Photography
Project Overview
In this assignment, students will create a photo story—a series of 5–10 digital photographs that collectively tell a narrative or explore a theme. Each student will plan, capture, and edit images that communicate a clear story, emotion, or concept using composition, lighting, and perspective.
This project emphasizes visual storytelling, technical photography skills, and creative decision-making while encouraging students to think critically about how individual images work together to convey meaning.
Objectives
Students will:
* Plan and develop a coherent visual story or theme.
* Apply photography principles (composition, lighting, perspective, focus, depth of field).
* Demonstrate technical proficiency in camera use and digital editing software.
* Sequence images effectively to communicate a narrative or concept.
* Experiment with creative techniques (angles, framing, color, contrast, storytelling devices).
* Present a polished, cohesive photo story.
Materials & Tools
* Digital camera or smartphone with camera capability
* Computer with photo editing software (Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or similar)
* Tripod or other stabilizing tools (optional)
* Storyboard or planning sketches
Process
1. Concept Development: Choose a story, theme, or concept to explore. Consider characters, setting, mood, and key moments.
2. Storyboard & Planning: Create a plan or storyboard showing the sequence of images. Determine locations, props, and shot types.
3. Photography: Capture images, experimenting with composition, lighting, and perspective.
4. Editing: Adjust exposure, color, contrast, and cropping to enhance the story.
5. Sequencing: Arrange the images in a logical order that communicates the narrative clearly.
6. Presentation: Submit your final series digitally with captions or brief explanations for context if needed.
Assessment Criteria
* Clarity and coherence of the photo story
* Technical execution (focus, exposure, composition, lighting)
* Creativity and originality in concept and imagery
* Effective use of editing to enhance storytelling
* Quality of presentation and sequencing
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Think about how each photograph can stand alone but also contribute to the overall story. Use perspective, timing, or juxtaposition to create emotion or tension. How can lighting, color, and framing guide the viewer’s attention and emphasize key moments in your narrative?
This project emphasizes that photography is not just about capturing images—it’s about telling a story, conveying emotion, and engaging the viewer through visual communication.
Learning Objectives / Student Targets
By the end of this project, students will be able to:
1. Observation & Representation
* Accurately observe and document real objects through drawing.
* Demonstrate proportional relationships and spatial awareness in a still life composition.
2. Material & Technical Skill
* Apply value and shading with graphite to create depth and form.
* Use ink to reinforce contour, emphasize contrast, and define edges.
* Incorporate oil pastel to build bold color, expressive texture, and layered richness.
* Use colored pencil to refine details, enhance form, and smooth transitions in color and tone.
3. Integration of Media
* Thoughtfully combine pencil, ink, oil pastel, and colored pencil into a unified visual whole.
* Make intentional decisions about where each medium contributes best to overall structure, mood, and emphasis.
4. Composition & Design
* Organize visual elements to demonstrate balance, proportion, and dynamic rhythm.
* Guide the viewer’s eye through strategic use of contrast, mark-making, and color placement.
5. Creative & Critical Thinking
* Experiment with media behaviors and problem-solve accordingly.
* Communicate personal artistic decisions through expressive mark-making and color choices.
6. Reflection & Artistic Growth
* Articulate strengths, challenges, and artistic intent in reflection or critique.
* Demonstrate increased confidence and competence with multi‑media processes.
Ohio Fine Arts Standards (Visual Arts)
Creating
Develop a practice of engaging with sources for idea generation.
Students use multiple approaches to begin creative endeavors, including observational drawing, thumbnail sketches, and exploratory studies.
Select appropriate creative processes for solutions to artistic problems.
Students organize and develop artistic ideas through intentional planning and problem-solving strategies.
Performing
Refine artisanship while modeling persistence.
Students demonstrate quality craftsmanship through careful selection, handling, and care of materials and tools.
Apply and defend the selection of materials and techniques.
Students individually or collaboratively apply tools, media, and techniques with precision to enhance artistic intent.
Organize elements of art and principles of design to intentionally construct works.
Students intentionally use value, texture, color layering, and compositional strategies to strengthen artistic quality.
Responding
Expand relevant vocabulary to analyze and interpret works of art.
Students use art vocabulary to express preferences with evidence and supporting reasons.
Develop art criticism methods when responding to artworks.
Students analyze how artistic methods such as value, texture, and layering convey mood or tone and reflect observation or cultural meaning.
Apply self-assessment and goal-setting practices to revise artworks and document growth.
Students establish and apply criteria to evaluate artistic choices, craftsmanship, and overall design quality.
Explain the relationship between cultures, communities, and artists.
Students consider how artworks reflect observation, investigation, or cultural context.
Connecting
Connect universal themes in visual arts to personal life experiences.
Students create works that reflect personal connections to experiences, knowledge, or observation.
Investigate emotional experiences through personal and collaborative artmaking.
Students relate artistic ideas and works to other disciplines, including how material behavior influences compositional decisions.
Grading Rubric
Rubrics have become popular with teachers as a means of communicating expectations for an assignment, providing focused feedback on works in progress, and grading final products. A rubric is a document that articulates the expectations for an assignment by listing the criteria, or what counts, and describing levels of quality from excellent to poor.
Student Reflection
A student reflection is a brief, thoughtful explanation of how and why a student created their artwork, including the choices they made, challenges they faced, and what they learned during the process. In art, reflection is important because it helps students develop critical thinking, recognize growth, strengthen their creative decision-making, and take ownership of their artistic development.
Element of Art & Principle of Design
Famous Photographers
Techniques
Presentation
Examples
“Creativity takes courage.”
Cloverleaf High School
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