2016-17 Photography II and Graphic Design DOOT Winners

Congratulations to the following Graphic Design and Photography students for winning at the “Doing Our Own Thing” art competition. 

Digital Art 

1^st Place – Trey Gaines 

3^rd Place – Jack Boucard

Photography I- Practicing the Dark Bag

Photography I students took notes on the camera, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and the Sunny 16 Rule. Before they venture out to take photographs for their new project, they spent time on how to roll film on a reel and then practiced rolling film on a reel in a dark bag. They have to really get in tuned with their sense of touch to be able to recognize what object they need next without being able to see it. Below are pictures of students practicing...

Pinhole- Developing Fun

Pictured below are Photography I students in the darkroom developing their Pinhole negatives after taking a photograph with their handmade camera's. The darkroom is the only place undeveloped photographic paper can be taken out. The red in these photographs is due to the safe light used so that we can still see and maneuver around in the dark. This light is the only light does not harm the undeveloped paper.

2012-2013 Is Here!

What an amazing start to the new school year!

2011-2012 brought some very positive advancements to the Visual Art and Photography Department. Also, The exciting announcement of adding Graphic Design as a new elective. All of this is part of what makes this program successful. This has also happened because of the tremendous support of our parents!

This year has started out great and we are hitting the road running with our 6th, 7th, & 8th graders using their iPad sketch books to create digital artwork to incorporate into their traditional drawing methods. Soon they will be beginning their designs for the Montgomery Humane Society “Howli-day” card, 8th graders are working on multi-media ceramic designs for the Alabama National Fair Exhibit, High School Photography I  is experiencing what it is like to be in a “Camera Obscura”, building their own pinhole cameras and using them to create pinhole photography. High School Photography II are getting familiar with their digital camera's and learning about photo editing using Photoshop. High School Graphic Design is getting familiar with Illustrator and working on their first set of comps for their first project of the year.

I know this will be a wonderful and productive year for all of the Saint James Visual Art/Photography/Graphic Design students. Thank you for your gracious and continued support to our program.

Mrs. Shoults

Photography II working with the camera simulator adjusting aperture, shutter speed, ISO and lighting conditions.

Photography II working with the camera simulator adjusting aperture, shutter speed, ISO and lighting conditions.

8th graders creating designs in their iPad sketch books to later transfer to ceramic.

8th graders creating designs in their iPad sketch books to later transfer to ceramic.

Graphic Design students getting familiar with the pen tool in Illustrator.

Graphic Design students getting familiar with the pen tool in Illustrator.

Saint James Art & Photography Show

HS Photography Show Winners

Best of Show- Lizzie Kean

First Place- Zack Taylor
Second Place- Hayley Bell
Thrid Place- Lexie Moore

Honorable Mentions- Carlee Naftel (2)
                                    Riley Newton
                                    Maha Albuti

MS Art Show Winners

Best of Show- Ian Tsekouras

Principal's Choice Award- Emily Kent

First Place- Rylee Holt
Second Place- Sarah Claire Loeb
Thrid Place- Kendall McCann

Honorable Mentions- Gabbi Pohlman
                                    Taylor Meadows
                                     Harrison Carter
                                     Ashley Kelley
                                     Emma Moody

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!! 
What a wonderful  first week we have had so far in 2012! We have many projects, upcoming shows and  fun planned for the New Year.

We are awaiting results from:
Photographer's Forum and Nikon's 32nd Annual Student Photo Contest- 
Finalists notified by January 27, 2012
Winners notified by February 13, 2012


Scholastic Art and Writing-
Award recipients will be posted on  http://www.artandwriting.org/ORG/AffiliatePages/Show/ARALS  webpage on Monday, January 30, 2012.  Award-winning students and their teachers will also receive congratulatory letters in the mail in early February 2012. 

PLEASE NOTE: Only Award-winning students and their teachers will receive notification letters.  Non-Award recipients will not receive notification by mail.   

Up-coming Shows I will be choosing student work for:

ACES-Artistic Competition for Exceptional Students- February

VAAP- Alabama Arts Council District II- February 

Mini Art- March 

Blick Linoleum Block Print Contest- March 

Doodle 4 Google- March 

I will post more shows as we get closer to there dates.

I have enjoyed this year incredibly and am excited for 2012! I hope to post more pictures soon...stay tuned :)

  

Photography I- Mirrors

Students were to use at least one roll of film to shoot reflections with mirrors to create some type of illusion. Students were to be very creative in the way they placed the mirrors. They were to try to hide the edges of the mirror to help create the illusion of space.

Below are a few of the photographs developed in the darkroom by students

Photography I- Circles

Students were to use at least one roll of film to shoot ONLY circles and ovals. They may have other shapes in the photographs as well, but the frame must be dominate by one or more circular shapes. Students were to try and find a variety of compositions using circles and ovals.

Below are a few of the photographs developed in the darkroom by students

Photography 1- Leaves/Texture and Getting Ready for DOOT

Photography I students are finishing up an assignment on leaves and texture. Students were to look for as many kinds of  leaves as possible. Leaves on trees, or on the ground. In order to fulfill the texture requirement, the students had to create a good amount of contrast in their negatives. This meant the leaves should have been in open sunlight. Students were also looking for interesting effects of light and shadow: one leaf casting a shadow on another, or on the ground or branch beneath it. Students had to pay attention to how the leaves interacted with each other and with the frame of the picture (negative and positive space). Crop in close enough so there's no wasted space, but not to forget that space can be a useful compositional tool.

Also......
Photography I students are getting ready for "Doing Our Own Thing". DOOT is an art competition that encourages creativity in students. All winning pieces will be displayed during the month of  November in the Armory Performing Arts Youth Art Gallery. The students that their work has been entered will get the opportunity to attend workshops on Friday, November 4, 2011.

DOOT DAY Friday, November 4, 2011
Check-in: 7:45- 8:20 am
Workshops & Demonstrations: 8:30am -11:30am $5 workshop fee per participant
Lunch: 11:30am -12:00 noon
Awards Ceremony: 12:00 noon- 12:15pm (parents are welcome)
Sidewalk Chalk Art sign-up: 12:15pm - 12:30pm
Sidewalk Art Competition: 12:30pm- 2:15pm
Sidewalk Awards: 2:30pm

Photography I- Learning to Develop

Photography I students are learning to develop film. First students practiced reeling exposed film onto a film reel, then they practiced inside of a dark bag and putting it into a light tight tank. After two days of practicing they were assigned their first assignment using a camera.

Assignment #1:
Pattern
 To find and shoot patterns. Any series of lines creates a pattern.
 They are to look above their head, down at the ground, as well as straight ahead. They are to try to find subjects that are primarily patterns, not just ones that have some pattern in them. They are to have the pattern fill the frame of the photograph. They are to try to have nothing in the photograph except pattern.

They are also to consider some of the other qualities of line as well, such as direction or structure. See if they can add them into a photograph without losing sight of their primary goal. Using these other qualities to strengthen the pattern, not to detract from it. For example, they may use perspective so their pattern recedes into the distance, suggesting direction. Or finding a series of smaller patterns contained in a large one, creating structure.

Students are to use the Sunny 16 Rule right now until they get use to changing their aperture and shutter speed accordingly.

Below are pictures of students practicing reeling film and using dark bags. Also, shown below are Photography I students first roll of film developed successfully from their first assignment.

Successfully developed film from their first assignment on Pattern

All smiles as they practice reeling film with dark bags

All smiles as they practice reeling film with dark bags

Practicing reeling exposed film onto a film reel.

Photography 1- Turning Negatives into Positives

Photography I students should have 6 pretty perfect negatives from their 15 to change into positives this week. After they have completed turning their 6 negatives into positives the students will crop and mount onto black mat board.

Below are negatives that have been changed into positives.

Photography 1-Pinhole Fun

Photography I students are still trying to create the perfect negative with their Pinhole cameras. They have to complete at least 15 negatives and choose their six best negatives to turn into positives. Below is showing students logging their negatives in their notebooks, taking pictures with their cameras, and developing in the darkroom.

Here is an example of a pretty perfect pinhole negative by a student.

Photography 1

Photography 1 is a fun class! Most of my students have NEVER used a film camera or a dark room and I get to be the person to introduce it to them! That is what I love about teaching Photography 1.

This course takes the student through the history of photography, camera handling, camera functions, developing film, developing pictures, how to use a dark room, how to use an enlarger, etc…

We began the year taking notes, learning vocabulary, and the history of photography. We turned my classroom into a “Camera Obscura”, so that when the students created their own pinhole camera they would understand what was happening inside of their own camera. Students were to bring in a box, oatmeal can, or tea can to create their pinhole camera. Students had to make their camera light tight by spraying the inside with a flat black spray paint so that light would not refract when it entered the box/can. Then students had to make an aperture using a piece of aluminum can and a needle. Students then used black duck tape on the outside to make sure light would not leak into their box/can and used the duck tape to make a shutter to cover their aperture.

I demonstrated how to make a pinhole camera, how to fill it with photographic paper in the darkroom, how to take a picture, how to develop using photographic chemicals, how to dry and store their negative.

Students are in the process now of taking pictures using their pinhole cameras. Students have to log every picture they take onto a pinhole camera log in sheet. This allows them to track location, weather conditions, time shutter was open, and if their negative was under/over exposed or perfect. Students will take 20 negatives and then pick the six best negatives to convert into positives.

Photographs are showing a students negative, log-in sheet, and notes. Also, shown is a student taking pictures with their pinhole camera.