Digital Photography is an introduction to the world of photography. Students will be introduced to the past, present and future of photography, as well as the men and women who have shaped the art of photography throughout its history.

Students are not required to purchase a personal digital camera. However, because of the shortage of cameras, students are encouraged to bring or purchase their own cameras if possible. Please click here (updated) to see my camera recommendations if you plan on purchasing a camera for the class. There will also be available the option to use traditional cameras in class and scan work in for further editing. This option will cost the student additional money because of film processing costs, but can also give additional options. Details about this option will be discussed in class.

There is a $30 class fee. This fee covers the costs of: printing photographs, burning CD's, and mat board for matting final projects. Checks need to be addressed to FTHS and paid at the Student Store. Bring the receipt from the student store so that you can be checked off as having paid.

Notebooks will be required for note taking, and will be checked without notice. It is expected that each student will take detailed notes as to follow the requirements of the assignments.

I am very excited to be teaching this course, and I look forward to exploring the world of photography, expressing ideas and concepts through the medium, and for each student to find his or her voice in their images. Shoot away!

Student Project examples by year

Project Descriptions

Filmmaking has a $20 course material fee. The fee offsets the cost of MiniDV tapes, blank DVD's, (each student will be making DVD's of their work) and CD's. It is expected that the money will be turned into the student store by the second week of school,9September 5th). Each student will need to bring a receipt to the teacher as proof of payment. If you cannot pay until a later date, please speak with the teacher privately and arrangements will be made.

Students will be introduced to the rhetoric of film and be expected, in writing, to analyze, describe and breakdown the elements of a shot, a scene, and a sequence. Students will be introduced to major film genres including the Western, Film Noir, Science Fiction, War, Documentary, and Action/Adventure. Students will be introduced to and expected to know the directors, directors of photography, and actors who are best known for their influence on specific genres. Students will learn shot techniques, camera movements, and basic lighting techniques. Students will learn story boarding techniques and be responsible for the creation of a short film each quarter in a specific genre’s style.

I. General Course Goals
Filmmaking introduces students to the art, technique, and creation of filmmaking. Students will research and review filmmaking from the perspective of a performing and visual art. The use of the elements and principles of design used in film will be researched when reviewing films and breaking down the scenes and technique applied to the creation of film will be studied. Students will explore historical relationships between film, society and world culture.

II. Measurable Student Objectives at Completion of Course
Students will learn (increase) their knowledge of Film vocabulary through observation of and written reflections on films productions, both on campus and off. Reflections and class discussions will enhance students’ comprehension and analysis of Film productions, including genre, period, style, mood, and pacing. (Standard 1.0, Artistic Expression and 4.0, Aesthetic Valuing)
Students will read about, write about and discuss Film history, its reflection of society and its impact on society and world culture. (Standard 3.0, Historical and Cultural Context)
Students will learn elements of dramatic structure by analyzing plots and plot devices in films, looking at linear and non-linear time lines, genres, etc. (Standard 4.0, Aesthetic Valuing)
Students will create short, silent films to learn how to express themselves visually in the “moving” picture arena. (Standard 2.0, Creative Expression)
Students will look at the uses of filmmaking within the Hollywood framework, the business framework, education and personal use. (Standard 5.0, Connections, Relationships, Applications.)
Students will be able to identify key events, personnel and trends in world Film. (Standard 3.0, Historical and Cultural Context).

III. Anticipated Instructional Mode used to Deliver Course Materials
Lecture
Film Production: Group work
Student led lessons on specific film styles
Film Presentations

IV. Evaluation Design and Assessment
Students need to be able to demonstrate through inclusion in their writing, a working knowledge of specialized Film vocabulary.
Students written work will be assessed for English (Language Arts) skills: grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, format (including script), will be assessed according to the appropriate grade level.
Effort and improvement are stressed. Students’ work, both writing and filmmaking will be evaluated throughout the year to determine the level of improvement in both categories. Students are required to keep a notebook/portfolio of their written works. Notebooks should include class notes, personal reflections/observations, and reaction papers. Students must participate in all class activities.

Written work is assessed by content, accuracy (comprehension, historical accuracy, etc.), use of vocabulary and analysis. A rubric is presented to students for the major assignments. Students are required to learn and use various film editing software such as Adobe Premiere, and Final Cut Pro. There will be opportunities for selected student to create work in Adobe After Effects, and DVD Studio Pro. To express their ideas effectively and properly, the technical aspect of the class is required knowledge. Basic needed knowledge includes: capturing and exporting digital video, use of firewire, soundtrack creation, controlling and creating sound effects, copyright law, and selecting a proper film codec. These requirements will increase throughout the year.

Once Upon A Time

Once Upon a Time Fight Scene (142 MB)]

Amelie Screenshots

Gattaca Screenshots

A Very Long Engagement screenshots

Film Recommendations:

Foreign/Subtitled Movie

Welcome to Visual Communications at Foothill Technology High School taught by Mr. Cameron Crouch. The class introduces the student to the world of motion picture through nonlinear video editing.

It is highly recommended that Technology 3 be taken before enrolling in Visual Communications. The beginning of the course consists of a quick Photoshop refresher before diving into the programs Adobe Premier and Adobe After Effects.

First Semester of Visual Communications consists of tutorials and training in the use of programs.

Second semester will consist of creating videos that are highly polished pieces for use in broadcast, film festival/contests, personal projects, and teacher assigned group videos. Students will be responsible for story-boarding, shooting, capturing, adding effects, transitions, audio, titles, and quality of production.

There is a $10 class fee that pays for Mini DV cassettes, blank CD's and blank DVD's. These materials will be used by the students to store material and projects. Each student will be making a DVD compilation of all their work from the year.

Welcome to Digital Art & Design. Digital Art is an exciting class where creativity and technology join to form amazing work! Prepare to be pushed, explore ideas and concepts, and to learn to effectively express oneself visually. In Digital Art, each student will become highly skilled in the use of both Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. Additionally each student will learn how to properly scan work, prepare work for the Web, for Print, and working with Gamut in CMYK. First semester will focus on learning Photoshop, and the remainder of the year will incorporate Illustrator and Photoshop together. Each student will have their work published online in a digital portfolio. At the end of the school year, each member of Digital Art & Design will be a Photoshop Master!.

Multimedia is taught as a digital art class. Although each student will be working in pixels instead of paint, each student will be creating with an artistic/creative intent. Monkeys can learn Photoshop, but to use the tool effectively, much thought and design planning will need to go into each project in order for the student to be successful in Multimedia.

Multimedia has a $10 class fee. The fee covers the cost of CD's and printing, both of which will be utilized by each student for displaying art, and for backing-up work.

The principles and elements of design are introduced early on in the year, and are expected to be integrated into the development and execution of all work. Learning the elements and principles of design can be tedious and difficult. However, once learned, the student has the power to use the tools to help with the success of the artwork, and the manner in which the artwork is seen.

For assignment descriptions, please select a number below. Exercises start with E, projects start with P.

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Rainer Marie Rilke, 1934

Welcome to the Visual World!

Now let us learn to see what we see...

Art 1 is an introduction to the study of Art, and focuses on Design and Drawing skills. The first semester will consist of drawing exercises, and the elements and principles of design. The first semester will be where each student learns the tools and skills of drawing, and the second semester will consist of each student taking what s/he has learned, and applying it to projects.

Learning to draw, and to create art can be an extremely rewarding process. However, like many things in life, art can be a terribly frustrating, hair-pulling encounter. It is the focus of the art department to see that the first experience becomes true It is the art department's wish that each student will find their voice in their art and learn to express themselves through art, and through the creation of art. In order to gain success, each student needs to be willing to practice, practice, practice. Trying an exercise, and doing poorly on it does not mean that success cannot be attained. Put in the time and effort, and reap the rewards! Athletes spend more time practicing then they do playing their sport, as will each art student spend more time preparing ideas and rough drafts for the projects then working on the project.

Enjoy the process, explore, push yourself, try over and over, and in the end much will be accomplished.

I look forward to spending a year watching each student grow and succeed, and if problems arise, I am right there beside to help.

This class has a $20 student fee which pays for:

drawing pencils

kneaded eraser

pinkpearl eraser

charcoal-(vine and compressed)

felt tip pen

pencil sharpener

watercolor set

portfolio case

plaster gauze for face casting

If the student loses their materials, they must buy more, either from the student store, or an art supply st ore. Students are responsible for keeping the materials in good condition. The student store will stock certain items for those students who lose their materials. Each student will be responsible for bringing their own sketchbook at least 81/2"x11", larger preferred, (11x14).

Click here to look at the semester's assignments.

I have many things in my life that have inspired me. However nothing has inspired me more than my two children. My son Ethan Avedon, and my daughter Acacia Linnaea have opened up a new world to me, and have taught me how to play like a child. I think one reason people love having children is the fact that children give you a reason to act like a kid again. It has been a truly amazing journey; incredibly hard at times, but worth the effort. In regards to their middle names, Avedon is a nod to the photographer Richard Avedon, a man whose work inspired me countless times. Linnaea, on a more romantic note is from a coffee shop, named Linnaeas my wife Suzzi and I frequented often while living in San Luis Obispo. It was a place where art, music, love, and the smell of coffee filled the air.

Click on the image to see some pictures of my kiddos

.

Ethan & Acacia

I came screaming into this world, August 8th, 1974 An interesting day for historians.

I was born in the tiny town of Quincy, California and lived my first year in a one room log cabin. One room literally means that the entire cabin was one room. Leaving Quincy, my parents headed for Los Angeles and ended up living near my grandparents in Redondo Beach. We lived in Redondo for several years before moving to beautiful San Luis Obispo. From the age of four to twenty-five I enjoyed being surrounded by the mountains of SLO and ended up not only growing up in San Luis, but also going to college in town and meeting the person I would eventually marry. I attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and majored in Art & Design with my concentration in Photography and Digital Imaging. My wife Suzzi and I spent several years finishing up school before deciding to move to Ventura to find a higher paying job and be near my wife's family. I attended Azusa Pacific University in order to earn my Teaching Credential and Master's Degree. I took night classes and was a substitute during the day. Substituting gave me a wide perspective on education, students, and the overall feel of a school. I substituted several times at Foothill Tech and fell in love with the school, the staff, and the sense of a student body that was in school with the desire to learn. I am fortunate for a school like Foothill because it has a lot of the technology needed in order to teach the classes that I am trained to teach. The ability to teach Digital Photography, Visual Communications and Multimedia is a rare find in a public high school.

Amelie

Requiem For a Dream

Shindler's List

Casablanca

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Indiana Jones

Star Wars...the first trilogy. The new ones are garbage

Pulp Fiction (the movie I took my wife to on our first date...it was a test...she passed).

Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc: My son and I love both these movies. I think I have seen both at least fifty times.

Lost Highway

Spaghetti westerns, Sergio Leone classics such as: Once Upon a Time in the West, The Good The Bad, The Ugly. Fistful Of Dollars. Great web site about his work here

Red River (John Wayne)

The Searchers (John wayne)

Apocalypse Now

A Streetcar Named Desire

On the Waterfront

The Usual Suspects

James Cagney gangster movies

Most Hitchcock movies

City of the Lost Children

American Beauty

The Insider

The Matrix (first one only)

James Bond: Sean Connery only

Airplane

Anything with Triumph the Insult Dog

The Simpsons (love the Simpsons)

Bowling For Columbine(interesting movie,but very slanted)

Heat

The Mission

The Thin Red Line

Platoon

Saving Private Ryan (if only they had not cast Matt Damon, jail that casting director)

21 grams

Talk to Her

Amores Perros

Godfather 1&2 Number 3 was worthless

Love Actually (couldn't believe I liked it, but I thought that it did a great job of displaying the complexities of love, and in a humorous manner.)

The Deer Hunter

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. I heard they are doing a remake...mmmm chocolate.

Life Is Beautiful

Cinema Paradiso

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Seven

Gattaca

Punch Drunk Love

The Breakfast Club

Ferris Buellers Day Off

Braveheart

Forest Gump

Spaceballs

Time Bandits

Brazil

1984

City of God

A Very Long Engagement

HBO SHOWS

(you have to see the series from the start, otherwise all is lost!)

The Wire (Hard to follow at first, but one of the best written shows I have ever experienced).

Deadwood

Six Feet Under

Band of Brothers

The Sopranos

Dexter

REM http://www.remhq.com/flash/index.html
U2 http://u2.com/intro.html
Dead Can Dance http://www.deadcandance.com/
Sade http://sade.com/sade/
Depeche Mode http://www.depechemode.com/
The Cure http://www.thecure.com/
Bjork http://bjork.com/
Madonna http://home.madonna.com/
Bob Marley http://www.bobmarley.com/
Cake http://www.cakemusic.com/
Nine Inch Nails http://www.nin.com/
Jamiroquai http://www.jamiroquai.co.uk/index.html
James Brown http://www.funky-stuff.com/
Tears For Fears http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/TearsForFears/
Van Morrison http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/van.html
Dave Matthews http://www.davematthewsband.com/
David Gray http://www.davidgray.com/music.html
Dido http://www.didomusic.com/
Lemon Jelly http://www.lemonjelly.ky/
Dave Brubeck http://dave-brubeck.com/main.html
Miles Davis http://www.milesdavis.com/
Beastie Boys http://www.beastieboys.com/
Bare Naked Ladies http://www.bnlmusic.com/
Toad The Wet Sprocket http://www.toadthewetsprocket.com/
Sarah Mclachlan http://www.sarahmclachlan.com/
Tracy Chapman http://www.tracychapman.com/
Morphine http://www.morphine3.com/
Coldplay http://www.coldplay.com/site.php
Paul Simon http://www.paulsimon.com/
Simon & Garfunkel http://www.simonandgarfunkel.com/
Billy Holiday http://www.cmgww.com/music/holiday/
Charlie Parker http://www.cmgww.com/music/parker/business/
Groove Armada http://www.groove-armada.com/holder6.html
Pearl Jam http://www.pearljam.com/
Nirvana http://www.nirvana-music.com/
Radiohead http://www.radiohead.com/
Smashing Pumpkins http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/
Squirrel Nut Zippers http://www.snzippers.com/
The Beatles http://www.thebeatles.com/
The Rolling Stones http://www.rollingstones.com/home.php

Morrissey http://www.morrisseymusic.com/

The Smiths Smiths/Morrissey Tribute Page

Royksopp http://www.royksopp.com

George Clinton http://www.georgeclinton.com/

Gipsy Kings www.gipsykings.com

Creative/Fun/ Information Links

Michel Gondryhttp://www.michelgondry.com/

Cirque du Soleil

Optical Illusions

HomeStarRunner

Apple

Wired

Archive Video Clips (Reefer Madness, Hormell!)

Ren and Stimpy

The Simpsons