Thursday, December 18, 2014

Self Portrait Assignment

Self Portrait Assignment
The Art of Constructing a Self-Portrait
A self-portrait comes from within. Injecting 'those we love' into the portrait steers one away from the harder task to trying to reveal self without adornment.
If you eat, sleep, and live for speed then your self-portrait should reflect motion and movement as one of its cornerstones.
If you are a reflective type, then reflections and patterns and their intersections should occupy a primary space.
If overall you feel more flawed then whole, then you wouldn't want to go about photographing the most pristine parts of yourself; you would want, instead, to capture your essence in a manner that describes and defines you without complaining. I say that because the essence of self-discovery requires you to be a benign observer of self so as not to hone in too closely on this or that part.
A sense of 'wholeness' is difficult to capture at best. Indeed, wholeness is almost impossible for some people to even understand -- let alone capture in themselves -- because their persons and their lives are so fragmented, so disorganized in general.
But that is what self-portraiture is all about, capturing the whole -- the whole of who you are as a person.
Try to be unforgiving in a benign and neutral way. Study yourself in the mirror and paint what you see there. Then go inside yourself and paint what you see there.



 
You will shoot three different self-portraits over break. You need to pick three photo concepts from the following five categories.
1. A self-portrait where color is emphasized. Color may include wardrobe, location, props, or natural objects. Think of your picture as a one or two color concept picture.
2. A picture that emphasizes lighting and shadows. This will be a grayscale self-portrait.
3. A self-portrait that showcases your interests and hobbies. In this picture we learn what you like to do away from school. Think about what interests you and transfer that into a photo.
4. A fantasy self-portrait. Dress up and use costumes. In this self-portrait you can use Photoshop to enhance your picture in any way, shape, or form. Transfer yourself to Hawaii or become a Viking like you have always wanted.
5. The Supermodel self-portrait. Dress up like a GQ or Cosmopolitan magazine model. This can be a grayscale or color picture.  
Hints for self-portraits:
Use colors or lighting to create a concept.
Costumes or uniforms work great.
Change angles.
Use props.
Vary the lighting.
Try different emotional looks.
Pose in action.
Use your PORTRAIT HINTS notes.
Most importantly for this assignment don't forget your composition rules. Use framing, leading lines, rule of thirds, color contrast etc. to enhance your photo. Fill the frame.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Portrait Editing


1. Please look through your photos and pick you 20 best portrait pictures. Ten from each day. Make sure these 20 showcase a variety or angles and camera compositions. Simply put, make sure these photos are examples of many of the Portrait Hints you used last week.

2. Start editing the 20 photos in Photoshop using the techniques below. You should make your subjects look like supermodels!

To get rid of blemishes or red marks on the face:
Use Clone Stamp
Change Blend Mode to lighten
Sample a portion of the face with "nice"skin

To eliminate a glow or shine on the face:
Use Clone Stamp
Change Blend Mode to darken
Sample a portion of the face with "nice"skin






I don't expect you to edit all of the pictures today. Please spend roughly 8-12 minutes editing each picture. Don't forget basic crops and color adjustments.

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

AP Photo 10 Pics A Day Assignment

Project
Beginning today, Tuesday December 2nd, h, you will take 10 pictures a day, for 1 week, totaling 70 pictures.  This also means that you will need to shoot 20 images over the weekend. There is no theme for this assignment.  Your images can be of any subject matter.  You can take the pictures during school (in class) or after school (out of class). The following week you will edit your images in Photoshop (basic color corrections, cropping, editing, etc.). 
You will turn these images in on a Contact Sheet.  Each image will be labeled in Photoshop with a title that should include the date each photo was taken.  I will check to make sure you have turned your images in on a daily basis.
This assignment is designed to get you thinking about subjects & concepts you enjoy to photograph.   This will help you to begin to brainstorm your ideas for your AP portfolio.
Due: November 24th, 2014.
Naming convention _70photos
Your grade for this assignment will be based on several factors:
  • Completion of each image.
  • Turned in on time (formative)
  • The quality and creativity of your 70 images
  • Your choice of which photos to possibly use for your portfolio (summative).

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Abstract Adjusted Contact Sheet


· A&M Adjusted Contact Sheet
· 24 Pictures
· 12 Macro
· 12 Abstract
· Use the seven tutorials for seven Macro shots and seven Abstract shots. The other ten on the Contact Sheet are your choice.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Portrait Assignment

You will shoot portraits during the week after Thanksgiving break.
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. I highly suggest working 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

Even more hints (read all four sections)













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 14, 2014

Abstract and Macro Photoshop Adjustments



Color Lookup:
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-editing/color-lookup-cs6/

Color Splash:
http://www.iceflowstudios.com/2012/tutorials/color-splash-effect-in-photoshop-cs6/
 
selective focus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSZ_Pqh63dM

vignette:
http://rockysnapper.blogspot.com/2007/12/creating-vignettes-in-photoshop-cs3.html

Vivid Color:

http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-effects/vivid-glow.html

Enhance Saturation:

http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/The-Best-Technique-to-Enhance-Saturation/33311

More Vivid Colors, that look natural:

http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/Naturally-Vivid-Colors/32530

Abstract and Macro Photography Hints


1.  Look for subjects that showcase lines, shape, and form. 
2.  Look for subjects that you dont normally see in pictures.
3.  Look up, look down, and look very close at subjects. Macro photography can lead to interesting abstract photography.
4.  Look for subjects that showcase pattern and repetition.
5.  Look for interesting color combinations.
6.  Look for reflections.
7.  Look for pictures that showcase light in a unique way.
8.  Play around with focus. Selective focus and soft focus pictures are OK in abstract photography.
9.  Practice and experiment with paints, oils, food, and other objects.
10. Throw away the photography rules and have fun!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Abstract and Macro Homework

Period 3


Homework: One Abstract Contact Sheet due next Monday and one Macro Contact Sheet due Friday the 21st

Period 4


Homework: One Abstract Contact Sheet due next Tuesday and one Macro Contact Sheet due Monday the 25th.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Action Photo Editing

Please select your twenty best action photos.
These pictures should show faces, be 95% in focus, fill the frame, and showcase interesting angles and composition.
Crop, adjust, and color correct all pictures as needed. Only keep what is essential to the picture.

Edit four pictures into Grayscale.
Edit two pictures using Selective Focus.
Edit two picture using one-item kept in color.
Edit the other 12 pictures in what ever manner you see fit.

When you are done editing you will turn in the following:
  • Best Action Photos Adjusted CS
  • Best Shorecrest Action Picture as a jpeg.
  • Best Action Picture2 (your choice of subject) as a jpeg

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Photo 1 Action Photo Home work Schedule

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Here is a link to some great action photos. Please notice how most of these photos show engaging action in an interesting location. You will shoot similar photos during our Action Photo unit.

You will shoot action photos at two locations over the next ten days. One of these photo shoots must take place at a Shorecrest related event or sport. For example, you could take pictures of the Hip Hop, Football, Soccer, or Flag teams. The other location can be a place of your choice. Skateboarding, horseback riding, and dancing are all acceptable activities.

Due dates
Period 4
 Contact Sheet 1: October 28
Contact Sheet 2: November 4th

Period 3

Contact Sheet 1: October 31
Contact Sheet 2: November 3rd

action photographyaction photography

Monday, October 20, 2014

Photo 1: Panning

The panning shutter technique keeps your main subject in focus and blurs everything else in the picture.
Please read this helpful explanation and take notes.
Please watch this video to help reinforce your reading.

This video will help explain the process. It takes a great deal of practice in order to master this skill.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Photo 1: Manual Camera Work

Manual Adjustments:Aperture and Shutter Speed

Please watch and take notes on both videos below:
Manual Settings Video
Manual Settings Video 2

Manual Adjustments:Aperture and Shutter Speed

http://cybercollege.com/tvp012.htm
http://www.picturecorrect.com/photographytips/208/aperture_fstops_camera_settings.htm

F-Stops and Shutter Speed Hints

Please take detailed notes in your own words on the top two reading assignment. You will using the material you learn this week on the cameras. Use the cameras simulators below when you are done.

Camera simulator:
http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/shutteraperture.php

http://www.kamerasimulator.se/eng/?page_id=2

http://dryreading.com/camera/index.html

htthttp://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/

Turning in Grayscale Work Photo 1

Please turn in the following items of work after 45 minutes of class:

One 24 Picture "Grayscale Adjusted Contact Sheet" with a variety of subjects adjusted in a variety of the Photoshop grayscale adjustment methods. Please make sure the adjustment method is named in the jpeg picture before you create the contact sheet.
Again, the Contact Sheet is called "Grayscale Adjusted Contact Sheet.'

When you are finished please look at the blog listing above to begin watching the Manual Camera work videos and then begin the reading. Take detailed notes please. We will have our first detailed note check on Wednesday.

Thursday, October 09, 2014

Next AP Photo Assignment

Homework

Visit the following website HERE to review a short article on Color Harmony as it exists in Complimentary and Analogous color schemes.  Type out these definitions in your own words on your computer.
Project
Select only four themes from the list below and photograph in color—THINK IN COLOR
Take 5 solid examples of each of those photos.  You will have total of 20 photos completed for this assignment.
1.            Reflections in chrome or other reflective surface           
2.            Reflections in water
3.            Store window reflections (e.g., an antique or consignment store)
4.            Light through a window
5.            Motorcycle close-up or car engine close-up
6.            Architectural detail
7.            Dual portraits of your friends
8.            Lines and patterns
9.            Foreshortened image
10.          Close-up of texture
11.          Silhouette
12.          Motion/Panning
13.          Perspective
Create a contact sheet and make sure to include which 4 themes you chose for this assignment anywhere in the negative space on the contact sheet.  Save it as a JPEG and name it _color.
Turn in 1 photo for printing and name it _print2 

These are due at the end of class on Monday, October 21st, 2014.


Your grade for this assignment will be based on several factors:
  • Completion of each image turned in on a contact sheet.
  • Turned in on time (formative)
  • The quality and creativity of your 20 best images
  • Your choice of which photos to possibly use for your portfolio (summative).

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Digital Photo 1: Grayscale: Pattern and Shadow Assignment



























































Black and White Photo Tips 1
Tips 2
Tips 3


Your assignment over the next two weeks is to shoot:
  •  24 pictures involving man-made shadows
  •  24 other images involving lightness/darkness relationships with a focus on patterns 
  • 24 pictures with natural light (sun and moon) shadows


  • We will have a Pattern shooting days October 2 and 3.
  • A  shadows homework Contact Sheet is due October 7 and 8
  • An in-class shooting day for shadows will occur October 9 and 10.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Landscape Adjustments

Update: Here is what is due to finish the Landscape Unit
1. 15 Photoshop Adjusted Landscapes from three various locations. Call this "Landscape Adjusted."
2. Your best Landscape as a .jpeg file. Call this "Best Landscape."
Always use the naming convention. Example: 3_Mitchellt_Landscape Adjusted

Today you have the entire period to edit Landscape photos in Photoshop.
First, pick your best 15 landscapes overall and place them in a folder.
Next, open up each one and touch them up in Photoshop to make the pictures look even better.

Below are some tutorials that will give you ideas on how to adjust landscapes. Please work through each one with separate landscape photos.
Landscape Photography Editing Tutorial - Photoshop CS6
Tips To Create An Awesome Landscape Photo (Photography Tutorial)
Photoshop Tutorial: Landscape Editing
Curves, Curves, Curves! - Photoshop CS6 Tutorial

You can also do any of the following adjustments we talked about in class:
Get rid of power lines, garbage cans, and other distracting objects using Clone Stamp (S) and Copy/Paste.
Adjust the horizon line using Free Transform (Command-T).
Crop your picture as needed.
Change the overall color using color balance.
Adjust the warmth or coolness of your photo using Image>Adjustments>Photo Filter.

Please File>Save As each photo when you are done editing. Place these pictures in a new folder.
You will turn these photos in on Friday.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

AP Photo Assignment #2



Digital Journal:

Visit the following websites and bookmark for future reference:
http://asp.photo.free.fr/Composition/photoProgramCompMainClass.shtml

Part 1:
Just as a composer uses all the instruments in a symphony to create a stirring piece of music, you should compose each picture so that its parts work together to create a work of beauty. Each item in a picture has an effect on the whole, so don’t just point and shoot. Take a little time to compose each picture into the masterpiece that it has the potential to be. Remember that you are trying to develop mastery in concept composition as well as in technique.
Visit the following sites and make notes in your Digital Journal (named "_dj1")about each topic. Include an image that you find online to illustrate what you are talking about.  Click the links below:

Shooting vertical or horizontal
http://www.kodak.com/ek/US/en/Home_Main/Tips_Projects_Exchange/Learn/Photo_Tips_Techniques/Advanced_Techniques/Composing.htm

Choosing a main point of interest

http://wwwca.kodak.com/CA/en/consumer/guideToBetterPictures/eStores/index.jhtml?style=&cat=9&subCat=1

Adjusting your angle of view

http://wwwca.kodak.com/CA/en/consumer/guideToBetterPictures/eStores/index.jhtml?style=&cat=9&subCat=2

Placing the subject off-center

http://wwwca.kodak.com/CA/en/consumer/guideToBetterPictures/eStores/index.jhtml?style=&cat=2&subCat=5

Using leading lines

http://asp.photo.free.fr/Composition/photoProgramCompClass41.shtml

Avoiding distracting backgrounds 

http://asp.photo.free.fr/Composition/photoProgramCompClass62.shtml

Including foreground objects

http://wwwca.kodak.com/CA/en/consumer/guideToBetterPictures/eStores/index.jhtml?style=&cat=2&subCat=6


People/Rule of Thirds

http://photoinf.com/General/KODAK/guidelines_for_better_photographic_composition_rule_of_thirds.html

Project

After reviewing the rule of thirds and visiting the above assigned Kodak sites, you are to photograph the following Plan Your Photo Composition (36 works):

1. Hands (such as braiding hair, holding something, working on something) (4 works)
2. Feet/Shoes (4 works)
3. Geometric Shadows/Forms (4 works)
4. Organic Forms and/or Texture (4 works)
5. White on white/eggs (4 works)
6. Lines (4 works)
7. Glass/transparency (4 works)
8. The remaining photos are your choice (8 works)



These pictures are due at the beginning of the period on September 25.

 

Friday, September 12, 2014

Landscape Homework

Landscape Homework over the next week:
 

Pick at least two scenic location where you can take pictures.
Pick a place with water, mountains, trees, or a combination of all of the above. I would recommend Carkeek Park, Kerry Park, or Richmond Beach.


You will shoot at least 24 pictures at each location. Change angles and move all around the location.
You may shoot horizontal and vertical landscape pictures.
One of these photography sessions must be during sunset or sunrise.
Please do not center the horizon line and try to show something in the foreground, mid-ground, and background.

Landscape .
Tuesday is an out of class shooting day for Period 2.
Tuesday is an out of class shooting day for Period 3.
Please bring your camera and make sure you have transportation. 

  • Landscape Homework CS 1 is Thursday the 16th for period 4.
  •  Landscape Homework CS 1 is due Wednesday the 17th for period 3.
  • Landscape Homework CS2 is due Monday the 22nd for period 3.
  • Landscape Homework CS2 is due Tuesday the 23rd for period 4.


http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f93/pospisil/landscape.jpgOcean Blur: how to take long exposure pictures of the sea using an ND filter

Photo 1 Landscape Work: in class




Spend 30-35 minutes to read the following articles and watch the videos below. Take short notes on each suggestion. A few of the readings/videos repeat the same points. Also, make sure you look up the vocabulary words below so that you can understand the material. Please add these terms to your notes as well.

11 Landscape Hints
10 Landscape Tips


Terms to look up and learn: 
Shutter Speed
Aperture
Depth of Field
Focal Point
Slow Exposure

National Geographic Landscape Tips
Creative Composition Video
Photo 101 Video
Spend 45 minutes going outside to shoot 24-30 landscape shots from the baseball, football, and softball fields.
  • Make sure each shot has a large depth of field. In other words, make sure even the background objects are in focus.
  • In each shot make sure you have foreground, midground, and background objects.
  • (Most Landscape shots will have water, trees, and mountains. However, just do the best with what Shorecrest has to offer).
  • Do not center the horizon. Place it in the upper or lower third.
  • Look for lines on the ground or even in the sky.
  • Use tripods as needed.
  • Turn in a Landscape Practice CS at the end of the period


http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f93/pospisil/landscape.jpg


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

How to turn in work

Next, log onto to Vidstore.shorelineschools.org and drop it in the period 3 or 4 folder.

  • Click on your desktop background.
  • Go
  • Connect To Server
  • Vidstore
  • name:scvideo
  • password:Outback23
  • SC Video Classes
  • Drop the file into the 3rd or 4th period folder.

Monday, September 08, 2014

Create a Contact Sheet in Adobe Bridge


Put your SD card into the back of the computer or plug in your camera using a USB chord.

1. Import your pictures using Image Capture
2. Create a folder on your computer.
3. Drag the pictures you want to use in this Contact Sheet  into this new folder.
4. Open Adobe Bridge CS6
5. On left hand side find your folder and select it.
6. Select the files down below so that they show up in the Preview section. You can select the pictures via lasso, shift key, or command key.
7. On the right hand side select Output. Make sure .pdf is selected. Columns and rows will vary.
  • 6 pictures means columns and rows=2*3
  • 12 pictures means columns and rows=3*4
  • 24 pictures means columns and rows=4*6


 8. Click save in the lower right hand corner. Save to your pictures folder.
9. Upload .pdf Contact Sheet to the Staff Server>Mr. Mitchell>Correct Class Period
(Call this one Naming Convention Composition CS1)

Thursday, September 04, 2014

Digital Photo: Composition Reading and Homework


This is not a writing intensive course, but there is some reading the first couple weeks of class.
Please take notes on the bold faced words as you read from the links below. You will be shooting the various composition elements this weekend and next week. We will also have a quiz on this material as well.
Bring your cameras to class every day.


In Class reading:

The Principles of Design in Photography | Trent Sizemore Photography

http://photoinf.com/General/Robert_Berdan/Composition_and_the_Elements_of_Visual_Design.htm
 http://photoinf.com/General/Geoff_Lawrence/Composition.html

(Take quizzes at the end of each section below)

http://cybercollege.com/tvp023.htm Start reading at "Strive for Feeling of Unity"
http://cybercollege.com/tvp024.htm
http://cybercollege.com/tvp025.htm

The Elements and Principles of Design

This week and next week during class you will shoot 24-36 pictures with at least six different subjects.
Please shoot three Rule of Thirds shots, three texture shots, three color contrast shots, three leading lines shots and three frame within a frame (using other objects to frame your subject) shots.


Homework: Do the same assignment above except use subjects and objects away from school.
        Due Wednesday September 10 for Period 3 and Thursday September 11 for Period 2:
  • 15 INTERESTING shots using all four techniques described above. Some people will take 40-80 pictures for 15 good ones.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Turning in Illustrator Work



  • Finish Illustrators Characters by 8:35
  • Export Characters to a .jpeg (File>Export>Jpeg)
  • Export Pac Man or Cake projects to JPEG
  • Place all characters into a folder with your name on it
  • Turn into Vidstore Server

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Thursday in Multimedia

Please work through these Sonic character tutorials:

Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUBKBLo3tNg&index=13&list=PLFE9B061ACBA5D86A
Part 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h3nvf1vJyg&index=14&list=PLFE9B061ACBA5D86A

Photo: Forced Perspective

Thursday in Photo 1:
Use the entire period to shoot Forced Perspective shots around the campus. Have fun. Be creative. Work in groups of two or three if necessary.
Turn in a ten picture contact sheet at the end of the period.

Examples
http://www.instantshift.com/2010/08/24/88-brilliant-examples-of-forced-perspective-photography/



Thursday, May 29, 2014

Abstract Photography


Abstract Picture Assignment

You may take pictures nearby school today.
Tuesday the 3rd will be a shooting day.

Please look at the links below for examples of abstract work. What is an abstract photo? What makes abstract photos interesting?

Googled

Earth Photography

Photo.net

40 Great Examples of Abstract Photography

70 Great Examples



























For this next assignment I want you to throw out all of the "rules" we've discussed in class this semester. This is your chance to be as creative as possible. I would recommend looking for patterns, colors, and shapes when deciding on pictures to take. Also try to take pictures of things you don't normally see in pictures.