Final Portfolio

Today is our last class. You will have today and next class after the Final Exam to complete your 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 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

Surreal Photography

What is Surrealism? Magical Realism?

For our purposes Surreal or magical realism describes an image where the elements are a natural part in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment. Although it is most commonly used as a literary genre, magic realism also applies to film and the visual arts.

Here is a link to a TED talk by Erik Johansson. Erik creates realistic photos of impossible situations.

Today we will begin creating a surreal image using photoshop.

Using the provided images plus at least one of your own, (either from the web or a photos you have taken), create a magical realist composition using exaggerated scale, repetition, interesting juxtaposition of objects, and overall mood or atmosphere. You may select, crop, and place the elements in the composition in any way that presents them in an incongruous, unusual or “super normal” manner.

Activities/Skills/Followed Directions:

Set up document at stated size and resolution. 10 x 10 150 dp1
5/________

Photoshop Skills 

Made precise selections                                                                                             10/________

Used Transform-scale tool to change at least one selection/layer.                           
10/________

Used move tool to move selections from one document to another.                

10/________

Used Multiple Layers                                                                                                                    
10/________

Named Layers                                                                                                                        5/________

Include at least 1 additional image to the composition                                               
5/________  

                                                                                     

Creativity

Met requirements for concept using scale, juxtaposition, mood                                    

 45/________

Dodging and Burning in Photoshop

Today we will discuss the Burning and Dodging tools in photoshop.

i will give a demonstration in class but there is a great tutorial here if you need to see it written out step by step. The tutorial covers everything i will show in class.

After I show you how to use the tools you will post an example of your use of the tools. The instructions and examples are below:

Post a before and after picture demonstrating your use of the Burn and dodge tools in Photoshop.

The burn tool will darken areas of your image, and the Dodge tool will lighten areas of your image.

In a brief paragraph explain the areas that you burned and dodged.

Follow the example below:

Original Photograph

I dodged the highlights on the bananas and in the blurry chair in the backgound. I felt like the picture would be stronger if you could better see the details in the distance.
I burned the details in the glass bowl as well as in the bananas because I felt that the bowl was too grayish and i wanted more contrast. Finally I burned the wall on the right of the bowl because it was hard to see where the bowl ended and the wall began.

Edit, Critique and Post Antique Store Photos

Download, Edit, and Post the Antique Store from the field trip.

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

Your pictures should include :
EMOTIONAL IMPACT!!!!
3 Still Life including at least 1 with a definite Focal Point
3  Details - either Close ups or Textures
3-5 additional pictures of your choice from the field trip

1 photo that is technically flawed in some way...out of focus, motion blur, over-exposed, etc. Identify the problem and how you might correct the issue if you were to re-shoot the picture.


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

Clone - Stamp Tool Exercise

Select a photo that you have taken and use the Clone Tool to manipulate the photo in some way. You may want to add items, or make them disappear. Post a before and after pic.

Photo - Retouching

Today we will work with a couple of tools to help improve minor imperfections in our photos.
Download the 2 photos below, retouch them, and upload the before and after pictures to your blog.

Use the Clone tool to remove the blemishes from the guy's face.

Here is a video to help you...

Use the Red Eye tool to correct the red eyes....

Use this video to assist you.

Post Garrison Springs images plus ongoing assignments

Download, Edit, and Post the Garrison Springs Pictures from the field trip.

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

Your pictures should include 3 examples each of:

3 Nature Scenes including 1 landscape
3  Natural Details - either Close ups or Textures
3 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

Remember that the Environmental Portrait should be done, and that we are continuing work on the Still Life.

Curves

Previously 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

Out of Class Assignment - Environmental Portrait

An Environmental Portrait is a personal portrait the you take of someone "on location", or in a setting where they live, work, rest, or play.

According to the website digital-photography-school, environmental portraits:

• give context to the subject you’re photographing
• give points of interest to shots (something you need to watch as you don’t want to distract from your subject too much)
• help your subject relax
• often give the viewer of your shots real insight into the personality and lifestyle of your subject

Your assignment is to take a portrait of someone in thier environment. You can use any camera, and do not need to keep track of exposure settings. The main point is to be creative as you take the portrait.

Due Friday, October 31st.

Small Group Critique

Today we will prepare for our class critique. We'll be breaking up into small groups and each group will critique 3 or 4 classmates work.

Pick a photo to be critiqued.
Use the critique guide to give a thorough critique of the image.
post it in the comments section of the students blog.

Repeat for each person your group is assigned to look at.

Post City Scenes and Architectural Details from the trip to the square

Download, Edit, and Post the Ozark Square Pictures from the field trip.

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

Your pictures should include 3 examples each of:

3 City Scenes
3 Architectural Details - either Close ups or Textures

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

If you have good shots of any of the following then you should post them also
Shadows
People - Environmental portraits
Animals
Plants or Nature

Cropping Images using the Ruld of Thirds

There are many times, in fact most times, when you will want to Crop a picture you take. to crop means to cut out the areas of a picture you do not want. it is used to help create a definite focal point, or point of interest, and can also be used to adjust your picture so that it complies with the Rule of Thirds.

Tools used:

Image Size

Crop Tool

I will give a demonstration of these tools in class, and you can find a detailed tutorial at the site below:

Photoshop Essentails  - Cropping Images in Photoshop CS6

Your task today is to sellect 3 photos you have taken. Desaturate them and apply Levels.

Crop them according to:
Rule of Thirds - Constrained 
Rule of Thirds - Unconstrained

Upload the Original picture also.

AP Images Photo Critique

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

I chose a photo of the Jewish new year.

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)

Identify 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 nesworthy? Why is it important to us?

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

Levels - The Histogram

The Histogram is a graph that shows the range of tones, or values, from the darks (shadows) to the midtones, to the lights (highlights) in an image.

Below the histogram you’ll see three  sliders, one on each end and one in the middle. 

The slider on the far left is the black point slider. The black point slider darkens the shadow areas in the image by setting a new black point. 

The slider on the right is thewhite point slider. It brightens the highlights by setting a new white point. 

The slider in the middle is the midtone slider. It appears gray because it allows us to brighten or darken the brightness levels in between black and white:

Using Levels in Photoshop

Open one of your images in Photoshop. label it "Levels".

Desaturate it using Adjustment Layers.

Use the "Levels" Adjustment Layers to create 3 variations of contrast.

Here is my original color image

Here is the Desaturated (BW) Image

Here is the image adjusted for levels. 
Shadows 21, Midtones .91, highlights 231

Levesls adjusted toward the shadows
Shadows 156, Midtones .81, Highlights 171

Levels adjusted towards highlights
shadows 15, Midtones .16, Highlights 65

Intro to Photoshop - Using Adjustment Layers

Photoshop Adjustment Layers.

We will practice the following in class:

• Convert a picture from Color to Black and White using the Hue/Contrast Adjustment layer
• Adjust Levels using the Levels Adjustment layer

Creating adjustment layers

Do one of the following:
For Hue-Saturation (Converts to Black and White)

Last class we discussed using the Cropping Tool and I introduced the concept of Adjustment layers.

We use Adjustment Layers so that we do not 
1. Click the New Adjustment Layer button  at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Hue/Saturation

2. Move the Saturation slider all the way to the left

3. Click ok

Here is a video showing how to do it.

For Levels (Adjusts Contrast in your picture)

1. Click the New Adjustment Layer button  at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Levels

2. Move the Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights Sliders to adjust the range of contrast in your image

3. Click ok

Here is a video showing how to do it.

This link will take you to a description of using Levels in Photoshop. The photo in the example is in color but it works the same in black and white.

We will try this for ourselves in class and post the results on our blog

Perspective

Today we will talk about Perspective. 

When taking pictures, don't just shoot at Eye level. Take a look at the examples at the site below.

http://digital-photography-school.com/perspective-photography-dont-just-stand-move-feet/

Capture 2 Images of each of the following perspectives and Post them to your blog:

Birds eye Perspective

Bugs eye

Eye Level

Horizontal

Vertical

Diagonal

Combination of 2 of the various perspectives.

In your post briefly describe how each picture fulfills the required perspective.

Photographer Research

I will be out of class today so please respect Ms Whitworth.

Today you will create your first photographer research post. 

Please click the Photographer Research link above for detailed instructions.

Post Rule of Thirds

Post 2-4 examples of photos using the Rule of Thirds. 

For each image give a detailed explanation of how the composition utilizes the Rule of Thirds.

Composition - The Rule of Thirds

Today you will take pictures using the Rule of Thirds. You will need to post 3-5 examples of the Rule of Thirds to your blog. For each example write an explanation of how the rule of thirds was used in each picture.

The rule of thirds is probably the most often referenced photography rule of composition.  It is all about subject placement within the frame.

Imagine that your picture space is divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically, like a tic tac toe grid.

The photography rule of thirds tells us to align our subject with one of the points where those lines cross. That means our subject is one third of the way “into” the picture space – from either the top or bottom, and from either the left or right. And that means it’s not in the middle.



Here is an example of the rule of thirds for a landscape photo. The focus is on the land area rather than the sky so the bottom two-thirds of the photograph are filled with land and the top third is sky.

Here are additional links explaining and demonstrating the Rule of thirds.
http://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds
http://learnprophotography.com/rule-of-thirds
http://www.ultimate-photo-tips.com/photography-rule-of-thirds.html
http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/rule-of-thirds

Aperture - Depth of Field

Today you will experiment with capturing both shallow and deep Depth of Field.

Post your examples to your blog demonstrating both shallow and extended Depth of Field.

You should have 2 examples of both deep and shallow depth of Field.

 follow the format below for each picture:

This pic was shot at ISO 400, Shutter Speed 1/125, aperture f5.6. 
The DoF is very shallow:

This pic was shot at ISO 1600, Shutter Speed 1/60, Aperture f32. 
it has an extended Depth of Field.

ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture explained - The Big Picture

Here is a great video that explains how all of the Fundamentals of Exposure work together.

It can serve as a review of the past couple of weeks work.

ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, and Light Explained - Understanding Exposure and Camera Settings

Aperture and Depth of Field

Aperture is the opening in the lens that controls the AMOUNT of light that you allow to enter the camera. It is measured in a thing we call the F number.



As you decrease the size of the Aperture you increase the amount of the picture that is in focus. This is called Depth of field.

Watch the following video for a good explanation of how Aperture works. We'll began shooting in Aperture Priority and doing Depth of Field exercises later in class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUbjkMm_v-A


Aperture Priority is when you select the aperture and the camera chooses the corresponding shutter speed. Both modes have advantages, but aperture priority ultimately gives you more control over the overall quality and visual focus of your images. 

Depth of Field is the amount of the image that is in sharp focus

Here is the a link that describes how and when to use Aperture Priority

Here's link that descibes how to take better pictures using Aperture Priority.

Use the Nikons to experiment with Depth of Field around the building. Take pictures with both Shallow and Deep Depth of Field. We'll post them next class.

Capture Motion Using Shutter Speed

In 3 well exposed (not underexposed or overexposed) capture an example of the following:

• Freezing Action
• Motion Blur
• Tracking 

Label each picture with the shutter speed and ISO you used. 


See the examples below.....

Freezing Action
Shutter Speed 1/1250 seconds
ISO 3200

Motion Blur
Shutter speed 1.6 seconds
ISO 100

Tracking
Shutter Speed 1/3 seconds
ISO 400

Shutter Priority

The next fundamental of exposure we will explore is Shutter Speed.

Shutter Speed is measured in seconds or fractions of a second...

For example

1" = 1 second

1/2 = 1 half second

1/125 = 1 one hundred twenty fifth of a scond

By changing shutter speeds you not only control how long light enters the camera but also how motion is captured in your image.

Use the Thumb dial to set the Shutter Speed.

Follow this link for a description of how shutter speed works.

Today we will use various shutter speeds to:
1. Freeze motion (fast shutter speed of 1/125 or higher)
2. Create a Motion Blur (Shutter speed of 1/15 or slower)
3. Track motion (shutter speed of 1/60)

ISO Exercise

Today we will explore how changing the ISO settings affects the pictures we take.

Last class you learned how to change the ISO settings on the Nikon cameras.

Today you will go out for 10 minutes and take the following pictures:

• Set the ISO to 100 and take 1 picture somewhere in the building
• Set the ISO to 800 and take 1 picture somewhere in the building
• Set the ISO to HI 02 and take 1 picture somewhere in the building
• Set the ISO to 100 and take 1 picture outside
• Set the ISO to 800 and take 1 picture outside
• Set the ISO to HI 02 and take 1 picture outside

Upload each picture to a blog post titled "ISO Exercise" and lable each picture according to ISO.

Answer the following questions.

What happens to the pictures with low ISO inside?
What happens with high ISO inside?
What happens with low ISO outside?
What happens with high ISO outside?

How does the medium (800) affect the pictures?

Types of Digital Cameras

There are different types of digital cameras. Which one you choose will depend on how much control you want over your photography and the price you want to pay.

The following links do a good job of describing the various types of cameras available:

http://www.circuitstoday.com/different-types-of-digital-cameras
http://easybasicphotography.com/Types-of-cameras.html
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/categorizing-types-of-digital-cameras.html

The articles above explain that there are three types of digital cameras.

You need to know the differences and advantages and disadvantages of each of the three types.

• Point and Shoot
• Bridge 
• DSLR

We will be using Nikon DSLRs in class.

Here is a link to the online guide for the Nikon D 3100.

You'll need to know how to access the online guide and find information about the Nikon D 3100.

You need to know the following:

• Find the Mode Dial
• Identify the various settings on the Mode Dial, including P, S, A, M and the Auto modes
• Find the Information Display, and identify the ISO, Aperture, and Shutter settings within the display.

Editing and Uploading Pictures to our Blog - And Intro to Photographer research

Your Snapshot or Photograph Blog post is due now.

Today we'll pick 3 photos from our brief experience taking pictures last class.

Choose two that you like, and one that you really really don't like.

Answer the following:

Are the good pics snapshots or photographs? Why or why not? Give specific reasons.

What are 3 successful elements of the good pictures? 

What are 3 reasons you chose the bad photo?

I'll also go over the process for doing research on influential photographers that you should know about.