Big Ideas

Big Ideas

Photography
for example, film, digital, and alternative photography
is a unique art form that captures images for a variety of purposes.
Photography is an essential element of culture and reveals insights into the human experience.
Refining photographic expression requires perseverance, resilience, and risk taking.
Purposeful artistic choices by the photographer enhance the impact of a photograph.
Photography provides aesthetic experiences
emotional, cognitive, or sensory responses to works of art
that have the power to effect change.

Content

Learning Standards

Content

elements of visual art
colour, line, shape, space, texture, light, exposure, contrast
principles of composition
balance, rule of thirds, point of view, leading lines (e.g., diagonals, S curves), framing, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity, simplicity, depth, focal point
image development strategies
cropping, layering, colour manipulation (e.g., white balance, sepia toning, hue/saturation adjustment, selective tinting), rotation, multiplication, fragmentation, photomontage, elaboration (e.g., digital manipulation, hand colouring, addition of other materials to a photo)
in photography
photographic materials
of photography (e.g., printing ink, photo paper, various types of film, chemicals)
, techniques, processes, and image-making technologies
in photography, any image-making technology, such as cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, enlargers, computers, scanners, digital imaging software, accessories, and other pieces of equipment; could also include improvisational use of miscellaneous items
, used in one or more types of photography:
photographic chemistry
including developer, stop, fix, and other chemicals
(for film) or alternative chemical processes
for example, cyanotypes, Van Dyke Brown photographic processing
creative processes
the means by which an artistic work (in dance, drama, music, or visual arts) is made; includes multiple processes, such as exploration, selection, combination, refinement, reflection, and connection
behaviours of light
  • reflection, refraction,  absorption, transmission, scattering
  • images formed by lenses and mirrors
  • effects of translucent, transparent, and opaque objects
principles of light
  • light travels in straight lines
  • the subject receives less light as the distance is increased
ways of sensing light:
  • optical instruments
    for example, lenses, focus scopes, enlargers, camera obscura
  • parts and functions of cameras and accessories
roles of and relationships between photographer and viewer
symbols and metaphors in photography
influences of visual culture
aspects of culture that rely on visual representation
in social and other media
innovative photographers from various historical, social, and cultural contexts
history of photography
traditional and contemporary First Peoples worldviews, stories, and history, as expressed through photography
moral rights
the rights of an artist to control what happens to his or her creations (e.g., preventing them from being revised, altered, or distorted); students should understand when they can and cannot modify an image created by someone else
, and the ethics of cultural appropriation
use of a cultural motif, theme, “voice,” image, knowledge, story, song, or drama, shared without permission or without appropriate context or in a way that may misrepresent the real experience of the people from whose culture it is drawn
and plagiarism

Curricular Competency

Learning Standards

Curricular Competency

Explore and create

Create photographic works using sensory inspiration
ideas inspired by sensory experiences, such as the scent of pine needles or the sound of tires screeching
, imagination, and inquiry
Examine a range of photographic possibilities and cross-cultural perspectives
Take creative risks
make an informed choice to do something where unexpected outcomes are acceptable and serve as learning opportunities
to express meaning, intent, and emotion through photography
Intentionally select and combine materials, processes, and image-making technologies to convey ideas and justify choices
Create innovative photographic images for a specific audience
Refine photographic skills and techniques related to various styles
Photographic works that share common visual characteristics can be described as belonging to the same photographic style.
and genres
categories of photography similar in form, style, or subject matter (e.g., abstract, landscape, portraits)
Demonstrate innovation in creating photographic images and resolving creative challenges

Reason and reflect

Recognize and engage in the reciprocal process of a critique
age-appropriate feedback strategies (e.g., one-on-one dialogue, safe and inclusive group discussions, reflective writing, gallery walks)
Interpret and evaluate, using discipline-specific language, how photographers use materials, technologies, processes, and environments in art making
Analyze and apply design choices in photography
Reflect on personal answers to aesthetic questions
questions relating to the nature, expression, and perception of artistic works

Communicate and document

Document
through activities that help students reflect on and demonstrate their learning (e.g., drawing, visual journaling, constructing new works, compiling a portfolio)
, share, and appreciate photographic images in a variety of contexts
Demonstrate respect for self, others, and place
any environment, locality, or context with which people interact to learn, create memory, reflect on history, connect with culture, and establish identity. The connection between people and place is foundational to First Peoples perspectives on the world.
through photography
Investigate ways to respond
through activities ranging from reflection to action
to social and environmental issues
including local, regional, national, and global, as well as social justice issues
through photography

Connect and expand

Create photographs that reflect personal, cultural, social, environmental, and historical contexts
Explore First Peoples perspectives, knowledge, and protocols; other ways of knowing
First Nations, Métis, Inuit, gender-related, subject/discipline-specific, cultural, embodied, intuitive
, and local cultural knowledge through photography
Examine the reciprocal relationships between photography, culture, and society
Evaluate personal, educational, and professional opportunities in photography and related fields
Engage in digital citizenship
understanding human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology, and engaging in legal and ethical behaviours
throughout the photographic process
Connect with others on a local, national, and global scale through photography
Demonstrate safe and responsible use of materials
using materials in an environmentally responsible way, including considering their level of biodegradability and potential for reuse and recycling
equipment, and work space