Teacher: Analisa Shinn
Date:
Class: Art 1
Grades: 9-12
Lesson: Smartphone Macro Photography
BIG IDEA: manipulation
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What are the rules of composition most important to photography? How can we use those rules to produce quality
photos?
OBJECTIVES:
- TSW understand important compositional aspects/vocabulary in macro photography, such as rule of thirds,
balancing elements, leading lines, cropping, and background.
- TSW apply their knowledge of the aspects of macro photography by taking ten macro photos around the school
on their smartphone.
- TSW evaluate their photos and the photos of their classmates.
MATERIALS:
- Intro to Photography PPT
- Small objects to photograph if outside is not available
- Simple backgrounds (white paper, colored paper, student artwork)
- Student smartphones
DIFFERENTIATION PLANNING:
If some students do not have their own phone, students may work in pairs or small groups, using only one phone.
TEKS:
- 1a, 1b, 1c – students will use direct observation and imagination to compose shots; identify specific elements of
art (line, texture, color, space); identify specific principles of design (emphasis, balance, contrast).
- 2a, 2c, 2f – students will create original artworks through direct observation; understand that the easiest way to
avoid plagiarism is to use their own source photos; demonstrate effective use of art media in digital art
(photography).
- 3a, 3d – students will compare/contrast a variety of historical and contemporary photographers; consider
different vocational careers in photography.
- 41, 4b – students will complete both self and peer evaluations and critiques.
DAY 1:
1. Using the Intro to Photography PPT, give students an overview of what photography is, and introduce them to
the four featured photographers. While going through the slides, ask students to identify important elements
and principles within each photo.
2. Continue through the PPT to the “rules” of Macro Photography. Explain that, while not every photo will use all
of the rules, the rules will enhance the students’ photos where applicable.
3. Conduct a short demonstration using a smartphone and a small object in class. Through the demo, talk about
the background of the image, the part of the object you want in focus, and how you are approaching the use of
the rules of photography.
4. Have students practice taking photos in class using small personal objects (necklaces, rings, pencils, etc) or art
tools. As they are practicing, walk around and give feedback – are they close enough to their subject? Do they
have the proper point of focus? Is there enough contrast with their object and the background?
5. With the remaining 5-10 minutes in class, have students show their tablemates their favorite photo. Ask
students to evaluate each other’s’ photos, highlighting both the positive aspects, and the concepts to be
improved upon tomorrow.
DAY 2:
1. Begin class by reviewing the rules of macro photography with students. Again stress that not all of the rules
need to be applied to every photo, but that the more students can use the rules, the stronger their photos will
be. Also remind students about the specific elements and principles they noted in the first four photos of
yesterday’s PPT, and remind them to pay attention to those while taking their photos as well.
2. Weather permitting, walk students to a safe outside area to take photos (a spot with greenery/flowers works
best!); if no outside spot is available, provide students with a variety of small objects and simple backgrounds to
use in class. Give students the majority of the class to set-up and take their photos. With 10 minutes remaining,
ask students to select what they feel are their strongest five photos – to be evaluated by peers tomorrow.
DAY 3:
1. Ask students to pull up the five photos they selected at the end of class yesterday. Remind the class again of the
macro rules and the elements/principles they should have paid attention to while taking their photos. Display
the Macro Photo Rubric on the projector and have students pair up.
2. Have one student use the rubric to critique the other student’s five photos. Use the results of the rubric
critiques to determine which photo is strongest. Then, have the students switch and critique the other student’s
photos.
3. Once the strongest photo has been determined for each student, have the class use their smartphones to email
that one photo to the teacher. Instruct students to write their full name and class period number in the subject
line before sending.
4. As their exit ticket for the day, have students fill out the Macro Photo Rubric for their photo (self-critique), give
themselves a grade, and justify why they feel their photo deserves that grade.
*This assignment can be continued into a drawing/painting project. To do so, print student photos (4”x6”), then have
students grid their photos onto 8”x12” or 12”x16” papers.
INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY
A LOOK INTO THE ART AND ARTISTS
WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPHY?
■ Photography is the art and practice of capturing images or
moments in time.
■ Historically, film cameras captured the image through light
emulsion onto a piece of photographic film.
■ Most contemporary photographers have now turned to
digital photography, which captures images through an
image sensor.
■ Currently, the majority of the US population carries a
camera with them at all times. What type of “camera”
equipment do they use?
PHOTOGRAPHERS THROUGH HISTORYThere have been a number of significant photographers through the past century; here are a few.
Ansel Adams1902-1984
“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson1908-2004
“Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing is a meditation.”
PHOTOGRAPHERS THROUGH HISTORYThere have been a number of significant photographers through the past century; here are a few.
Dorothea Lange1895-1965
“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.”
Yousuf Karsh1908-2002
“Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.”
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
“RULES”Macro photography consists of
images of small items that appear
to be larger than life.
Rule of Thirds
■ With the Rule of Thirds,
the basic idea is: DON’T
put your main subject in
the MIDDLE of your
frame.
■ Instead, move your
subject to the right or
left to create a more
interesting composition.
Balancing Elements■ By using the Rule of Thirds, your
photo can tend to feel
unbalanced unless you fill the
“empty” space around your
subject with something.
■ That “something” can be a
simple background (even if
blurred), but will still give a
visual weight to the otherwise
empty space around your
subject.
Leading Lines
■ Lines, especially
diagonals, will tend to
lead your viewer’s eyes
around your photo.
■ The more purposeful
you make the
placement of lines, the
more powerful your
photo will be.
Background■ The background in a photo
is just as important as your
main subject.
■ Does the background
enhance your photo? Or
does it distract from the
main subject?
■ If your photo is a simple
portrait, is the background
pleasing and complimentary
to your subject? Or does
your subject clash/blend in?
Cropping
■ By cropping tight
around the subject,
you eliminate the
background “noise,”
ensuring the subject
gets the viewer’s
undivided attention.
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC
20 15 10 5 0
UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT
RULE OF THIRDS USED
BACKGROUND CONSIDERED
BALANCED ELEMENTS
LEADING LINES VISIBLE
TOTAL POINTS EARNED
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC
20 15 10 5 0
UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT
RULE OF THIRDS USED
BACKGROUND CONSIDERED
BALANCED ELEMENTS
LEADING LINES VISIBLE
TOTAL POINTS EARNED
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC
20 15 10 5 0
UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT
RULE OF THIRDS USED
BACKGROUND CONSIDERED
BALANCED ELEMENTS
LEADING LINES VISIBLE
TOTAL POINTS EARNED
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC
20 15 10 5 0
UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT
RULE OF THIRDS USED
BACKGROUND CONSIDERED
BALANCED ELEMENTS
LEADING LINES VISIBLE
TOTAL POINTS EARNED
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY RUBRIC
20 15 10 5 0
UP CLOSE TO SUBJECT
RULE OF THIRDS USED
BACKGROUND CONSIDERED
BALANCED ELEMENTS
LEADING LINES VISIBLE
TOTAL POINTS EARNED