recommended intro text for sharp 11 year olds?

[Lee L]

I am considering teaching a B&W photography course to two 6th graders for the next 9 weeks, which is to be a replacement for their disastrous "art" class taught by a completely unqualified person who can't keep any discipline in the classroom. (Tenure and a union contract require that she be there, much to the chagrin of the administration.)

So I have two 11-12 year olds who read at the college freshman level and have good pre-algebra math skills. What book would you recommend for this level of teaching? It's been a long time since I looked at beginners' books (nearly 30 years), but Horenstein's Basic Photography comes to mind. Anyone here use a good book for use as a text for 8th grade through college freshman photography?

Thanks,
Lee

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I was introduced to the darkroom a little earlier than that, in the fourth grade classroom, and I don't believe we used any textbook. Maybe the teacher gave us some handouts, but as I recall, it was mostly hands-on instruction, starting with photograms, then printing color negatives from home in B&W (since most of us didn't have any B&W negs at home--let's hope their parents still have "negatives"), and then taking our own photographs, developing the film, and printing.

 

[Lee L]

Thanks David.

I could easily go without a textbook, or by drawing from the many older and more advanced books I have on hand, but I have to write a curriculum proposal and sumbit it in just a few days. Part of the proposal includes materials and resources to be used, so I think that including a standard beginning text might be a good idea if only to reassure those reviewing the proposal, who know nothing about photography and little to nothing about my qualifications in this particular area. Officially they require accreditation for the teacher, but I was told today that proof of proficiency would work. So I'm looking for suggestions for a worthwhile book that the kids would find a useful reference after we're finished.

Lee

 

[BradS]

If they read at that level, almost any good introductory book would do. Even Photography by Barbara London and John Upton is within their reach.

 

[df cardwell]

Yep, Horenstein

 

[Valerie]

Beginners

Something else you might try is a booklet that the Boy Scouts have. Its pretty basic stuff, but a good starting point for a curriculum. SImply called Photography (its for getting a merit badge) and you can find it at any scout shop. Or online (search merit badge requirements)

 

[howard]

Hi and congratulations... I wish you success.

I seem to recall a book by David Vestal which may be called "the craft of photography". I think it is a fairly complete book, but am unsure of how suited it is to your audience. OTOH it may help you get the course approved and serve as a "reference" type resource.

Howard

 

[Wayne]

I used Horenstein when was I was in High School, but I dont think 11 year olds will have any trouble with it.

 

[Shawn Rahman]

Another vote for the Horenstein book; I just picked up the 3rd edition and it is excellent and simple.

Freestyle Photo (APUG sponsor) is selling a workbook for the Horenstein book, and this may be right up your alley with these kids.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Vestal

I second the Vestal book...
Peter

 

[removed account4]

the merit badge book and the horenstein book are both good choices.
i think the horenstein book might also have a "troubleshooting" section
where it shows possible problems with development &C and what they were caused by.

 

[df cardwell]

David Vestal's book is a wee bit to complex for the young ones.

After suggesting Henry Horenstein, I'll add that you prepare a simple outline
because you are familiar with them. Set tangilble goals, simplify every process, make each assignment a victory, and let them show you what it is like to be a kid.

What is the single most important, tangible, thing the kids should get from this class ?

I'd suggest that each student should have the pleasure of seeing his/her pictures framed, hanging on a wall at a show.

In 9 weeks, you have very little time. Pretty much you can introduce the subject, have a couple playful exercises, a day or two developing film, and a day or two to have directed play making prints. Remember that kids need play, not because they are immature, because they haven't been screwed up yet...like adults !

Then, you can offer a weekend assignment, twice - because the first time will be a failure for 2/3 of the kids... usually the A students, by the way... and then help them select the images to show.

You should plan to be Socrates in the darkroom, directing each student to make their prints. But you drive the process, taking the burden away. Ask them if they like the print, if this should be darker or lighter... and so on. Lettign them choose between a dark and a light print is probably the best, and proceed that way. Obviously, this takes time.

The warning about doing photography with kids is that what is usually easy for adults can be hard for kids, what is hard for adults is often easy for kids, and that kids are all different. Very often, the kids that are not the 'bright' students are the best natural photographers. This wonderful fact encourages them to work hard when they might not have had great success, and it will encourage anybody who sees the pictures to questin their evaluation methods. Both, as Martha says, Good Things.

I HIGHLY suggest Tri X and Diafine. Good, printable negs are what you want: especially with a world of chaotic technique and unforseen picture conditions.

Finally, have fun... and if you ever use the phrase "Zone System" in this class, wash your mouth out with Rodinal ( 1+50 for 30 seconds, constant agitation ).

 

[howard]

I find it interesting that no one has suggested the Ansel Adams books. Would they be too advanced?
Howard

 

[df cardwell]

I find it interesting that no one has suggested the Ansel Adams books. Would they be too advanced?
Howard

Yes, the kids would be way too advanced.


But the truth of it is that Ansel would have had a great time playing 'photography' with the kids.

Check this self-portrait he did with an SX-70 !

.

 

[Shawn Rahman]

I find it interesting that no one has suggested the Ansel Adams books. Would they be too advanced?
Howard

Do you mean from his series, The Camera, The Negative, and The Print?

You're kidding, right? Each of these is far too advanced for most pros want to read or care about.

Good one, though!

 

[hortense]

Jnanian,
Zone VI Workshop by Fred Picker might be a good one to choose. It has a lot of testing; probably too much? However, it should be helpful for your lecture notes and as a reference book. I’d be interested in your final choice since I have a 12-year old neighbor boy that's interested.
You experience would be helpful.
Good luck.

 

[mgb74]

Came across this while roaming around one evening: http://www.pwsgolf.com/photoclasses/pdf/gen-info-pkt.pdf

Could cover at least some topics not included in other pubs. Obviously not written for 11 year olds, but a start. Perhaps author would allow it's use.

 

[Robert Hall]

Try Brian Petersons, Understanding Exposure.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...102-6787371-3992932?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

I use that for ages 10 through adult. (but the kids seem to catch on a little faster lol )

 

[Lee L]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, comments, and links. They are greatly appreciated.

Although I enjoy his writing, I've never seen the Vestal book in stores, and so can't evaluate it without purchasing it first, and time is too short to do that before we start. Maybe I'll get it for myself at some point. I've decided on Horenstein with supplements from others. I have many other books, including the very early 80's version of the four Adams books (polaroid being the 4th), and a later revision of the basic Adams books compiled and edited by Schaeffer in 1999, plus Phil Davis BTZS and Photography in early editions, Way Beyond Monochrome, and a number of others.

Horenstein has the advantage of the best balance of clarity and thoroughness, and I've ordered Les McLean's Creative B&W as a supplement because it has a fine set of varied and well done photos with clear explanations of the technical choices involved, and why they serve the particular photo. There are some examples and drawings in the Adams books that should come in handy, but the presentation isn't as graphical, deliberate, or clear as Horenstein, and it often goes into detail along the way that is extraneous for kids this age.

We'll start with logarithms and calibrating transmission and reflection densitometers... then calibrate ten films in ten different developers and draw H&D curves... ooops...

We're going to learn by doing, much more shooting and reviewing results than lecturing, and the first lesson will be putting pinholes of several sizes in the window of a blacked out room, going inside a camera obscura, and hopefully photographing the image projected on the interior walls. The first camera we'll look at carefully is a 4x5 to see how simple a machine the basic camera is. We'll do pinhole shots early on, and some photograms the first time inside the darkroom, but also go almost immediately into lenses and the basics of exposure and choice of shutter speeds and apertures.

The first assignments will be exercizes to see the effects of changing aperture and shutter speed, and learning what a light meter sees and how it interprets light. They'll make their own annotated photo album, probably with XP2 for the stuff for which we need quick results and numerous prints, e.g. the shutter speed and aperture exercizes. So they'll be making their own sort of technical reference book for the fundamentals.

They'll then get assignments to make certain types of photos after the basics are covered; portraits, landscapes, close-ups, abstracts, etc, and we'll process and print those in my darkroom. At that point we'll cover making the appropriate choices of aperture, shutter speed, point of view, focal length, framing, etc. given the subject at hand and the way they want to present it. The basics of darkroom work will be covered as we process traditional B&W film and print the assignments. They'll shoot with 4x5, 120 folders, 35mm rangefinders, and their own SLRs. (Both happen to have Minolta SLRs and a combined handful of lenses, handed down from grandparents, unrelated families.)

It should be fun. I'm looking forward to it. The two kids are bright, and when put together have a synergistic creative energy.

Thanks again to all.
Lee