Lens Legends Slides Lens Legends
Mastering Framing & Focus
The Big Question
"How do we take a photo that tells exactly what we're looking at?"
Blurry
Shaky hands or too close!
Sharp
Steady hands and the right distance.
1
Steady as a Statue
Use **two hands** to hold your device.
Tuck your **elbows in** against your ribs.
Tap the screen **gently** to take the shot.
2
Fill the Frame
Subject
Make your subject the **star** of the show.
Move **closer** instead of using zoom.
Keep unwanted clutter out of the edges!
Photo Hunt!
Can you find and photograph 3 specific things with **perfect focus** and **perfect framing**?
Hold Steady
Fill the Frame
Tap Softly
Photo Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Scavenger Hunt
Unit: Digital Designer Academy • Lesson 1
Name:
Date:
Mission Instructions
Find each item below. Before you snap the photo, check your framing! Is the subject right in the middle? Is it clear? Use steady hands!
1
Something Yellow and Small
Example: A pencil tip, a crayon, or a sticker.
Imagine your photo here
Steady Hands?
Filled the Frame?
2
A Friend's Best Smile
Make sure their face is the focus of the photo.
Imagine your photo here
Steady Hands?
Filled the Frame?
3
The Front Cover of a Book
Frame the book so you don't see the floor or table.
Imagine your photo here
Steady Hands?
Filled the Frame?
Reflection
Which photo was the hardest to take? Why?
Photography Basics Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Framing and Focus Basics
Lesson 1 / 5
Duration: 45-60 Mins
Learning Goals
• Identify blurry vs. sharp photos.
• Hold a device steady using the "elbows-in" technique.
• Apply "fill the frame" composition.
Materials Needed
1 Tablet/Camera per pair
Scavenger Hunt Worksheets
Lesson Slides
Common Issues
"Students often try to zoom in digitally. Encourage them to move their bodies closer to the subject instead to maintain clarity."
Instructional Flow
05
The Hook
Show a very blurry photo of a common classroom object (like a pencil sharpener). Ask: "What is this? Why is it hard to tell?" Transition to the goal of the day: Taking clear, professional-style photos.
15
Interactive Slides
Use the Lens Legends Slides. Demonstrate the "Statue Stance" (elbows in, two hands). Have students practice the stance without devices first. Explain "Filling the Frame" by using a physical picture frame or your hands.
25
Scavenger Hunt
Distribute worksheets and devices. Pairs must find the items and take photos. Teacher Role: Circulate and check screens. If you see a blurry photo, ask the student: "Are your elbows in?" or "Are you too close to the object?"
10
Debrief & Show
Gather the class. Have a few pairs show their best photo on the screen. Ask the class: "What makes this photo easy to see?" Emphasize the framing and focus.
Key Questions to Ask
• "Why do we want our subject to be in the center?"
• "What happens to the background if we move closer to our subject?"
• "How does keeping our arms still help the camera?"
Digital Magic Slides Digital Magic
Filters, Cropping, & Mood
The Power of the Crop
Original View
?
"What if we only want the most important part?"
**Cropping** means cutting away the edges of a photo to zoom in on what matters.
Feeling the Vibe
Normal
Bright and Real
Vintage
Serious and Old
Warm
Happy and Cozy
**Filters** are like putting on colorful sunglasses for your photos!
Think Like a Detective
Does editing a photo make it "fake"?
"As designers, we use magic to tell a better story."
Your Mission
1
Pick one of your scavenger hunt photos.
2
**Crop** it to focus on one cool detail.
3
Apply a **Filter** to change the mood.
4
Show your "Before" and "After"!
Photo Transformation Log Photo Transformation
Unit: Digital Designer Academy • Lesson 2
Designer:
My Choice
Which photo did you pick to edit?
Target Mood
How do you want people to feel?
Happy
Mystery
Calm
Excited
Before
What I saw first:
After
The Magic I Added:
I cropped the edges.
I added a filter.
The Designer's Note
Explain why you chose that filter. Does the photo look more interesting now?
Button Breakdown Slides Button Breakdown
Introduction to User Interface (UI)
What is a Button?
"A digital button is a spot on a screen that **does something** when you touch it."
START
Symbols are Secrets
Home
Search
Add New
Photos
"Icons help us know what a button does without reading words!"
UI Detective Game
Let's look at this screen. Can you find:
Gallery
Design for People
"If a button is hard to find, people won't use it.
Simple
Clear
Useful
Icon Decoder Worksheet Icon Decoder
Unit: Digital Designer Academy • Lesson 3
Detective:
1
Match the Symbol to its Secret Meaning
Delete / Trash
Sound / Volume
Like / Favorite
Reload / Try Again
2
The "Mystery Button" Problem
?
Imagine you find a button on a game that looks like a Spider Web .
Look around your classroom. Can you find 3 buttons in real life?
Icon Studio Slides Icon Studio
Designing Buttons that Work
The Rule of Simple Shapes
Great icons are made of simple shapes: **circles, squares, and triangles.**
"If you can draw it in 5 seconds, it's a good icon!"
Triangle
Square
Circle
Lines
Make it Pop!
Hard to See
Colors are too close together.
Easy to See
Light vs. Dark helps it stand out!
What's the Job?
Before you design a button, ask:
Play Game
Settings
Exit
Studio Time!
Today you will design **3 primary buttons**
Use Simple Shapes
High Contrast
Clear Action
Button Studio Worksheet Button Studio
Unit: Digital Designer Academy • Lesson 4
Lead Designer:
Design three buttons for your app. Make them bold , simple , and clear . Use a dark color for the icon and a light color for the button, or vice versa!
Design Here
Button 1: START ACTION
What icon will you use to make the app "go"? (Ex: Play, Start, Go)
Main Color
Icon Meaning
Design Here
Button 2: NAVIGATION
How will people move around? (Ex: Back, Home, Next)
Main Color
Icon Meaning
Design Here
Button 3: FUN FEATURE
What is something cool your app does? (Ex: Camera, Music, Star)
Main Color
Icon Meaning
App Screen Mockup Slides App Screen Creator
Putting it All Together
The Mockup
"A mockup is a **pretend screen** that shows where everything goes before we build it."
Photos + Buttons + Layout = MOCKUP
Layout Secrets
1
Visual Balance
Don't put everything in one corner! Space things out so the screen looks neat.
2
Easy Reach
Put important buttons where fingers can reach them easily (usually the bottom!).
Designer Checklist
Is the photo clear and well-framed?
Do the icons tell what the buttons do?
Is there enough space between items?
Launch Day!
Combine your **edited photo** and your **3 buttons** into your final app mockup.
Good Luck, Lead Designer!
App Mockup Template Worksheet My App Mockup
Unit: Digital Designer Academy • Final Project
Designer:
App Name:
Screen Layout
Place your edited photo here
Button 1
Button 2
Button 3
App Purpose
What does your app do?
Layout Tips
• Center your photo so it catches the eye!
• Keep buttons at the bottom for easy tapping.
• Leave "white space" so the screen isn't messy.
Self-Check
Clear Photo?
Simple Icons?
Clean Layout?
