Standards-based Planned Instruction Template

Name: Deby Buzbee

School District: Springfield School District, Delaware County, PA

Lesson Title: Composition and Japanese Photography

Grade Level: 9-10 Specify Primary Intermediate Middle X High School Other School Building: High School

Piloted with students in grade: 9-10 (will be piloted 1999-2000 school year).

PA STANDARD AREA: ARTS AND HUMANITIES 9.1 Production, Performance and Exhibition 9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts X 9.3 Critical Response 9.4 Aesthetic Response 9.5 Connections to Other Academic Subjects

Standard Statement: (write out from grade 4 or 7 or 10 or advanced column in standards document): 9.3.10 D. Analyze and interpret works in the arts and humanities from different societies using descriminant and culturally specific vocabulary of cirtical response.

Lesson Topic/Theme:  The students will print a photograph using the principles of composition and framing; they will be viewing Japanese photographs as a point of reference.

Overview:  This lesson is designed to teach students how to understand and identify composition and framing in a photograph. The students will look at Japanese photography as a refrence. The work of Chikako Ogato will be shown. Students will identify composition, framing, cropping, focal point and contrast in these photographs. The instructor will show the students a photograph of a Japanese town (Kyoto). He/she will show the students the Sannen-zaka (or slope) in the photograph. The composition in relation to this element will be discussed. The instructor will emphasize that a good photograph is universal and the same elements may be applied regardless of a photographer's nationality. Specific approaches to Japanese composition will also be discussed. The students will then take their own pictures that address composition and framing (a 24 exposure roll of film is required). A critique will then be held to compare the student's work with the Japanese photographs. In addition, all students will then find sites on the web that show examples of Japanese photography. Internet examples will also be shared.

Keywords: composition, framing, cropping, focal point, texture, line, contrast, matting and critique.

Learning Objective(s): (What will all students do to demonstrate they have reached the standard?): 1. Students will be able to visually identify composition, framing, cropping, texture, line, focal point and contrast in a photograph. 2. Students will print a photograph that shows good composition and framing. They will be able to identify these elements in their own photographs. 3. Students will understand and identify elements in a photograph specific to the Japanese culture. 4. Students will use the Internet as a learning center to download Japanese photographs from specific websites. Assessment-Task Criteria: How will you judge below basic, basic, proficient and advanced? Do you have a model/exemplar of your expectations?: Examples of Chikako Ogato will be shown. Elements of the composition in his photographs will be shown. If the lesson has been done before with a class, examples of students work in the form of a slide show will be shown. Only work that has been classified as advanced will be shown. Exemplars will be used for scoring.   Below Basic (0-1) Composition and framing is not clear to the viewer along with the subject being photographed.   The print has no contrast and shows no evidence of personal exploration.                                       The student cannot identify any of the elements of composition that have been presented.                                    The student is not able to relate any elements of composition and framing viewed in the Japanese photographs.                                  The student has no understanding of the Internet as a resource and is not able to find any material requested.                                  The student is not directed and takes little or no initiative. Basic (2) Composition and framing is somewhat clear to the viewer along with the subject being photographed.   The print has average contrasts and shows some evidence of personal exploration.                                                  The student can identify some of the elements of compositions that have been presented (for example: cropping, texture, but not line, focal point and contrast).                                              The student relates some elements of composition and framing to the subject viewed in the Japanese photographs.   The student has some understanding of how to use the Internet as a resource and is able to find some material requested.   The student is directed 70-79% of the time, but does not take initiative to do work above and beyond what is required. Proficient (3) Composition and framing is clear to the viewer along with the subject being photographed.    The print has good contrast and shows some evidence of personal exploration.                                               The student can identify most of the elements of composition that have been presented (for example: cropping, texture, line, but not focal point and contrast).                                           The student relates most elements of composition and framing to the subject matter viewed in the Japanese photographs.                                           The student understands how to use the Internet as a resource and is able to find most material requested.   The student is directed 80-89% of the time, but does not take initiative to do work above and beyond what is required. Advanced (4) Composition and framing is clear to the viewer along with the subject being presented.                                                 The print has excellent contrast and shows evidence of personal exploration (for example, the student has set up his/her shot and organized the subject(s) within the picture frame.   The student can identify all elements of composition and framing that have been presented: cropping, texture, line, focal point and contrast.   The student relates all elements of composition and framing to the subject matter viewed in the Japanese photographs.   The student understands how to use the Internet as a resource and is able to find all the requested material .   The student is self-directed and takes initiative to do work above and beyond what is required.

Materials: RC Print Paper, negative sleeves, film, mat board, tacking paper.

Warm-Up: The teacher gives each student a photograph from a different culture. All photographs are by working artists or photographers. The student must tell the class what culture or country he/she thinks the photo is from and why. Japanese photographs will be identified and the lesson will be introduced. Emphasis will be placed on how culture can be identified through works of art.

Procedure: 1. Composition and framing will be introduced. The teacher will discuss composition, framing, cropping, texture, line, focal point and contrast. 2. The teacher will explain how these concepts are important when composing a good photograph. 3. The students will look at the photography of Chikako Ogato and discuss his use of composition. Japanese vocabulary will be addressed. The idea that good photography is universal will also be addressed. 4. The students will take pictures that show composition and framing (24 exposure roll required). Cropping is encouraged when framing the pictures. 5. The students will develop their film and print in the darkroom. They will mat their photographs (at least 1 photograph is required) and a critique will be held. Comparison to Japanese photography and the elements found in this medium will be discussed. 6. Students will find sites on the Web that show examples of Japanese photography. These examples will be shared with the class.

Correctives: (Remedial activities for students who have not met the standard at proficient or advanced level): The students who have not met the standard at a proficient level may use their pinhole camera to take pictures that show composition and framing. They may take as many pictures as possible and must mat at least 2.

Extensions: (Enrichment activities for students who have met the standard at a proficient or advanced level): The students may work on more than one photograph. They may also use photograms made with objects to further understand composition and framing. If they are interested, the class members may take 4 pinhole photographs (2 must be contact printed). These 4 photographs must be matted as a 4 part collage.