District News
Digital photography students learn Photoshop
May, 2011
Picture the head and hat of Joseph Stalin on the body of a Wookie from Star Wars with the legs of runner Usain Bolt. Now add wings. What might make an interesting creature is actually the Photoshop creation of Canajoharie High School junior Nick Hernigle.
Nick and eight other digital photography students learned all about Photoshop – a photo editing program – on May 19 during a project taught by professional photographer Philip Scalia. Art teacher Kathy Van Loan brought Mr. Scalia to the high school thanks to an Arts in Education grant through HFM BOCES.
“This is my first year teaching digital
photography and I thought the students needed to leave with
Photoshop skills,” Mrs. Van Loan said. “I got the idea
because
two of my students are going on to college to study photography. I’m
also learning how to use it, so this is a prototype of sorts.”
During the projects, students were charged with creating a new organism. Students collected images of animals, people, birds, insects and fish. They then created a conglomerate image, sometimes changing the background and digitally manipulating (think color and texture) the images on the screen.
Cassie White, a senior who plans to major in
photography in college, created a party scene featuring her with
wings. “Today, I learned how to use Photoshop and since I’m going to
college for photography, this is going to be essential,” she said.
“I will probably use this throughout my whole career.”
Nick called the project “fun” and learned how to create an image using multiple layers. “My goal was the make the fastest Wookie in the world,” he said with a smile.
Mr. Scalia said Photoshop is the future of imagery.
He praised it as a powerful tool that students should learn to use if they plan to major in graphic design or any other art-based major.
“These kids are great. It’s just a matter of mastering the fundamentals,” he said. “You can do a lot with just a few tools and kids are only limited by their imagination.”