Close ups and zoom ins
Summary:This lesson can be used on its own or as an intro to the following photography lessons. The lesson has students take close-up photos of natural objects on IslandWood. it focuses on how people view and perceive things in different ways as well as the importance of choosing carefully what you are taking a photo of. | ||
Assessments:Formative Assessment: Close-up Photo Gallery Have students write an explanation of what their photo is of and why they chose the subject they did. Cover explanation with another piece of paper and hang near photo. Have students do a gallery walk through and try to guess what their peers’ close-up photos are of. They can check if they are correct by looking under covered sheet at the provided write up. Discuss with students the different subjects of the photos. Did they notice any similarities between the pictures? Differences? Ask students how they chose one photo out of the many shots they took. What criteria were they looking for when choosing? Discuss the ideas of focus and framing again.
Summative Assessment: Throughout the activity observe students’ understanding of basic camera functions and ideas of how to properly take a photo. Also, observing the process of students finding their object and taking photos through the choosing one favorite to have displayed can allow you to assess how well students are grasping the ideas brought forth in this lesson of focus, framing, and perspective. |
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The Lesson Plan:
Introduction:
Zoom-in Scavenger Hunt
Ask students if they have ever looked through a microscope at something? How did the object look different once they could see it closely? Discuss how looking at things close-up allows for us to see the world in a different way than we normally look at it. In this activity, students will be given a set of numbered photographs that have been zoomed in on a specific object in this area. Have students go out and try to match the photos to the actual objects and create a list of what each numbered photograph is. Compare student answers and find out if everyone thought each photo was of the same thing. Did they notice anything in the photograph that they didn’t normally notice about that object (eg: the patterns in the tree bark, veins of a leaf, etc.)
Activities:
Basic digital camera use
This part of the lesson will either be an introduction to the use of the digital cameras or a review if you have already used them in previous lessons. This section may vary depending on the type of cameras you are using. The most important part of introducing the camera is to show proper modeling. It is possible that students have dealt with cameras, but maybe not in the same way you hope them to use them in the activity.
- 1. Discuss respecting the camera with students. Explain that the neck strap should always be around someone’s neck. Do not stress how expensive the camera is… this will only make the student nervous.
- 2. Explain how to hand the camera from one student to another with both hands and have a volunteer come up and demonstrate.
- 3. Explain where the basic functions on the camera are that students will definitely need. You can get into more detailed explanations of features depending on the camera, the activity, and the age of the students.
- 4. Also introduce transferring files and saving photos on the computer at this point. You will probably have to review this again later.
- 5. Explain how the viewfinder works and that we shouldn’t use it to define our photos. Make sure to look at the big picture first before defining the photo with the viewfinder. At this point you can give students paper frames to act as viewfinders and have students walk around the room, changing how far away they hold the frame to see how that changes the “photo”.
- 6. Have students get into partners and practice turning on and off the camera and taking a few photos.
Close-up Photo
Explain to students that they are now going to create their own close-up photo of an object that interests or excites them. Model how to take a close-up photo by walking through the steps of choosing an object all the way to taking the photo.
- 1. Pick an object in the room that has an interesting detail, talking it through out loud before selecting the object, especially about what makes it an interesting element.
- 2. Once you’ve selected an object, consider out loud which part to use in the photo, along with the angle and viewpoint.
- 3. Review the idea of focus and framing and take a couple of photos.
- 4. Review how to transfer the photo to the computer and show on a projector the final image.
Now that you have demonstrated the process, have students go outside to find something in nature to zoom-in on. Have each student create a list of 3 to 4 objects and then narrow it down to one. Once students have taken their photos, allow them to transfer their images onto the computer.
Formative Assessment and Conclusion:
Close-up Photo Gallery
Have students print and display one of their photos. You can extend this piece by creating mattes or frames if wanted. Have students write an explanation of what their photo is of and why they chose the subject they did. Cover explanation with another piece of paper and hang near photo. Have students do a gallery walk through and try to guess what their peers’ close-up photos are of. They can check if they are correct by looking under covered sheet at the provided write up. Discuss with students the different subjects of the photos. Did they notice any similarities between the pictures? Differences? Ask students how they chose one photo out of the many shots they took. What criteria were they looking for when choosing? Discuss the ideas of focus and framing again.
You can also have students write down guesses of photos as they go through the gallery along with one comment on what makes each photo a good photo. These comments can then be shared with the photographer.
Summative Assessment Indicated:
Throughout the activity observe students’ understanding of basic camera functions and ideas of how to properly take a photo. Also, observing the process of students finding their object and taking photos through the choosing one favorite to have displayed can allow you to assess how well students are grasping the ideas brought forth in this lesson of focus, framing, and perspective.
Safety Considerations:
- - Camera Safety
- - Set clear boundaries for outdoor venues, pointing out specific areas that students should not go into.
Background information:
From http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/tips/photo/closeup.html:
The art of the closeup |
Get a Little Closer | |||
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References
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/tips/photo/closeup.html
http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/activities/multimedia/photo1.asp
http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/activities/multimedia/eyeball.asp
Additional Resources:
Written by Stephanie Zanati in 26 January, 2015.