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ACTION Cards Lesson Plan

This document outlines a 3-stage lesson plan to help photographers identify and refine their personal photographic style. In Stage 1, photographers analyze their favorite photos to identify common elements like color schemes or subject matter. They then complete a series of "Action Cards" assignments and analyze the results to determine if they have a "Method" or "Flexible" style. In Stage 2, photographers further explore compositions and genres to fine-tune their style. Stage 3 challenges photographers to break out of their natural style by combining techniques from both categories. The goal is to make photographers more versatile for different photographic needs and challenges.

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Den-Mark Medel
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
649 views

ACTION Cards Lesson Plan

This document outlines a 3-stage lesson plan to help photographers identify and refine their personal photographic style. In Stage 1, photographers analyze their favorite photos to identify common elements like color schemes or subject matter. They then complete a series of "Action Cards" assignments and analyze the results to determine if they have a "Method" or "Flexible" style. In Stage 2, photographers further explore compositions and genres to fine-tune their style. Stage 3 challenges photographers to break out of their natural style by combining techniques from both categories. The goal is to make photographers more versatile for different photographic needs and challenges.

Uploaded by

Den-Mark Medel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ACTION!

CARDS
LESSON PLAN PHOTZY.COM

Pick 3 of your favorite photographs that you’ve taken; photos that you feel the most proud of.
1 Study them:
• Do they have a common color scheme?
• Would you group them into the same genre (landscape, street photography, portrait)?
• What is in these photographs that makes you proud? The sharpness? The unique take on the subject?
Is there an emotional link? Was it a complicated shot to achieve?
Once you answer these questions, write down your answers. You are now ready for:

Stage 1: Finding Your Style


2
Complete these 16 ACTION! Cards and try to reproduce the results from your answers in Step 1.
Create pictures that make you proud. Did you feel like your favorite photographs had a unique spin on a
common subject? Then try to keep that theme throughout these assignments. Do you love the colors in
your favorite photographs? Keep that in mind while taking these new photos.

• Placing the Horizon Line • Off-center Subjects


• Rule of Thirds • Diagonal Lines
• S & Z Curves • Using Shape
• Using Focal Points • Using Texture
• Filling the Frame • Sight Lines
• 1/3 – 2/3 Concept • Repetition
• Layering • Monochrome color
• Lens focal length • Patterns

Now that you are done with Step 2, look at the resulting photos, and then pick the images that you like
3 the best. Ask yourself: Which Action! Cards were easier to finish? Which exercises felt more natural?
Which assignments did you enjoy the most? Which Action! Cards produced the most results, or number
of excelling photos?

If most of the Action! Cards that you picked are listed on the left side of the list above, you are a
Method Photographer!
You have a preference for structure, order, rules, and rigidity. Your style is usually (but not necessarily
only) required for architectural, landscape, wildlife, editorial (including food and fashion), corporate,
sports, wildlife, and documentary photography.

If most of the Action! Cards that you picked are listed on the right side of the list above, you are a
Flexible Photographer!
You have a preference for flexibility, chaos, and non-conventionalism. Your style is usually (but not
necessarily only) required for fashion, candid, photojournalism, conceptual, artistic, street, events,
weddings, portraits, and food photography.
ACTION! CARDS - LESSON PLAN
PHOTZY.COM

Now that you understand your style, it’s time to apply it to different genres. This will help you explore
4 your natural style further. By completing the following Action assignments, you’ll be able to see, even
clearer, how strong your personality shows through in your images.

Method Photographers Flexible Photographers


Complete these genre ACTION! Cards. Complete these genre ACTION! Cards.
1- Still Life 1- Sports
2- Family Portrait 2- Candid Street Photography
3- Flowers 3- Pet Portraits
4- Landscapes 4- Street Portraits
5- Lighthouses 5- Abstract
6- Food 6- Minimalism
7- Macro 7- Windows & Doors
8- Architecture 8- Spirals
9-Night Photography 9- Food

If you added the Stretch Goals. If you added the Stretch Goals.
a. Focus Stacking a. Litho Film Effect
b. The 500 Rule b. Lens Aberrations
c. Verifying with a Histogram c. Grunge
d. Fibonacci Explained d. Verifying with a Histogram

Perfect! Your style is showing strongly. And that not only helps you as a photographer, but it’s
5 also a highly marketable item. Photographers are hired based on their vision, on the way they
capture reality differently from others. But in order to be recognized, and noticed, you need
others to see your vision clearly.

You are ready for Stage 2.


ACTION! CARDS - LESSON PLAN
PHOTZY.COM

6 Stage 2: Fine-tuning your style

Method Photographers Flexible Photographers


Complete these composition ACTION! Cards. Complete these composition ACTION! Cards.
1- Leading Lines 1- Spot Color
2- Using Frames 2- Rule of Odds
3- Depth of Field 3- Depth perception through Relative Size
4- Symmetry & Balance 4- Negative Space
5- Mass & Eye Movement 5- Dynamic Angles
6- Tone Contrast 6- Motion
7- Movement & Positioning 7- Juxtaposition
8- Silhouettes 8- Shadows
9- Contrasting Color 9- Travel

Complete these genre ACTION! Cards. Complete these genre ACTION! Cards.
1- Photograph the Moon 1- Creating Black & White
2- Photograph birds 2- Child portraits
3- Night Photography 3- High Key
4- Pictures at the Zoo 4- Teen Portrait
5- Waterscapes 5- Low Key
6- Maternity Portrait 6- Newborn portrait
7- Travel 7- Travel

If you added the Stretch Goals. If you added the Stretch Goals.
1- Exposure Stacking 1- Mixed Media
2- Mood Board 2- Create a Mood
3- Reciprocal Rule 3- Create a composite
4- Milky Way 4- Selective Color
5- Long Exposure 5- Pastel Color
6- Saturated Color 6- Photo Story
ACTION! CARDS - LESSON PLAN
PHOTZY.COM

7 Stage 3: Breaking Your Style

At this point, you have a great handle on your style and also how to execute it. But in your career, there
will be many times when your style will not reflect what you want, or need, to capture a particular image.
That’s why it’s necessary to be versatile and ready for any challenge.

By completing the following assignments, you will challenge yourself and learn to be a
multi-talented photographer.

These combo assignments will force you to add skill sets outside of your natural style.

Method Photographers
Use these combos to create at least ONE photograph from each that makes you proud.

COMBO 1- Spot Color + Child portraits + (If you added the Stretch Skills) Create a Mood

COMBO 2- Motion + Creating Black & White + (If you added the Stretch Skills) Long Exposure

COMBO 3- Negative Space + Low Key + (If you added the Stretch Skills) Photo Story

Flexible Photographers
Use these combos to create at least ONE photograph for each that makes you proud.

COMBO 1- Using Frames + Photograph birds + (If you added the Stretch Skills) Saturated Color

COMBO 2- Leading Lines + Pictures at the Zoo + (If you added the Stretch Skills) Reciprocal Rule

COMBO 3- Symmetry & Balance + Maternity Portrait + (If you added the Stretch Skills) Photo Story

8 To further your education, pick your own combos!

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