Photography

Welcome!

My name is Amy Flatow and I’m thrilled have the opportunity to teach photography at Beacon High school. I have two decades of experience teaching darkroom and digital photography, including the New York City Department of Education since 2008. Taking the reins from Keith Miller’s storied photography program means that I have some big shoes to fill, but I am incredibly excited to honor his program while also working with you and your families to make it our own.

Our program covers Freshman Photography, Digital Photography, Black & White Darkroom Photography, and Advanced Photography.

Photography Black & White Photography 1 (.5 credits)

Students will learn how to use our darkroom. This will include processing film, printing from negatives, operating cameras and enlargers, as well as mixing chemistry for processing and enlargement.

Black & White Photography 2 (.5 credits)

Black & White Photography 1 is a prerequisite for Black & White Photography 2. Students should already know how to use the darkroom, process and load film, as well as printing from negatives. In this intermediate course, students will learn how to operate an SLR film camera and learn how to control the camera to manipulate the images in order to realize their creative visions. Students will look at, critique, and think critically about their work and the work of their peers. They will explore the work of fine-art photographers as well as the historical, cultural, political, and technical influences of their photographic work.

Digital Photography 1 (.5 credits)

In this class, students will immerse themselves in basic digital photography techniques while exploring broader concepts of visual communication and photography. Students will learn the fundamentals of digital image making and will gain basic proficiency in working with Photoshop. This course will cover the essentials of image creation, focusing on composition and color correction, emphasizing the digital editing process. Students will develop their ability to manage and archive digital photo collections and will explore the idea that photography is fundamentally about capturing light.

Digital Photography 2 (.5 credits)

Digital Photography 1 is a prerequisite for Digital Photography 2. In this class, students will learn how to operate and DSLR camera and learn how to control and manipulate shutter speed, aperture, and ISO in order to gain control over their photographic images. Students will learn to critique their work and the work of peers and professional photographers alike. Students will solve creative problems and develop their ideas while blending elements of analog photography with digital whenever possible. Students will explore the works of historical and contemporary photographers in order to begin to shape their own photographic vision.

Advanced Photography (1 credit )

Black & White Photography 1, Digital Photography 1, and either Black & White Photography or Digital Photography 2 are prerequisites for this yearlong Advanced Photography course. This is a yearlong portfolio class which will build on intermediate darkroom and digital techniques, deepening student understanding of both traditional and contemporary photographic processes. Reframing our definition of photography, students will explore alternative processes such as cyanotype, anthotype, chlorophyll prints, etc, prior to exploring their own self-defined photographic vision. Students will amass a portfolio of work dependent on creating their own exploration, with the intent of a personal style of work which will emerge as the course progresses. Students will explore the work of well-known photographic figures, write and discuss works critically, and have a deeper understanding about the historical, cultural, political, and technical implications of the works themselves. At the end of the course, students should have a diverse body of work which expresses their own interests and creative vision.

Connect with us on Instagram:
@flatowteachesphoto
@Beaconphotonyc