Final Portfolio

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 including 1 very strong element and 1 element you could improve upon. NOTE- Pick something from the Critique Guide.

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

Individual Image Critique

Post your 10-15 strongest images of the semester. All images must be in black and white although you may include a color version.

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

Combine Text and Images

Using the text tool plus the text effects you learned earlier in the year, create a 11x11 compostion that features a poem, lyric, quote, or favorite saying combined with photographic imagery.

You can manipulate the text and pictures in any way that you would like.

The design must be balanced, wel composed, and convey a specific emotion or attitude.

Creative Expression Assignment

Using your skills and imagination, cretate an image that shows your expressive side. You can use any photo or collage of photos that you have taken, use color or black and white, text, filters, layers...it's up to you.

Imagine that your piece might be used for a magazine, card or poster.

Have fun.

Edit and Post Your Antique Store Pictures

Edit and Post the Antique Store Photos from the field trip.

Crop, De-saturate and adjust Levels to get the best possible  image. 

All photos must be in Black and White. You may upload color pictures, but there must also be a Black and White version.

Your uploaded pictures should include :

• 1 Still Life including at least 1 with a definite Focal Point and at least 1 that includes Repetition of the Elements
• 3  Details - either Close ups or Textures
• 3-5 additional pictures of your choice from the field trip

Pick one of the pictures above and write a thorough critique in a new blog post

AP Photo Critique

AP, or Associated Press, is "the world's largest collection of historical and contemporary photographs". 

Today you will choose a photo from AP Images to critique. Follow the example below to do your critique.

1. Copy and Paste the photo to your blog.

2. Add the link from the AP site to your blog.

3. Paste the description of the photo from the AP site to your blog.
Example:Description: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men pray ahead of the Jewish New Year at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's old city, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013. Israelis happily welcomed the Jewish New Year late Wednesday despite uncertainty and turmoil brewing on both its northern and southern borders. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

4. Answer the following:

• Who was the photographer?
• What country and city was the photo taken in?
• What event was photographed?
• Describe the event that was photographed.
• Why is the event newsworthy? Why is it important to us?

5. Write a Critique. Use the Critique Guide in the link above.

Work Now Due

Blood Drive
Band
Photoshop Filters/Effects
Plants
Hands
1 Photo Every Hour

Edit, Post and Critique Your Portraits

POST

• Post your best portaits from the last two days of experiments. 
• Crop and edit your pictures as you see fit.
• Post at least 3 using the studio lighting and 3 using natural light.

CRITIQUE

• Write a thorough critique on your best image.
• Write a thorough critique on a classmate's photo.

Curves

In Photo1 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

CURVES ASSIGNMENT

Using Curves Adjustment layers, create 3 three variations of an image you have taken.

First crop and De-Saturate the image.

Then make 1 layer a moderate "S" curve. This will give you an evenly toned picture with a moderate range of contrast.

Next make a second layer where you have moved the white and dark gray tone to black.

Next make a third layer where you have moved the black and dark gray tone to white.

Save screen shots of the curves window by one of these 2 ways:
1. use the Snipping tool to capture and paste the Curves window into your post
2. Holding down the alt-print screen key and pasting the image into paint. Do this for each of the Curves variations you make. 

Your Blog post should look like the following:

S Curve

White tones to Black

Black tones to White

Find Contemporary Photographers

Find new photographers to be inspired by! In this class I expect you to take risks and grow as a creative person.
An important way to do this is to explore what other photographers are doing.

Look for current photographers on these websites:

Lensculture
https://www.lensculture.com/

Art-Support
http://art-support.com/photographers.htm


Today your assignment is to find 3 contemporary photographers.

• Write a brief biography about the artists and thier type of work. DONT COPY AND PASTE!!!
• Upload 3-5 photos to your blog, include the titles and dates.
• Explain why you chose them, and what you find interesting in thier work.
• Discuss how you could use thier ideas and work to inspire something new in your photography.
• Use photography vocabulary from  the Critique Guide, and Art (principles and elements of design) in your responses

Your next assignment will be to take photos that include ideas, perspectives, and themes from these photographers in your own work.

Self Critique - Reflections Assignment

We will write a critique about the reflections assignment today. Use the Critique Guide, but I would like you to focaus on Part 3 - The Emotional side of the critique.

I also would ike you to give a SERIOUS self-evaluation on the quality of your photography and your work ethic.

Consider the following questions:

Effort:

Do you... 

• Make good use of class time? 

• Work on photography outside of class? 

• Try your best to meet or go beyond each assignment? 

• Try to be as creative and original in your work (take risks)? 

• Incorporate teacher advice and feedback into your work? 

• Meet challenges by correcting mistakes (reshoot or reprint)? 

• Strive to improve your technique (learn things you are missing?) 

• Meet the requirements of each assignment? 

• Make deadlines?

Quality of Work

Are you present and paying attention? Do you speak often and offer creative insights and constructive criticism? 

Are you improving? How?

Is your work... 

• Interesting? (To others? To you?) 

• Creative? 

• Original? (Different than others in some way?) 

Quality of Ideas

Do your photographs show... 

• Design skill? (Interesting perspectives and angles, creative use of light, definite focus choices, compelling framing and composition?) 

• Self expression? A personal vision or point of view?

• A clear story or theme? If multiple images, are they cohesive or fluid? (Do they connect to each other and your main idea?)

Reflections Project - Edit and Upload Your Pictures Today

Today is the day to work on the "Reflections" pictures. Crop, Edit, and upload your best images from your photographic explorations of REFLECTIONS.

Remember to Desaturate your pictures, but you can include a color version too.

Photoshop Text Effects

Today we'll have some fun with Text. First, I'll show you how to add images in text, it will end up looking something like this:

You can find the tutorial at this link:

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photoshop-text/text-effects/image-in-text-photoshop-cs6/

Next, pick a text effect from the link below and follow the instructions to create one of your own.

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photoshop-text/text-effects/

 Save both pictures as jpeg files and post them to your blog titled "Photoshop Text Effects"

Critique Today!

We'll look at your work from January. Be ready to discuss your work and others in a creative respectful and manner.

Reflections

Reflections… For this project you don’t want to capture the image like you normally would, you want to focus on capturing the image in a reflection. This can be done by shooting any type of reflective surface and focusing on your subject not the reflective surface. This will usually throw the reflective surface out of focus and your subject in focus.  If you focus on the surface then that is all you will capture. So what types of reflective surfaces are you looking for?  Water, puddles, shiny glass buildings, mirrors, a side or rear view mirror, glass windows, metallic items,  etc… anything that you see a reflection in will work.

http://2lilowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Reflections-project.jpg

Over the next week, make 20-30 images using the ideas presented here for working with reflection and choose one image to share with us. Carefully consider how the use of reflection adds to the image. How does it impact the viewer’s experience of the final image? How does the reflection influence the way the picture feels? Look long and hard to find interesting and unusual reflections! 

http://photo.net/advancing-photography-project/reflections/

Projects Due for January - Critique Your Best Today

Here are the projects that should be complete and uploaded for this month:

• Rainy day - January 7
• Shadows and Light - January 15
• Cubist Portrait - January 15
• Snowy day - January 19
• Photo Ethics - January 26

To prep for our In-Class discussion write a critique of BOTH your favorite photo of the month plus one of your classmates.
These should be in-depth and cover all aspects of the Critique Guide.

I have noticed that many of you are missing at least one  project. You need to make these up before next class.

Photography Ethics

What is ethical when taking pictures? How much can we alter a picture and still call it true photography?

Here is a statement of Photography Ethics from a website. Read over it. You will refer to these policies in your answers.

you may wish to consider these five general ethical principles in developing policies for best practices in development photography:

1. Autonomy - In what way can I show respect for a person's right to decline or consent to photography? How do I handle informed consent?
2. Non-Maleficence (Do No Harm) - Am I creating and using photos in a manner that will do no harm to persons appearing in photos?
3. Beneficence (Do Good) - What is my intention or purpose for taking this photo? How can I use a photo to promote a good cause while ensuring that I do no harm to individuals in photos?
4. Fidelity - Am I using photos in a context that fairly represents the real situation, subject identity, or physical location of the image? What steps am I taking to properly credit the photographer?
5. Justice - Am I photographing people and communities with the same respect I would show to neighbors and strangers in my home country?

Now look at this site. Find 3 examples that make an impression on you.

http://www.alteredimagesbdc.org

In a brief paragraph for each picture., explain why the pictures are not 'Ethical". 

Continue Work in Progress - Cubism - Shadows and Light

Continue your work on the Cubist portrait.
Downlaod and Work on your Shadows and light project.

We'll have a critique on all of your work in progress next Wednesday.

Photoshop - Cubist Portrait

Today we will begin working on the Cubist Portrait.

First - Conduct research - What are the primary characteristics of cubism?

Second - Find Examples of Cubist portraiture, come up with ideas for creating your portrait.

Third - Take pictures of your subject from a variety of perspectives

Fourth - Create an 11x11 300 dpi file in photoshop

Fifth - Use Selection Tools, Transform Tools, Layers, and Filters to develop your portrait.

Sixth - Continue to refine your artwork, we will discuss your progress as you work

In Class Assignment - Capture The Rainy day

Go outside and capture the essesnce of a cold, wet, winter morning. 

Set your camera to manual and write down the ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed.

Think about underexposing the image to make it seem darker.

Use levels to increaseor decrease the contrast of the picture

Think about landscapes as well as close - ups.

All pictures should be in Black and White.

Exposure and Camera Basics - A Brief review

Exposure Guide dot com
http://www.exposureguide.com/exposure.htm

Exposure Basics form Nikon
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/fue0dnl6/a-basic-look-at-the-basics-of-exposure.html

Assignment 1 - Shadows and Light - Due Friday, January 15

Out of Class Assignment: Shadows and Light
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 Friday, January 15.

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/

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.