Digital Photography class is a course that combines art and
computers together. It also explores the process of taking photos and digital
imaging. The teacher of the class
is Mrs. Rebecca Hoeppner. Early in the class, Mrs. Hoeppner taught the students
how to properly work a 35mm digital SLR camera. This included taking clear
images, uploading them onto the computer, and manipulating some of them in Adobe
Photoshop CS3. Junior Stephanie Florres said, “I like how we are able to change
snapshots that we take, and turn them into fine works of art.” The purpose and
goal of the course is to help explore our relationship with the world.
To complete the class goal, students
use elements of art, principles of design, digital techniques, and critical
interpretation of artwork. As a result of these things, the students will gain experience
in technology through the digital cameras and with Photoshop CS3. Along with
this, students will establish appreciation and understanding of visual arts.
Digital Photography class offers a mixture of skills unparalleled to any other
course. Those skills are a development in art and cultural awareness, and the building
of visual and verbal vocabulary. As a bonus, the students critical thinking
abilities and creative problem solving skills will be improved. Students who take digital photography
are given the ability to see the world around them in a new perspective. Along with having class goals, students
also set personal goals. Junior Juwana Khujo said her personal goal is to “take
in all of the knowledge and skills that the class offers, and maintain a good
grade while I’m doing it.”
Mrs. Hoeppner said that she “looks forward to the ‘six word
memoir’ project”. The idea of this project came from the famous novelist Ernest
Hemingway. Hemingway was asked to write a full story in six words, and he
responded “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” The assignment given to the class
was to choose one of their favorite memories. After that, the
students were to create a memoir for the special memory that they had selected. The next step was to take a picture
that connects to the memoir, and upload their image to Photoshop. Finally, the
students typed their memoir onto their photo.
Once a project is completed, in Digital Photography, and in
every other art class a critique (feedback) is given. This is the time where
students are congratulated for their accomplishments. However, this also allows
students to recognize their mistakes and correct them. By doing the critique
process, the class improves their skills by learning from the mistakes that
they made, and by seeing what worked well for them. Overall, Digital Photography is a very fun and helpful class that really benefits the students. When
asked what she likes best about teaching the Digital Photography class,
Mrs. Hoeppner replied that “It is always different, and something new
happening. I also like the way that photography teaches how to view the world
differently.”
--Contributed by junior Jekim Jones
