Assignment #18 - The 8 Hour Capture

What do you see throughout the day?  Do you really notice what you're looking at or do you only see what you want to when you are asked to?

Okay, so now I'm asking.

This assignment is an 8 hour capture.  8 hours.  One shot every hour for 8 hours.  Whatever you are DIRECTLY looking at, I want yo to capture.  Choose a time and stick to it:  every hour on the hour, at 5 after the hour, whatever works for you.  Set a timer so you don't forget.  shoot what you see at that moment in front of you.  What does your day look like?  Don't try to "re-frame" images or look around for something more interesting or glamorous, just capture.  Make sure you or on the manual mode and check your ISO, aperture and shutter speed for the optimum lighting for the shot.  If you need to, use either a small tripod or balance your camera if the light is low (or jack up the ISO like you've learned!).  At the end of 8 hours you will have 8 shots.

1.  Pick a day you can actually do this - a weekend day may work best - just make sure you have your camera with you.
2.  At an exact time every hour, shoot what you see DIRECTLY in front of you.  Do not look around for the perfect shot.  Make what you're LOOKING AT the perfect shot.
3.  Once you have your 8 images, piece them together chronologically, in an interesting way.  Label each with time of day and technical information.
4.  You may alter in Photoshop but make sure you keep the original images pure.

Due date:  February 23

And yes, I will be doing this challenge with you.

Assignment #13: It's so SURREAL!

What is the difference between real and surreal?  What does it mean when, in conversation, someone says, "That's so SURREAL!"?  Take a look at the images below created by two Surreal artists and think about where the images take the viewer and why.

The assignment:

1.  Answer the two questions above - to be turned in at the end of class.

2.  Post images from two Surreal Artists (one from each artist) you are intrigued with and a short paragraph explaining why.  You will be using one or both of the artists you have discovered to create a surreal image with a strong concept.

Using your research, create your own surreal photograph, using Photoshop, Lightroom, and/or double exposure to create the final pieces.  Post your final image on your blog.  Below each of the images you post, explain what your concept is and how you achieved the end result.

Due date:  January 19th

Assignment 12: Rain, rain, go away...

We love it, we hate it, we can't get enough of it, we get far too much of it.

How will you capture rain?  What does it look like to you?  What does it mean?  Think about what rain looks like.  Is it romantic?  Dreary?  Exciting?  Quiet?  Now capture what you think.

Once you have your capture, create an art board in Photoshop with your image, then, using the text tool, describe in either a word, a sentence, a poem or song, what you've just captured.  Remember, the image is the star of the show, not the words.

Consider your composition and lighting carefully.  Use Lightroom to enhance or assist as needed.  Post on your blog by the end of the day.

Due:  Tuesday, January 10, end of day.  (To be photographed during class...)

Boo.

Assignment #9: How to use a green screen (or how travel around the globe without leaving room 114)

We all love to travel, even if it's just around the corner from where we live.  This assignment will have you traveling without even leaving your computer (well, you have to capture an image of yourself first, then you can sit...).

1.  Select an image from anywhere in the world making sure the size is a high enough resolution and the area big enough to place yourself in it (landscape with broad horizon, the Eiffel Tower with enough background).

2.  Take a good, long look at the LIGHTING in the photograph you selected, the PERSPECTIVE in the photograph, and the COMPOSITION.  You will be placing the photograph you take of yourself in it and all those concepts will be important in order to make the final image look convincing.

3.  Capture the image of yourself in the photo studio against the green screen, or anywhere you can place green screen fabric.  Again, lighting and angel you shoot at will be critical.

4.  Once you have the two images, follow the instructions from the video on the right of this blog.

Remember, the lighting is very important when illuminating the green screen itself but equally when it comes to lighting your subject (that would be YOU). You need to make the lighting of the subject match the background when you actually shoot the image. 

Now it's your turn.  You can work with a friend, go to the Photo Studio and photograph each other, whatever you need against a green screen.  

Have fun...think of the places you can be without even traveling out of NDB!

...yes, I'd like to be in Greece again...

Due Date:  October 26

Assignment #6 - What can Photoshop do for me?

 

You know those very cool photographs that have the focused image in the front and the blurred background?  What can a person do if their camera won't allow them to actually FOCUS like that?

Photoshop to the rescue.

Your next in class assignment will include this technique and I promise you won't ever go back to "everything in focus" again.  Follow the steps below and post your final image along with the original photo.

1.  Open a photograph you've captured in Photoshop.
2.  Change the size to not larger than 10" x 8".
3.  Command J to make a new layer.
4.  Hold down on the Lasso button to see the underlying buttons and click on Magnetic Lasso.
5.  Trace CLOSELY around the object you do NOT want blurred, then double click to release lasso.
6.  To make the edges of your image softer (so it doesn't look cut out) look at the top tool bar and
     choose refine edge or feather and add a percentage to make your selection blend.
6.  Command Shift I (inverse) to select the whole photo.
7.  Select Filter > Blur > ___________ (select your choice of blur to create the affect you want).
8.  Adjust the percentage (make sure you select "preview" so you can see what you like).
9.  Select the Lasso Tool and draw a round the image you originally selected.
10.  Command Shift I again to select the entire background.
11.  Command M (curves) will allow you to alter the value of the background.

Due Date:  September 27, end of class

Assignment 23: Graduation 2016

What would you like your graduation program to look like?

Your assignment:

Design the 2016 Graduation Cover for NDB.

You must include the new logo, the date - June 2, 2016 , the time - 2:30, and the location - 

St. Pius Catholic Church,  1100 Woodside Road, Redwood City, California

Anything else you want to add to make this the important event that it is...

Due date:  May 5th, end of class