In Digital Photography, taught by Mimi Stephens, students learn to handle a camera and use it effectively. They also learn techniques to make simple photos seem like they were taken by a professional. Under the guidance of a supportive teacher, students will discover their hidden talent and thrive in their photography skills.
Digital Photography is a dual-enrolled class with Fresno City College. Students will earn their Fine Arts credit at the high school while earning college credit at the same time. The school district supplies the cameras. The first semester teaches students the basics of the DSLR camera, such as how to hold it, the different settings, and the editing software. The second semester deals with diving into Photoshop, Adobe, and Lightroom, along with the history and science behind photography.
Students have many opportunities within the class. Mrs. Stephans states, “The class offers opportunities to engage with other programs and offer photography for different events. It also allows them to build a portfolio and market their work in order to possibly be compensated for their work.” This shows some of the various chances that the class provides. These examples of opportunities that students have can help build their talents, hobbies, and character.
Thanks to Mrs. Stephens, many students find that even if they never thought about photography, they learned to enjoy it and develop it as a hobby. One DHS student states, “I never thought I’d like photography, in fact, I thought I’d be really bad at it. But when I joined the class it was like something changed. I found myself liking photography more and more. Just learning the basics and the elements to make a good photo was fun. And thanks to Mrs. Stephans’ support, I find myself becoming more confident in my photography skills.” This shows how much Digital Photography being added as an elective has affected students on campus.
Mrs. Stephans is proud of her students, and she encourages them to experiment with their photography. Mrs. Stephans reminds her students, saying, “Remember the only bad photo is a photo not taken.”
Mrs. Stephans once never intended to teach photography, but she always enjoyed it as a hobby. But after experiencing the tragic loss of her husband, she found herself clinging to every photo of him. Mrs. Stephans wanted to provide the chance to show others and share her knowledge of photography. She states, “It was then that I realized I wanted to turn my hobby into a gift I could offer others by capturing and preserving beautiful images of them and for them. Photography provided an outlet for my grief, and it provided additional income for me and my two daughters. So when I learned about the opportunity to teach it to others, naturally I wanted to share my knowledge and hopefully inspire others to use art as an outlet. They never know what opportunities it can open up for them.” This shows that photography in general can be used to cope with what one is feeling. Mrs. Stephans shows how she cares for her students and how she wants to inspire them through photography. She enjoys interacting with others and providing them with memories they’d cherish forever. Students will learn that the camera is a tool that could open doors they didn’t know were closed.
If you want to learn how to handle a camera, how to use Photoshop, and how to take memorable photos, all while under the guidance of a supportive teacher, then Digital Photography is the right course for you. Not only does the class offer many opportunities, but you’ll get your college credit at the same time. Consider taking the class during your time here at DHS.