Monday, November 26, 2012

Portrait Assignment

Digital Photography: Portrait Assignment


You will shoot portraits over the next two weeks on Thursday November 29  and Tuesday Dec. 4. 
One day you will shoot at school using the lights in the studio and the other day you will shoot off-campus at a predetermined location. 
You will shoot AT LEAST 24 pictures of your subject each day (most of you will shoot between 50 and 75 pictures.
You can, and probably should, take pictures on the weekend as well.

1. Find two interesting human subjects. The people you choose should WANT to be in the picture and they should be willing to cooperate. It's OK to work with people in this class.
2. Talk to your subject. What type of portraits do you want to create? Use colors or lighting to create a concept for your portrait. Costumes or uniforms work great. Imaginary ideas are OK. Choose an interesting setting based on your concept.
3. Change angles between shots. Shoot at least 24 pictures of each subject.
4. Use props if they will help the audience learn something about the subject.
5. Vary the lighting. Use filters, flashlights, lamps, or multiple lights to enhance your picture. Use the different lighting techniques that you will read about in class (see above).
6. Encourage different emotional looks. Pretend you are Austin Powers taking pictures. Tell your subject they are "groovy".
7. Having your subjects "pose" in action is just fine.
8. Most importantly for this assignment don't forget your compostion rules. Use framing, leading lines, rule of thirds, color contrast etc. to enhance your photo. Fill the frame.

Portrait HintsPart 1
Portrait Hints Part 2

More Hints

Even more hints












Here is a list of the different types of portraits photos you will turn in:

  • A Vignette Photo
  • A Grayscale Method Photo
  • A One Item Kept in Color Photo
  • A selective Focus Photo
  • A minimally adjusted photo
  • One WHACKY anything goes portrait (change the colors, use the liquefy tool, and make this as unique and interesting as you can)

Finally, you will turn in your best picture as well.
Lighting!!!
http://mrstorydigiphoto.blogspot.com/2011/12/different-lighting-techniques.html

Friday, November 16, 2012

Import Stop Motion Pictures into Final Cut

Animation: Import Pictures into Final Cut

1. Make sure the pictures are on the server for your whole group to get. Get the pictures.
2. Open Final Cut Pro
3. Go to Final Cut Pro>User Preferences
4. Select Editing>Change Still Frame Duration to 00:00:05
5. Go to File>Import>Import Folder> and select on your stop motion picture folder
Final Cut Shortcuts:
Render Red=Command R
Render Green=Control R
Selection (move tool)=A
Razor Blade (cut clips)=B

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Stop Motion Assignment

Your next project is a stop motion animation assignment. You will work in groups of three. You will have two full class periods to shoot your assignment using my digital cameras. You will edit your videos on final Cut Pro and add sound effects and music.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzU3NjDikY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtbQ4J3RfQ8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKWdSCt4jGE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjLW5_dGAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpWM0FNPZSs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2pvO-FEqq4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m23bL9AqB0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYhhfHYZa5s&feature=related

Stop Motion Pre-Production

Please get in your groups and start planning your production.

1. Please use TEXT EDIT and turn in the following information in the STAFF server:

  • Group Member names
  • A four to five sentence description of your animation project. 
  • Please tell me what special "tricks" you will create to make your animation look interesting. What will your characters do that they can't do in real life?
  • Also, let me know if you are using props or if the characters are wearing costumes. Who will wear what outfits?
  • Most importantly please tell me the story from beginning to end.
  • What type of music will you use? Why?
  • What kind of sound effects will you add?
2. Create a storyboard of the first 45 frames.

 Each video will need:

1.                 Fade In/Out

2.                 Titles

3.                 Credits

4.                 Music and sound effects

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Photomerge Assignment

















Your assignment over the next five to six days:

You will create three Photomerge pictures. These are 3-5 pictures that overlap to show a wide landscape or cityscape
Your three Landscape/Cityscape style Photomerges should be taken at two different locations at two different times of day.

Use a tripod if possible. Remember to manual adjust white balance or select something like "cloudy" or "sunny" on your camera.

Summary
  • Three locations
  • One Photomerge from each location
  • make sure each Photomerge is taken at a different time

Tentative schedule

Tuesday: shooting day, go to an AWESOME landscape location leave at the end of Ti2
Thursday: shooting day, go to an AWESOME landscape location, leave at TAP
Weekend: At least one more location

Note: I would shoot at least eight or nine Photomerges from each location. Shoot each attempt at a slightly different angle. Again, and I can't emphasize this enough, a tripod really helps.