very helpful to me. The course I looking at giving is for parents who want to improve the photos of their kids. It’s definitely not a pro course but a basic course. I’ve been getting a little flack from some of the other pros in my area though. They've been asking why I would want to do this and wouldn’t it take away business. I’ve been wondering that myself actually, but it just seems like something I want to do. I don’t really think it will take work away from me in fact I think it will bring more work in!! I think the more people know about taking photographs the more they appreciate the Pros skill.
--
http://www.ianbullphotography.com
Ian
 
Verity said:
Find out if they have previously used presentation
software/hardware. (projector, etc.) Preferably and a favourite
among most teachers is Powerpoint.
Click to expand...
Scientists who do research on effective presentations consider Powerpoint an abomination.

In a photography class, there is no substitute for making prints.
 
Cecil Williams said:
This link may be a little dated and over the top for what you want,
but you could distill from it the outline of a photography course
that might meet your needs:

http://www.tpub.com/content/photography/14209/
  • Cecil
Click to expand...
This link leads to the US Navy Photographer's training and they want to charge $19.95 for a DVD of something that's readily available and Public for no charge.
I suspect something afoul here.

To the OP, I have this PDF on my HDD and if you'd like a copy, please send me an e-mail.

[Black helicopters flying above my home!]

--
Regards,
(afka Wile E. Coyote)
Bill
PSAA
Equipment in profile.
Eschew obfuscation.
The frumious Bandersnatch

 
Bill_Turner said:
Cecil Williams said:
This link may be a little dated and over the top for what you want,
but you could distill from it the outline of a photography course
that might meet your needs:

http://www.tpub.com/content/photography/14209/
  • Cecil
Click to expand...
This link leads to the US Navy Photographer's training and they
want to charge $19.95 for a DVD of something that's readily
available and Public for no charge.
I suspect something afoul here.
Click to expand...
Bill, all of the photography training information is available free of charge at the website link provided. I've also seen the Pdf file freely available on other websites, but I don't have a link for one handy at the moment.

By the way, you're welcome - I believe you borrowed that wonderful phrase "eschew obfucation" from a post of mine originally, a while back, if I'm not mistaken? Leads me to another wonderful truism, "originalty is the art of concealing ones sources"...

Regards,
  • Cecil
Bill_Turner said:
To the OP, I have this PDF on my HDD and if you'd like a copy,
please send me an e-mail.

[Black helicopters flying above my home!]

--
Regards,
(afka Wile E. Coyote)
Bill
PSAA
Equipment in profile.
Eschew obfuscation.
The frumious Bandersnatch

Click to expand...
 
KenEis said:
I just purchased a Canon SD700IS. Great little camera. But if its
like lots of other P&S that you would find your students bringing
to class it might be hard to teach with. Fundamentally it has a
Manual mode, but strangely you cant set f stop or shutter speed or
see what the cameras shutter and lens were set to after you take a
picture. It effectively isolates the photographer from knowing what
is really going on with its various special shooting modes.
Click to expand...
Yes, this did occur to me. I will cover some basics nevertheless in hopes that some of the students will be motivated to get a higher-end camera. Fortunately, one doesn't have to spend too much more to get a camera with a decent selection of manual control.

But there will be students who only have access to a fully automatic P&S, so I need to make sure my lesson plan includes topics that are relevant to them as well.

--
dpreview & pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/digirob
 
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