Assignments Art 140

ALEXIS PIKE

CAMERA PRESENTATION

For this assignment you will be required to present in class a short five minute demonstration on your camera discussing the type of camera and the specs of your camera (mega pixels, card format, etc.). Before you present you will need to read your camera manual. You will also need to discuss a function you discovered on your camera you weren’t aware of until after reading the manual. Be prepared for me to ask you a question regarding your camera’s functions. The goal is for students to see the variety of cameras available, and discover tools of their cameras they may not have known existed before this assignment.

PHOTOGRAPHIC HUNT

You will present your images in class, and explain what images match what items on the photo hunt list, and why you choose to photograph the subject. The hunt list does not have to be followed in order when photographing.

Photo Hunt List.

MANUALLY CONTROLLING THE CAMERA

At this point, you should begin to gain control over your camera outside of “program” mode. You will be required to photograph images using slow shutter speeds to blur the scene, fast shutter speeds to stop the action, as well as examples of depth of field demonstrating both shallow and maximum. I would also like to see three images of the same scene that are bracketed-showing a variety of exposures. Please take notes so in class you can refer to your notes when I ask you how you created the image. This assignment is to be done in camera, and without any retouching. Here are the breakdown of digital images I would like turned in to me. You will turn in a total of ten images:
Action Scene-two images demonstrating use of a fast shutter speed, and one a slow shutter speed of the same scene. No photos of moving cars please-
Depth of Field Scene-two images demonstrating use of a small f-stop opening (i.e.: f16), and one of a large f-stop opening (i.e.: f4) of the same scene.
Bracketing Your Exposures: Expose the same scene three times, one scene underexposed one stop, the next scene overexposed one stop, and then one exposure according to your camera meter
Composition: Chose an object to photograph, and try three different compositions of the object (i.e.: close up, looking down, off-center)

SUBMISSION TO JPG MAGAZINE. Topic to be announced in class. Corresponds to the following website jpgmag.com

RETOUCHING YOUR IMAGE/OUTPUT

You will be required to turn in two analog images, one image before it is retouched, and the other image after it has been retouched (a comparison of before/after). I suggest you work with an image that will be enhanced by manipulation in Photoshop Elements, so don’t pick a “perfect” shot to work with. Some ideas of correction are: getting rid of red eye, blemishes, power lines, cropping, sharpening, color adjustment, etc. You should use several techniques to achieve your desired results, in other words don’t just “eliminate the red eye”, that is too simple. I’d also like to see you make this image as realistic as possible, so avoid using odd filters and unreal backgrounds. Use an image you created with your digital camera, and not an old photograph. Remember, you want to create a “photographic image”, and not a “digital illustration”. Your final output of the retouched image should be at least 5 x7 inches, taking into consideration the paper you print to (lab or at home) and the resolution of the final image. The comparison “before” image should also be the same size, but choice of paper does not have to be the same. A written description of the tools used to retouch the image should also be turned in.

COLOR AT NIGHT

Corresponds to field trip on Monday May 15th (optional). If you cannot attend the field trip, you may work on this outside of class. You will be required to use a tripod for this assignment, because you are working with slow shutter speeds and cannot hand hold the camera without causing camera shake. I recommend you set your ISO between 100-400 (depending on “noise”). Your shutter speeds could be as slow as 1 minute. You will need to locate the “b-bulb” setting on your camera for this assignment. A cable release would be very helpful, but not required. You will turn in ten digital images for the assignment (at least half of the images must be at different locations); five of the images may be digitally altered.

Links

COLLABORATIVE DIGITAL COLLAGE--This assignment will consist of one final analog image, approximately 11x14 inches, which will be a combination of several images compiled in Photoshop created by the class. We will be incorporating the images taken at New Columbia, and will be giving this collage to New Columbia. You are required to participate by including at least two images and helping to edit the final collage. If you miss class when we work on this project, you will not receive the full 5pts. You are welcome to incorporate your images taken during the field trip and/or acquired imagery relating to New Columbia (newspaper clippings, historical photos, drawings, etc.). The work is to be “cut and pasted” in the computer and not done by hand, as a class we will make decisions for the theme, final layout, and editing the images we include.

FINAL SERIES--5 b/w or color images (only prints mounted or over-matted)

A separate handout will be given for this assignment later in the term. Primarily I would like you to create five final analog images you have taken and reworked using Photoshop Elements. The images should be 5 x7 inches or larger, on high quality paper, over-matted or mounted. Presentation will be discussed in class. What is your “photographic language”? You’ll want to create a body of work that ties into a similar theme/subject for all images. You may work with “straight photography” (very little manipulation) or rely more heavily on the software.
Quizzes:

Examples of series of works by artists

PARTICIPATION/ABSENCES

5 points

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

In Lieu of Final Project

20 points