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.