What makes an award-winning photograph?

1. Journal - What do you think makes photograph interesting?
2. We have a discussion about what elements they think make a photo yearbook-worthy.
3. Lesson - How to create effective photos:
a. First, we discuss quality. Photos should be clear and sharp with a wide range of tones, whether in black and white or color. It is also important to know how your personal digital camera works to the best of its ability. (Since we have only one staff camera and no funds, they are required to own a digital camera if they wish to be a photographer)By knowing their own cameras, they can understand which settings work best in different situations since they are rarely able to manipulate light to their advantage. Although they can't often change the light, we discuss how to be aware of it. For example, facing a bright window might create a glare or a washed-out effect. Since most of the students have older cameras (mostly four megapixels, the minimum required), it is important to set the photos on the highest quality possible.
b. Second, we discuss content. We talk about the fact that different purposes require different photos. A photo that is suitable for framing may not be yearbook-quality. In our class, we are learning how to tell a story with pictures. First, the photos should catch natural moments, rather than posed pictures that would be acceptable in other situations. The best, most exciting pictures will depict emotion and action. The subject should not be aware that a picture is being taken. Every photo should be unique and tell a different story.
4. Examples - As a class, we use Powerpoint and a projector to look at about 35 photos from the previous year. They range in quality from very poor to excellent. As we view, we discuss the merits and downfalls of each picture.
5. Practice - Students go out in pairs (about half of the students own a camera) to take pictures by assignment. Their photos are expected to reflect an understanding of the lesson.