Notebooking Digital Photography with Bible Principles

Digital Photography is an engaging and enjoyable subject for students to study. But how does one set up a notebook for this subject? Especially if one wants to teach it with Bible principles? Well, here’s one way to consider notebooking Digital Photography with Bible principles.

Setting Up Tab Dividers

Firstly, the main tab may be labeled as Digital Art. In essence, this is necessary if this isn’t the only subject within the 3-ring binder. However, if it’s the only subject within the 3-ring binder, students can design a cover for their binder with this subject label.

Secondly, sub tabs may be added to this subject. And this is one way of doing it:

Elements of Art. Since digital art is technically an art form, the elements of art apply to it. And the StoneBridge Art Guide is an excellent resource to help teach Bible principles of these elements. Otherwise, you could define the elements of art in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary and look up principles in the Bible on your own.
Elements of Photography. And this can be divided further into these tabs: 1. Exposure; 2. Aperture; 3. Shutter Speed; 4. ISO.

Thirdly, another main tab can be set up for Portfolio. And this may consist of photo sheets for 3-ring binders and keep a collection of prints.

In like manner, our second main tab may have sub tabs:

Key Individuals. These are studies of people who have contributed to photography either in a technical way or in a creative way. And ideally they’ve made an impact on others with their work.
God’s Principle of Individuality. This may be a collection of photographs/postcards that display the individual style of photographers. Additionally, it may contain examples of individuality in God’s creation that students have photographed.
God’s Principle of Unity with Diversity. In the same way, students can find elements of unity with diversity among God’s creation. And they can keep examples of these under this tab.

Defining the Subject

In this step, look up words in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. And look up key words within each definition. Then apply the 4R Method to each vocabulary word.

For instance, “In digital photography, exposure is the unit of measurement for the total amount of light permitted to reach the electronic sensor during the process of taking a photograph. The two main controls your digital camera uses to control exposure are the shutter speed and aperture.” Source: webopedia.com

So, thinking in pictures we can see connections with light… the light must be interacting with a dark component in some way (like with film). A reason and relate question could be:

What can be correlated with Bible verses about light/Truth and the darkness of hearts?

For another example, the aperture has to do with controlling the amount of light let in to reach the film or image sensor. And some reason and relate questions could be:

In what ways are people like this… how much light are they willing to allow in to their hearts/minds (image sensor)? What can be tied in with being made in the image of God?
What could be correlated with the idea of shutter speed and aperture and people?
Come up with other reason and relate questions for your students. If you’re unsure how to do this, see how easily you can write reason and relate questions here.

Student Assignments

Naturally, students will file their notebook work from ideas above. But what other assignments can they do?

Have your students write a research paper on different career opportunities in photography.
Take photos from the ground level only.
Shoot in both black and white and color.
Change things up with vertical, horizontal, and different angles.
Take candid photos.
Shoot both micro and macro photos.
Challenge his or herself by using different lenses.
Or challenge his or herself by taking pictures up close and far away

Helpful Resources

If you’d like five free photography with Bible Principles lesson plans, you’ll have limited access to them for free in the Caterpillar Members’ area. These can be used by:

Covering one lesson a week and giving students plenty of practice with their photography over the week.
Teaching the lessons in one week as a mini-course.
Or as springboards for each topic and you can go as in-depth as you see fit.