Have a Merry Christmas!

After you post your pics and response to Andy Goldsworthy, check out http://animoto.com/
It's a fun way to share (show off!) your great pictures in an e-mail video (free for a 30 second video).
Here's a sample with the class' pics:
http://animoto.com/play/0VkTkqbrdFwczziOthkCFw?utm_source=project_complete_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=project_complete_email&utm_content=main

During vacation, get into a Goldsworthy frame of mind (3 pics) and don't forget to take pics for your surreal assignment. I cannot wait to see your creativity!
Have a wonderful break!

Andy Goldsworthy - Due Jan 7 (3)

Post one picture by Andy Goldsworthy to your blog and write a paragraph reflecting on his work or summarizing the highlights of the video we watched in class (do this before winter break).

Over break, experiment with pictures that are similar in content to Goldsworthy. Although Goldsworthy manipulated the enviroment, you can choose to manipulate the pictures in PS as long as it looks natural.

*All pictures should be color/value corrected & use light wisely
*Strong composition (organized by the rule of thirds) with high visual interest
*Evidence of manipulation of the environment/illustrating an advanced understanding of the nuances of nature

Block D Student Artist of the Week: Michael

Michael's Pics

Block B Student Artist of the Week: Keely

Keely's Pics

Surrealism (3) -Due Jan 11

The Surrealism movement of the 1920’s based much of their aesthetic premise on the concept of placing familiar things out of context. Painters like Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte often brought totally unexpected subjects together. For this assignment, I would like you to look at the work of Belgium artist, Ben Goossens. He is a contemporary digital surrealist who has emulated Rene Magritte in many of his works.

http://paintalicious.org/2007/08/23/ben-goossens-surrealistic-digital-art/#more-212

*Post two images of Ben Goossens’ work (OR some other surrealist artist) to your blog before winter break. Look for images that you find are intriguing juxtapositions. This will give you a good taste for surrealism. Notice how the entire image is enhanced to create a mood.

*For your project, you will need to develop 3 surreal images. Invent relationships which defy or play with reality. Using your Photoshop skills, you will merge at least three of your own photos. There should be a definite reason for the merge—this is not random and it should not appear like a scrapbook.

TIPS:

-You can include use a PS special effects tutorial for this project (I'd drop the last project for you)
-Consider humor as an important function of art.
-Cannot think of anything? Consider using a metaphor for inspiration (“it’s raining cats and dog”) -Don't forget about being inspired by Rene Magritte or Salvador Dali

GRADED ON:

-Quality of student photos

-Photoshop skills (blending layers, correcting lighting, etc)

-Attention to theme (all parts are related and contribute to theme...not a random scapbook appearance)

-Creativity/Degree of difficulty

-Design of Composition

Down Time? CD cover (formative)

If you find yourself with nothing to do, you can start working on the last project...Using one of the PS special effects tutorials (links on right), you will be creating a CD cover (square format) for your favorite band or one that is fictitious. Since we will not get into typography, words are not required, but you will have to use your own photos. Here's your chance to put yourself on a the front of a CD! This will be due the last day of the semester, so go out with a bang! After this class is over, I hope you will continue to learn and grow in your photo /PS skills, that is why this assignment is totally on your own. You read the tutorial and work on this during every spare moment the next few weeks. All you need is one awesome design! Have fun with this!

Graded on:
-Successful completion of tutorial's special effects
-Composition
-Light and Color use
-Degree of challenge
Also, tell us what tutorial you used!

Wow! Check These Student Artists of the Week!

Block D : Hanna

Block B: Haley

More to come next week!

Abstract Photos-Due Dec 18

Abstract photographer - Ted Van Cleave


The Abstract art movement of the 1930's focused more on the composition of art elements (color, line, form, texture, etc.) than an recognizable object. For your next series of 4 pictures, your challenge is to make 4 strong compositions focusing on the use of color and line/shape/texure. The subject you are photographing does not have to be recognizable, in fact it is probably better if it isn't, but there should be one area that is in focus. Your formative grade will be based on:

-well-focused focal point
-composition (focal point/balance/movement...Remember, abstract places a heavy importance on one or more of the elements)
-use of color & light (PS alterations)
-comments-In your favorite one, tell us why and which element of art is dominant, also any alternations in PS

http://tedvancleave.com/abstractphotography.htm

Macro -4 pics due Wed 12/16

Glenn Scott

Do you appreciate the small things in life? Beauty & visually interesting objects are all around us, but is often overlooked. Capture an interesting composition using your flower icon (macro mode). Go to the link below for some inspiration. Some tips on how to use macro mode are on the right side (Figure out Your Camera).

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=macro&w=all#page=8

Post 4 pics and comments blog before class 12/15 (formative grade):
*Focus - Focal point must be in focus!
*Composition - Get up close! Use rule of thirds or other fitting layout. Be creative!
*Color & light - use of contrast and

*Comments - Tell us which one is the most successful and WHY...fill us in on any editing you did in PS

Emulated Artist Posts-12/8

Post two images by each of your emulated artists on your blog by the end of class 12/8. These pictures can serve as inspiration for your photos due this Friday or they can be representative of your artist's work.

Issues on Copyright

Here's an interesting article on copyright infringement. Keep in mind this is a professional photography website that offers a different point of view.

http://rising.blackstar.com/innocent-thieves.html

Read and leave a comment on my blog by the end of class on Monday.

Digital Montages for Friday (2 on blog)

These are my expectations for the 2 montages:

20%-Composition: Focal point and visual movement/placement of objects (rule of thirds?)

20%-Unity: subject matter/composition is unified throughout the picture plane through some technique

20%-At least two different images were somehow merged/layered successfully in PS

20%-Intentional use of color and value (all images should be color & value corrected unless an artistic decision is explained)

20%-Overall demonstration of creative thought & complex meaning...Artist explains images in blog.



Your explanation of your 2 pictures will be part of your grade. Explain the 2+ photomontages and defend your work based on the grading criteria AND ask your viewers a question. Your classmates will be reading and responding to your work, so have a good question for the, ask it (for example, "Did I convey my message/mood successfully?/Do you like the background color?")! You will get great feedback!

Resolution

As all of you ambitious students take pictures over Thanksgiving, I thought I might clear up a point of confusion...RESOLUTION. When I take pictures, I set my camera at the highest resolution, best/finest quality available. If it's a great picture, you may want to print it out later in photo quality. When you do this, you may notice it eats up a lot of memory. If you have no desire to ever print, a low resolution setting will be fine.

In your photomontage and upcoming artist emulation prints, you are only required to have a dpi (dots per inch)/ppi (pixels per inch) of 72, although I recommend a dpi of 300. You set this when creating your photoshop document, remember? 72 dpi is standard for showing images on the web, which is what you will be doing on your blog. If you want to ever print your picture off at the end of the quarter (or Christmas presents?), you will have to create your photoshop document at 300 dpi (print quality). I recommend everyone start with a document at 300 dpi and downsize to 72 later. You cannot start at 72 and go up to 300 dpi later--won't look good. If you are using free stock photos, they are pretty low resolution--pixelated. That will be okay for this formative photomontage, but they will not be print quality.

All of this technical talk...dpi...ppi...Did I totally lose you? Please post a comment with your questions (you will be sure to get brownie points for reading this blog during Thanksgiving break! Mmmm...brownies).
Happy Thanksgiving!

4 Pics Due Dec 11

Two pictures in the style of two artists for 4 pictures total. Make sure these 4 pics are posted with comments* to you blog before class on December 11th.

*Comments:
* Make sure you compare/contrast your photo to your emulated artist's photo.
* Explanation of alterations in PS
* INCLUDE ONE QUESTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CLASSMATES TO RESPOND TO (THIS IS INTENDED TO GIVE YOU FEEDBACK).

Grades will be based on:
20% Successful Emulation...Your artist's style/scene/theme/mood is apparent in your work
20% Posted images by artist along with your work (you should have already posted two images by each artist). Answered comments.
20% Clarity of image...Clear focus on focal point
20% Excellent use light & color (proper settings on camera are a good start...correct value and color settings in PS)
20 % Composition...Unity, balance, movement, and emphasis is achieved through thoughtful placement of objects (rule of thirds).

Photoshop Tutorials Nov20th - Dec 2nd

We will start Photoshop tutorials during class on November 20 and continue through the first week in December. If you miss a day, or do not understand a concept, it is up to you to come to room 253 during lunch/after school. We will start at 10:45am (so that you can grab some lunch and eat while you watch).

Due December 11th--2 Artists...2 Photos of from each..4 total

You will need to take 4 photos in the style of two of your classmates' artists. That means that you will have (2) photos for (2) artists- with a grand total of 4. They should be posted on your blog when you walk in on Friday (with an explanation of your work and your comparison).

Montage Assignment-Due Dec 4

The due date is getting pushed back to Dec 4th for good reason--We need more time to explore Photoshop! I'm making this a formative and giving you the option of using stock photography (links on the right). Something to keep in mind...We will be doing a formative photomontage with your own photos toward the end of the quarter.

In many ways the digital medium is a perfect match for making montages. Items of various origins (found objects, images, photographs, textiles, etc.) can be scanned and pasted together within a single image with great ease.

For your first assignment using Photoshop, you will be creating two distinct digital montages. In this assignment concentrate on making an art piece that you feel compelled to work with. The goal of the assignment is not to make bad digital art, but rather to stretch the idea of collage in Photoshop, as well as a beginning step to using color as meaning. When you are making a collage, consider the way you want the image to function when a viewer sees it. Are you trying to tell the viewer something, instruct them in some way, or are you seeking an emotional or conceptual response to the piece? Are you answering questions with the work, or are you posing a question to the viewer? How does color function in a photographic picture? In what ways does color structure a picture? Does color act as a visual or symbolic element in your picture? Does color make your pictures more or less realistic?

Light & Color Exercises- Due Nov 16

Refer to handout* for details. Be ready to show in powerpoint format by second half of class on Monday.
*Note the changes on the handout, 3 times a day, not 4 times...Also, if you do not have manuel options on your camera, change the settings (mountain, sun, cloud, etc.).

The goal of this assignment is to get acquainted with your camera's features and to create an awareness of light/color usage. Good luck!

Artist Presentations (summative)-Due November 19

Choose a digital photographer and do a 5 minute presentation (in a group of 2).


Create a power point and then you both need to do TWO photos EACH (so that means you will have 4 photos at the end of the power point that the two of you have taken) done in the same style as your artist, the same lighting, with similar topics/subjects. . .


Here are some possible things to discuss in your power point:


What photographic techniques did your photographer use when photographing, developing, and/or presentation? What was your photographer trying to convey?
How is color an important role? What impact did your photographer make in the world of fine art photography? Or what impact is your photographer TRYING to make? Who or what motivated your photographer to be interested in photography? Include information that describes your artist to the audience (your classmates). Include biographical information that gives the audience information about the life of your artist.

***Have at least 10 photos by your artist in addition to the 2 photos each student must take (put those at the end of the presentation).
***Also, I would like each student to pick their favorite picture out of the 10 and tell why it is successful based on rules of composition.
Grades will be based on the following:
20%-Artist bio info...especially what inspired/trained this person to become an artist
20%-10 images
20%-Successful explanation of artist's body of work (use questions above)
20%-Student photographs --student is able to explain the relationship photos to artist's work
20%-Student explains most successful photo in terms of compositional elements

Know your camera--Due November 13

It's seems daunting but you can do it--Read the manual that came with your camera (if lost, use the internet to find it--got to love technology). Hey, if I don't make you, will you ever? By Friday, I need you to blog the following: name of camera, megapixels, top 10 things you learned about your camera, and at least 3 questions you still have about what you read or your camera in general. This is your first formative grade--should be easy points!

Welcome!

I hope all of you are excited to start shooting pics!