For Smith's Guys (and gals) Only

ALL work MUST be turned in BEFORE I leave on Friday.
If you want a grade. Make it happen. Nothing after Friday will be graded or entered in Aeries.
Sorry.
Actually, I'm not. Sorry for that, though.
I think there's been plenty of time to get all of this done, and if it take some personal time of yours, so be it. After all, summer is right around the corner.

For Mrs. Christie's kids, as her, I don't know what her policy will be.

Lets Talk Final v2

The actual (digital) portfolio.

Option 1: Prezi
This is a super-cool-hey-let's-put-ppt-on-steroids way of showcasing your work. You have to sign up for a free account, but so what, you've done that like hundreds of times in your life by now anyway.
Use text, use more than you think you need, use pictures, use more than you think you need.
DON'T, for the love of gaga, do the minimum.
Unless you want me to pull my hair out when grading and asking "where did I go wrong? why are they settling for so little? do I take off a lot of points or only kind of a lot of points?"
That wouldn't be fun for any of us.

Did I mention that this final portfolio is worth 20% of your overall grade?

Option 2: iPhoto > QuickTime > YouTube
Import to iphoto, organize, add music and transitions, etc.
Export (this makes it a QT video)
Sign In to (or sign up for a) your YouTube acct.

Actually there is kind of an Option 2.1, which is basically the above stuff, but with iMovie.

Option 3: Something else that will blow my socks off when I see it on YouTube.


Got it?
Good.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers.
And smile, it's almost Friday.

Oh, one last thing ........... I cannot explain the importance enough that you put your best foot forward. Which may include having do-overs and re-shoots.
That isn't that big of a deal. Seriously.
Get over your bad self and just do it.
Like Bo Jackson.

Lets Talk Final

Well, it's on the "Final" sheet, but you'll actually turn this in as part of your last photo book assignment next week.

So there are no questions...

Your photo book should look like this:
1st 5 (double page) spreads are p.b. activities 1-5
then come notes (what, only like 2-3 pages this time)
last comes the 5 photographs listed on the blue handout in class
1 - d.o.f.
2 - b/w
3 - R3
4 - e.o.a. or p.o.d.
5 - e.o.a. or p.o.d.

These are all 4x6" prints that will be taped onto the next five pages of your photo book after your notes. For each image you should have some sort of caption/description for what you are doing, why you are doing it, the affect you are trying to achieve, etc.
If you do not know what any of the abbreviations above stand for, shame on you, you haven't been paying attention. JK, just ask and I'll tell you.

Duane Michals Narrative

These aren't really exactly like what we're hoping to get for the project, but in terms of starting points for the story board, this is kind of interesting. Even drawing out some stick figures can help you think out an idea.

In terms of a multi-part idea or "story", there are several examples here.

Or you might just get some examples for changing, or adding to, your prompts, here.

Keep an open mind, try things out.
As always, rarely will the first idea be the best - or best executed the first try.

But of course you already know I felt that way, right???

Some additional ideas I've been thinking of in terms of this project are:
-appearance vs. disappearance
-creation vs. destruction
-the subconscious
-the dream I had recently

Photo Contest Update

Yes, I have decided I'll give you extra credit for showing up at the photo contest tonight. I don't know quite how we'll handle this, but I'll think about it during the STAR testing this morning and let you know in class.

"If you have photo's entered in this year's contest, come to the presentation and see all 1200+ entered. Also an opportunity to meet with your fellow photo teachers and pick up the photos entered by your students. Hope to see you there. Los Gatos High School Small Gymnasium- presentation 7:30 pm, all prints on display at 6:30 pm the program is usually concludes by 9:15."

The above is the most recent info I have via email from the organizers of the even.

Duane Michals Interview

To go along with our "narrative project", we are using the artist Duane Michals as our inspiration.

Here is the link to the page which contains the interview we heard just a fraction of in class today.
It is transcribed below the "play" button, and the whole thing is worth giving a listen to. It is very interesting to hear an artist explain their thoughts and process, and Mr. Michal's process is very different from going out and trying to find beautiful or cool things to capture.

Info on the Photo Contest

"Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Los Gatos High School Small Gym.

All photographs entered will be displayed and available for viewing by 6:15 pm.

Program starts at 7:30 pm, ends by 9 pm.

This process takes a huge amount of work. If any of your students that can participate it will help.

If they can arrive at the Los Gatos Small Gym by 5:15 pm, they can help set up and we will give them dinner and We will give them Community Service Credits if they stay to help the take down at 9 pm. "

The above was copied from an email regarding the show. It will be great to see everyone there and even better if some can show up to help out with the set up and take down.

Hope to see you there!

Presentation

YES, it's important.YES, you should have fun with your photo presentation of your word(s).
Below I'll put some options, by no means an exhaustive list. In fact I'm not even saying these are the best ideas. They are just the ones I'm thinking of right now.

Accordian Book


This is what it looks like BEFORE you fill it with awesome letters.
Google up how to make one. You need either one long piece of paper or a couple that you splice together.
Think about the cover, too.
Obviously.
This is a great idea, and while it takes some time,
it is an AWESOME option.
(hint, hint)


A Photo Cube
(or cubes)
(hung or not)


Here is an example of how you would lay out one (or more) cube(s).
Of course you need square, not rectangular, images, so we would need to discuss
ahead of time, right?
Right.
Good, glad we agree on that!




And then there is Christopher Wool.
An artist, one of many, that uses much text in his work.
If you dig it, I can dig it, too.

Grading for ABC's of LG

Re-explanation of the ABC's tiered grading system...

If you would like to see your Awesome creativity receive an 'A' ...

Create an 8x10 Contact Sheet
Load this Contact Sheet into the Flickr Group
(as per the instructions below)

Think of at least a Five Letter Word
(yes, more would be better)

Print a 4x6" image of each of the letters you need
(yes, each letter needs to have the same adjustments made to them)
(unity, I say!!!)

"Present" your word.

Present? Yes? How? Good question.
Be creative. Have fun. No need to go too crazy.
But don't be too basic either.
Stay tuned for more updates on this part.


If you would like to see your creativity get a Better than average 'B' ...

Create an 8x10 Contact Sheet
Load this Contact Sheet into the Flickr Group
(as per the instructions below)

Think of at least a Five Letter Word
(yes, more would be better)

Use the same Ph adjustments on each letter
(b/w, sepia, vivid, etc.)
(of course make sure you are burning/dodging/checking contrast/etc. - as ALWAYS)

Create a New Canvas in Ph
Lay out each letter on your canvas to spell your word

Load the New Canvas with Clever Word into the Flickr Group


If you are cool as a cucumber with a 'C' ...

Create an 8x10 Contact Sheet
Load this Contact Sheet into the Flickr Group


I know you know this, but I'll say it just in case.
If you don't have all 26 letters;
if you don't have quality pics;
if you don't have the c.s. loaded to the group;
well,
these things will make it harder to even land in this range.

Mostly,
have fun with this.
Be creative.
I know, crazy thought, but I have faith in you!



Smile.


It's good for you!

Photo Contest Categories

1. Photojournalism: a pic that tells a story
2. Architecture: man-made structures
3. Nature: the natural world around us
4. Special Techniques: in-camera, darkroom, or computer manipulation of an image
5. Studio Photography: Artistic still life in a controlled situation. No portraits.
6. Portraits: people only
7. n/a
8. Animals: any non-human living subject
9. n/a

Again, at least 1 print due on Wed. We will mat this in class.

Ima Slacker

It seems it's been a while since the last helpful post, so I'll try to get on it here.

First, Due TODAY are your 3 Nature pics in Flickr. Make sure to load 1 to the group.

Second, your (minimum of 1) 8x10" print for the photography contest is due on Wed.
We will mat that image in class and you will fill out the entry form at that point.
May 18th at 6:30 is the time to begin viewing those images in the small gym here at LGHS.
The awards will be announced at 7:30 that night.

Third, your ABC's of Los Gatos pics should be on your mind!

Cheers.

Truth!

Kinda what we've been saying all year!


Courtesy of S. Young

Prints

Two 8x10" prints (one from portraits and one from table) due before spring break.
We will mat one of them in class.
Cheers.
Be Happy.

Table Project

Due Monday/Tuesday, April 4/5.
2 images from each category: home, school, "out" loaded to a flickr set and your flickr group.

When The Rains Come

Up Next

Fun!!!
No, seriously.
If you come to class prepared on Thurs.
with your camera
with a charged battery
with $3
with an object(s) representing something important/special to you ( in terms of "childhood" or "everyday")

the class will break up in to two groups.
In you are a prepared one, you will have the chance to go downtown to photograph something fun.
Half of you will do that while the other half stays in class for a demo.
Then the next class period we will switch it up and, if you were/are prepared, you will then go downtown while "group 1" stays in class for a demo.

Of course, as has been stated, you will have much less fun if you do not come prepared for class.
Please do not let this be you.

Next???

As we begin to inch towards the finish line of your portrait styles project, remember that you have 5 images due in a flickr set and in the flickr group by the end of class on Tues (unless you are in per 2/4/6 - which means it would be Mon.)

But really I want you to begin thinking about an object or objects that have personal meaning to you from your childhood. Something bigger than, say, a soda can, but something that can be brought to school.

Oh, Happy Friday!

Annie and Avedon and Other Notes

Tomorrow, Thurs. 3/10 I will be out for Challenge Day.

Here are some links for a couple of youtube videos that should be shown in class, but if you need to see them, here they are.
First, an interview with Annie Leibovitz
Second, a slide show of some of her images
Third, a very short snippet of her words
Fourth, actually not a youtube at all, but a place to find some of her images in still form.

You should be taking notes on what you see and hear on the same page as the 1/2 page handout that was (or will be) given out in class.

You will also, on the adjacent page, be taking some notes on some images from a Richard Avedon site. (sorry, I don't have that address in front of me)

I'll want to see your notes when you come to class on Monday, along with your camera, your usb, your photo book, and a magazine.
Please come prepared as it will be a busy day.

Cheers!

Oh

Happy Mardi Gras Day everyone.

So many reasons to be happy.

Remember, your place triptychs are due today.
In Thawspace you need to have - in a folder called place:
a sub folder with all of your "rough draft" pics
your final pics titled
place1.psd / place1.jpg
place2.psd / place2.jpg
place3.psd / place3.jpg
place_triptych.psd / place_triptych.jpg

I would probably also recommend that you include your "for web and devices" images, too.
Because of course you are saving all of your jpg's as smaller web files before uploading to Flickr, right?

On Flickr you need to have:
a SET called Place
in that set you need to put your place 1, place 2, place 3, place_triptych images
in the GROUP you need to have your place_triptych image

We are starting the new project today, too.
It will likely be due at the end of next week, but of course I'll keep you posted on that.

Don't forget to flaunt it like you're a Mardi Gras Indian ...

Sepia, SEPIA

In grading everyone's Flickr sets of sepia photographs, I was/am ... surprised.
Theoretically, anyway, this should have been the easiest change because it required the fewest number of steps/mouse clicks to get to the end product.
The results, though, are less than stellar. Which in its own way is o.k. - sort of.
This was a "practice" round before the Place assignment, but at any rate, the results still aren't where they should be.
Mainly I say this because I can't even recall the number of times I wrote something similar to "needs more contrast pls" next to the grades when I was discussing your sepia tones prints.

But in hindsight it didn't have much to do with the sepia tone itself, but more with the contrast. I don't feel like the "sliders" in the b/w pop up box were utilized well enough. The prints were largely flat, with not enough detail in the darker values, and with the light values not quite light enough.

It would benefit all, I feel, if you spent some time on Flickr, or some place, looking at a lot of sepia images. While some of these will be not good examples - anyone can load, generally, anything they want online, but some of them will be quite good.
At least in terms of value and contrast.
You are all experienced enough to pretty much know if something is sophisticated enough or not, and you can tell if something should be influencing you positively or not. But only if you let it actually have a positive impact.

And you should constantly be looking at new images anyway. It's good for you. Kinda like vegetables and vitamins.

Color Adjustment

I know your 1 photo 3 ways is due today in Flickr, so if you need the notes, they are now posted on my LGHS website.
Beware, it's a big file (~100MB), so be patient if you need it.

Also, remember to have your PLACE pics taken and here, along with your usb, for class on Wed.
And your photo book is due on Friday.
Good Times!

Color Adjustment and other "news"

First, some due dates upcoming:
1 image 3 ways (heart/x/o with sepia, vintage, vivid adjustments) due on Monday 2/28 (that's Fri. 2/25 for per. 2/4/6)

Photo Books: Due Mar. 3/4

Today's notes:
Color Adjustment > Sepia
AFTER you have checked levels, burning, dodging, etc.
Add a new adjustment layer and covert to b/w
> make sure to play with the sliders !!!!
> I want to see good contrast, highlight detail, shadow detail, etc.
Add a new adjustment layer for Photo Filter
> choose sepia
> play with the percentage, start with 50% and go up from there

Finally, do you need a vignette smart filter?
Do you need to re-check burning/dodging?
Do you need to re-check the b/w sliders?

All this is easy. Ask if you need help.

Cheers.

Due date for photo montage

Great job working today, all!
So far everything is looking great, and I look forward to the final images.
If you didn't have your images form Wolf Camera or Costco or Walgreens, you will def need them on Friday - as the project will be due before the break.

YOU WILL ALSO NEED YOUR CAMERA ON FRIDAY!!!

But don't worry, your Feb. break is almost here.

More Process Pics from the Photo Montage Assignment

Deana - two ways...

Teamwork with Emily and Audrey ...

Jennifer contemplating a playground ...


Jenny putting Jessica on a bike ...

Liam lining up his graffiti ...

And Sarah putting Selena under a big magnolia tree.

All hands on deck!

A Good Work Day It Has Been, but don't forget YOUR prints!

Check it out

Mr. Clark and Mr. Homa are in Africa for two weeks, and Mr. Clark is blogging about their time at the school they are visiting/teaching at in Kisumu all week.

Go and read about it on his posterous account, here. Very interesting!

CORRECTION

The photo-montage assignment will be due THIS FRIDAY, 2/11.
I had a total brain lapse about winter break when I made the last post (which I will now go back and correct, anyway).
Remember, min. 30 4x6 matte prints.

But hey, the good news ... 5 days of school until 9 days off!

Photo Montage Assignment

I'll officially make the Hockney-esque photo montage assignment due on 2/11.
However, everyone needs to be willing to:
- have re-takes as necessary.
- burn/dodge ... edit as necessary
- get creative and not just take the easiest way out.

We'll be tight on space in the classroom - esp. since we'll be working on photo book stuff at the same time.
AND introducing the next project, too.

Contest Winners

Congratulations go to:

1st: Sam Aronie
2nd: Mahala Volpe
3rd: Kaylin Knight
Most Popular: Casey Heyl

Awesome job to everyone.

Don't forget your cameras, usb's, and good ideas for tomorrows Hockney-esque Montage Project.

Contest Reception

The LG photo contest reception will be this Wed., Feb.2 from 6-7 pm in the LGHS Library.
Come by and support all those that were on show and see who the prizes will be awarded to.
Hope to see everyone there.

Woohoo!!!

Second semester, her we go!
As we roll in to the new season - and hope the great weather holds out for just a little while longer - remember:

Friday (Thurs. for you Black Day folks - and also remember that the dates for BDF (black day folks) will always be one school day ahead of what I mention here) you need to all have your camera. With a charged battery and a memory card with space on it.

After roll you'll be off to take the Good and Bad/Evil picture examples based on the topics you got in class today.
You'll edit them - yes, I'll be looking for burning and dodging, warming filter, etc.
Then order them.

You will need to come to class on Tues. (Mon. for BDF) with two prints. One for you and one to share with your neighbor.

Reminders

As we wind the semester down, make sure you are on top of everything you need to be.

Photo Book due dates are next week, 1/12 and 1/13.
Each "activity" is worth 10 pts., as in the past, and the notes will be counted as well.

Make sure you understand the multi photo image notes (setting up more than one image on a page) for the aperture exercise.

You can access the photo book activities on the school website if you no longer have your list.

And ...
Next week will begin the voting on the LG Project images.
Make sure to go across the street to vote.
Yes, more details will follow - including the details of the official reception when/where the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place prizes will be given.

Stay tuned