Project 1 (Phase C) – People, Places, Things

Phase A

Due: Wednesday 2/9; bring unedited images to class

Shoot in RAW format, if possible

Quantity: at least 2-3 shooting sessions

Upload 20-40 jpegs of strongest images from Phase 1 by lo later than 2/14

Phase B (complete shooting)

Due: Monday, 2/21

Quantity: at least 2 more shooting sessions. Upload 20-40 jpegs of strongest images to box (latest work) by beginning of class, 2/21. Editing of images is optional at this point.

Phase C

Monday 2/28 will be a work day to address editing decisions and printing. 
Wednesday: 3/2 Prints due and final selection of images uploaded to UA Box

Deliverables:

• 2 PSDs (with embedded RAW smart objects) files that demonstrate your digital editing skills and workflow using skills taught in class. 
• 10-15 1200 pixel jpegs of strongest images
• 3 exhibition-worthy prints of strongest images (same images as jpegs)

Assignment: People, Places, Things

Choose one of the following categories for this project: People, Places, Things

Some of your images may overlap two or more categories, but try to focus your efforts on one primary subject, concept or idea as best you can.

For a given category, ask yourself how you can approach the topic more specifically. For example, if your category is “people,” to whom in particular, are you referring? 

"People"

Will you choose a single person, a group of people, or some sort of other category involving people? 

Examples (please make up your own):

• Portraits of people who inspire me
• Portraits of roommate first thing in the morning
• People watching TV 
• Portraits of people wearing purple
• People sleeping
• ...

"Places"... be specific. Some examples:

• Where I like to walk
• Places I find beautiful
• Rustic places
• Houses that I wish were mine
• Where I've had picnics
• Places where I've broken the law
• ...

"Things"... be specific. Some examples:

• My most prized possessions
• Things I wish were mine
• Things that repulse or disgust me
• Cakes I like to bake
• Junk foods I can't resist
• ...

Photo strategies

Best to shoot with plenty of natural light/daylight. 

Consider best depth-of-field choices

Please remember some of the compositional strategies:

• Go beyond central placement (a few examples are okay)
• Rule of thirds, unusual placements within frame
• Leading lines
• Use of edges and corners
• Awareness of background distractions
• Abstraction or unusual cropping
• All over

Studio Session, Wed 2/23

Please come to class for your designated time. We will meet in Woods 308 (lighting Studio). Please bring cameras.

Group A 9am

Carmen	Johnson
Dominique	Hamilton
Darrell	Shelby
Eva	Binger
Jenna	Merschman
DJ	Heath
Mackenzie	Whitelaw
Emma Kate	Standard
Chris	Munnerlyn
Joan	Warner

Group B 10:30

Ashton	Smith
Halle	Bonner
Emily	Henderson
Jonathan	Della Manna
Sarah	Carpenter
Riley	Ragains
Judy	Irwin
Camryn	Smith

Essential Topic and Exercise: Motion and Shutter Speed

Supplemental resources:

Camera Controls Powerpoint

https://alabama.box.com/s/poph4c3vas05p88fvl0iii5gm5tk8apm

The Canon Camera Simulator

http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/play/

Shutter Speed and Controlling Motion

very fast shutter

(Drag shutter) moderately slow shutter (1/30th)

Pan shot (very slow shutter)

overall blur (very slow shutter)

Background

In each of the examples above, how are the images affected by shutter speed? How can creative use of shutter and/or camera movement create different impressions of time and movement?

Use shutter priority. This is "Tv" with Canon, "S" with Nikon. This is an automatic mode where the camera chooses an f-stop based on the shutter speed that you specify, based on available light. 

ISO can also factor in this exercise. Some guidelines: To freeze a fast moving subject, shoot with ISO 400 or 800 (depending on light available). For long exposures (drag shutter) and panning shots, shoot with the lowest number ISO available, and perhaps shaded light.

Assignment:

In class (2/14)

Create interesting examples of the following:

• Freeze. Freeze a fast moving object with a fast shutter speed, 1/500 second or faster. Use higher ISO (400 or 800), if light conditions require.
• Drag. Create the impression of blurred, moving object passing across a stationary, sharp, background with a moderately slow shutter speed (drag shutter). Try 1/30. Make sure camera is as stable as possible, using lens stabilization, if you have it. Use lower ISO, if light conditions require.
• Pan. Track a moving subject across a background, with 1/2 to 1 second exposure, creating a PAN shot. For this shot, use a very low ISO, high f-stop, and shoot in deep shade. Use lowest ISO possible.

Suggestions: For all of the above...have all motion occur across the frame rather than coming directly toward or way from the camera. Also, get in close to the subject so that the sense of motion fills the frame.

Essential Topic and Exercise: Aperture and Depth of Field (Depth of Focus)

Supplemental resources:

Camera Controls Powerpoint

https://alabama.box.com/s/poph4c3vas05p88fvl0iii5gm5tk8apm

The Canon Camera Simulator

http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/play/

Depth of Field

Deep depth of field. Achieve with small aperture and/or wider angle lens.

Shallow depth of field. Achieve with wide aperture and/or longer (telephoto) lens.

Lens with adjustable aperture 

Typical range f-stops

Assignment:

In class Wednesday (2/2):

Explore depth-of-field using Aperture Priority Mode. 

Nikon: use "A" mode

Canon: use "Av" mode
Other brands: ask instructor

Aperture Priority allows the photographer to choose the aperture, while  the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed for optimal exposure.

Shoot in fairly bright conditions to ensure adequate exposure, or use higher ISO.

• Set camera to Aperture Priority
• Find a situation where there is a distinct foreground object and the background is far away.
• Set camera to manual focus.   Focus on the foreground subject for all variations. 
• Use a medium-to-long focal length setting (55mm or higher). Avoid wide angle. Instead zoom in and step back. 
• Create a depth of field set for your subject(s).
• Shoot the image three times, varying the apertures, but keeping everything else the same. Focus on the foreground subject for all variations. 
• A set should have f-stops similar to the following:
1. Shallow depth of field. f4 or wider aperture(f2.8, f1.4 okay)
2. Medium depth of field. Use f8
3. Deep depth of field. f16 or smaller aperture (f22 okay)

In-Class Shooting Exercise (Wednesday, February 2nd) 

• Create a complete depth of field set for at least three separate subjects. 
• Choose specific subjects and shoot them with varied depths of field, while maintaining the same composition/framing. Make sure the background is far behind the main subject. Also maintain the same focus on the subject. This means 3 variations of the same "shot" but created with a range of apertures to vary the depth of field: 
• shallow depth of field
• medium depth of field
• deep depth of field

In the examples below, we see the same subject, focus and framing, but with different depths of field. How does this affect the image? Which do you prefer? Why?

f4.0

f18

Assignment 3A and 3B: Working Compositional Strategies

What's wrong with this picture? (Hint: don't do this!)

We will focus on developing useful design strategies for composing strong pictures. Once you become aware of these approaches, with practice, you will naturally begin to work them into your shooting. 

Provide 3-4 examples of each approach in a respective folder, within a folder with your last name, under the assignment folder in UA box. Note due dates:

Assignment 3A

1. "Rule" of Thirds (Monday, 1/24)
2. Leading lines (Monday, 1/24)
3. Isolate the subject, by contrasting with a (simple) background (Monday, 1/31)
4. Close-ups and/or unusual cropping (Monday, 1/31)

Assignment 3B

1. Abstractions/"all-over"/decentralized composition (Monday 2/21)

1. "Rule" of Thirds

Further examples:







2. Leading lines

3. Isolate the subject, by contrasting with a (simple) background 










4. close-ups and/or unusual cropping

5. Abstractions/"all-over"/decentralized composition

Wednesday, January 19th Agenda, Assignment 2 (in-class)

Agenda

1. Go over camera settings.  Introduction to Aperture Priority mode, auto focus, ISO, camera RAW
2. Q&A, Camera Practice and Individual Camera Help (outside)
3. Warm-up exercise #2 (outside)
4. Digital workflow for photography: Bridge, Photo Downloader, File Editing, Exporting Files

Assignment #2 (in-class):

Sequence A:

For 5 minutes, shoot as many pictures as possible, of as many subjects as possible. Do not repeat any subjects. Shoot quickly and move on to something new or different. 

Sequence B:

For 5 minutes, shoot as many pictures as possible of a single subject. This should be a specific person, place or thing. For variation, try close-ups, crops, wide angle shots, etc.

Self-Assessment Assignment Survey:

https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9R0SBmsgrpxrnsq

Week 1: Course Overview

Overview of Course Topics

Making great pictures = Seeing the world differently

• Useful camera skills (focus, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc.)
• Helpful picture making strategies (framing, composition, color)
• Exploring varied subject matter (people, places and things)
• Photographing ideas (Word assignment)
• Digital workflow from capture to print 

Working with Photoshop:

• Layers
• Compositing
• Restoration and retouching
• Quality Prints/Output
• Matting and presentation

Working Concepts and Modes: Typology

Introduction to lighting

:

Artist responses and blog postings

Developing a Personal Project:

1. People, places, things
2. Follow your interests
3. Final project