Old Site for SCPHOTO your online photography curriculum and textbook

Many of this links on this part of the site may not continue to function. The new site should be available in August.

Technical Help and tips Projects to test your skills Gallery of high school student work Site Map - find helpOnline High School Photography ClassThis section is for teachers -- tips from 28 years teaching high school photography
Student Curriculum in Photography is an online resource for students of all ages who are wanting to improve their photography skills. This site was originally designed for students at Santa Cruz High School in Santa Cruz, California. Time has grown the site into a place where photo students from all over the world can come for extra help and a few photo challenges to help learn how to "make a photograph" rather than a simply taking a "snapshot" without thought for the finished product.

Here are a few of the things you will find helpful - click on the links to view each and perhaps discover some hidden material not listed.

Table of Contents
Technical Assistance
Projects - Try these
Curriculum Extras
Photo Composition
Looking at what it takes to make a photo special
Common Error in making a photograph
These projects are designed to go from easy to difficult. Start here and work down the column.

Shadowgram - Pinhole Camera
Making a photograph without a camera
Photography is all about training your eye to see a good photograph rather than a quick snapshot every time you aim your camera. These assignments train your eye.

Magazine Projects 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
Look for pictures in magazines that illustrate
photo techniques
Camera Use
A QUALITY photo begins in the camera and knowing how to adjust it is a critical skill.
Types - Controls - Loading Film - Lens
Telling a story with a photo
Ecology - Building Piece - Posed
These are taken on the first roll of film.They are designed to challenge your creativity.
Questions to test your knowledge
1 - 2 - 3
Film Types
For those of you who are not digital yet
Close Up
Looking for a photo from a different view point
Exposure Controls
Shutter - Aperture - ISO/ASA
Cropping to fix problem pictures
This section covers black and white film
Film Processing - Print Making
Chemicals - Charts - Loading Film Tank
Portrait - Studio Still Life
Pictures taken in the studio
Teacher Section
Handouts, lesson plans and stuff for teachers
Creative Controls - Depth & Motion
Some digital cameras will not allow for creative control of depth and motion. For advanced camera skills check out this section.
Emotion Shot
Challenge yourself with this assignment
Test you knowledge
Test 1 - Test 2 - Final Photo Project
Darkroom Work & Errors
Working in the darkoom gives great skills in learning how to control light. The same skills apply to digital work with photoshop.
Reflection - Fill Light
Looking for that little extra in your photo
Photo Standards
Visual Arts standards for this class
Silhouette
Dodge/Burn Demonstration
This is a darkroom trick to improve print quality.
Slide Shows
Lecture slides used in this class
Zone System of Exposure
Ansel Adams system overview
Frame - Shapes
Choosing a subject that is unusual
This one has you look for photographs in places you wouldn't expect to find them.
ONLINE CLASS
Study photo online - find out more about this class here.
Tips for Success
Analysis of a photograph
Here are some samples from the Online Class
Subject - Exposure
Storybook - This is My Life
Photojournalism assignments
These now combine photo with verbal to complete the communication tool kit.
Digital Photo Album - this is my personal place to share photographs with family and friends. Sample some of my work in digital photography taken since my retirement from teaching.

Enroll today in the SCPhoto Online Photography Class!

This self-paced class was designed for secondary school students who are looking for a way to study photography on their own. Independent work at home or through your school, this class is open to anyone wanting to spend time looking at the process of photography and their own work with it. Students will complete the same assignments and work on the same material used by instructor Keith Wills while teaching photography at Santa Cruz High School for 28 years. This will be a standards based program helping students learn how to communicate using photography. All you need is a camera and film and a darkroom (or commercial photo lab) and a scanner to scan your work for Internet viewing (or a digital camera and Photoshop Elements software) and you are ready to go.

This is a self-paced class open for enrollment at any time. Designed to last 9 weeks with work of about 1 -2 hours per week students work on assignments like the ones on this page and send them in for evaluation.

The class will only be taught in English. Cost for this class will be $100. Students should check with their school counselors to see if this class (taught by a credentialed teacher and following Calif. State Standards) can be accepted for credits. The price for the class will be reduced to $75 each if three or more students enroll at the same time and will participate as a group.


MORE information.......Enroll Now


This site was designed and produced by Keith Wills, Education Technology Consultant - all materials on this site are under the usual copyright rules.  Photography teachers and educators are welcome to use any or all of this site for their curriculum as long as they don't place that content on their own web site.


Last modified: Tuesday, June 26, 2007