Project 1

Project 1: Images of a theme, idea or single subject

Using your continually developing skills as a photographer, create a concise group of images closely related to a subject/theme/idea. The images should be well exposed, well composed, well selected, and properly processed in Photoshop. Plan to turn in a group of 8 images from the many that you shoot.

Due dates:

2/13(Thursday), preliminary critique

2/20 (Thursday), final critique

Plan to turn in:

• 8 files, processed (using image processor) to 1200 pixels by the longest side, jpeg quality 10 or higher
• 2 of the above images as LAYERED photoshop files, 1200 pixels by the longest side, to demonstrate photoshop skills 
• Please keep (archive) the full resolution, layered photoshop files for future use and printing.

Project 1: Meaningful Subject Matter

For your first project, please choose a specific subject or concept for the whole project. This can be anything ranging from portraits, sacred personal objects to landscape, to some sort of idea, such as "rampant consumerism" or "things that scare me"

Its up to you, but do settle on one subject that is compelling enough to sustain you—no changing ideas once you start!

For Tuesday 1/28, be prepared to discus your idea.

Depth of Field

Deep depth of field. Achieve with small aperture and/or wider angle lens.

Shallow depth of field. Achieve with wide aperture and/or longer (telephoto) lens.

In class:

Explore depth-of-field using Aperture Priority Mode. 

Nikon: use "A" mode

Canon: use "Av" mode

The photographer chooses the aperture and the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed for optimal exposure.

Shoot in fairly bright conditions to ensure adequate exposure, or use higher ISO. Create a photograph where there is a distinct foreground object and the background is fairly far away.  Focus on the foreground object, and maintain this focal placement. Shoot the image three times, varying the apertures. Create at least 3 3-image sets.

• f4 or wider (f2.8, f1.4 okay)
• f8
• f16 or smaller (f22 okay)

Shooting (for Tuesday 1/28)

Chose specific subjects and shoot them with widely varied depths of field, while maintaining the same composition/framing. This means 2-3 variations of the same "shot" but created with a range of apertures to vary the depth of field. Again, shoot on aperture priority

In the examples below, we see the same subject and the same framing, but with different depths of field. How does this affect the image? Which do you prefer? Why?

f4.0

f18

Assignment 2: "4x4"

Shoot for 1/21

This is a classic photography exercise, intended to encourage the creation of images that have some sort of relationship to each other. This relationship may be defined by mere proximity or it could be some sort of visual narrative or journey.

Imagine a 4 foot by 4 foot box on the ground, drawn with invisible chalk that only you can see. Place this box somewhere in the world...your backyard, the Target parking lot, a park, on campus, the woods, a cemetery...anywhere you are inclined to venture. It will be best if it is outside, so you have plenty of light, but a very bright interior might work. Stand in the middle of your box and create as many pictures as you can. Do not leave your box when photographing. Point the camera up, down, out, wherever. Notice what catches your eye and pursue it, visually. Zoom in, zoom out.  Try different framings—get radical! The more you look the more you will find.

Shoot RAW, if possible. ISO 400 recommended. Shoot shutter priority, with a shutter speed of at least 1/60th second. Make sure pictures are sharply focused.

In class 1/21

From the large group of photographs generated, create a visual narrative consisting of at least six images. The narrative should make sense in some way—create some kind of internal logic or justification.

Assignment 1: Zero in on subject

Assignment 1

Due: Tuesday 2/14, bring files to class

Rules of the Game: 

• Natural light (window or outside)
• No flash (so please use plenty of light)
• Shoot JPEG (Large File, Highest Quality) or RAW
• Auto Exposure and Auto Focus is okay for now
• Shoot 50-100 images
• No camera phones (for now)—use a proper camera

Pick one subject, say a specific person, place or thing. Shoot that one subject for the whole assignment. How many different ways can you shoot it? Vary angle, background, lighting, (very) close-up/middle/far, composition...anything you can think of to create as much variety as possible. Again, do not change subject...just change the way you see and photograph the subject.

Welcome

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Student Work, Recent Years

(Image: Culberson)

(Image: Dublin)

(Image: Thornton)

 (Image: Busby)

(Image: Culberson)

(Image: Kerr)

(Images: Taylor)

(Image: Rogers)

(Image: Loggins)

(Image: Marguerite Gray)

(Image: Anne Masline)

(Image: Hayden Sloan)

(Image: Heather Orlando)

(Image: Busby)