Getting Started

Welcome to Ms. Jago's digital photography class! Focused on the composition of a photo, this class is designed with eight themes that help students develop their creative skills. Using Nikon Coolpix cameras and Adobe Photoshop Elements, students learn how to use their cameras, compose a strong photograph, manipulate images and critique their work.

Throughout the term, students are assessed on their effort and creativity. By the end of the term, students will have a final portfolio, highlighting the best quality images from the larger body of work that they accumulate throughout the year. Portfolios must display a minimum of eight images (one from each theme). While students are welcome and encouraged to submit additional photos, portfolios should be limited to 16 images at the most. The themes include:

• People: Students will explore photographing people in various ways, including a posed portrait, candid photographs and action shots.

• Nature: Using the campus as our subject, students will create images capturing various forms of nature including flowers, plants, trees, landscapes and animals.

• Shadows: Creative thought becomes a large component of this theme, requiring students to photograph a subject that is often overlooked. Shadows can be natural yet interesting or created to fit specific creative designs.

• Reflections: Going beyond the obvious mirror, students must use a creative eye to discover new reflective surfaces on campus. Windows, sunglasses, cars and water tend to be the favorites.

• Points of View: Anyone can take a photograph of a tree, but how can you make your photograph unique and creative? Changing your point of view can turn a boring, simple image into a complex and thoughtful one.

• Patterns: Clothing patterns not included, where in the world around you can you find a pattern? Repeating lines and shapes can create interesting images, especially when they are unexpected.

• Abstractions: Can you trick your viewer and disguise your subject? Students will learn to look at their subjects in new ways when they create images that are not instantly recognizable.

• Photoshop: Students will learn various techniques in Adobe Photoshop Elements that will allow them to change colors and alter their subject matter. Using layers, we study filters, blurs, hue and saturation, erasing and layering to mimic mask functions found in regular Photoshop versions, distortion and more.

In addition, students will share their images, tips, tricks and lessons learned through participation in this blog.