Key Assignment 3: Static and Dynamic Composition with Emphasis

Hello Students,
To further our understanding of composition we will strive to develop an understanding of composition through the use of static and dynamic compositions with attention paid to creating a center of interest.

To summarize, static composition means that the majority of he lines and elements in the frame are horizontal or vertical. Theory dictates that the horizontal and vertical lines have a calming and soothing effect on the observer. Static compositions can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Conversely dynamic compositions occur when the elements in the frame are arranged in diagonal lines, which can have the effect of being somewhat unsettling on the observer. Dynamic compositions can denote movement, energy, excitement, vibrance.

To paraphrase: when the primary line of movement is horizontal or vertical the composition is static. When the primary movement is diagonal the composition is dynamic.

When it comes to composition each photo should have only on principal idea, topic or center of interest to which the viewers eyes are attracted. Subordinate elements within the picture must support and focus attention on the principle feature so it alone is emphasized. A photo without a dominant center of interest or one with more than one dominant center of interest is puzzling to the observer. Strive to frame your composition with a dominant "point of interest".

Key Assignment 3 - Static and Dynamic Composition:

Part 1: Create a series of static compositions that emphasize a point of interest, with other elements maintaining a supporting or subordinate roll 

Create 2 static photo compositions: Still life and portrait

• Create a still life of objects found in your home and arrange them into a static composition. Focus on creating parallel planes through the use of space between your objects while maintaining emphasis on a dominant subject
• Create a portrait of 2 people and pose them into a static composition. Pay attention to light, background, foreground and strive to emphasize vertical and horizontal alignments while maintaining emphasis on a dominant subject

Create 2 static photo compositions: Landscape and architecture

• Create a landscape photo showing natural features in your local area framed as a static composition. Strive for horizontal and vertical lines and elements while maintaining emphasis on a dominant subject
• Create a static photo composition using local architecture. Strive for horizontal and vertical elements while maintaining emphasis on a dominant subject

Part 2: Create a series of dynamic compositions that emphasize a point of interest, with other elements maintaining a supporting or subordinate roll.

Create 2 dynamic photo compositions: Still life and portrait

• Create a still life of objects found in your home and arrange them into a dynamic composition. Focus on creating parallel planes through the use of space between your objects
• Create a portrait of 2 people and pose them into a dynamic composition. Pay attention to light, background, foreground and strive to emphasize vertical and horizontal alignments

Create 2 dynamic photo compositions: Landscape and architecture

• Create a landscape photo showing natural features in your local area framed as a dynamic composition. Strive for diagonal lines and elements, or elements to recede or advance to create a diagonal compositionwhile maintaining emphasis on a dominant subject
• Create a dynamic photo composition using local architecture. Strive for dynamic angles while maintaining emphasis on a dominant subject

Part 3: Written Essay

Write 3-4 Paragraphs about your images and attempt to cover these topics in your essay:

• Explain how your static images achieve composition
• Explain how your dynamic images achieve composition
• For each image describe the dominant element or point of interest
• Describe how the subordinate elements support the dominant elements in each image
• For each image describe at least 2 elements or principles of art that or being utilized, or any other compositional concept
• Post this essay in the discussion area in the class flickr group

Due by next Thursday...

Advanced Students: Portrait Study

Hello Students,

This assignment is an advanced study in portrait photography. You will have to find a volunteer to model for you. Your task is to take a series of portraits as outlined below. The challenge with this project is to coach your model to position themselves in a way that shows their best look. A standard roll of film has 36 exposures. Take at least 2 rolls worth of film, or roughly 70 photos over the course of this challenge, create a Contact Sheet and choose your final 7 images from them.

Advanced Portrait Study Assignment Part A:

Your client (who is a famous model, celebrity, or actor, or millionaire executive, okay maybe they are just your best friend, but let's pretend for now they are a VIP) has just hired you to shoot a series of portraits for an upcoming magazine ad/article/brochure/book/event/etc. Your job is to get them to open up and show their best side to your camera. You must coach them, break them out of their comfort zone and follow your directions to show their best look.

Required Reading:

6 Tips for Better Portraits from Peter Hurley, professional photographer for celebrities, actors and executives

• Find a volunteer to act as your model. You will be shooting many shots so they must be committed
• Shoot a series of images for each of the techniques listed below. Upon completion you should have over 70 images to choose your final 7 from
• Final deliverables: Contact Sheet and 7 final images posted to our flickr group with post-image enhancement

1) Alter Your Perspective:

A photographers instinct is to shoot at eye level, try an extreme angle from different sides. Try to position yourself around the subject, not vice versa. Try multiple angles and take a shot or two from each one.

Photo by striatic

2) Looking Off Camera/Off Frame:

Have your subject framed at different distances and looking off camera. Have your model focus on something unseen or seen, off in the distance or closeup. This helps create an air of mystique. Shoot multiple shots from different distances.

Photo by monicutza80

3) Looking Within The Frame:

Have your subject looking at something within the frame. Consider what they are looking at. If it is a snack they might seem hungry. If it is a cell phone that is ringing perhaps they look annoyed.

Photo by paulbence

4) Experiment With Lighting:

Try shooting indoors with no lights except our studio lights. Try looking for a single light source, or anywhere with deep shadow or shadows that can cast a pattern on the models face. Try light sources from the front, back, sides. Shoot multiple images.

5) Get Your Subject Out Of Their Comfort Zone:

Ask your model to get out of their comfort zone by doing something active such as jumping, spinning, dancing, riding a bike, sprinting, stretching, doing kung-fu etc. Shoot as many action shots as you can, make sure to adjust your exposure settings to reduce motion blur. Make sure they are doing something they may not normally do.

6) The Candid:

Ask your model to go about their business and pretend you aren't there. Follow them around, shoot images and try to capture those natural moments.

Photo captured by Christopher Rye

7) Get A Smile:

While you are taking pictures, at any time, tell a joke and try to make your model laugh a genuine laugh. If you time it just right and anticipate their laughter you can snap a shot at the right time.

8) Make A Contact Sheet Of All Images:

A contact sheet is a great way to view all your images at once. That way your client can see all the images easily and pick the best ones.

Advanced Portrait Study Assignment Part B: Left, Right, Front...

Your next assignment is another exercise in portrait photography and this time we are testing a theory that a persons left side of their face shows more emotion that the right side of the face, and that viewers find the left side more aesthetically pleasing. Read through the 2 links below. Take your portraits and write a 2-3 paragraph summary about your findings. Do you agree with the theory proposed? If not why? What are your personal findings and thoughts?

Does the left side of the face show more emotion? 

Links for reading:

 - Science Daily: Your left side is your best side

 - Petapixel: Photograph the left side of peoples faces to capture more emotion

Assignment Details:

• Pick 1 person (doesn't have to be the same model from part A) and create 3 portraits of them each showing their face from the right, the left and straight on.
• Take multiple shots (like a professional) and choose your best example to show the left, side and front portraits
• Post your 3 images to our flickr page when complete, post processing is encouraged to enhance your portraits, try B&W, cross-processing or basic color enhancement.
• Write a 2-3 paragraph summary of your findings. Do you agree with the theory proposed? If not why? What are your personal findings and thoughts on this theory?

Left

Front

Right

Have fun!

 - Mr.W

 This project is due Friday. - Mr.W

Key Assignment 2: Principles and Elements of Art and Design in Photographic Composition

Art and design elements are the basic units or building blocks of a visual image. The principles of art and design govern the relationships of the elements used and also organize the composition of a visual image as a whole. All imagery, art, design and photography alike, are comprised of elements that can be broken down and analyzed.  Look over these posters, the first addresses the principals, the second addresses the elements and provide visual representations for examples of these concepts. Continue scrolling down for written explanations in more detail. Your second key assignment utilizing this knowledge is listed below...

The Elements of Art and Design

Space: Space refers to the distances or areas around, between or withing components of an image. It can exist in two or three dimensions. Space can refer to positive space(a shape, such as an apple) or negative space (the absence of an apple shape). It can also refer to elements in the foreground, mid or background of an image.

Line: Line is the basic element and refers to the continuous movement of a point along a surface, such as a pencil or brush. Line can also be created by the edges of other shapes. Lines can vary in length, thickness and direction. Line can create style, texture and varying levels of definition or emphasis.

Balance: In the sense of "visual weight" Balance can either be symmetrical or asymmetrical. The balance of an image can affect the focal point of an image. The location of objects, their sizes and colors, textures and shapes all affect the perception of balance in an image. Think of shapes. colors, textures and type as having a "visual weight" and use that sense to "feel" out your design.

Color: Color and particularly, contrasting color is used to draw the eyes attention to certain areas. It can invoke mood and emotion. Color is created in many different ways... but in all color spectrums, there are primary colors, which all other colors are derived from, and secondary and tertiary colors. Certain formula’s exist for choosing colors that are pleasing to the eye, one way is using Complimentary Colors, which appear opposite each other on a color wheel. Colors can be perceived as “Warm” such as reds, yellows and oranges, other colors are “Cool” such as purples, greens and blues.

Shape: Shapes are what give objects their definition. Think of the silhuoette. Shapes can be organic (curved, soft, random) or geometric (angular, sharp, organized, complex).

Texture: Texture is perceived surface quality. In art two types of texture exist, tactile and implied. Tactile texture is the way a surface actually feels, such as sandpaper or tree bark. Implied texture is the way the surface of an object “looks” like it feels. This is created with different pencil and brush techniques. In the modern digital realm, texture is a strong ally in design.

Value: Value is an element that refers to the relationship between light and dark. It can also be referred to as tone or shading. The value of an object helps give it form and depth. 

The Principles of Art and Design

Unity: Unity refers to a sense that everything in a piece of work belongs. It can be referred to in the literal sense of course, or just by the way balance, repetition and other elements acheive a design harmony.

Variety: The use of dissimilar elements. Differences in shape, texture, color, line etc.

Repetition: This refers to the recurrence of elements within a piece. Color, lines, shapes and other elements can be echoed, often with some subtle variation to maintain interest. Repetition can be random or organized, or express rhythm and patterns.

Harmony: Harmony is acheived through the sensitive balance of variety and unity. Harmony in color can be acheived by using complementary or analagous colors. Harmony in design is reflected in consistency in style, similarity of components. Harmony can also extend to the use of texture, color, scale etc.

Contrast: Contrast is the occurrence of differeng elements, such as color, value, scale etc. It creates interest and helps direct the focal point. Contrast helps define depth and space as well. Objects that are closer to use appear lighter, and objects that are farther away often appear darker.

Proximity: This refers to the physical placement of objects or elements in a piece. Proximity is used to communicate ideas like relation, importance or hierarchy.

Proportion: Proportion involves the relationship between objects. It is relative to size and scale. Proper proportion is important in implying realism, and skewing proportion can force the viewers perspective to change. One classical expression of proportion is the “Golden Ratio” in mathematics and the arts. Throughout history, the ratio for length to width of rectangles of 1.6 (roughly) has been considered the most pleasing to the eye. 

Functionality: In the design world, good design is created for a purpose. This is the difference between art and design. Art is created for the aesthetic value, while design is created to communicate. Art is developed by artists often to satisfy personal motivation. Design is created by designers, for clients, to communicate a message or information. Good design must be aesthetically pleasing as well as informative.

This image is at least 6 different principles and elements of art, can you define which ones?

Photo credit: Seth Wilson 2015 "Faire Apples" 

Key Assignment 2 - Explore the Principles and Elements of Art and Design Through the Lens of Photography:

For this assignment you will capture images that demonstrate and emphasis the principles and elements of art and design. You will also present them as a 2 separate photo grids with a short essay describing how each element or principle is being demonstrated.

Simple photo grid created with Fotor. Photo credit: Seth Wilson 2015

Assignment Part A: Capture and Composite Images that Demonstrate Principles of Art Design

• Capture 7 different photos that demonstrate the following principles of art and design:
• Line
• Shape
• Form
• Space
• Color
• Value
• Texture
• Arrange the photos into a grid using photo editing software such as photoshop or lightroom. If you don't have access to that software you can download and install Gimp for free, an open source image editing program, or utilize a simple browser based photo editing website such as Fotor.
• Write at least one sentence that explains each principle and how they are demonstrated or utilized in their corresponding images (You can post the  image to the class Flickr group and attach your essay to the image details or add it as a comment).

Assignment Part B: Capture and Composite Images that Demonstrate Elements of Art Design

• Capture 9 different photos that demonstrate the following principles of art and design:
• Balance
• Harmony
• Rhythm
• Movement
• Emphasis
• Contrast
• Variety
• Unity
• Proportion
• Arrange the photos into a grid using photo editing software such as photoshop or lightroom. If you don't have access to that software you can download and install Gimp for free, an open source image editing program, or utilize a simple browser based photo editing website such as Fotor.
• Write at least one sentence that explains each element and how they are demonstrated or utilized in their corresponding images (You can post the  image to the class Flickr group and attach your essay to the image details or add it as a comment).

This assignment is due and must be ready for review and critique Sept 30th

Welcome to the ROP Digital Photography Satellite Course

Hello Students,
Welcome to ROP's first satellite online/in-class digital photography course. In this course we will be studying exposure principals, composition, studio lighting, portraiture and creation of a photo essay.

Your Instructor, Mr.Wilson

Classes will meet in-class on 1 day a week for hands-on exercises and course work discussions, review and critique. Students will have access to class equipment during meeting days but will be required to use their own cameras, computers and internet access to complete online assignments each week. Students must provide transportation to and from class during in-class days. Students will post work and complete discussions on the course flickr group. Students will need a yahoo account to post work.

Students should check in with this website for new assignments and will post work for review, critique and grading online.

Introduction Assignment:
For this first assignment students will introduce themselves on the class Flickr group with an artistic image and an introduction.

Assignment Details:

• Create or utilize your Yahoo email account to sign up for or log into Flickr
• Request to join the class Flickr Group Page and wait for approval
• When access is granted navigate the the group page and upload your artistic image to the Photo section, make sure your image is tagged with the word: artistic
• When your image is uploaded navigate the the group Discussion area and type in your introduction to the post titled "Group Introduction Page", you will find instructions for completing your introduction in the first post written by me, your instructor.

Photo Credit: Seth Wilson 2015 "Blue Moon"

Key Assignment 1: Pareidolia and Balance
Your first key assignment is a study in pareidolia. Pareidolia is the perception or recognition of a specific pattern or form in something that is essentially different. In this case we will be looking for faces in objects or faces in everyday places and buildings/architecture. When an artist uses elements of pareidolia in a painting or illustration it can have a double-meaning. In photography the same effect can occur if the photographer sees the right conditions for it. Check out the samples below...

Reading Assignment:
Complete this reading assignment in order to be able to identify the types of balance used in your and others photographic compositions. Identifying balance in your work is part of the assignment requirements.

Link 1: New York Film Academy -  5 types of balance in photography
Link 2: Photography Life - Balance in photography

Photography and Writing Assignment Details and Requirements:

• Walk the campus, your neighborhood or home looking for hidden faces in buildings, plumbing, fixtures, bookcases, trees, etc... capture the images with attention being paid to composition, lighting, color, angle, emotion and most importantly balance.
• Take many shots (10-20) and choose your 4 best.
• Post your 4 images to the Flickr group with the tag pareidolia (spell it correctly!)
• For each image you post write a short paragraph describing the the artistic methods your image displays, what kind of balance it is utilizing and what emotion does your pareidolia display (happiness, fear, rage, etc...) and how that affects the composition. Include these paragraphs in the details section when posting your image.
• Make comments on 4 images of other students providing constructive criticism or compliments on the photographers usage of composition, lighting, color, balance, etc... stay constructive and/or positive.
• Project is due wednesday

Grading Specifications for a total of 10 possible points:
      2 points: All 4 shots posted with paragraphs and tags
      2 points: All 4 shots are properly exposed
      2 points: All shots show attention to balance, composition, light, exposure
      2 points: Work posted on time
      2 points: Constructive criticism, feedback and compliments posted to 4 other images

Advanced Students: HDR Pro Project

Hello Students,

Your new assignment is to shoot a set of "bracketed" images and combine them with Photoshop's "Merge to HDR Pro" feature. HDR Pro is a powerful tone mapping program, and is the best way to merge multi-exposure images. Bracketing refers to shooting images in multiple exposures, normal, over and under exposed... which are then combined to show a greater depth of light, a higher dynamic range... of color, light and dark.

Project Requirements:

• You will produce 4 final images for this project, 1 landscape, 1 architecture, 1 still life, 1 automobile

• You must use a tripod to shoot a set of multiple exposure images. and then combine them with the Merge to HDR Pro feature in photoshop. Take 3 different exposures, underexposed, normal and overexposed. 

• Write down the shutter speed, aperture and ISO for each image you take, HDR Pro may need this information. You can look it up in your EXIF data as well. Use the inspector in the Preview program to see the data.

• For your first image you will merge the separate exposures and use the sliders in the HDR Pro interface to achieve your best desired look.

• For the other 3 images, reload your separate exposures in HDR Pro and choose your 3 favorite Presets from the Preset Menu.

• Post your final images to the flickr account when complete

Tips and Advice to get great results:

• Subject matter is your choice, but avoid any portraits or any subject that will move between taking each picture. Only attempt portraits if your model can stay perfectly still for all exposures. otherwise there will be ghosting and blur in your image.
• HDRI process works best with landscapes, cars, architecture and objects that have rich texture or very shiny surfaces, like cars. 
• HDR Pro can align your images, but if there is too much movement between exposures than results can be less than desirable. 
• Use a tripod, it is mandatory for this project!

How To Merge with HDR Pro in Photoshop CS5:

AKA: Tone Mapping

• Take your 3 different exposures and place them in a new project folder
• Launch Photoshop and go File > Automate > Merge to HDR Pro
• Browse to your files and load all 3

• Merge to HDR Pro launches
• Input the Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO for each exposure

• Modify the sliders as outlined below to achieve your best look
• Check out the Presets at the top for your other 3 versions

Check out this video about using HDR Pro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsaS5vgzlek

Setting Camera Up for Bracketing:

Menu > Camera  >Bracketing > AE Bracketing > Choose exposure

Click here to check out this link to see details on setting up AEB on the Rebel T3i

Merge to HDR Pro Slider Functions Explained:

Edge Glow:

Strength <--- Increase these numbers for more halo effect, decrease for less

Radius <--- Increase these numbers for more halo effect, decrease for less

Tone/ Detail

Detail <--- Sharpens your image and adds contrast, ADJUST THIS FIRST then adjust others.

Exposure <--- Increases or decreases brightness

Shadow <--- brighten or darken shadows

Highlights <--- brighten or darken highlights

Color:

Vibrance  <--- Adjusts muted colors first, then others

Saturation <--- removes or adds more color

Midterm Assignment: Social Issue Photo Essay

What is a Photo Essay?

The goal with a photo essay is to use a series of images to invoke an emotional response in the viewer. This is achieved through using photography to tell a story and present them with captions or full written text, such as an article that may appear in a website or print publication. Images can be presented sequentially or non-sequentially, the goal is to connect your images with a story and draw out an emotion from the viewer... such as anger, joy, fear, excitement, etc. For your mid-term project you will create a photo essay about a social cause or issue of your choice, with a script to be read during presentation. The number of social issues that could be covered are numerous, find one that resonates with you to create a deeper connection with the story.

An editorial photo sequence for an article about Earth Day.

Photo Essay's to Explore for Inspiration:

Collective Lens: Photography for Social Change

Gallery- Children of Russian Oligarchs

Gallery- Where children sleep

Gallery- People with Passions

Assignment Details:

Choose Your Assignment Topic:

• Explore social causes in your school or community, get approval from instructor before proceeding
• Choose one to research and illustrate with a photo essay, look for information regarding cause and effects of your issue, solutions, complications... look for the story in your issue.

Plan Your Photo Shoot and Execute:

• Whether you are staging shots or capturing them spontaneously, try to pre-visualize the images you need to illustrate your story
• Shoot many images and edit down to the 10 best. Shoot multiple images of each subject/scene so you don't have to re-shoot or potentially lose a shot because of lighting, angle, crop, etc.

Presenting:

• Write a a 5-7 minute narrative script that can be read as your images a presented in a slideshow
• Present to class on Thursday the 7th or earlier

History of Photography Assignment

Assignment: History Of Photography Presentation

Students, your new assignment is a research and presentation project focusing on the history of photography and it's role in world history. You will create a slideshow presentation with written notes and give a 5 minute presentation about photography and it's role in history, from technological advances, to social issues and how the camera has become a tool for change in public perception. 

This is an illustration of a camera obscura from the 17th century. Origin: unknown, possibly Italian -  Library of Congress.

In class we will begin with a fun exercise by creating our own camera by hand and create a gallery of images with it (hopefully). The camera obscura (shown above) is an optical device that lead to the development of photography. Light from an external scene passes through a small pinhole and hits a surface reproducing the the scene upside down. The image can be projected onto paper and an image can be traced. Did you know you can visit a giant camera obscura in San Francisco?

This is a photograph of child laborers working in a mine from 1910. Images like these were taken by Lewis Hines for the National Child Labor Committee and helped to change public perception about child labor which assisted in enacting laws to protect children from exploitation, such as the Child Labor Amendment in 1924. Image source: Shorpy.com

History of Photography Assignment Details:

For this project you are asked to research using library as well as online resources to identify key moments in history that are relevant to photography. Focus on technology, uses, historical events and social causes that were affected by the use of photography. Identify 2 or 3 important photographers through history and discuss why their work is important. Create a google slide show, share it with your instructor and be prepared to present to the class the following week.

Tasks:

1. Produce a slideshow with 20 images that cover a timeline of events in the history of photography and be prepared to give a 5 minute presentation.
2. Cover everything from the earliest uses to technological advances and how photography has been used for social change, mentioning important photographers throughout history as well.
3. Include 2 of your own photographs and discuss how they are historically relevant and identify how they fit into a cultural context.
4. Write 2-3 sentences of information for each slide and use those notes during your 5 minute presentation.

Have fun!

- Mr.W