Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I have enough time to take photos?
Q: What if I can't find a nice place to take photos?
Q:What if my photos aren't creative enough?
Q: Where are some cool places to take photos in nearby?
Q: I'm not creative, how can I take good photos?
Q: What are Ms. Pryor's expectations for the weekly photo challenges?
Q: How do you mark our assignments?
Q:Where can I find the due dates for my assignments?
Q: For Level two and three students - how full should our sketchbooks be?
Q: Will it effect my mark if I fall behind?
Q: What do I do if I don't like the project we are doing?
Q: Is there a lot of writing in this class?
Q: Will I have to do presentations in front of the class?
- A: Most of the photos you will need to take outside of class time are your weekly photo challenges. It's three photos per week and all of the challenges are posted ahead of time, so if you are really worried you can do them ahead of time if necessary. You will also have an opportunity to take photos during class time on school grounds, but this is considered a last resort (please don't take photos of lockers, hallways, classrooms etc.)
Q: What if I can't find a nice place to take photos?
- A: Part of learning to be a photographer is making the ordinary appear extraordinary. There are lots of great places to take photos a short bus ride/bike ride/walk away.
Q:What if my photos aren't creative enough?
- A: I will help you brainstorm ideas for your photos, and as time goes on your photography and ideas will develop. You need to be okay with growing and learning through your projects. Focus less on getting a good mark, and more on what skills you will have learned by the end of the year. A good rule of thumb is to put some thought into your photos and don't feel obligated stay with your first idea. You might only like one of your photos from that week, and that is okay as well. Remember if you aren't happy with your work you can also re-do it.
Q: Where are some cool places to take photos in nearby?
- A: The watershed, the bog, under the hydro wires by Scott 72 mall, anywhere along Ladner Trunk Road, Crescent Beach/White Rock, Annacis Island, and Fort Langley. If you are feeling adventurous Columbia Street, Gastown, Granville Island, Queen Elizabeth Park, Chinatown, etc.
Q: I'm not creative, how can I take good photos?
- A: First of all, are you are! To be human is to create. "Artistic creativity" is a belief and an attitude that gets stronger the more you use it. Focus on taking technically good photos and creativity will follow naturally. Putting to much pressure on yourself will only stifle your creativity. We will look at other photographers and each others work to get inspired. Being open to playing around, knowing how to use your camera, and practicing the conventions of photography will help you get closer to your goals.
Q: What are Ms. Pryor's expectations for the weekly photo challenges?
- A: Each week has a set of criteria which is posted with on the weekly photo challenge page but the main things we will look at when assessing your work is:
- Are the photos in focus?
- Do they follow the conventions of photography (rule of thirds, good exposure, properly cropped, good saturation)?
- Do your photos have a clear subject matter?
- Is there a sense of a deliberate capturing of a moment in time that elicits a response (aka is it interesting and/or pleasing to look at?)
- Did you take risks and explore or push your skills and challenge yourself?
Q: How do you mark our assignments?
- A: We mark your assignments twice a term in an interview style using a rubric. We look at your progress over time and focus on growth, revision of work and how to learn from our weaknesses and strengths. You have the opportunity to re-do assignments at any time, and we do a full exit interview at the end of the year which becomes your final grade. I value your progress and learning over time.
Q:Where can I find the due dates for my assignments?
- A: Due dates are located the top left of each unit on the projects pages and next to each of the weekly photo challenges. Due dates are a guideline to help us move forward and keep you on track, but they are flexible. That being said it is your responsibility to make sure that you keep up in class. I won't give in class time to work on old projects once we move on. If you need more time please communicate that to me, and it is expected that you will use class time to the fullest and come after school or at lunch if needed. If you have good work ethic and are on task during class time major projects can be finished during class time .
Q: For Level two and three students - how full should our sketchbooks be?
- A: You should be working in your sketchbook every class and constantly exploring ideas and collecting/reflecting/doodling/pasting images. Please see the examples on the projects page for some different examples.
Q: Will it effect my mark if I fall behind?
- A: It depends on what kind of a student you are. If you are able to push through in sprints, and work well under pressure probably not, but if you tend to leave things to the last minute and get overwhelmed to the point of giving up then it could. If you are noticing you are falling behind it's best to come talk to me right away. We can assess why you are falling behind and make a plan to get you caught up - possibly reducing your workload until you catch up. I would rather you produce higher quality work than rushing through things at the expense of learning.
Q: What do I do if I don't like the project we are doing?
- A: First, lets see if we can modify the project so that it is more interesting for you. If that's not possible then it is up to you to find a project that fulfills the same learning outcomes, and provide a project proposal. There are many fun projects on Pinterest, My Modern Met, Bored Panda etc. and I have tons of books and resources. I know we can make something work for both of us :)
Q: Is there a lot of writing in this class?
- A: At the end of each project I will ask you to reflect on your learning and write about the meaning behind your work, as well as each week you will be required to write a one to two paragraph blog post about your favorite photo from your weekly photo challenge. Spending time developing skills around describing your work will encourage growth and learning and force you to describe your ideas to other people. Doing this helps you consider your work in a more in depth and critical way - ultimately leading to better English and photography skills.
Q: Will I have to do presentations in front of the class?
- A: I haven't planned anything yet, but I would like to share your photos with classmates and would hope that we feel safe enough to talk about our work and get good feedback from your fellow learners. In the end I wouldn't make you do anything that you aren't comfortable with. One option could be doing your presentation privately with me another time if necessary.