Compare Contrast

So the "notes" for the photo book coming right after the "make sure to save all files as psd's and jpg's" are as follows:

Create a large venn diagram (two circles which overlap somewhat) and make as detailed of notes as possible of the similarities and differences between the following two images.

Please make sure to label each with the artist and title.

Harry Callahan - Chicago

and



Michael Kenna - Walking on the Moon

LG Photos Due

As stated for the past two weeks, your LG Photos are Due on Thurs, 12/16 (Per. 2/4/6) and Fri., 12/17 (Per. 3/5).

It needs to be:
8x10"
B/W

Make sure to pay attention to contrast, dodging/burning, and levels especially.
Also make sure to look at your print when you pick it up before you pay for it to make sure you are satisfied with the outcome.

Remember the categories: architecture and "elements".

You are only required to turn in one image, but getting one from each category would give you even more of a chance to participate in the showcase - and thus win a prize.

Lifestyle Beginnings

As we are preparing for taking more photos for the next assignment/competition, architecture, I hope, is coming most easily.
Don't forget about zooming in and out for more expansive shots as well as details.
Don't forget to walk all the way around something (including buildings) and search for points of view you are not used to.
Don't forget to think about vertical and horizontal.
Don't forget to think about APERTURE!!!

And also go to parts of town that are not "downtown". LG doesn't just consist of two or three streets - however photogenic those may be.

But "lifestyle". What exactly does that mean.
In the broadest possible sense, and this is just how I'm looking at it for this assignment, it means "life".
Which means you will probably have some sort of activity that will probably include people in the image.
But these need to be consciously thought about - meaning you have to edit (get rid of unwanted elements such as cameras if you are using classmates). You should be setting the scenes up and not have them look staged.
For example, not everyone will be facing the camera. Having an out of focus "back" (someone with their back to the camera/viewer) helps tremendously (which means you need to pay attention to aperture - f4 would be good here).
Having those people doing something and/or engaging in an activity helps (drinks, frisbee/games, etc.)
Putting those people in a cool environment (next to or including an interesting building and/or some great fall color) is such a great way to go. But don't have them just standing there. Have them walk the same path over and over. Put them in a circle to have a conversation that at least looks like it's engaging and funny. Remember, these are still images - there will be no sound.

You might also have "workers". People around town and in businesses doing things (their job, for instance). If possible ask if it is ok to take their pic.
And still think about composition and take your time to set the image up.

Some really (really) great places to look are HERE on the masterfile.com stock photo agency site, and HERE
This last link is for Jason Jones. The photographer I assisted for my first job after college. At the time he was based in New Orleans, but has since moved to Canada (thank you Hurricane Katrina!). He has a great eye and works with people most of the time. Take your time to peruse his still images and you can learn a lot. I know I did.

And if you have any more questions, please let me know.

Multi Part Assignment Turn In

What you need:
1 8x10" image
2 5x7" images

You should have used three subject ideas from the left column of the handout (available online) and paired them with three techniques from the right column.
Each should be used once, and not repeated.

Please look for contrast, composition, use of layers for the PH techniques we've discussed, etc.

Your prints will be due at the BEGINNING of class (I will collect them and then we will go back out to photograph for our LG assignment).
If you have any questions, please email me so I can help you before the end of school on Thursday.

LG Shots!

Thank you to everyone who had their permission slip today ... which was everyone, actually.
Weather permitting we will be photographing again next time we meet. Make sure to have your battery charged, and plenty of space on your memory card (and/or extras of both).

For Wed./Thurs., 12/1, 12/2

Permission Slips for photographing downtown LG must be signed and returned.
If not, you will probably get some really tedious and annoying assignment to do in the library - and have to turn it in to me before the end of class.

Photo book activity CHANGE for #1

With the photo of the day being not as easily findable as we would like, you are encouraged to follow these steps for #1 of the photobook activities for the third grading period.

1. sign in to flickr.com
2. click on "explore"
3. on the R., where it says select a month, please do so
(for ex., I will choose Nov.)
4. on the day of the week that you need (ex., Nov. 15), click on that day
this will bring up a smaller "box" of six photos
5. click on one of those six images for your photo of the day
6. press Cmd+Shift+4 (on a Mac) and drag the "cross bar" across the image
this will save that portion of the screen to your desktop
you may, alternatively, download the image by Ctrl + click-ing on it
7. drag that image into a word doc. and resize
8. continue for the next 6 days with the above 7 steps
9. make sure to write a one sentence description of each image
10. print out that page
11. tape it into your photobook
12. bask in the done-ness of it all

e-Contact 3

Due 11/22 for per. 3/5
Due 11/23 for per. 2/4/6

In Class

For Tues. 11/16 & Wed. 11/17

Demo and notes for Vignetting using Smart Filters

Announcements:
all photographing for Part 3 of the Multi. Part Assignment - and any re-shooting for Part 1 & 2 needs to be done before next week...
we will be using the photo lab in the library so that everyone can be on the computer at the same time to ...
prep/show e-contact sheet #3
prep images from parts 1, 2, 3 for print
get practice with ...
levels, burning, dodging, spot healing, healing brush, vignetting, etc.

All 3 images are tentatively set to be due at the beg. of dec. - stay tuned for more details.

Today's Notes

While these won't be graded until the 3rd grading period of the semester, there were some notes taken about basic "darkroom" techniques.
Before anything else, remember, SUBTLE SUBTLE SUBTLE ... seriously, I can't stress that enough in regards to burning and dodging.

Make sure to create a new layer for burning and one for dodging by option clicking on the new layer icon in the bottom of the layers palette.

Choose your default colors; choose your brush tool; make sure the opacity is BELOW 20%.
Make several passes to lighten and darken the necessary areas.

Of course the notes in class are more specific, but these will be the first of the notes for the last grading period of this semester.

Wow, 1/3 of the way through the year (nearly)!