Final Grades

I have finished grading your finals and putting your grades into the spreadsheet.  There are several people who were absent but did not give me excuse forms.  This is seriously affecting several people's final average.  Can you please get me your excuse forms ASAP so that I can post grades when it opens up for the final semester averages?  Thanks!

Great job on Friday.  Thanks for all your hard work and commitment to the class.  It showed.

Ginger

Capture a newsworthy image that conveys any combination of emotion, interaction or conflict.

If you enjoyed the photojournalism assignment, you might want to consider entering this contest.  It is free to enter!

Prizes:
One 1st Place Winner

PRINT: A 30” x 40” digital gallery plexi print with wood brace of winning image (Value $505) (40” will be the long dimension by fall)

STORE FRONT EXPOSURE: Winning image will be displayed with photo credit at Duggal’s corporate location located at 29 w 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

MAGAZINE EXPOSURE: Featured in Digital Photo Pro Magazine
Only one image and story can be submitted per artist. Online submission of digital photographs via the website.

Image requirements: JPEG at 150 DPI or higher, please make sure your file size is 5mb or larger.
Judging criteria: creativity, photographic quality and effectiveness.

• Copyright: You will retain full copyright of any image submitted and acknowledge and accept Duggal’s right to use your image for external purposes with adequate crediting to your full name as submitted by you to Duggal.
• Eligibility: Open to all photographers, worldwide.
• Entry fee: Free
• Entry deadline: 31 May 2014

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  http://duggalconnect.com/duggals-photojournalism-contest-opens-april-1/

The Final is Friday at 9 am on 3rd Floor Journalism

 10 fabulous matted images for the final.

Final exam:

• 10 matted images 
• Image sized 8x12 (except for the David Hockney or the Anna Atkins if you wish)
• Mat sized 16x20

Your 10 images can be composed from each of the class assignments or they can be a series of images from your favorite assignment. It is important to edit down your images to the 10 strongest that represent what you have learned in PHO 111.

Grading criteria:

• Strong Compositional Elements demonstrated?
• Strong Use of Color?
• Intended subject In Focus?
• Crisp Edges?
• Clear of Distractions?
• Interesting Lighting?
• Interesting Subject?
• Interesting Perspective?
• Cropped correctly?
• Correct Mat Size?
• Trimmed Neatly?
• Perfect Print Quality?
• Participated in Critique without being asked?

In order for you to be able to take your prints with you after critique, can you please have your ten images up on your blog by Friday, May 2nd?  This way if I have questions while I am grading then I can refer to the images on your blog since I won't have your printed/matted work in front of me.

It has been a privilege and an honor to be your instructor for PHO 111.  I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.  Please keep in touch.

Ginger

Exhibit Today and Final on Friday

Hope to see you today, Wed at 2 pm in the student center on 2nd floor with your pictures.   If you can't make it, you can leave your matted photos at the print lab and I'll take them over for you.

Friday is the final.  We will meet on 3rd floor of Journalism where we had our mid-term at 9 am.  Bring your 10 matted images to display and discuss.  I can't wait to see what you decided for your final 10.


FYI from 3rd Floor Check Out : Check Out will close Friday @ 1pm.  All equipment must be back into Check Out no later than 10am on Friday May 2 or a hold will be put on your records.  

Wednesday April 30 from 2 pm to 4 pm PHO 111 Photo Exhibit

The photography media area of the Art Department presents the end of the semester PHO 111 final portfolios! Come see the terrific work our students have been up to!
Wednesday, April 30, 2-4 on the second floor of the student center!
SEE THE ART
PHOTO EXHIBIT
WEDNESDAY 
4/30 2-4
2nd FLOOR STUDENT CENTER
BE THERE
Because we’re awesome!

Friday, April 25 Mat Day in the Print Lab

There will be a sign in sheet for you at 9 am on Friday April 25 in the Print Lab in Wathena.

Please note the earlier blog post that your assignment has changed from 20 matted images to 10 for the final exam.

David will present a matting demonstration at 10 am in the mat room.  You will need at least one of your final images printed in order for you to mat an image.  Your images are to be 8x12 in a 16x20 mat.

If you want to try to do a cyanotype like Anna Atkins, I will be on 3rd floor of Journalism to do a mini-workshop.  You can use one of these for your final images.

Wednesday, April 30th is the PHO 111 show at the Student Center on the 2nd Floor.  You will need to bring your 10 matted images to the 2nd floor of the Sam Rayburn Center by 3 pm.  We will have a space for our class to present images.  You will get to meet all the other PHO 111 students and see their work.

See you on Friday!

Check out is closing May 2nd

Notice from 3rd Floor Check Out:

All equipment must be checked back in by 10 am on Friday, May 2nd.  If you do not have the equipment back on 3rd Floor by 10 am, a hold will be placed on your record.

You are invited....

Please feel personally invited to my Master's of Fine Art Thesis Show reception on Tuesday, April 22 from 5-7 pm.  The show is in the University Gallery at the Art Building. There will be cookies and milk!  Hope to see you there.

Good News for the Final Exam

Your final number of images for the final has been reduced from 20 to 10!

You only need  10 matted images for the final.  But let's make them 10 fabulous images.

Final exam:

• 10 matted images 
• Image sized 8x12 (except for the David Hockney or the Anna Atkins if you wish)
• Mat sized 16x20

Your 10 images can be composed from each of the class assignments or they can be a series of images from your favorite assignment. It is important to edit down your images to the 10 strongest that represent what you have learned in PHO 111.

Grading criteria:

Strong Compositional Elements demonstrated?

Strong Use of Color?

Intended subject In Focus?

Crisp Edges?

Clear of Distractions?

Interesting Lighting?

Interesting Subject?

Interesting Perspective?

Cropped correctly?

Correct Mat Size?

Trimmed Neatly?

Perfect Print Quality?

Participated in Critique without being asked?

Please have your ten images up on your blog by Friday, May 2nd at 9 am.

No Class on Good Friday

What could make Good Friday any better than no PHO 111 class?  Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend.

However, if you want/need to talk to me I will be on campus.  I will either be in Wathena in the print room or in the gallery in at Art building.  Just let me know.

If you are planning on participating in the Cyanotype Workshop next Friday, you might want to start drying some flowers/leaves if you wish to do botanicals.  The purpose of the workshop for us is to pay homage to Anna Atkins. If you don't want to do plants, you might want to think of objects you want to collect to bring to class. If you have any old negatives that you want to make prints of that will work also.  Just keep in mind your print will be the same size as your negative.

The paper size is 3x3 and 5x7 for your final prints.

Inspirations on Anna Atkins:
http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=1542&page=1
http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/photographyinbooks/record.asp?RecordID=3048

You can also use this process to make a "Rayograph" as Man Ray liked to call them or photograms as others call them. 

Tentative calendar for the remainder of the semester

April 18th: Good Friday, no class.  I will be on campus working if you need to visit with me or ask questions.  Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend.  May I suggest you spend this time working on your final project or your photojournalism assignment?

April 25th:  Cyanotype/Pinhole Workshop/Print and Matting Day in the lab.

9:00 am.  Photojournalistic images due on your blog. There will be a sign up sheet in the print lab in Wathena for you to sign in at 9 am.  Please use this time to begin printing your final images.  Or you can print on the 3rd Floor of Journalism.  Just stop by the Darkroom and tell me you are printing.  You will need at least one (1) printed image for the matting demonstration.

10:15 am.  David will do a matting demonstration in the Mat/Print Room in Wathena. You will need 10 matted images for your final project.

11:00 am.   Those of you who wish, may participate in the Cyanotype/Pinhole Workshop.  I will be on the 3rd Floor of the Journalism building in the Dark Room area.  We will be paying homage to Anna Atkins from the Famous Photographer's lecture.  You can use one or more of these images for your final 10.

April 30th: PHO 111 Student Show, 2nd Floor, Sam Rayburn Student Center.  10 images matted.  Be sure to have your name, class, instructor and semester on the back of each matted picture. The event is usually from 3 pm to 5 pm but I do not have the exact time at the moment.

May 2nd:  Begin Final Exam.  10 images matted.  Formal critique by class members.  Bring snacks and drinks to share with the class if you wish.  Critique will be on the 3rd floor of Journalism where we had the mid-term critique. If we finish, we will not have class on May 9th.

May 9th:  Finish Final Exam.  10 images matted.  Formal critique by class members.  Bring snacks and drinks to share with the class if you wish.

Assignment #9: Photojournalism

Create 4 (four) 8x12 images using Sam Craft's lecture on photojournalism as your inspiration.

You can shoot 4 to create a storyline or you can shoot 4 feature journalist images. Your choice.  

The final images will be evaluated on the story produced by your photograph(s), elements of the creation of an interesting image, use of compositional tools, use of color, use of natural lighting, clear of distractions, and focus on subject.

Due: Friday, April 25th at 9 a.m. on your blog.  You do not have to print the images at this time.  You may want to print at a later date for your final 20 on the final exam.

If you have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 100. If you do not have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 0. 

Remember there are no late assignments accepted or extra credit assignments provided in this class.

Guest Speaker: Sam Craft, Award Winning Photojournalist

The Paris News earns awards

Sam Craft named Star Photojournalist of the Year

Posted: Monday, April 7, 2014 11:13 am

Paris News chief photographer Sam Craft was named the top community newspaper photojournalist in Texas for the second year in a row, and The Paris News once again was recognized as one of the top community newspapers in the state at the annual Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest.

I am pleased to announce that Sam Craft, award winning photojournalist will be speaking to our class on Friday, April 11th.  I think you will find him to be engaging, interesting and inspiring.  He and his work inspires me to aspire to be a better photographer. Much thanks to Sam for taking the time to drive to Commerce to talk to our PHO 111 class and share his journey in photography.

I asked Sam to share with us a little of his story about becoming a photojournalist.

Sam Craft

I grew up in a small town in Texas and have been around the East Texas area all my life.  After graduating from high school I attended Tyler Junior College where I majored in computer networking before making a faithful decision to switch to journalism.  After that I interned at the Tyler Morning Telegraph as a photographers assistant and later as a part time photographer before moving to Nacogdoches to attend Stephen F. Austin State University.

At SFASU I joined up with the student newspaper “The Pine Log” and was introduced to some great colleagues that became even better friends.  In my time at SFA I covered division I sports, got my feet wet with freelance assignments for the Houston Chronicle, documented the space shuttle Columbia disaster for USA Today, worked with MTV for a fraternity house give away and other general assignments.  After earning a degree in Photojournalism and a minor in art I moved to Paris for a staff job at The Paris News.

My time here has been eventful to say the least.  I've seen race riots, crimes of all sorts, national and state championships won and lost and everything in between. Documenting peoples lives is my passion and I'd like to think that it shows in my work whether it be my editorial assignments, sporting events or weddings.

Awards include:

• 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 – Texas APME Class A Star Photographer of the Year; 
• 2006, 2010, 2011 – North East Texas Press Association Photographer of the Year;
• Numerous awards from the Texas APME and the North East Texas Press Association for spot news, feature and sports and
• TIPA awards from my college days.

The link to Sam's website is www.samcraft.com.

Students:
You might want to take a few moments before class and do a little bit of research about what a being a photojournalist entails.  Take a look at Sam's website to get an idea of his style and aesthetic. I ask that you please prepare at least three questions to ask Sam in class on Friday.

Suggested Photographers For Homage

British Algae, Anna Atkins, 1843 

Below is a list of photographers covered in the lecture on Friday, April 4th.  Please select one of the noted photographers on the list as an inspiration to complete Assignment #8.

Anna Atkins, Matthew Brady, Timothy O'Sullivan, Andrew J. Russell, 

Henry Peach Robinson, Julia Margaret Cameron, Jacob August Riis, 

Edward Curtis, Alfred Stieglitz, Gertrude Käsebier, Clarence White, 

Edward Steichen, Lewis Hine, Man Ray, Eugène Atget, Claude Cahun,

André Kertész, Berenice Abbott, Imogen Cunningham, Minor White, 

Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, William Eugene Smith, 

Margaret Bourke-White, Robert Frank, Mary Ellen Mark, William Eggleston, 

Stephen Shore, Nicholas Muray, Richard Avedon, Deborah Lou Turbeville,

Sarah Moon, David LaChapelle, Steven Meisel, Diane Arbus, Garry Winogrand, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Nan Goldin, Nikki Seung-hee Lee, Yasumasa Morimura, Abelardo Morell, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Anna and Bernhard Blume, Beate Gutschow, 

John Pfahl, Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Luc Delahaye, Robert  & Shana Parke Harrison, 

Sandy Skoglund, Teun Hocks, Andreas Gursky, and Gregory Crewdson.

Trolly, New Orleans, Robert Frank, 1955

Assignment #8: Homage to a Noted Photographer

Create 4 (four) 8x12 images using a noteworthy photographer as your inspiration.

You can do 4 of the same photographer or choose a variety of individuals. Your choice.  Please add your inspirational photographer and the image that inspired your photograph to your blog.

The final images will be evaluated on the inspiration image(s) elements of the creation of an interesting image, use of compositional tools, use of color, use of natural lighting, clear of distractions, and focus on subject.

Due: Friday, April 11th at 9 a.m. on your blog.  You do not have to print the images at this time.  You may want to print at a later date for your final 20 on the final exam.

Be sure to include your final images along with your inspirational images.  Identify the photographer who you chose to emulate.

If you have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 100. If you do not have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 0.

Remember there are no late assignments accepted or extra credit assignments provided in this class.

What Every Aspiring Photographer Should Know

The following is a blog from a friend of mine on Deviant Art.  Just thought I'd share it with you.  

Here is the link to the blog: http://www.cjmentoring.com/#!What-Every-Aspiring-Photographer-Should-KnowStill/cja0/3

These are my thoughts, nothing more and nothing less.

I get asked all the time, during workshops, in e-mails, in private messages, what words of wisdom I would give to a new and aspiring photographer. 

Here’s my answer. 

• Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don’t look outward for your style; look inward.
• Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It’s like money; you only have it when you don’t need it.
• Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a consensus.
• Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don’t fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you’re stressed and anxious.
• Learn to say “I’m a photographer” out loud with a straight face. If you can’t say it and believe it, you can’t expect anyone else to, either.
• You cannot specialize in everything.
• You don’t have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don’t have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.
• Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don’t, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that’s tough.
• Accept critique, but don’t apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn’t not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.
• Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business “Precious Chubby Tootsies”….but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?
• Remember that if your work looks like everyone else’s, there’s no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you’re cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as “the cheaper photographer."
• Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.
• It’s easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don’t spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you’re being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
• Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
• Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
• Never compare your journey with someone else’s. It’s a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never “arrive”. No one ever does.
• Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacency.

 - CJ

Abstract Expressionism Assignment due Friday April 4th at 9 am

Create 6 (six) 8x12 images employing the spirit of abstract impressionism.

Due: Friday, April 4, 2014 at 9 a.m. on your blog.

You do not have to print the images at this time.  You may want to print at a later date for your final 20 on the final exam.

What: Bring the files of all images on your hard drive to class.


If you have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 100. If you do not have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 0.

Remember there are no late assignments accepted or extra credit assignments provided in this class.

You might want to read this article: 

Aaron Siskind: Ideas in Photography

By Ronald J. Hill

Published by: Princeton University Art Museum

Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3774626

What to bring to class on Friday....

1.  Your alphabet images.  Large file size please, not the images you sized for the web.  Please download these onto my computer as soon as you get to class.

2.  Your camera.  We are going to go downtown and have a demonstration on abstract impressionistic photography.

3.  Any images you want help on correcting in Photoshop from the mid-term in order to re-print for the final 20.

4.  Your files from the photo montage assignment.

When you get to class will you please pull up your blog sites for everyone to see your work?

Can't wait to see what you have produced over the week.

Ginger

Useful links for creating a Maggie Taylor...ish image

Great tutorial on creating layers for a beginner: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr00RUwC5f0

How to combine two images seamlessly in photoshop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17BxDq8sOjk

To layer in camera while taking photographs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taJzcMItcEk

How to composite images using photoshop in Lynda.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmwrWCMdYqI

Links to useful examples for photo montage assignments

Example of how to create a levitation image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzdiiC8_pc

How to automatically create a photomontage:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGqCf8IEFKI

Examples of how to create a multiple me image:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVP1GkJvJfU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAdubp4_fF4

Step-by-step how to create a levitation image

1. Set up a camera on a tripod, don't bump into it or move it during your shooting. 
2. Take  a picture of the scene without the subject in it.
3. Use a stool, ladder, table, etc. to levitate yourself (or someone else) from a surface and take a picture of yourself.
4. In Photoshop, open the photos. a) Choose the photograph without you in it as the main background b) Bring the image in of you levitating as a layer. d) Line the images up so they match. e) Erase away the stool, ladder, table, etc, to create the illusion of levitation.
5. Flatten the layers.
6. Crop the image.
7. Save the image as a tiff at 300 dpi. to print.
8. Save the image again as a jpeg at 73-100 dpi to upload on your blog.

Step-by-step how to create a multiple me image

1. Set up a camera on a tripod, don't bump into it or move it during your shooting. 
2. Take multiple pictures of yourself in different locations in the frame. You can ask a friend to take the picture, or you can set the timer.
3. In Photoshop, open the photos. a) Choose one photo to be the main background b) In the other photos, use the selection tool to cut out yourself from the other photos, it's okay to be sloppy because the backgrounds are the same in all the photos c) Paste all the images into one photo you chose in step 3a, each cut out of you should be on a different layer d) Line yourself up so it looks natural.
4. Flatten the layers.
5. Crop the image.
6. Save the image as a tiff at 300 dpi. to print
7. Save the image again as a jpeg at 75-100 dpi to upload to your blog.

Step-by-step David Hockney

The best way to shoot a David Hockneyish image(s) is to

• use a medium focal length lens 50-100 mm, stand in one place,

• use Program mode or set the camera to manual so the exposure does not change and photograph the scene.
•You might start at the bottom left - sweep right then move up and sweep left - and continue until the entire object is captured. Be sure to overlap your images.
•Shoot about 24-36 images.
•Download your images onto your computer or jump drive or….take your card to Wal Mart and have 4x6 prints made.

Once pictures are uploaded:

1-Create a new document in Photoshop (file>new) Make it 10000x10000 pixels. This will give you a very large blank canvas to add your photos to.

2-Next, open your photos in Photoshop. (You may want to only open the ones you think you may actually be using)

3-Use the Move Tool to drag each photo on to the blank canvas. Begin piecing them together as you add them in (keep them as their own layers so you can make adjustments to each image if needed).

4-Once photos are laid-out use the Crop Tool to crop the excess white canvas around artwork (do not crop any of the pictures!)

5-Edit each layer (using Image Adjustments) so that all the photos have good contrast and are all matching in colors. This may take a long time as you will need to do this to all your layers.

6-When you are done print your image!

Photo Montage Assignment due Friday, March 28 at 9 am

Assignment #6: 

Create 4 (four) 8x12 images using a photo montage technique.

You can do 4 of David Hockney, 4 Multiple Me, 4 Levitation, or 4 Maggie Taylor inspired photographs.  If you wish you can do a combination of all four.  Your choice.

Due: Friday, March 28, 2014 at 9 a.m. uploaded on your blog.  You do not have to print the images at this time.  You may want to print one or all of the images at a later date for your final 20 on the final exam.

What: Bring the files of all images on your hard drive to class. We will be using these files for the lab exercise in Photoshop, to print if you wish and for your Blog.

If you have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 100. If you do not have the images posted on the blog by 9am you will receive a 0.

Remember there are no late assignments accepted or extra credit assignments provided in this class.

We will take a look at your blogs on Friday, talk about what was easy or hard, have the next lecture and then have lab time to work on your images in Photoshop if you need/want help.

What to bring to class on Friday

David Hockney, Pear Blossom

Hope you had a great Spring Break!  Did you take any great pictures?  Are they on your blog?  Let me know and I'll go look.

We are now on the home stretch to finals.

Friday we will begin work on the David Hockney, Multiple Me, Levitation and Maggie Taylor assignment.


Please bring your:

• camera, 
• a tripod, 
• card reader/cord to transfer pictures from your camera to the computer, 
• large files of your alphabet images (not the ones you made smaller for the blog).

See you on Friday!

Levitation Example

Maggie Taylor

Multiple Me Example

I found this to be inspiring....

What made Lauren Simonutti spend three and a half years, withdrawn from society, working alone in an initially dilapidated house that she converted—every corner, every nook, every stairway, used to stage frightening and preposterous and wonderful events—into a series of photographic tableaux?

http://art.newcity.com/2010/01/11/review-lauren-simonutticatherine-edelman-gallery/

Have a great Spring Break

Great job today on the mid-term critique. You worked hard and it showed. You don't have any home work over the break. Relax, enjoy and come back well rested.

You might want to consider entering your work into the student art show this Spring. It will need to be framed and perhaps matted. Just think about it.....

Mid Term Critique is Friday, March 7 at 9am

Due:10 (ten) printed images size 8x12 with 1 inch white margins. Please put your full name on the back with a pencil. Also write what compositional tool you used for each of the 10 photographs on the back of each submission.

What: Shoot 10 different images using 10 different compositional tools. Below is the list of compositional tools you can choose from in order to create 10 final 8x12 images for the mid-term assignment:

1. Rule of Thirds
2. Filling the Frame
3. Framing
4. Dirty Framing
5. Silhoutte
6. Tunnel
7. Texture
8. Pattern
9. Leading Lines
10. Reflection
11. Shadows
12. Depth of Field (DOF)
13. Curved Lines (S Curve)
14. Meandering Lines
15. Diagonal Lines
16. Balance (Symetrical and Asymetrical)
17. Geometric Shapes
18. Fibonacci Ratio
19. Dynamic Symetry
20. Negative/Positive Space
21. Perspective
22. Sense of Scale
23. Rule of Odds
24. Stop Motion
25. Show Motion
26. Pan Motion
27. Cruciform
28. Sun Flare/ Star Burst

Things to consider: There are lots of students from all the other photography and VisCom classes printing their assignments for mid-term. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to shoot and print. You can not be late for critique. Critique for your mid-term grade begins at 9 am sharp.

Don't Forget to email me your letters of the alphabet

Please don't forget to email me letters of your alphabet so that we can spell TAMU-C Art Department.

Email your letters to gsisco@yahoo.com.

About 2x2 jpegs or tiffs

Friday, February 28th

9 am Class Roll taken.

1. Go over Alphabet pictures, make sure everyone knows how to layer, merge and crop.
2. Upload alphabet to your blog site.

Our next four assignments will be using this technique. It is important we take the time and make sure everyone understands how to complete this task. If you don't understand layering, merging and cropping it will be hard to complete these next assignments.

10 am
3. David Hockney Lecture

11 am

Clinging Vine by Ginger Cook

4. Review criteria for Mid-Term Assignment

Remainder of class is reserved to work with you in Photoshop. If you have started shooting for the composition assignment for Mid-Term, I will help you learn to improve your images in Photoshop. This is your time with your instructor. Plan on using me! I'll be glad to go over images of your classmate and help improve them in Photoshop as well.

Let me know how I can best assist you for the mid-term

Simulation of Controls

Below is the website David showed on Friday where you can go and play with aperture and shutter speed.  His suggestion was to experiement with the controls and begin to see what happens when you change the settings.

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

Grading Criteria for Assignment #4

I am in the process of grading Assignment #4, Portrait of a Classmate. This will be the first numerical grade for the semester.  Up to this point, all assignments have been pass/fail.  If you attempted the assignment you received a 100.  If you did not turn in an assignment on time then a 0 was received.  Your graded assignment will be turned back to you on Friday, February 28th.

Below is the grading criteria that will be used for all graded assignments this semester in PHO 111.

“100-90”= Outstanding Work. The solution of the assignment reflects considerable understanding of the problem and showed outstanding skill level. The assignment has been both fully developed and well communicated. There is a clear concept that has enhanced the overall assignment. The full potential has been explored and the student has gone remarkably above and beyond the basic requirements and limits of the assignment. Student has shown notable verbal skills and diligent class and lab participation.

 “89-85”= Very Good Work. The solution of the assignment has exceeded all stated requirements, and shows above-average depth of understanding and skill. The student demonstrates more than adequate clarity of idea, execution, and presentation, including very good craft. The student has clear verbal skills and good class and lab participation.

  “84-80”= Competent Work. The assignment has been solved adequately. The solution shows a basic depth of understanding and development. There is a command of the materials, idea, and principles. The student has covered the basic requirements of the assignment. Camera/ computer skills are simply adequate. Student shows good verbal skills and class and lab participation.

  “80-70”= Average Work. Completed the assignment but showed an extreme weakness in solution to the problem/assignment lacking depth, understanding, and innovation. Craft is weak. Appropriate computer/camera skills have not been demonstrated. Student has class and lab participation.

 “69 & below”= Poor Work. An extremely weak solution to the problem lacking depth, understanding, and innovation is demonstrated. Craft is weak. Appropriate skill level has not been demonstrated. Student class and lab participation is weak or not at all.

 “F”= Unacceptable Work or Work Not Submitted. Student has had little or no class or lab participation.

Assignment # 5: 2 sets of the Alphabet

Alphabet by Ginger Cook, PHO 111, 2009

Our next assignment is alphabet photography. Your challenge is to begin seeing lines and shapes in the world around you.

By Friday, the 28th of February, you will need to have 2 sets of images taken of the letters of the alphabet.

1 set of the alphabet must be taken of shapes objects resembling letters of the alphabet but not of the actual letters.

The second set of the alphabet can be your choice.  Put together 26 images of shapes of your choice in any fashion.




Steps to the process:

 

1.  Take images of the alphabet with your camera.

2.  Download the images onto the desktop.

3.  Open each image and resize it the same for all 26 letters in Photoshop or Lightroom.  Make sure the color correction on all images are somewhat similar. 

4. After you have created each letter of the alphabet, open a new blank page in Photoshop.  You might want to size it 100 inches by 100 inches.

5.  Drag each of the letters onto the white blank page.

6.  Place the letters onto the blank page in any fashion you wish.

7.  After all the letters have been placed, go into Layers and flatten the image.

8.  After you have flattened the image, use the crop tool take away any extra white space left on the page.

9.  Save as a tiff.

10.  Resize for the web so that you can upload the entire alphabet onto your blog.

If you have trouble moving the images onto the black page, bring all your cropped and corrected 26 letters to class next Friday.  I will help you move them onto the page, flatten, crop and size for the web.

Whew.....

You might want to google alphabet photography or alphabet art to get some ideas.
https://www.google.com/search?q=alphabet+photography&rlz=1T4MXGB_enUS536US566&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ftgHU57wMYfHqAH2uID4DQ&sqi=2&ved=0CHkQsAQ&biw=1658&bih=803

Elizabeth Mellott Photography Exhibit

Identity, 2012, Accordion  Book

Solo Exhibit: Elizabeth Mellott, Remnant

If you have a few moments extra during the day, spend some time at the TAMU-C University Gallery located in the Department of Art Building. 

The work of photographer, bookmaker and multi-media artist, Elizabeth Mellott's Remnant show is in the gallery.  The show will be up until March 24th and the gallery is open M-F from 1-5 pm.

 

Class on Friday, February 21

9-9:50      
Lecture:  How to use controls on a camera

10-10:50  
Go downtown to shoot the alphabet. We will meet at the parking area of downtown.

11-12       
Oral critique of two 8x12 printed images. 

12-12:50 
Begin learning how to layer the letters of the alphabet in Photoshop.  This layering exercise will be used in your next couple of assignments.  It is pretty easy to do but very important you learn the basic steps in order to complete the next assignments.

Bring your cameras, card reader and thumb/external hard drive to class. If you think you might want to use the school's camera, you will need to bring a SD card.

Mid Term Assignment Due March 7th

Due: 10 printed images on Friday 7 March at 9 am.

What: Shoot 10 different images using 10 different compositional tools. Print ten (10) 8x12 images.

Things to consider: There are lots of students from all the other photography and VisCom classes printing their assignments for mid-term. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to shoot and print.

Between now and mid-term please feel free to ask questions, show me your work for comments, help and explanation of particular compositional tools. Feel free to email me with your questions @ gsisco@yahoo.com

Ten Deadly Sins in Composition

1. Subject in the middle.
2. Horizon in the middle.
3. Crooked horizontal lines.
4. Distracting elements.
5. Inappropriate light.
6. Camera movement during exposure.
7. Inappropriate focus.
8. Inappropriate depth of field.
9. Confusing subject.
10. Lack of emotional impact.

Source: http://iconicimagesinternational.com/files/Art-Wolfe-Presentation-Summary-Notes.pdf

Compositional Tools for photographers

Below is the list of compositional tools you can choose from in order to create 10 final 8x12 images for the mid-term assignment:

1. Rule of Thirds
2. Filling th Frame
3. Framing
4. Dirty Framing
5. Silhoutte
6. Tunnel
7. Texture
8. Pattern
9. Leading Lines
10. Reflection
11. Shadows
12. Depth of Field (DOF)
13. Curved Lines (S Curve)
14. Meandering Lines
15. Diagonal Lines
16. Balance (Symetrical and Asymebrical)
17. Geometric Shapes
18. Fibonacci Ratio
19. Dynamic Symetry
20. Negative/Positive Space
21. Perspective
22. Sense of Scale
23. Rule of Odds
24. Stop Motion
25. Show Motion
26. Pan Motion
27. Cruciform
28. Sun Flare/ Star Burst

Assignment #4: Printed images of Classmate

Due: 2 very well printed images on Friday 21 February, 2014 at 9 am.

What: Pick the best portrait images of the person from our class that you photographed. Print at least 2 (two) 8x12 images . Two prints is the minimum, but you can print more. You might want to print a smaller image to give as a gift to your classmate for helping you out on the assignment.

The final images will be graded on the quality of the print, use of Photoshop to correct problems, elements of natural lighting, use of compositional tools and how well you captured your classmate's personality.

Remember there are no late assignments accepted or extra credit assignments provided in this class.

Class on Friday Feb 14th

Since we didn't have class last week Friday's class is going to be challenging.

Here is the plan:

9-9:50 Meet in Wathena Mac Lab in Room #207 for a demonstration on Lightroom.

10-11 Demonstration on how to print images in print lab in Wathena.

11:15 - 12 Meet back in our classroom in Journalism for short verbal critique on our images of classmates. Feedback will be given on which images to print.
Written critique for in class assignment.

12:15 -1 Lecture on Composition. Assignment will be given for Mid-term project.

Assignment # 4 Comment on Classmate's Blogs

Update:  Since so many people are having difficulty commenting on other people's blogs, we will adjust and do a written critique in class on Friday.  Please don't worry about not being able to get on everyone's blog.  

Since we can not do a critique in class today, please go to each of your classmate's blogs and critique their images.  Use your critique words and tell which image you think is the strongest and which is the weakest.  Everyone will print two of the images next week and it really helps to get feedback on which ones are the strongest in other people's eyes.  Go to the  blog list posted earlier on the class blog to find the websites.  I also want you to comment on your own post.  Tell me which image you think is the strongest and the weakest.

Hope you stay warm,

Ginger