MEDIA ARTS 8

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET QUARTER 1, WEEK1

THEORETICAL, HISTORICAL AND AESTHETIC ASPECTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Background Information for Learners
Media Arts under the Special Program in the Arts is the study of human communication through
photography, broadcasting, print media, online media, videography and film. In this art form, students are
trained to use the elements of space, time, light, motion, color and sound to express their perspectives, feelings
and ideas creatively. Likewise, students are taught to appreciate the values of cultural identity and inculcate or
include these themes for a more significant and high sense of identity. Critically, they learn to interpret and
evaluate media within aesthetic, cultural and historical contexts to become more enlightened consumers, critical
individuals and effective citizens.
The learners are taught creative use of communications technologies to tell stories and explore concepts
for diverse purposes and audiences. Media artists represent personal, social and cultural realities using platforms
such as television, film, video, newspapers, magazines, radio, and the worldwide web. Media Arts explores the
diverse artistic, creative, social and institutional factors that shape communication and contribute to the
formation of identities. The learners participate in, experiment with and interpret the rich culture and
communications practices surrounding them.
In this art form, students are trained to use the elements of space, time, light, motion, color and sound to
express their perspectives, feelings and ideas creatively.
BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography- is the science, art, application and practice of creating durable images by recording light or
other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a
light-sensitive material such as photographic film.
The Greek term of Photography comes from the word “Photos” means light and “Graphos” means
writing .
THE PHOTOGRAPHER AS ARTIST
 Photography as process if focusing a camera at a subject and clicking the shutter.
 Photography as art if discerning a significant moment or a unique expression, framing it in the camera
viewfinder with an eye for composition, and then clicking the shutter

PHOTOGRAPHY AS COMMUNICATION
 Considered one of the most powerful means of communication.
 Conveying information and ideas, expressing emotions, even championing causes.

TWO DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

A. Immediacy- the quality of bringing one into direct and instant involvement with something, giving rise to a
sense of urgency or excitement.

B. Detail - giving careful attention 

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
 It is fast, fun, and easy. One of the coolest things about digital photography is that you can see your
picture right away. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can download, organize, edit, and share all of your
digital photos. In this activity, students take photos and gather images from various sources, identifying
elements of visual design that reflect good composition. Students also learn about scanned images, Camera
RAW, video stills, and key digital image terminology.

TIPS ON GOOD IMAGE COMPOSITION AND ELEMENTS OF VISUAL DESIGN

 Framing: When framing the picture, try to fill the frame with relevant and interesting elements.
 Emphasis: Include a focal point of the photograph, a subject that is emphasized.
 Angle of view: Take pictures from the subject’s eye level to capture it realistically, or change the angle
to alter the point of view

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  Balance: Create a sense of weight for the elements within the frame; some objects will have a large
sense of weight and some will have a small sense of weight.
 Rule of thirds: Offset your picture to help focus the viewer’s eyes on the subject.
 Close-ups: Take close-up pictures to capture details and highlight specific objects.
 Tone and sharpness: Use light and shadow to focus attention on or draw attention away from your
subject. Have your subject in focus and blur the extraneous elements to draw viewers to the subject.
 Arrangement: Remove objects not essential to the composition, or eliminate them by changing the
camera’s perspective.
 High dynamic range (HDR) imaging: Use exposure bracketing and take several pictures at different
exposure settings. These images can be combined later to achieve the artistic HDR effect.

Why photography?
Perhaps you are drawn into photography mainly because it appears to be a quick, convenient
and seemingly truthful way of recording something. All the importance lies in the subject itself, and
you want to show objectively what it is, or what is going on (a child’s first steps or a scratch on a car
for insurance purposes).
Photography is thought of as evidence, identification, a kind of diagram of a happening. The
camera is your visual notebook.
You set up situations (as in advertising) or choose to photograph some aspect of an event but not
others (as in politically biased news reporting). Photography is a powerful medium of persuasion and
propaganda. It has that ring of truth when all the time it can make any statement the photographer
chooses. Consider the family album for a moment: what pictures are represented here – all of family
life or just the good moments?
Another reason for taking up photography is that you want a means of personal self-expression
to explore your own ideas, concerns or issue-based themes. It seems odd that something so apparently
objective as photography can be used to express, say, issues of desire, identity, race or gender, or
metaphor and fantasy.

PHOTOGRAPHY FUNDAMENTALS

“The important thing is not the camera but the eye.” – Alfred Eisenstaed

WHAT IS AN SLR?
● SLR - Single Lens Reflex - The camera has a viewfinder that sees through the lens by way of a 45°-
angled mirror that flips up when the shutter fires and allows the light to strike the image sensor (or
film).

CAMERA MENU FUNCTIONS

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CREATIVE MODES SCENE MODES

PROGRAM MODE
Characteristics of program mode
● Aperture and shutter speed are set by the camera, but can be shifted
using the control dial, with the exposure staying the same
● Unlocks some other settings in your camera that gives you more
control over the final image : ISO setting, white balance,
exposure compensation
● Great for quickly getting a photograph without having to think too
hard about settings

TV-SHUTTER PRIORITY
Characteristics of TV mode
● TV means time value
● Shutter priority: set the shutter speed and calculates the
matching aperture
● To photograph moving subjects (sporting action). A faster
shutter speed will freeze the motion
● To capture movement as a blur of a waterfall, choose a slower
shutter speed

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 AV-APERTURE PRIORITY
Characteristics of AV mode
● AV means aperture value
● Manually control the aperture while the camera sets the
matching shutter speed
● Particularly useful to control a stationary object where you
don’t need to control the shutter speed
● Choosing a larger aperture (f/stop) means the lens will get
smaller and it will let less light in so a larger depth of field
(more of the area in focus), but your camera will choose a faster
shutter speed and vice versa

MANUAL
Characteristics of manual mode
● Full control over camera settings such: shutter speed, aperture, ISO,
white balance and exposure compensation
● Gives you the flexibility to set your shots the way you want them to
be
● Can result in creative and non-traditional exposures

PORTRAIT MODE
Characteristics of portrait mode
● An automatic mode with emphasis on settings for a perfect portrait shot.
● The ability of the camera to detect if there are faces in the image and to ensure they are all in focus
● Sets a wide aperture of the lens so that the background behind your subject is softly focused (shallow
depth of field)

LANDSCAPE MODE
Characteristics of landscape mode
● Narrows the aperture, so both the subject and background stay sharp (deep depth of field)
● Foreground, middle ground, and background are all in focus
● Exposure compensation for entire frame

MACRO/close-up mode

Characteristics of macro mode

● An automatic mode with emphasis on settings for close-up photography
● Commonly used to photographing flowers, insects and other small items
● Some cameras may be able to focus when the lens is less than an inch away from the subject
● Creates a very shallow depth of field

SPORTS MODE

● Represented by an icon of a sprinter, this is perfect for taking pictures of moving objects
● Also good for shooting children or pets in action
● Can give you higher shutter speeds to stop action, along with a smaller aperture so that more
of the action will be in focus
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NIGHT PORTRAIT MODE
● Usually symbolized by a figure against a dark sky with a star
● Fires the flash to illuminate a nearby subject and then holds the shutter open long enough for the
background to be exposed

Activity 1. CROSSWORD: Complete the crossword below.

1
  6 7
     
  4                    
  3    
    5    
         
2                          
       
       
     
     
8                  
 
 
9                
 
 

DOWN
1. It is a thought of evidence
3. Creates a sense of weight within the
frame
5. Automatic mode with emphasize on
settings
6. Focal point of the photograph
7. Characteristic of photography
ACROSS
2. Helps the viewer eyes on the subject
4. Perfect mode for taking moving objects
8. Characteristic of photography
9. Pictures that highlights specify objects

Activity 2. Analyzing image composition. Capture two types of photos: portraits and landscapes.
Take pictures of each other, objects in the house, and landscapes outside the house (within house
compound). Review the tips on good image composition and elements of visual design as your guide
in taking photos. Print your output by following the given format.

Activity 3. Analyzing and critiquing photographs. Find a sample of portrait and landscape photos
( news paper, magazine or books). Scan the photos and print by following the given format.
(NOTE: Softcopy of format/layout for outputs will be given thru email or messenger)

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Closure/Reflection:
Complete this statement:
What I have learned in this activity is/are _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

References for Learners

Langford’s Basic Photography
By: Michael Langford FBIPP, HonFRPS
Formerly Photography Course Director
Royal College of Art, London

Prepared by:

FARINA B. MADUME, T-I

Diadi National High Shool
0947.840.6020

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Answer Key:

Activity 1. CROSSWORD: Complete the crossword below.

1
P 6 7
H E D
O 4 S P O R T S M O D E
T 3 P T
O B 5 H A
G A P A I
2 R U L E O F T H I R D S L
A A R I
P N T S
H C R
Y E A
8 I M M E D I A C Y
T
M
9 C L O S E U P S
D
E

Activity 2 & 3.

Assessment:
3 Does Not Meet 8 Meets Expectations 10 – Exceeds
Expectations expectations
IMAGES Absent or incomplete. Creates original images Creates original images
that employ good image with a point of view,
composition and elements clearly employing good
of visual design. image composition and
elements of visual design.

Prints output by following Prints output by following

the given format and did the given format and
not submit on time. submitted on time.

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