Photography I

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Photography I
What do you need to have a great year in
Photography One Class? Ms. Thomas Photography
Classroom Expectations
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• Come to class on time, or present an authorized
  tardy note.
• Be prepared to work only on photography during
  your class time.
• I will count you absent if you are not on task.
• Have the necessary materials and supplies you
  need in class each day for your assignments as
  you enter the room.
• Attend scheduled tutorials when you have missed a
  class, or need to use the darkroom to finish an
  assignment.
• Think ahead and use your time wisely.

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• Complete assignments on time or you will lose
  points on your grade.
• (I will accept assignments late rather than have
  a student earn
• a zero, but I will not give a late project
  full credit!)
• Respect yourself, others and our classroom
  equipment
• Set high standards for your work.
• Your projects are graded following the
  photography rubrics. . . Study it.

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• You must have a 35mm camera that allows you to
  control the aperture and the shutter speed
  MANUALLY!
• Yes, it can be one of the top of the line
  automatics, but you must have the ability to be
  the one in control manually and you are
  responsible for having a manual that will tell us
  how you can change the settings.
• This is so you can learn camera techniques like
  depth of field, stop action, panning, and timed
  exposures that the photographer controls how long
  the shutter stays open.

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A Manual for Your Camera
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• There are too many different
• Brands and types of cameras for
• your instructor to know it all!
• However, with a manual we can
• together learn to use your camera
• enabling you to take your
• photographic assignments.

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No Manual?

• Go online and find your cameras
• manufacturers website . . .
• either order a manual
• or download the manual . . .
• NOW !
• Well, as soon as you get home!

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No Camera?

• In order to take pictures and develop the film
  and learn to print the photographs you must have
  a SLR 35mm Camera. There is no way around it! It
  can not be a digital camera . . . You may at some
  point in this class in the spring be allowed to
  show me work done digitally, but in order to pass
  this class you have to have a 35mm Single Lens
  Reflex Camera.

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• Ask family, friends, former FCDS students,
  church members. . . My students have often found
  camera that were in storage that were not being
  used that they were either able to borrow or
  purchase for a modest price.

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• I have great confidence in High Point Photo
  Supply, Inc. (no I do not get kick-backs or own a
  percentage of his company)! His staff is
  knowledgeable and can really help you make a good
  decision for what you need to successfully
  complete our assignments. He or his staff will
  also order you anything you need. He has always
  been very good to my students since 1994 when I
  first started sending people to his store. His
  store is located on Main Street in High Point.
  Take Hwy. 311 go on the High Point exit straight
  through all the way until you see Krispy Kreme
  and High Point Public Library (both will be on
  your right). The little strip shopping center
  where lt If Its Paper is located is the right
  shopping strip. His store is in the crook of the
  L shopping strip.
• They often have 35mm SLR film camera traded in
  or on consignment. . . Call to see if they have
  any.
• http//highpointphotosupply.com/

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Some other options

• In Burlington, we have Camera Corner. They carry
  a brand of RC Photo Paper that is generally less
  expensive called, Mitsubishi Gekko. Call rather
  than just ordering online as they do not have
  their matter surface on their website normally,
  but they usually have it in their warehouse in
  Burlington.
• http//www.camcor.com/
• I believe there is a Wolf Camera Store in
  Greensboro.
• Last year (2008-09) several students purchased
  35mm SLR Canon Rebels from Wal-Mart in
  Burlington and other Wal-Mart locations.
• Please note as of June 2009 Ritz Camera at Hanes
  Mall, Winston-Salem no longer carries any black
  and white supplies.

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• Or you can go online . . . look in the yellow
  pages, etc.
• I have had students who purchased cameras from a
  Pawn shop, beware that if you do this make sure
  they have a return policy if the camera does not
  work.
• I also have had students find really great
  cameras at yard sales!
• If you find a location that I have not mentioned
  locally in the Triad, please let me know.

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• Classroom and Darkroom Supplies
• Two 3-ring Binder Notebooks
• One for your negatives and contact sheets (at
  least 2 ½)
• The second one will be used for your working
  photographic prints.
• Journal (either sketchbook, hand-made book,
  scrapbook, notebook)
• Pens, pencils, glue stick and a fine line black
  sharpie
• Negative sleeve pages (a minimum of 10) (High
  Point Photo)
• 35mm black white film (10 20 rolls or more
  depending on how you shoot, develop, etc.) I have
  had students who shot over 50 rolls as they were
  always seeing an image they wanted to record.
  (High Point Photo)
• RC Resin Coated Photographic Paper (High Point
  Photo)
• Canned Air (High Point Photo or any office
  supply)
• Anti-static cloth (High Point Photo)
• Plastic Protector Pages to put your prints in
  your notebook to keep them from being scratched
  as well as enabling me to grade them.
• Foam-core board for the David Hockney Knock-off.
  (Fury, Ltd carry this)
• Art Folios at least two for the year. (Fury Ltd.
  Has some as does Michaels AC Moore)
• Small towel and a pair of safety goggles, apron
  or old shirt to protect you clothing
• High Point Photo Supply will take your order over
  the phone, allow you to pay with a
• debit/credit card and will meet me locally in the
  evening to deliver the order when there are
• Several orders. This saves you shipping, driving
  and time. It also helps us keep the only local
• store that carries black and white supplies in
  business. They also are experts if you have any

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Color Film

• Occasionally we will do a project in color (The
• David Hockney Knock-off) and when we do you
• will need to purchase color print film and have
  it
• commercially process. You will be given plenty of
• notice when this happens.

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Laura Worcester 2008-2009, Photo II
Molly Nifong, 2008-2009, Photo I

• Most of my students like
• Ilford HP5 (400 speed) it is good in a variety of
  lighting situations.
• Ilford FP4 (125 speed) it has a tighter or finer
  grain than the 400, but is not as easy to use in
  less than bright situations unless you know how
  to compensate with your camera settings.

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• My personal favorite is Kodaks Tri-X is also a
  favorite, it is a 400 speed film, but provides
  great contrast and has been a stand-by of
  professionals for years.
• CVS, Country Club Peavehaven Road across from
  Calvary Baptist is now carrying this for us!!!

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• Really, any brand will do as long as it is the
  right film speed for the situation.
• IMPORTANT FACT Film does not like to be left in
  a closed up car where the high heat can cause
  heat damage and trust me I have learned this the
  hard way!
• T-Max, by Kodak is used by many schools, I
  personally do not like the contrast level, but
  that is my aesthetic choice and not a
  requirement. However, be aware that T-Max has a
  longer fixing time.

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DO NOT BUY

• Black and white film that has anywhere on the
  carton . . . Process C-41 unless I have
  specified that project can use that type of film!
• This film can not be used for any of our first
  projects as you can not develop it in black and
  white chemicals.
• C-41 has to be processed in a color lab and
  therefore you will be missing an important part
  of your project grade!

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Black White Photographic Paper

• Variable Contrast RC Paper to print with . . .
• ( RC stands for resin coated)
• Some manufacturers call it Multi-Contrast instead
  of Variable Contrast
• Matte, semi-matte or pearl surfaces are easier
  to spot-tone defects away without it being so
  noticeable,
• That said some folks just plain prefer the glossy
  look of black white. It is an aesthetic
  preference that is your choice.
• High Point Photo Supply will take your order over
  the phone,
• allow you to pay with a debit/credit card and
  will meet me
• locally in the evening to deliver the order when
  there are several
• orders. This saves you shipping, driving and
  time. It also helps us
• keep the only local store that carries black and
  white supplies in
• business. They also are experts if you have any
  problems.! Call
• Polly she has a list of what you need!

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• Depending on the size photographs that you print
  you may use anywhere from 100 sheets to 500
  sheets, it depends on the student how much they
  enjoy printing until it is perfect! or whether
  they prefer 8 x 10 prints or 5 x 7 prints.
• Most of our assignments I will allow to be 5 x 7
  inches, but no smaller, unless the assignment
  specifically says a smaller size. That might
  happen if we do any photomontages, but it is not
  the norm.
• The brand is not that important although we
  photographers all seem to have our preferences.

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Online Ordering

• Make sure that you are ordering what you want.
• That might sound strange, but I have had
  students who thought, WOW, that is a great price
  for 250 sheets of paper.
• Then discover when it arrives that it is
  single-weight and is impossible to process
  through the chemicals.
• Or to have the paper arrive and find that it is
  not Resin Coated (RC), but fiber paper which is
  much more involved in the developing process.
• Or to receive glossy when they really prefer
  matte or pearl. I normally like to call and
  speak with a live person and get clarification
  on what I think I am ordering. It doesnt hurt to
  be safe.

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My Hopes

• I hope that you will learn to love not only using
  your camera to take photographs, but will develop
  a passion for working in the darkroom.
• It is a magical moment to watch the print come up
  as you agitate the developing tray.
• I never cease to be amazed and delighted when I
  pull my film off of the developing reel and there
  are images! I have written with light!
• Enjoy the adventure you are making into the dark
  and learning to draw with light.

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Final Notes

• I expect you to try your best.
• If you are having a problem with a project or
  anything in our class please come to me and
  discuss it privately.
• Another option is to send me an email stating
  what your problem is.
• If I am not aware of a difficulty I can not do
  anything to assist you.
• If you miss class be prepared to come to tutorial
  to make up the darkroom time and not get behind
  in your projects. Tutorials are scheduled for
  Monday and Thursdays, but I will be here only if
  someone informs me they are coming to tutorial.

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• Yes, I know that digital is the way to go if you
  are going to be a photojournalist, or a studio
  photographer, or even shoot family portraits,
  but I will never give up my darkroom as it is one
  of the purest joys I know in life. I enjoy my
  Nikon SLR digital camera my family gave me a few
  years ago.
• Most major Universities and Colleges that offer
  Photography as a class or major require analog
  film wet darkroom before the digital course.
• I truly believe that all photographers should
  learn the traditional basics and then if their
  road leads them to digital that is great.
• It is my sincerest desire that each of you
  experience the joy and passion that comes with
  finding something you truly love to do in life.
  For me it is two things teaching and developing
  my own prints in the darkroom.

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Assignments

• Instructions for your assignments will be posted
  on the assignments page on the photography
  website on the Web portal.
• PowerPoint Presentations will be on the
  Photography Web Page.
• If you miss class check these sites so you do not
  get behind or you can always email me with any
  questions you may have. I do not mind at all!
  marythomas_at_fcds.org
• Your success means I am good teacher and trust me
  after 31 years I want to maintain my reputation!
  In the end of life our good name is what really
  matters!