AP Photo Student Guide
Letter to Parents and Students
Dear Parents and Students,
Congratulations on being accepted into the AP Studio Art Photography class. There are many exciting opportunities to look forward to when you enter this class -- one being your ability to grow as an artist and photographer. I have developed this guide to help you navigate through the College Board’s many requirements for the portfolio. Please keep it and use it throughout the year. Please take special note of the TIMELINE for the class; there are several DEADLINES that are mandatory –mark them on your calendar now.
This is a college level course and I am expecting you, the student, to be serious about fulfilling the requirements of the class. I, too, will help guide you in the right direction to help you master the art of photography, design and the AP Portfolio. The class does require a time commitment outside the classroom. You should have access to a good camera outside of school. Carry your camera with you whenever you travel around, you never know when you could capture the shot of a lifetime! A visual journal is required for the class; look at page 33 for the specifications.
You will not only be perfecting your printing and compositional techniques, but will also be challenged to create a theme (body of work) like a professional photographer might do for a gallery show. It requires much thought, but also gives you the freedom to choose your own subject. You will have more freedom in this class, but with that freedom comes more responsibility.
Your portfolio can be comprised entirely of photography. You will create photographs this year that will emphasize the principles of design. Therefore, you will be reviewing those design principles in the beginning of the year.
Parents, please be prepared to help your son or daughter participate fully in the class. This may mean that you will need to help them go to a location for a photo shoot. There is a fee for the portfolio to be paid to the College Board when you sign up for the AP “test” in the spring. If a student receives a “3” or higher on their portfolio, some of the money can be refunded. You must contact the school in order for that to occur. Please read the Supplies & Equipment/ Fees section, page 33 for lab fees and other potential costs.
If you love photography and the thrill of capturing “the perfect shot” you will love the journey you’ll take by completing the AP Portfolio. It is a truly amazing feeling when it is done and sent off to the College Board. I look forward to helping each one of you become truly good artists.
I have read this letter and booklet:
Student name and signature_________________________
_________________________
Parent name and signature ___________________________
___________________________
Sincerely,
Dena Radosevic
Photography teacher
Parents, Please print this out, sign it, and have your son or daughter return this to Mrs. Radosevic the first week of school.
Copyright
Work based on another artist’s work or photos must move beyond mere duplication and become an expression of your own personal voice and vision. You must not copy another artist’s or photographer’s work.
AP Summer Assignment
#1 – Read your AP Student Guide. It is your “textbook” for the course. Do not lose the Guide.
#2 – Concentrate on the Concentration Section. It is the hardest of the three sections. Read the item about how to choose your concentration topic.
· Have a list of 50 topics the first day of school. That is the first thing we’ll tackle when we return.
#3 – Go somewhere that interests you. Take pictures -- really good ones, not snapshots. Begin your visual journal (you’ll find the explanation in your Guide).
#4 – Get out of the habit of procrastinating. Work on this over the course of the summer, not the day before classes start. Read the TIMELINE for all of your deadlines (it covers the entire year).
#5 – Find a photographer whose work you admire. Find out how they learned how to do the photography they do. Record your thoughts in your visual journal.
#6 – Pay attention to the Principles of Design and use it for your photos. All good photographers think about design, impact of their photos and what the message is. Shoot at least 3 (36) rolls of film, or the equivalent in digital. These are due the beginning of our second week back.
#7 – Try to obtain a good camera (digital or film) if you don’t already have one. This is important component of the class – more access equals better pictures!
Work based on another artist’s work or photos must move beyond mere duplication and become an expression of your own personal voice and vision. You must not copy another artist’s or photographer’s work.
AP Summer Assignment
#1 – Read your AP Student Guide. It is your “textbook” for the course. Do not lose the Guide.
#2 – Concentrate on the Concentration Section. It is the hardest of the three sections. Read the item about how to choose your concentration topic.
· Have a list of 50 topics the first day of school. That is the first thing we’ll tackle when we return.
#3 – Go somewhere that interests you. Take pictures -- really good ones, not snapshots. Begin your visual journal (you’ll find the explanation in your Guide).
#4 – Get out of the habit of procrastinating. Work on this over the course of the summer, not the day before classes start. Read the TIMELINE for all of your deadlines (it covers the entire year).
#5 – Find a photographer whose work you admire. Find out how they learned how to do the photography they do. Record your thoughts in your visual journal.
#6 – Pay attention to the Principles of Design and use it for your photos. All good photographers think about design, impact of their photos and what the message is. Shoot at least 3 (36) rolls of film, or the equivalent in digital. These are due the beginning of our second week back.
#7 – Try to obtain a good camera (digital or film) if you don’t already have one. This is important component of the class – more access equals better pictures!
Tips for Creating A Good Photograph
You must begin to find your “personal voice” as you work on your portfolio this year. You must think of your photographs within the “Grand Scheme of Things.” The AP Readers will be looking for a strong understanding of the design principles and a cohesive body of work. Below you will find several tips to help you along on your journey:
National Geographic photographers say there are several things that make a good photograph:
· Photos must have a center of interest
· Composition is compelling and well thought out
· Photo is “packaged well”
· Your photo says something about life, the human condition or the planet
Ansel Adams had the following advice:
· Need, or desire, to photograph. This attitude is obviously essential.
· Discovery of the subject, or recognition of its essential aspects, will evoke the concept of the image. This leads to exploration of the subject and the optimum point of view.
· Visualization of the final picture is essential in whatever medium is used. Just as the musician “hears” notes and chords in his mind’s eye, so can the trained photographer “see” certain values, textures, and arrangements in his mind’s eye.
You must begin to find your “personal voice” as you work on your portfolio this year. You must think of your photographs within the “Grand Scheme of Things.” The AP Readers will be looking for a strong understanding of the design principles and a cohesive body of work. Below you will find several tips to help you along on your journey:
National Geographic photographers say there are several things that make a good photograph:
· Photos must have a center of interest
· Composition is compelling and well thought out
· Photo is “packaged well”
· Your photo says something about life, the human condition or the planet
Ansel Adams had the following advice:
· Need, or desire, to photograph. This attitude is obviously essential.
· Discovery of the subject, or recognition of its essential aspects, will evoke the concept of the image. This leads to exploration of the subject and the optimum point of view.
· Visualization of the final picture is essential in whatever medium is used. Just as the musician “hears” notes and chords in his mind’s eye, so can the trained photographer “see” certain values, textures, and arrangements in his mind’s eye.
Locations of Photo Supplies
There are times when you’ll need to purchase your own film, paper, etc. The easiest thing to do is order it online, but there are some stores in the metro area that have good service and a good selection – if you have the chance to get to them.
· B&H Photo and Video
www.bhphotovideo.com
An excellent source for all photographic needs.
· Pro Photo: Washington, D.C. (202) 223-1292
Very knowledgeable and a good local source. Onsite repairs! Used photo equipment.
· Penn Camera: Washington, D.C. & metropolitan area
1-800-347-5770
www.penncamera.com
· Chrome Imaging: Washington, DC (202) 333-3270 [ask for Liz]
www.chromeimaging.com
· Ritz Camera: many store locations in the area, good prices and generally reliable.
www.ritzcamera.com
What camera to buy?
Anything made by Nikon or Canon is good. Look for a model (film or digital) that has the capability to use a manual override. Sometimes you need to control the settings yourself.
Technical Requirements for Uploading Images to the College Board in April
If you will be accessing the Web application from a computer outside of school, please note the required operating systems and browsers listed below. You won't be restricted to specific hardware configurations, though you may experience slower response times when using older computer hardware.
Software Requirements
Free Disk Space
If you will be accessing the Web application from a computer outside of school, please note the required operating systems and browsers listed below. You won't be restricted to specific hardware configurations, though you may experience slower response times when using older computer hardware.
Software Requirements
- Your operating system must be one of the following:
- Windows XP (Home or Professional)
- Windows Vista (Home, Business, Premium, or Ultimate)
- Mac OS (10.4 or higher)
- Your Web browser must be one of the following:
- Internet Explorer (6.0 or higher)
- Firefox (2.0 or higher)
- Safari (2.0 or higher)
- File format: All images must be submitted in JPEG format (file name extension .jpg).
- Image size: The image sizes below are recommendations. Your image sizes may be different.
- Landscape orientation:
- Recommended maximum size: 780 × 530 pixels (10.83 × 7.36 inches)
- Recommended minimum size: 480 × 480 pixels (6.67 × 6.67 inches)
- Portrait orientation:
- Recommended maximum size: 530 × 780 pixels (7.36 × 10.83 inches)
- Recommended minimum size: 480 × 480 pixels (6.67 × 6.67 inches)
- Maximum file size: 3.0 MB per image
Free Disk Space
- Drawing portfolio: Based on the maximum file size of 3.0 MB and a total of 24 digital images, each student would need a maximum of 72 MB of free disk space.
- 2-D Design portfolio: Based on the maximum file size of 3.0 MB and a total of 24 digital images, each student would need a maximum of 72 MB of free disk space.
- 3-D Design portfolio: Based on the maximum file size of 3.0 MB and a total of 38 digital images, each student would need a maximum of 114 MB of free disk space.