Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 4
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Photography
Curriculum Theme: Trade
Previous Lesson: History Of Photography: Greek Origin And Early Pioneers.
Topic: AREA OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Subject Matter: Fashion photography, Sports photography, Documentation photography, Nature photography, War photography, Underwater photography

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define different areas of photography.
List various areas of photography.
Explain the characteristics of each area of photography.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the diversity and importance of different photography genres.
Value the role of photographers in documenting various aspects of life.

Psychomotor Domain:

Identify visually examples of fashion, sports, nature, and underwater photography.
Distinguish between different types of photographic images.

Discuss with peers the different applications of photography in society.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Cultural and Creative Arts.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary School Photography.
Photography: A Complete Guide by John Hedgecoe.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Fashion photos
Sports action photos
Nature landscape prints
Underwater camera (if available) or pictures of underwater photography
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand that photography is a broad field with many specializations. Knowing these different areas can guide pupils in choosing a specific interest or career path within photography, and helps them appreciate the diverse ways photography serves society.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of what photography is and have seen various types of photographs in their daily lives.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

AREA OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Fashion Photography

Fashion photography is a genre of photography dedicated to displaying fashion clothing and other items. It is most often used for advertisements or fashion magazines.

Key characteristics of fashion photography include:

Focus on clothing, accessories, and models.
Emphasis on styling, glamour, and aesthetics.
Often found in magazines, billboards, and online fashion campaigns.

Sports Photography

Sports photography captures peak action, emotion, and drama in sports events. It requires skill in timing, composition, and knowledge of the sport.

The main features of sports photography are:

Capturing fast-paced moments and athletic prowess.
Highlighting emotion, determination, and competition.
Often used for news, sports publications, and advertising for sports brands.

Documentation Photography

Documentation photography aims to create a factual record of events, places, people, or objects. It often serves historical or informational purposes, providing evidence or insight.

The importance of documentation photography includes:

Preserving historical moments and cultural practices.
Providing visual evidence for research or legal purposes.
Telling stories about social issues, daily life, and significant events.

Nature Photography

Nature photography focuses on capturing natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and natural phenomena. It often seeks to showcase the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

Aspects commonly captured in nature photography are:

Scenic landscapes like mountains, forests, and oceans.
Wildlife in their natural habitats.
Macro shots of plants, insects, and intricate natural details.
Weather phenomena and celestial events.

War Photography

War photography captures images of armed conflict and its effects on people and places. It often provides a raw and unfiltered view of the realities of war.

Characteristics of war photography include:

Documenting conflict zones, soldiers, and civilians affected by war.
Often portrays danger, destruction, and human suffering.
Serves to inform the public and influence public opinion.

Underwater Photography

Underwater photography involves taking pictures while submerged in water. This genre is used to capture marine life, underwater landscapes, and human activities below the surface.

The unique aspects of underwater photography are:

Requires specialized waterproof camera equipment.
Captures vibrant marine ecosystems and aquatic animals.
Used for scientific research, conservation, and recreational purposes.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall what they understand by photography. The teacher then introduces the topic by asking pupils if they know that photography is not just one type but has many different areas.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils recall previous knowledge and are prepared for the new topic.

Step 2: Fashion Photography

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what fashion photography is, its purpose, and shows examples of fashion photos. The teacher asks pupils to identify key elements in the displayed photos.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the photos, listen to the explanation, and contribute to identifying elements in the fashion photos.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definition and characteristics of fashion photography.

Step 3: Sports Photography

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines sports photography, highlighting its focus on action and emotion. The teacher displays various sports action photos and discusses how they capture peak moments.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the sports photos, and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about sports photography and its unique challenges.

Step 4: Documentation Photography

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elucidation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains documentation photography, emphasizing its role in recording facts, history, and social issues. The teacher may show examples of historical photos or documentary images.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils pay attention to the explanation and may share examples of documentary photos they have seen.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the concept and importance of documentation photography.

Step 5: Nature Photography

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Description/Visualisation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher describes nature photography, mentioning landscapes, wildlife, and plants. The teacher uses nature landscape prints to illustrate the beauty captured in this genre.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the nature prints, listen to the description, and identify different elements in the photos.
Learning Point: Pupils understand nature photography and its diverse subjects.

Step 6: War Photography and Underwater Photography

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Comparison
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains war photography, discussing its challenging nature and purpose. The teacher then moves to underwater photography, explaining the need for specialized equipment and the unique subjects it captures, showing relevant images or even an underwater camera.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanations for both genres, observe the visuals, and ask questions about the unique aspects of each.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about war photography and underwater photography, noting their distinct characteristics.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define fashion photography.
List any three areas of photography discussed today.
What is the main purpose of documentation photography?
Mention one key characteristic of sports photography.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson by reiterating the various areas of photography discussed and their unique features. The teacher encourages pupils to explore these areas further. Homework: Ask pupils to find and bring one example of each type of photography discussed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils review the main points of the lesson and are given an assignment to reinforce learning.

Lesson Keywords

Fashion Photography – Photography focusing on displaying clothing and accessories.
Sports Photography – Photography that captures action, emotion, and drama in sports events.
Documentation Photography – Photography that creates a factual record of events, places, or people for historical or informational purposes.
Nature Photography – Photography that focuses on natural elements like landscapes, wildlife, and plants.
War Photography – Photography that captures images of armed conflict and its effects.
Underwater Photography – Photography taken while submerged in water, often capturing marine life.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can encourage them to research a specific photographer known for one of the discussed areas. For pupils needing more support, the teacher can provide simplified descriptions and more direct visual cues, perhaps pairing them with stronger pupils during discussion.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure they have a variety of clear and engaging visual examples for each photography area. Encourage pupils to share their own experiences with different types of photos they have seen. Practical demonstrations, even simple ones, can help reinforce understanding.