Faceless Self-Portrait

Now that you have brainstormed a few portrait ideas, it's time to shoot a roll of film and see how they turn out! Here's how to approach this:

1) Clarify your sketchbook ideas, and for each example you'd like to recreate: Identify the type of light you will use, (incandescent/studio lights vs. natural light/daylight), and if you decide to use studio lighting, create an illustration that shows your set-up: where will the camera, light source, and fills (if-necessary), be placed?

2) Consider equipment: What lights will you use, do you need a white/black background? Will you need a tripod?

3) Shooting tips: Partner up with a friend in class to help you with your set-up and to shoot your portraits. Use your sketchbook as a guide for explaining what you want. Nervous about shooting film? Use your digital camera first to see how successful your lighting and composition looks, and then shoot with film when everything looks good. Remember, slow exposures using shutter speeds slower than 1/30th of a second will be blurry if you hand-hold the camera! Check to make sure your focus is accurate as well!

4) Remember your shooting objective: You're creating a self-portrait that expresses how you would like to be seen, or how you think others might see you. Be creative with lighting, use of props, and most importantly composition! Remember, this portrait does not have to show your face, be thoughtful in how you choose to represent yourself! (Check out the slideshow below for additional ideas!)

Self-Portrait

photo by Jen Liu

For our next shooting assignment, we will explore a very popular photo subject: portraiture. Portraiture is exciting because in photography, it can become very expressive. Using light/shadow, composition, filling the frame, etc. can present a person in unique and meaningful ways.

Over the next few days in class, I will teach you a few basic, but important, lighting techniques that portrait photographers use to create dynamic images. You will then apply these techniques in the ways you want to, working with a small group of friends in class to shoot a self-portrait of your own design. Before you begin shooting portraits in class, you need to have a plan for what you'd like yours to look like. To begin, we'll keep the composition simple, shooting only from the waist up. If you like how your portrait turns out, you can just go ahead and use it for critique later. If not, you can reshoot it outside of class on your own.

Here's what I'd like you to have prepared for our portrait lighting demo in class on Monday, March 7(Period 4A) and Tuesday, March 8 (Period 4B)nd:

1) Look through the slideshow below and find an inspiring portrait examples you really like. Sketch or print/paste at least two examples in your sketchbook. Select a portrait that you like for its quality of light/shadow, and one you like for its composition. Make sure to choose images that aren't too crazy or complex to recreate, choose compositions that focus on the head, or from the waist up. You may also look elsewhere...check out Flickr groups, artists websites, or other books/magazines for compositional/lighting ideas.

2) Make a list of three adjectives that best describe you, words that accurately describe your character. Be specific, and explain why these words best describe you.

3) Illustrate and explain/describe a self-portrait proposal. In the proposal, make sure to include the following:

-Illustrate the kind of composition you would like, the special clothing or props you will need, or lighting techniques you will like to use, (we'll talk about them in class).

-Explain what this portrait will express about you as a person. Consider your descriptive adjectives and inspiring examples you find.

You will share this proposal next week with your group who will then help you shoot it. The clearer your proposal, the easier it will be to explain your idea to your group. Come to class on Monday prepared!

Presentation Dates

For your presentation you will need:
1. 24 copies of your handout
2. PowerPoint
3. 2 of 8x10 prints

Period 4A

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011
1. Heather
2. Monique
3. Amanda
4. Ariana
5. Nayab
6. Erin
7. Rachel
8. Griffin
9. Omar
10. Alanna
11. Tyshawn

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011
1. Sara
2. Ellen
3. John
4. Bradley
5. Victoria
6. Phi
7. Jayson
8. Casey
9. Michelle
10. Taylor


Period 4B
Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011

1. Melanie
2. Xandi
3. Amy
4. Melissa
5. Alisa
6. Shyam
7. Tahje
8. Ronald
9. Emmalee
10. Lauren B.
11. Joi
12. Kate

Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

1. Keri
2. Roger
3. Malia
4. Lauren H.
5. David
6. Billy
7. Rowan
8. Preston
9. Parishi
10. Bratt

Researching Master Photographer

Due Dates:

Period 4A: Thumbnail sketches, written anaysis, & visual handout are due on Wednesday, 2/2, 2011
PowerPoint & Shooting assignment by Master Photographer are due on Monday, Feb.7 2011

Period 4B: Thumbnail sketches, written anaysis, & visual handout are due on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
PowerPoint & Shooting assignment by Master Photographer are due on Tuesday, Feb. , 2011

List of Researchers

Period 4A:
Casey S. - Jerry N. Uelsmann
Bradley M.- Minor White
Griffin B. - Ansel Adams
Alanna L.- Cecil Beaten
Nayab K.- Robert Doisneau
Omar E.- Margaret Bouke White
Heather K.- Nigel Barker
Michelle V.- William eggleston
Phi N.- Julia Margaret Cameron
Sara N- Dorothy Lang
Jayson S.- Berenice Abbott
Rachel S.- John Shaw
Amanda J.- Emmet Gowen
Erin L.- Poliseni Papapetirou
John K.- Robert cape
Ellen H.- Max Dupan

Period 4B:
Row R- Leonerd Freed
Brad S.- Thomas Hopker
Tahje C.- Zhang Jingha
Preston S.- Morgen Cunningham
Melanie B.- Melanie Pullen
Melissa H.- Jeremy Turner
Alisa Z.- Ansel Adams
Xandi B.- Sam Abell
Parish S.- Eliot Porter
Shyam P.- Bill Atkinson
Lauren H.- Arnold Newman
Roger O.-Christopher Burkett
Malia A.-Jan Groover
David- John Shaw
Amy O. Steve Bloom
Billy H.- Jerry Uelsmann
Lauren - Emmet Gowin
Keri K.- Kim Anderson

Presentation
Period 4A: Tuesday, Feb. 15 & Thur., Feb. 17
Period 4B: Monday, Feb., 14 & Wed., 16

Shooting Assignment: Inspired by a Master

Artists are always looking to each other for inspiration, and the same goes for photographers. One of the best ways to learn a new skill, or approach while you're learning is to mimic someone who's great!

For this shooting assignment, I'd like you to first think about why you chose this photographer in the first place, what excites you about his/her work? Tap into this interest again, and pay attention to your peers as they present, there's inspiration everywhere!

Sketchbook Assignment (25 points): Using one page in your sketchbook, create 3-5 thumbnail sketches that illustrate several potential approaches to this assignment listed below. Nothing fancy or elaborate, just sketch/collage/and write out ideas that will allow you to pre-visualize and help you prepare for your shoot before you go out and do it!

Here are a few potential approaches to this assignment:

1) Recreate a photo: As closely as you can, use similar lighting, composition, and point of view to recreate an image your photographer made.

2) Borrow a compositional approach: What point of view do your photographer tend to use? How does he/she crop or emphasize the main subject of the photo? How might you use this approach yourself? How does your photographer present his/her images when they're finished?

3) Explore a similar concept/idea: What subject matter does your photographer tend to focus on? Why? What metaphors, moods, or other expressive elements does he/she explore? How might you explore these as well?

4) Experiment with a camera technique: These photographers pioneered new photo techniques that later became trademarks for their style. Double exposures, crazy depth-of-field, selective focus, slow shutter-speeds are all camera techniques that you can try out!

Written Analysis on Your Master Photographer's Work

photograph by Robert Parke Harrison


In order to prepare for your presentation, take some time to formally analyze a work by your master photographer. This will allow you to identify what ideas and concepts this photographer addressed in their work, and share them with the class.


Directions: In your sketchbook, write a four paragraph response on one-two pages in which you analyze a favorite photograph by your master photographer. Follow the question format below, and address the questions asked. Be specific, be thoughtful!


1) Identify each work being analyzed. Explain and describe the subject matter of the photo. Be specific and as descriptive as possible. What is the title of the work? When was it made? Any guesses as to who or what the subject matter is? Any personal connection to the photographer?


2) Identify the principles of composition that this photographer uses in this photo. How does this use of composition effect how we look at the subject? How did he/she position the subject matter in the frame? What was included in the shot? What was cropped out? What type of point-of-view did the photographer use? Why?


3) Make an interpretation about this photo. Why did this photographer print this image? What is he/she commenting on about the subject? What was the initial purpose of the photograph, (was it used in a magazine, advertisement, or for an art show?) Is it personal or public? What's the message? What might it mean metaphorically? What do you already know about this photographer's interests that give you clues as to why he/she took it?


4) Make a personal judgment about the work. In your opinion, why is this work masterful? What about this picture makes it so powerful or meaningful? How does this work compare to other pictures this photographer has made, explain similarities and differences.


Use this written response as a way to practice presenting your master photographer's work to the class...

Master Photographer Visual Handout & Powerpoint

Your handout on your master photographer should include the following:

1) At least three examples of his/her work, with titles and dates of each work.

2) Title (name of photographer)

3) Responses to all questions on the assignment sheet below. Break up hand-out into three sections: "Biographical Info, Life and Work, Major Contributions."

4) Three works cited sources, typed in the format (MLA format) specified in the assignment sheet below.

5) Your name.

6) Your handout should use two pages, using both the back and front of the paper.

The handout will be graded according to the following criteria:

1) Ability to research and translate information into your own words, (no plagiarism! use your own words and thoughts, this is not a cut-and-paste operation!)

2) Sufficient research and response to all questions, inclusion of three images, titles/dates, and works sited.

3) Clarity in layout. Organize the images, text, and categories neatly, (consider how newspapers are organized!)

4) Legibility-information has been typed, correct spelling and grammar.

5) 23 copies! Make your own, or submit handout Thursday for me to make copies for Friday!

Your powerpoint should include the following:

1) Title Page with your name & master photographer's name

2) Five works, each filling entire space of one slide, (low resolution imagery only please!) Include titles and dates of each work on the slide!

3) Simple notes or interesting quotes/fatcs, avoid too many words! We have a handout for the main info!

To turn in your powerpoint, you must email it to Mrs. Moon, (jennifer_moon@hcpss.org). Please make sure that you save it in the correct file format before attaching it to an email. Make sure it is a .ppt file and not a .pptx (or I won't be able to read it!)

Gabriel Orozco by Jemini Patel

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