Photography 1 & 2

Instructor Image

Teacher: Benjamin Lipford
Date/Time: Monday - 10:40 AM to 12:10 PM
Recommended Grades: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Department: Fine Arts Electives
Grade Level: High School (9th-12th), Middle School (6th-8th)

WHAT’S THIS CLASS ALL ABOUT?

If you like taking photos or have a passion for photography, this class is for you! Whatever your level of knowledge is, whether you've never picked up a camera or you take photos every day, this class will push you to become a better photographer. 

With that mission in mind, we have the following goals:

  • To build a technical and artistic foundation in photography.
  • To foster your unique artistic vision.
  • To have fun exploring the world through photography.

For students who have taken Photography 1, the Photography 2 course will build on the foundations formed from previous coursework to explore more advanced concepts. Some of those topics include:

  • Finding your photographic voice.
  • Sourcing and using inspiration in your photography. 
  • Long-term, personal photography projects to explore the world through photography.

OVERALL COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is divided into 2 semesters. During the fall semester, we will be working on technical, artistic, and post-processing photography foundations. In the spring semester, we will apply those foundations to the three main genres of photography: Portraiture, Documentary, and Still Life. 

CLASS STRUCTURE

Becoming a better photographer requires consistent constructive critique, expanding our photographic knowledge, and working out that knowledge through practice. Therefore, classes each week are divided into three parts:

  • Critique: Instructor and peer image critique from the previous week’s homework.
  • Lecture: Lessons each week build on top of each other.
  • Photography Time: Lessons are put into practice individually and in groups with mentoring and coaching.

EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

As a minimum, a digital camera with manual mode is required. However, you will get the most out of the class with an interchangeable lens camera. Point-and-shoot and compact cameras are not recommended. Smartphones are not allowed to be used as cameras in this class. 

If you have any equipment questions, feel free to reach out via email. If you’re looking to buy a new camera, I can provide recommendations.

SUPPLY LIST

  • Digital camera
  • USB Drive or External Hard Drive: 64 GB minimum 
  • 32GB memory card for your camera and corresponding card reader for your computer.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud Photography subscription ($9.99/mo)
  • A desktop or laptop with the ability to edit photos.

TUITION

9 payments of $90 due monthly.

Minimum Enrollment (per class): 8
Maximum Enrollment (per class): 12

Photo 1 Prerequisites: None
Photo 2 Prerequisites: My Photography 1 class or another similar photography class.