Assignments subject to change...

On-Going Assignments

Sketchbook Free Responses

You will do daily warm-up/free response exercises that you will record in your sketchbook. These exercises will consist of writing, brainstorming, sketching, etc. on topics pertinent to the day's lesson. These sketchbooks will be graded periodically for effort and completeness. You must write the date at the top of every page, the pages must be in chronological order, and you must fill up a full page every class day (with whatever you want: writing, sketching, etc.).

Sketchbook due dates: See Schedule.

Homework Assignments

You will have an estimated 30-60 minutes of homework per night in Advanced Fine Art Digital Photography. Some examples include reading assignments from our textbook (Photography by Barbara London and John Upton), research assignments, writing assignments, working on your Body of Work (see below), studying for tests, etc.

Traditional Worksheets and Tests

Some knowledge in the class will be evaluated with traditional worksheets and/or true or false, multiple choice, short answer, and essay tests.

Technical Competencies Evaluations

One of the major goals of the class is to get you so comfortable with the camera and computer that they become natural extensions of you as an artist. To that end, you will be periodically evaluated on your competency in specific technical areas.

"Filling the Well" Observation and Reflection Forms 

This assignment draws on the advice of Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way. She suggests that, as artists (photographers included!), we should set aside an hour or more per week to do something that nourishes our creative self. As an incentive to follow her advice, I will collect and grade a "Filling the Well" Observation and Reflection Form once a month (although you will hopefully fill your well more often!). In order to fill out the form, you will need to attend a museum, gallery, exhibit, show opening, art performance, artist's lecture, etc. Bring the form with you or fill it out as soon as you're done so the experience is fresh in your mind. Also, make sure to attach the ticket, receipt, or brochure to the form for full credit. Please note: The museums in Balboa Park have free admission days and there are other opportunities for free experience to fill your well (ask me for details, but DO NOT wait until the last minute!).

Due dates: See Schedule.

 

Major Projects

Favorite Contemporary Master Photographer Presentation

You will research contemporary masters of photography and choose your favorite one. You will present a body of work from your favorite photographer to your peers, including a short biography and his or her artistic statement about the body of work.

By the way, there are MANY, MANY wonderful contemporary master photographers!!! Just make sure that you choose a FINE ART photographer who has a body of work, an artistic statement, bio, and whose work you LOVE!!! And make sure you can explain to your peers what their work is ABOUT!

Due date: See Schedule.

Technical Competency Peer Lesson

You will become an expert on one area of technical skill related to photography (see list ) and you will teach that skill to your peers. Depending on the topic you are given, a PowerPoint presentation, a hands-on demonstration, handouts, a lecture and quiz, and/or other strategies may be the appropriate way(s) to TEACH your material. On the days of the presentations, not only is it important for you to deliver a correct, complete, and entertaining lesson, it is vital that you learn from the other presentations because the material on the list will be what is evaluated on the Technical Competencies Evaluation (see above).

Due date: See Schedule.

BODY OF WORK

The major focus of Advanced Fine Art Digital Photography is for you to create a body of work each quarter, including a biography about you and an artistic statement about your work. Each week, you will turn in one photograph for critique and grading that relates to your chosen body of work. You will also turn in a working biography and artistic statement each week, revising it as the quarter progresses and you narrow down your focus.

Your final body of work for first quarter will contain 5 photographs that all relate to each other, an artistic statement that explains your body of work, and a biography that helps the audience understand who you are as a fine art photographer.

Your final body of work for second quarter will contain 8 photographs that all relate to each other, an artistic statement that explains your body of work, and a biography that helps the audience understand who you are as a fine art photographer.

Due dates: See Schedule.