Exam and Final Portfolio

Today we will take the Final Exam and create our Final Portfolio blog post.

The final blog post will consist of 2 parts. 
In the first section you will post your 15 strongest images from the semester and provide a brief critique of each.

In the second part you will provide an assessment of your portfolio and your work ethic.

Individual Image Critique

Post your 10 strongest images of the semester. For each image discuss one strong point from the critique guide and one area you could improve upon.Please assess your work and level of success on this project in each of the 3 main critique areas. Use the critique guidelines to help you with terminology and comments, 

I feel I have ____ exceeded/ ____ met/ ____fallen short of the objective for this image because.....

Overall Portfolio-Semester work

Please answer the following questions about your overall work this semester  using the 1-4 scale: 

1=Not at all, 2=Somewhat, 3=Mostly, 4=Absolutely

I completed my assignments on time 1 2 3 4

I fulfilled all assignments 1 2 3 4

Made good use of class time 1 2 3 4

Used a creative approach 1 2 3 4

My pictures unique and original 1 2 3 4

My craftsmanship is excellent 1 2 3 4

My images are sharp and focused 1 2 3 4

My images are well composed 1 2 3 4

My images have good contrast and exposure 1 2 3 4

My photography sets a mood 1 2 3 4

Currently Due Projects

Last week we worked on 3 projects. They are now due:

Photoshop Filters
Current Events Photo Critique
Photoshop Text Effects

Today we will work on converting a photo to black and white and colorizing a part of the picture. There are several ways to do this and I will give a demonstration of these techniques in class.

Current Photo Events Critique

1. Use the Photography Sites link to select a picture from AP Images, Reuters Full Focus, or National Geographic. 

2. Use the Critique Guide above to write the critique.

3. Also include background information on the events surrounding the picture. Where was it taken? What are the circumstances of the picture? You must do the research in order to provide an In-Depth understanding of what is happening and why! Expand your perspectives! 

Final Grading Period - Work Due for Seniors

Today I will give a brief final exam.

The projects due now for your final grade are:

Origins of Photography Blog Post - 100 points
Zoo Images and Critique - 100 points
Surreal Composition - 100 points
Creative Expression Image- 100 points
15 best pictures of the Semester and Self Critique- 100 points

Have a great summer!

Final Assignment - Post 10 Best Images of the Semester

The final blog post will consist of 2 parts. 
In the first section you will post your 10 strongest images from the semester and provide a brief critique of each.

In the second part you will provide an assessment of your portfolio and your work ethic.

Individual Image Critique

Post your 10 strongest images of the semester. For each image discuss one strong point from the critique guide and one area you could improve upon.Please assess your work and level of success on this project in each of the 3 main critique areas. Use the critique guidelines to help you with terminology and comments, 

I feel I have ____ exceeded/ ____ met/ ____fallen short of the objective for this image because.....

Overall Portfolio-Semester work

Please answer the following questions about your overall work this semester  using the 1-4 scale: 

1=Not at all, 2=Somewhat, 3=Mostly, 4=Absolutely

I completed my assignments on time 1 2 3 4

I fulfilled all assignments 1 2 3 4

Made good use of class time 1 2 3 4

Used a creative approach 1 2 3 4

My pictures unique and original 1 2 3 4

My craftsmanship is excellent 1 2 3 4

My images are sharp and focused 1 2 3 4

My images are well composed 1 2 3 4

My images have good contrast and exposure 1 2 3 4

My photography sets a mood 1 2 3 4

Out of Class assignment Creative Expression

Using your technical knowledge and imagination, using any subject matter or approach, capture an image that highlights your creative abilities and interest.

Be open minded and expressive
You can use Photoshop effects and filters
The image can be realistic or abstract
The image can be black and white or color, or both

Due Thursday, May 1 

Edit, Post, and Critique the Zoo pics

Today you will post your pictures from the Zoo trip.

Due Today at end of class.

Subjects include:

Animals

Nature

People

Shadows

The images should be:

Cropped if necessary
Desaturated (Black and White)
The levels or Curves should be adjusted to make the lights and shadows stand out.

Post the pictures to your blog

Next, write a DETAILED critique of the best picture of the 5 you posted.
1. Pick your best image from the 5 and write an In-Depth critique of it. Use the Critique Guide above. Address EVERY part of every section of the guide. Ask me if there is a section you do not understand.

2. Look at 2 other classmates blogs. Choose a photo and critique it. Use the Comments section to post the critique. You only have to comment on 2 sections of the critique guide (your choice). Comment on 2 areas that you feel were successful and 1 area that you feel could be improved. Be respectful.

NOTE: Surreal Composition is DUE

Projects - In Class work

There are a number of things to work on in class this week.

The Surreal Composition - Complete it Today
Post your best picture for the COC Contest - Due Today
Download and edit the Zoo pictures 

I'll come around to each of you during class to check on you. 

Also, grades have been posted. many of you have work that has not been posted. Please post all work that is overdue.

Post your BEST photograph of the semester for the COC contest

Today you will post your best picture of the year for submission to the COC art contest. Make sure it is at least 7x7 inches and 150 dpi.

If you need help let me know.

After you do this continue working on your Surrealist Photo project. Due Friday.

Surrealist - Magical Realism Composition

Using  at least FOUR of your own photographs, create a surreal/magical realist composition in Photoshop. Scale should be a significant aspect of your design. You may select, crop, and place the elements in the composition in any way that presents them in an incongruous, unusual or “super normal” manner.

I will give an in-class demonstration of how to make Selections and use layers in Photoshop, and we will do a brief practice exercise showing me that you understand how to use the tools.

the image should be 11x11 inches and 300 dpi. Use at least 4 original images. You may use up to 2 images from the web.

Activities/Skills/Followed Directions:

Set up document at stated size and resolution.  
10/________

Photoshop Skills

In class demonstration of Selection Tools and Layers Pallette
25/______

Made precise selections                                                                                                 10/________

Used Transform-scale tool to change at least one selection/layer.        
10/________

Used move tool to move selections from one document to another.                

10/________

Used Multiple Layers                                                                                                                    
5/________

Named Layers                                                                                                             5/________

Include at least 4 ORIGINAL images to the composition                                               
10/________  

                                                                                     

Creativity

Met creative requirements for concept: Magical Realism using scale        
25/________

                                                      

Edit, Upload, and Critique your Light and Shadows images

Today you will download your Light and Shadow assignments.

Please use 2 separate posts for the In-Class and Out-of-Class assignments.

For each assignment:

Pick your 5 best examples

The images should be:

Cropped if necessaryDesaturated (Black and White)The levels or Curves should be adjusted to make the lights and shadows stand out.

Post the pictures to your blog

Next, write a DETAILED critique of the best picture of the 5 you posted.

1. Pick your best image from the 5 and write an In-Depth critique of it. Use the Critique Guide above. Address EVERY part of every section of the guide. Ask me if there is a section you do not understand.

2. Look at 2 other classmates blogs. Choose a photo and critique it. Use the Comments section to post the critique. You only have to comment on 2 sections of the critique guide (your choice). Comment on 2 areas that you feel were successful and 1 area that you feel could be improved. Be respectful.

Assignment - Light and Shadow

Out of Class Assignment:
Take a series of images (post 5 to your blog for the critique) where shadows and light make interesting patterns and shapes. Capture these effects using either natural or artificial light sources. Look for details, unusual angles, and the interplay of the shadows with the elements in the environment.The Images should be in Black and White. I will give a review in class on how to do this

Due Tuesday, April 8.

take a look ta these photos for inspiration.

http://www.freephotoresources.com/great-examples-of-the-use-of-light-and-shadow/

http://02varvara.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/7th-moscow-photo-biennale/

In Class Excercise - Due Friday April 4

in a style similar to Laslo Moholy-Nagy and Ray Metzker , create a high contrast black and white image.

Using the the tripod and the Nikon camera, set up and photograph a still life that uses shadows and light.
Use cut paper and various found objects to create your composition.

The pictures should be high contrast, so Desaturate (convert to black and White)and adjust the Levels or Curves to achieve the required effect.

Set the ISO to 800 or lower and use Aperture priority (You set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed) for the best results.

Be sure to take pictures from multiple perspectives, close up, and various lighting conditions.

Please refer to the NPPA, National Press Photographers Association to guide your decsion in the following scenarios.

Choose 1 and post it to your blog

 Publish or Not to Publish 1
Keep in mind a photojournalist’s ethical duty to be fair, accurate and clear.
There is said to be a “breakfast rule” to guide publication decisions: Do not publish anything that will make people choke on their breakfast.

Situation
Parents in your community are calling and writing the local newspaper. They are angry about two recent uses of photographs in the morning newspaper:
1. Three American troops and 10 Iraqi citizens, including two children, were killed when a car bomb exploded in a shopping district. On the front page of the Tuesday paper was a photograph that clearly showed the uncovered bodies, blood and damage to cars and shops.
2. On Wednesday, on the back of the comics page, a full-page advertisement for women’s undergarments was published. Some considered the poses “seductive” and “far too revealing.” Children who read the comics might see the ad.

Question - Do you think public response should guide the decision to publish or not publish 
 more than news value? Are the subscribers right to complain?
- Is there an ethical reason to publish or not publish?
- What considerations guide your decision?
- What is your decision?

To Publish or Not to Publish 2
Keep in mind a photojournalist’s ethical duty to be fair, accurate and clear.
Not all actions are news. Editors, reporters and photographers make content decisions every day based on their news judgment, understanding of their communities and awareness of their ethical, legal and economic responsibilities.

Situation
Students at your school are performing dangerous stunts. They hope to attract television coverage and get the most hits on YouTube. The editor of the student newspaper and the student webmaster are pitching coverage. They think this story would interest students who do not usually read the school’s newspaper.

Question- Should your school’s publications cover the students with photographs and/or 
 do a videocast?
- Would this encourage these students to do more daring stunts by glorifying 
 their unsafe actions?
- Is there an ethical reason to publish or not publish?
- What considerations guide your decision?
- What is your decision?

To Publish or Not to Publish 3
Keep in mind a photojournalist’s ethical duty to be fair, accurate and clear.
Photographers are to maintain the integrity of the photographic image’s content and context. Photographers also want their best works to be published.

Situation
Your school photographer captured an awesome crowd photograph just as your girls basketball team won the state championship. All aspects of an excellent photograph — emotion, color, use of line and rule of thirds — are present. On closer examination, one sees several students with their middle fingers extended.

Question - Would you remove the offending body parts using a software program such as 
 Photoshop?
- Is there an ethical reason to publish or not publish as is?
- What considerations guide your decision?
- What is your decision?

Work day - Prepare for Critique Friday

Download and edit your "day in the Life" essay. 

Post the assignment to your blog.

• You should present at least 5 images.
• Write a brief paragraph describing the essay.
• Include a 1 to 2 sentence caption for each picture

Photo Crit Blog post today

Today we will work on your Current Events photo critique. If you have Day in the Life photos to download you can do this also.

The  "Day in the Life" photo essay is due this Friday, March 21 .There will be an In-Class Critique over this work.

Assignment - A day in the Life

Record a day in the life of your subject...she could be a student, teacher, office worker, shopkeeper, restaurant employee, whoever interests you. Don't "stage" the shots, try to capture the moments naturally. Your goal is to capture the feeling of part of a person's life.

• Work as unobtrusively as possible...don't interfere with what is going on.
• Turn off your flash...use high ISO if the lighting is low. You may need to use a tripod
• Use a large aperture to avoid background details distracting from the subject.
• Get close! Include details that help tell the story. 
• Cover all aspects of your subject's day. Driving to work, studying, cleaning up, anything that you feel would add to the story
• Use multiple camera angles and distances from your subject...Be creative!

Here are some great examples of photography in this style:

Dorothea Lange
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/lange/

Valery Mosley

http://www.valeriemosleyphoto.com/

Ami Vitale

http://www.amivitale.com/blog/

Lauren Greenfield

http://www.laurengreenfield.com/

W. Eugene Smith

http://life.time.com/w-eugene-smith/

Laena Wilder
http://www.wildervision.com/

Critique Today!

We will look at our Winter pics and Depth of Field work. Everybody should be prepared to speak.

Current Events Photo Critique - Due Every Friday

As in Photo1, we will post a critique of a photo evry Friday. This time the expectations are a bit more high, but there are now a wider range of images to choose from.

1. Use the Photography Sites link to select a picture from AP Images, Reuters Full Focus, or National Geographic. 

2. Use the Critique Guide above to write the crit.

3. Also include background information on the events surrounding the picture. Where was it taken? What are the circumstances of the picture? You must do the research in order to provide an In-Depth understanding of what is happening and why! Expand your perspectives! 

Download and post the Depth of Field photos

Post at least 2 photos demonstrating deep Depth of Field and at least 2 demonstrating shallow depth of field.

Include all settings for each picture-Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO

Upload and Post your Essence of Winter photos

For the first half of class you will post your best Essence of Winter Photographs. Include a Self-Critique based on the Critique Guide above.

Later we will do a review exercise over Depth of Field and Aperture.

Ansel Adams Show

Today you will help Mrs. Hogan set up the annual Ansel Adams Photography contest.
When you have finished setting up the show pick 1 photo and post an in-depth critique to your blog. Use the critique guide in the link at the top of this page to assist you in writing it...make sure to answer ALL of the questions in the guide!!!

Aperture and Exposure Review

Watch the following videos. We'll began shooting Depth of Field excercises next week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUbjkMm_v-A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8T94sdiNjc

IMPORTANT REMINDER - You need to have ALL research and blogs posts complete by TODAY.

We'll have an Essence of Winter critique next week. Everyone will be expected to participate.

Complete ISO-Shutter Speed Work and Conduct Research on Daguerreotypes and Calotypes

You may take up to half the the class completing the review on ISO and shutter speed. Make sure your name is on your SD card when you give it to Mrs. Hogan.

For the rest of the class you will be continuing your research on the History of Photography. Today you will explore the Daguerreotype and Calotype.

On a google doc shared with me find the following:
What is a Daguerreotype? 
What does it look like? 
How does it differ from photographs of today? 
What length exposures were needed?
What were the styles of typical early daguerreotype portraits?
What were post-mortem photographs and why were they taken?
What is a Calotype? 
What does it look like? 
How is it similar to the process that we use today?
What is The Pencil of Nature? Who is the author/artist? 

Was the daguerreotype or the calotype preferred for most portrait photography uses in the early decades 

of photography? Why?

Out of class assignment - Essence of Winter

Over the weekend use any camera you'd like and capture the essence of winter.

Don't just take a picture of some snow and call it a day. Winter can hold many emotions...find them.

We'll download them next class. 

Take note - This is an assignment with a deadline and you will lose points by not having anything to showm me. 

ISO and Shutter Speed Review

Today we are going to do a review of ISO and Shutter speed. We went over this in depth during Photo 1 so this should not be a difficult excercise.

The difference this time is that we are going to combine the two settings.

You will be taking a series of Photos where you adjust both ISO and Shutter Speed under both well lit and dim lighting conditions. You will be noticing how ISO and Shutter Speed interact with each other...for example:

Can you get a good exposure with low ISO and High Shutter Speed in dim light while Freezing action? Why or Why not?
Can you get a decent exposure using a low shutter Speed and high ISO while panning a subject?

ISO

What is ISO? It is the camera sensor's sensitivity to light.

Read this link to get an in-depth explanation of ISO and how the different setting affect exposure.

Next we'll try shooting around the room and building at different ISOs under different lighting conditions.

Capture the following:

High ISO Pictures in bright light and in dim light
Low ISO Pictures in bright light and in dim light

For each of these  write down the ISO, and Shutter speed of the photo.

Post your examples on your blog.

Do you notice any patterns? is there a relation between ISO and the Shutter speed? What is the Shutter speed of the blurry pictures? What is the Shutter speed of the non blurry pictures? Do you notice the "noise" in the high ISO pictures?

SHUTTER PRIORITY
Shutter Priority Mode is when you set the shutter speed of the camera and the camera sets the Aperture.

By changing shutter speeds you not only control how long light enters the camera but also how motion is captured in your image.




Set the camera to Shutter Priorty by turning the Mode Dial to S 



Use the thumb dial to set the shutter speed

Follow this link for a description of how shutter speed works.

Capture the following
1. Freeze motion (fast shutter speed of 1/125 or higher and Low ISO)
2. Freeze motion (fast shutter speed of 1/125 or higher and High ISO)
3. Create a Motion Blur (Shutter speed of 1/15 or slower and High ISO)
4. Create a Motion Blur (Shutter speed of 1/15 or slower and Low ISO)
5. Track motion (shutter speed of 1/60 and High ISO)
6. Track motion (shutter speed of 1/60 and Low ISO)

Critique...continued. And more photography research.

Today we will finish up the critique.

After we complete it you will continue with your research on the history of photography. Today explore the work of two significant pioneers of photography.

Sir John Herschel
Joseph-Nicephore Niepce
Louis Dageurre

Who were these men and what were their contribution to the development of photography?

Critique Today

Today we will look at the two projects we have been working on, the 20 pictures of a single object and the still life. 
Take 15 minutes to think about what you're going to say about your work as well as a couple of classmates work.

I expect everyone to contribute in an articulate and creative manner.

Assignments Due - Plus Research on the Camera Obscura

Today the following projects are due. Please make sure they are posted to your blog:

• 20 pictures of a single subject 
• Still Life and Statement.

If you have completed these assignments then begin research on the Camera Obscura.

SHARE THIS RESEARCH WITH ME ON A GOOGLE DOC!!!

First begin with this video...it's a brief history of photogrqphy from TED.
Illuminating Photography, From camera Obscura to Camera Phones


Use the following questions to guide you in your exploration of the camera Obscura:

• What does the term Camera Obscura mean?
• What IS a camera Obscura?
• What were the earliest examples of the principles the Camera Obscura utilizes?
• How does the Camera Obscura work?
• How was it used?
• Who is credited with first using the camera Obscura in painting?
• What role did the Camera Obscura play in the development of photography?

Here are some resources to help you:

http://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/a-history-of-photography-part-1-the-beginning--photo-1908

http://brightbytes.com/cosite/what.html

http://camera-obscura.co.uk/camera_obscura/camera_history.asp

http://www.obscurajournal.com/history.php

Adjustment Layers Review - Hue/Saturation, Levels, Curves

Today we will review how to use Photoshop Adjustment Layers.

Creating adjustment layers

Do one of the following:
For Hue-Saturation (Converts to Black and White)

1. Click the New Adjustment Layer button  at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Hue/Saturation

2. Move the Saturation slider all the way to the left

3. Click ok

Here is a video showing how to do it.

For Levels (Adjusts Contrast in your picture)

1. Click the New Adjustment Layer button  at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Levels

2. Move the Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights Sliders to adjust the range of contrast in your image

3. Click ok

Here is a video showing how to do it.

This link will take you to a description of using Levels in Photoshop. The photo in the example is in color but it works the same in black and white.

Curves

Previously we learned how to adjust and improve the overall tonal contrast of an image with Levels using the Levels adjustment layer.

The levels tool is good for adjusting the shadows and highlights of a picture, but it is limited in its ability to adjust the mid-tones in a picture. There is only one slider for the gray tones in the levels tool.

When we use Curves we have the ability to adjust many different tones of gray in our image.

Please watch the video below to learn how to locate and use the Curves adjustment layer.

Using Curves in Photoshop

Assignment - Still Life

The Still Life was one of the first subjects of interest in photography.This was due to the influence of painting on early photographers as well as the fact that the cameras themselves took a long time to expose the image.

Check out some of these examples...

35 Superb Examples of Still Life photography

40 Interesting Examples of Still Life Photography

Your assignment is to create an atmospheric still life.You can work with any almost type of light source, including daylight, indoor light, reading lamps, or light boxes. I suggest you avoid flash, as this will create harsh shadows.
Experiment with the arrangement of your elements in the composition until you find the best picture possible.Pay particular attention to the background in your arrangement.
Try using different apertures (F stops) to manipulate the Depth of Field (amount of image in focus) in your picture.
You might also try using deliberate over or underexposed to create a particular mood.
Write a brief statement about your picture including your intentions and the technical aspects of the image, such as exposure and any photoshop manipulation you may have used.

Welcome to Photo 2!

Welcome to class! Prepare yourself to be challenged!  Photo 1 was safe and easy for most of you, but now it's time to seriously explore your creative and expressive side.
The expectations are significantly higher this time.
First we'll go over the syllabus and projects for the semester, and then we'll each set up a blog. After you create your blog send the address to me at johncazort@ga.ozark.k12.mo.us.
Also, please review the syllabus with your parent or guardian and ask them to send me an email confirmation that you have read it.

NEXT CLASS: Bring your camera plus items that you would like to include in a Still Life composition.