Introduction to Photography
Campbell County High School
Mr. Harmon
Course Description
This class is an introduction to the fine art medium of photography. The purpose of this class is to
familiarize students with the aesthetics and processes related to photography as well as the elements and
principles of visual art. Throughout the course, students will learn about a variety of photo related arts as
well as how to properly shoot, develop, and print black & white photographs. Students will use both
pinhole and traditional, 35mm cameras. In addition, students will learn about photo history and proper art
critique techniques.
Requirements
Each student is required to:
pay the art fee in order to take Intro to Photography
have access to his/her own re-loadable, 35mm camera.
provide his/her own acceptable, 35mm black and white film.(T-MAX, TRI-X, PLUS-X)
Assignments
Students will be graded on:
Studio projects
Tests
Open responses
Critiques
Bell ringers
Participation
Presentations
Expectations
Due to the size of the darkroom, only a few students will be able to work at a time. Therefore, different
students will be working on different assignments simultaneously. This kind of class requires students to
be very responsible and trustworthy. I expect students to pay attention to the schedule, come to class
prepared, have fun, but most of all conduct themselves appropriately for school.
Rotation Groups
In this class, I will be assigning each student to a rotation group. These groups will be assigned randomly
and will remain throughout the semester. There will be two rotations where each group will be assigned to
a task for one week, then rotate to the next for one week, and so on. This will allow each student to have
equal time working on each project.
Procedures/Behavioral Expectations

Each day there will be a bell ringer on the board. This is a quick question to answer at the
beginning of class. I will check bell ringers periodically for a class participation grade.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to come to me and find out what you missed.
Make-up time in the darkroom may only be available before or after school. It is your
responsibility to schedule such time if needed for make-up work.

This class allows students to go outside to take photos. Students must have their agenda on
them at all times when outside of my class! Also, students must stay within view of my
windows at all times. Any student caught misbehaving outside (by any teacher—I have
spies) will be confined to taking photos indoors.

You have plenty of opportunities to talk quietly in art class. DO NOT talk while I am
talking.

Each assignment has a due date. If I choose to accept late assignments, five points per day
are automatically deducted for late assignments.

I teach Photo as a hands-on course, but if you or your class misbehaves, I reserve the right to
teach strictly from textbook.

Cleanliness and order are required to get the most out of studio art courses. You are expected
to return everything you use to its labeled home. Failure to do so will result in a cleaning
day.

Don’t ask to leave class the first 10mins or the last 10mins. You will not be allowed to
leave.

Due to the high price of photo paper, each student is given a supply of paper at the
beginning of the course. This is your photo paper. If you run out, you will be required to
purchase more.

Final pet peeve -- do not congregate around the door at the end of the period; stay seated
until you are dismissed.
Photography – Honor Contract
Mr. Harmon
Please read and sign below, indicating that you have read, understand, and agree with this document as well as the
behavioral expectations from the previous page.

As a student of Mr. Harmon’s photography class, it is your responsibility to provide a suitable camera and a
supply of film throughout the semester. The camera must be a re-loadable, 35mm camera. It cannot be an
disposable camera. The film required for this course must be tank developing black and white film. The
easiest to find film is T-Max. Meijer and Walgreen’s carry this film and I sell it as well. Film marked
“Process Anywhere,” or with the code “C-41” WILL NOT WORK for this class. There are 4 projects that
require film, so four to five rolls are usually satisfactory. However, if a student has a problem shooting or
developing a roll, or purchases the wrong kind of film, an extra roll may be required. A successfully shot and
developed roll is required for each project, and is the responsibility of the student.

Also as a student of this class, students will be expected to practice ethical methods of creating art. No form of
plagiarism/cheating, as explained below, will be tolerated. Plagiarism, as related to this photography class, is
defined as using any part of someone else’s artistic product and calling it your own. It is also defined as having
someone else do work for you, and calling it your own. Any student found guilty of any of the below forms of
plagiarism will be given a zero on the project.
This includes, but is not limited to the following:
Printing any part of photograph/negative you did not shoot
Manipulating a photograph that you did not shoot
Sharing negatives with a classmate
Finding negatives and using them as your own
Having negatives/prints professionally developed

Photographic paper is extremely expensive. The majority of the photo fee money goes to purchasing paper.
Many students though have been careless with paper usage which could drive up the cost of the course.
Therefore, students will now be given their own box at the beginning of the course with ample paper to last the
quarter. Boxes will remain in my room. Students are expected to be responsible for their paper. If a student is
careless with his or her paper and loses it or runs out before the end of the quarter, he or she will be required to
purchase more paper from the class supply.

PARENTS: It is my goal to have each student succeed in my class. However, due to the independent work
nature of this class, students sometimes require extra assistance or time in the darkroom. I am willing to stay
after school and keep the darkroom open when needed. Along the same lines, it is my goal to keep parents
informed of their student’s progress in my class. If possible, parents please include an email address below
where you can be reached if necessary to discuss student grades or behavior. Feel free to contact me at
brian.harmon@campbell.kyschools.us. Also, I’ve created a class website at http://tinyurl.com/CCHSPhoto .
Please sign below indicating that you’ve read and agree to the above syllabus, behavioral expectations and honor contract..
Student Signature
Date
Parent Signature
Date
Parent email address (Please include if available. This is the easiest and most efficient way for me to stay in contact with parents.)