Portrait Photography Major Assignment

Overview: You have reviewed some examples of good Portrait and Self-Portrait photography. Now it is your turn to demonstrate what you have learned and take a portrait of someone else or your self (with special permission from teacher).

Directions: You will take at least one portrait that demonstrates the following elements of quality.

• Subject = The subject of the portrait is interesting and captivating. The focus is on the person in the photograph and the background is plain or has a blurry effect to it.
• Content = The viewer can see an emotion and a story within the portrait composition.
• Light Values = A whole range of light and dark values can be seen in the photograph. There are rich darks and clean highlights. The shadows enhance the overall photograph.
• Composition = The composition reflects MORE THAN ONE Rule of Composition, such as evidence of simplicity, balance, cropping or another Composition Technique (Rule). There is the use of depth of field in the photograph to make an outstanding image. There is just enough background to make the picture interesting, but not so much that it dwarfs the subject.

Click on the link to view the full Grading Rubric here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzdWVuRXprSk5rdUk/edit?usp=sharing


If you need some last minute tips check this link:
http://digital-photography-school.com/10-ways-to-take-stunning-portraits

Fixed Portrait Shoot Submission

Overview: After you finish shooting your Fixed Portrait Shoot, you must post your best photos for each of the ISO settings.

Directions: On your blog make a new blog post titled "Fixed Portrait Shoot."

Part 1. Make labels on your blog for the following: 

ISO 100

ISO 400

ISO 800

ISO 1600

ISO 3200

Part 2. Post your best photo for each ISO.

Part 3. Go back and look at your data sheet. Under each photo, post the settings that you used to take each of your photos. 

Part 4. Answer the following questions:

What was the best ISO setting to use for your portraits?

What was your next best photo?

Were you able to create equivalent exposures to your best photo by changing the aperture and shutter speed?

What did you learn from this activity that you will apply to your real portrait shoot?

Fixed Portrait Shoot

Your challenge: Using a tripod and a camera set to manual mode, you must take a portrait of a classmate while recording the changes you make to ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed.

Rules:

• Once you have found your location for the portrait, you MAY NOT move the tripod or camera. 
• The framing, location and framing all of all of your photos must look exactly the same. 

Directions:
Starting with and ISO of 100, you must select the correct Aperture and Shutter Speed to create an appropriate and eye-pleasing exposure. Remember that you are balancing light and shadows as well as the sharpness of the image versus blur.

On your handout, start out by recording your beginning ISO of 100. Then record your prediction for an appropriate Shutter Speed and Aperture.

Next, record how you think your photo will come out in the Prediction column before you take your photo. Then record your result.

Continue to make and record your predictions for ISO 100 until you get what you believe is your best exposure at this film speed (100).

Repeat this process for the following Film Speeds (ISO settings): 400, 800, 1600, 3200.

You must attempt to take a good portrait at each of these film speeds even if you think the ISO number is too high or too low. The idea is to see how you can create an equivalent exposure by adjusting the Aperture and Shutter Speed even while using different ISO settings.

Year in Review: 2013

Today lets get started with a fun little assignment.

Since its now 2014 I think its appropriate that we look back at the year 2013 and reflect upon the things that happened in that year.

Part 1: Best Photos of 2013 (40 points)

First, lets look at some photos.

Go to the following Web sites and look at the photos there. On your blog post the images of your THREE favorite photos and write a THREE sentence explanation for each photo that explains why it was one of your favorite photos of the year.

Your paragraph should address at least TWO of the following: 

• Subject matter (power, interest, emotion)
• Composition of photo (rules, techniques)
• Exposure quality (light, dark, sharp, blurry)

I have included links for several Web sites for you to look at. I suggest spending at least 20 minutes looking at these sites. You may have to wait for the images to load. You may need to search out the images on Google or use Grab (find in Spotlight, top right corner of screen) to do a screen capture of the image of your favorite photo. You should read the stories of those photos you find compelling.

http://lightbox.time.com/the-year-in-pictures-2013/

http://gizmodo.com/the-100-most-astonishing-images-of-2013-1486472299 (Not all of these are real so don't use them if they are Photoshoped or manipulated in some way.)

http://blogs.reuters.com/fullfocus/2013/12/01/best-photos-of-the-year-2013/#a=1

http://mashable.com/2013/12/19/powerful-photos-of-2013/

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/12/top-100-pictures-of-the-day-for-2013/

Part 2: Your Favorites (40 points)

Next, lets write about some things you found interesting this year. Below I have listed 5 prompts that you must complete.

You must find a photo that goes with each prompt and then write a paragraph about each. Answer the following in your paragraph:

• Why did you chose that as your main choice?
• What things attracted you to that choice?
• Why was it the best of 2013? 

To help you a little I have put a link below the prompt that may or may not help you. Time Magazine's Top 10 of Everything of 2013 Web site has lists to all sorts of lists so you could use it rather than the other suggestions provided below.

1. What was the best song of 2013?

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-2013-20131204

or

http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-100-songs

2. What was the best movie of 2013?

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/10-best-movies-of-2013-20131210

or

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2013&p=.htm

3. What was the most important news story of the year?

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/12/specials/yir-top-stories-vote/

or

http://nation.time.com/2013/12/04/top-10-best-u-s-news-stories/

4. Who was the most important person of 2013?

http://time100.time.com/2013-2/

5. What was the biggest sports OR entertainment story/person of 2013? You should Google what is appropriate for your choice. I leave this one to you to find a photo for, but many can be found on Time's Web site here: http://newsfeed.time.com/top-10-everything-of-2013/?iid=nf-page-lead

Part 3: Your Holiday and Hopes for 2014 (20 points)

Answer the following questions to tell me about your holiday and your hopes for the coming year.

1. Tell me what is the one thing that happened on your holiday that you will remember? It can be a trip, a family visit, a present, something fun.

2. What are your resolutions for 2014? If you need inspiration check this out: http://mashable.com/2014/01/04/new-years-resolution-photos/

3. What are you looking forward to in 2014?

Preview for next class: 

We will practice our Portrait photography this week so we can move on to our Magazine Cover Design project. So you should go back and review the Portraits Preview assignment to refresh your memory on what makes a good Portrait or Self Portrait.

See the link here: http://akinsphotojblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/self-portraits-and-portraits-preview.html

  I am looking forward to another fun semester with you all.

Self Portraits and Portraits Preview

 Self Portrait and Portraits

As we get ready to take photos next class on our new assignment, self-portrait and portrait photography. I thought you might want to look at some ideas and get something more than just looking at some photos. With that in mind go take a look at these 3 websites.

http://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/100-seriously-cool-self-portraits-and-tips-to-shoot-your-own--photo-5689

http://digital-photography-school.com/self-portrait-photography-tips

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/portrait-photography-tips/

http://shutterbug.com/refreshercourse/portrait_tips/197/

After looking at these, find what you think are the best 2 or 3 tips and copy and paste them into a new post on your blog (I don’t need 2-3 tips from each site, but 2-3 total, but please look at all three sites).

Step 2: I want you to a Google image search “Environmental portrait” and pick out 2 that you really like and post them on your blog. Tell me what you liked about the photo and why you picked it.

Step 3: Google image search “casual portrait” and pick out 2 that you really like and post them on your blog. Tell me what you liked about the photo and why you picked it.

Step 4: Google image search “formal portrait” and pick out 2 that you really like and post them on your blog. Tell me what you liked about the photo and why you picked it.

Step 5: Pick a self portrait from the Web sites above or Google image search “photography self portrait” and pick out 2 that you really like and post them on your blog. Tell me what you liked about the photo and why you picked it.

Planning Ahead:
Write a paragraph telling me your plan for your portrait assignment. Answer the following questions: who will you shoot, where will you shoot, and what will you do to make the shot successful. Be specific on all three answers. When I read it I should know who and where you will take the photos and I should know exactly what your plan is to make sure you get a quality photo.

BE AWARE I MUST SEE RULES OF PHOTOGRAPHYin your portraits.

Rules of Photography Part 2

Rules of Photography Part II

Earlier this year you learned the 6 basic rules of photography. Those included:

Rule of Thirds

Balance/Balancing Elements

Lines/Leading Lines

Simplicity/Background

Framing

Avoiding Mergers

Today we are going to add 4 more rules for you to think about as you continue to shoot for this class. They are:

Symmetry and Patterns (repetition)

Viewpoint

Create Depth

Cropping

We are also more clearly defining the first six rules, so their names are changing slightly, be aware of those changes.

Check out the new rules here, you can ignore the one at the end called Experiment and sub in Avoiding Mergers:

http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/10-top-photography-composition-rules

Please pick a theme, I don't care what theme you choose: football, guitars, Justin Beiber, whatever.

Then use google search and find photos relating to your theme.

Find photos that show good examples of the following photo composition rules. Show me that you understand these rules. Make sure to tell me which photo = which rule, i.e. label your photos with the proper rule title.

Here are the rules again, in case you forgot in the last 2 minutes:

1. Rule of thirds

2. Balancing Elements

3. Leading Lines

4. Symmetry and Patterns (repetition)

5. Viewpoint

6. Background

7. Create depth

8. Framing

9. Cropping

10. Mergers and avoiding them

When you have posted 10 photos – you’re done.

Ethics in Fashion Photography

FASHION

Watch the video titled Evolution at the following link.

http://vimeo.com/4097606

In case that one doesn't work, try this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U

On your blog:

1. List the changes that were made to the model's face in the computer. (Look carefully)

2. Is it ethically acceptable to change a person's appearance like this in a photo? Why or why not?

3. Are there circumstances in which it would be more ethically wrong to do this type of manipulation?

4. What types of changes are OK, and what aren't?

5. Explain what you think the differences are between fashion photography and photojournalism.

6. What relationship does each type of photography have to reality, and how does this affect the ethical practice of each?

The Three Pillars of Exposure: Aperture, ISO, Shutter Speed

Overview: The next lesson in our use of the camera and how it works involves what is commonly referred to as the "three pillars of photography." They are Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO.

Today we are going to learn about all three and how they impact our photography.

Let's start with Aperture as it is probably the hardest of the three to full understand.

Directions: 
Go to this website and read about Aperture:

http://mansurovs.com/what-is-aperture-in-photography

READ AND POST EXAMPLES: Once you are done reading - I want you to use google and find me an example of a photo taken at aperture setting F2.8 and an example of a photo taken at F16 or higher. DO NOT USE the photos on the website I sent you to, find different ones. Post those photos on your blog and label them.

ANSWER: Then answer the following questions:

1. What part of the body should we closely relate aperture?

2. Finish this sentence - the smaller the Aperture _____________, the higher the Aperture ________________.

3. In your own words tell me how aperture impacts Depth of Field?

Now lets move on to Shutter Speed. This is a little easier to understand but we should read about it here:

http://mansurovs.com/what-is-shutter-speed-in-photography

READ AND POST EXAMPLES: Once you are finished reading about Shutter Speed, I want you to use google and find me an example of a photo taken with a high shutter speed and one taken at a slow shutter speed (you do not have to show blur unless you want but I still need to see an example of a photo that COULD have been taken at a slow shutter speed). Post them both on your blog and label them.

Then answer the following questions:

Do: 1. If you were assigned to shoot at Blue and Gold night, which was earlier this month, what shutter speeds (slow, medium, fast)  do you think you would have to shoot at the following events that night I would like you to answer the question for the following two situations:

At the beginning while the sun is still partially up and the courtyard has reasonable light

• a.) the dunking booth
• b.) the food eating contest
• c.) the rock climbing wall
• d.) someone working at a booth
• e.) the DJ/MC working at the middle of the circle
• f.) the Diamonds performance.

Towards the end when there is no sun and it is dark so there is not enough light to see from one end of the courtyard to the other.

• a.) the dunking booth
• b.) the food eating contest
• c.) the rock climbing wall
• d.) someone working at a booth
• e.) the DJ/MC working at the middle of the circle
• f.) the Diamonds performance.

2. List the THREE settings your camera has regarding setting shutter speed (these are found at #5 on the Shutter Speed website. Explain how each works - DO NOT COPY AND PASTE, use your own words.

Now for the last of the pillars, ISO. Lets go read some more at this website:

http://mansurovs.com/what-is-iso-in-photography

READ AND POST EXAMPLES: Once you are finished reading, please go to google and find me an example of a photo taken at ISO 200 and a photo taken at ISO 3200 or 6400. Post both on your blog and label them.

Then answer the following questions:

1. What are the advantages of shooting with a higher ISO setting at a sporting event like a night football game?

2. What suggestions did the author make about using a low ISO?

3. What suggestions did the author make about using a high ISO?

Practice: Now that we have a basic understanding of the three pillars, let's look at some direct examples of what happens in when you change Aperture and Shutter Speed. Go to the following website:

http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/shutteraperture.php

I would like you to experiment with all the settings so go through them step by step. Start with F2.8 and see what happens at each shutter speed, repeat for all of the Aperture settings at each stop on the Shutter Speed table.

On your blog list the exposure that looks best to you for EACH F-stop. I will help you with the first one here: F2.8 - looks the best at 1/125th of a second shutter speed.

Do: Now its your turn - tell me which ones look the best for:

• F4 
• F5.6 
• F8
• F11 
• F16 
• F22

Also please tell me what is happening with the backgrounds at each F-stop. Again here is the first answer:

EXAMPLE: At F2.8 there is no background visible - it is very blurry and all you can really see is the couple.

Now its your turn at each F-stop tell me what the background looks like. Is it in focus or blurry? 

Finally, what is happening to the subject (the people) at SLOW Shutter Speeds? What could the photographer do to help combat this problem?

What is the lowest Shutter Speed do you think a photographer can hand-hold the camera without a tripod?

If you want to see more of this - try this website - I like its exposure simulator too:

http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator.html

If you are brave - you should try clicking the manual button in the middle of the control panel. You will be shooting in manual next shoot......be ready!!!!

Now to our last stop today:

I want you to take the two tests. One is called "Image Sorter - Depth of Field." The other is called "Image Sorter - Shutter Speed and Motion."

How well did you do? Do you understand Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO better now?

Caption Writing: 5 Ws and H

Overview: An essential skill for photographers is the writing of informative, accurate and attractive captions to enhance the photos they publish. A photo might tell a thousand words, but the exact words needed to explain a specific story might not be easy to tell by simply looking at a photo. Captions provide the necessary background information needed to tell a story.

Directions: Before you begin to write a caption, a photographer must gather some essential facts needed to completely tell the story. Read the steps below to help you gather this information.

Step 1: Go to http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/01/us/the-flag-iconic-images/index.html?on.cnn=1

Step 2: Create a new blog post titled "Caption Writing: 5 Ws and H."

Step 3: TURN OFF the caption feature on the CNN Website. Select FIVE PHOTOS that you find striking. Answer the following questions for each of the five photos:

• 1. Who (Make up a first and last name) for everyone who is obviously meant as the subject of the photo. If there are more than three people that are subjects, all names are not necessary. Use a group name instead.
• 2. What (Think of a verb that could be used to describe the action that the subjects are doing in the photo. Use PRESENT TENSE action verbs. This means your verbs should usually end in "s" like "runs," "jumps," "prays." That also means to avoid passive verbs like "is" and "gets."
• 2. When (Think of a day of the week or even a time of the day) the photo was taken. If the event happened in the last week use actual days of the week like Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Don't use non-specific days like today or yesterday. If the event happened more than a week ago use the exact date like Sept. 3).
• 3. Where (Think of an exact place the event happened. This should be very specific. For example, the intersection of First Street and Slaughter Lane or on at Auditorium Shores Park in downtown Austin.
• 4. Why (Think of a reason the action is taking place. Again, be specific. Make up a cause for the action taking place.)
• 5. How (Think of a descriptive term that explains how the action is taking place. This could be an adverb such as "slowly" or "hurriedly." Or it could be the exact height of a jump or the yardage earned in a running back's run down the football field.

Your Mural Photos

Directions: Once you have organized your mural photos into the appropriate Group folder on the PhotoJ server drive, make sure you have posted these photos to your student blog.

You should post just your best 5 photos that will be printed out and attached to your mural.

Post these in a new blog post titled "Mural Photos."