Shooting Assignment #2: Long Exposures & Night Photography

Now that you have begun to learn the basics for using a light meter to get a good exposure in a typical lighting situation, it's time to experiment a little with the magic of a long exposure.

For our second shooting assignment, we will focus on using the "bulb" setting on the shutter speed dial of your camera. The bulb setting allows you to hold the shutter open on your camera for as long as you want, recording movement, light trails, and other strange phenomena that can occur over time. A long exposure is just this: a recording of time passing.

Check out the shooting assignment below. It outlines the expectations and provides some helpful advice for shooting long exposures on your own. You might decide to team up with another classmate, or work independently. Regardless, you will need to have a steady support to keep your camera still, and you will need to consider your light source and composition!

"The Night" Shooting assignment

In the mean time, check out the slideshow below to get some inspiration for the many possibilities of long exposures and night photography! Also, check out this link for amazing possibilities for long exposures with colored lights and digital photography, called "light painting."

Period 4A:Tuesday, Dec. 14
PEriod 4B:Monday, Dec. 13

Extra Credit: My Winter Break

1. Shoot a roll of film during winter break. It could be indoor or outdoor. Make sure you have a good source of lighting if you are shooting indoor.
2. Use the Principles of Compositions to come up with interesting compositions.
3. Turn in your negative, contact print, test strips, and 2 final prints.
4. Worth up to 50 points.
5. The criteria for the extra credit is same as the Ordinary to Extroadinary (refer to the evaluation sheet)


Due date: Friday, January 14

What's due?

1. Ordinary to Extraordinary: negative,contact print, test prints, and 2 final prints (matted)
2. Ordinary to Extraoardinary Evaluation/crit sheet
3. Lightmetering classwork: negative, contact print
4. Lightmetering worksheets: Group worksheet & evaluation

Period 4B: Friday, Dec. 3
Period 4A: Monday, Dec. 6

Test

Study for a test on film, camera, enlarger, dark room, film developing, and light metering.

Period 4A: Thursday, 11/11
Period 4B: Friday, 11/12

"Reading: Light Metering"

Here are six questions you need to respond to using complete sentences in your sketchbook. The reading assignment is worth a 30 point homework grade, and is due Wed 11/04.

1)Explain the difference between an “incident” light meter and a “reflected” light meter.

2)Explain the difference between an “averaging” meter, and a “spot” meter.

3)Identify one advantage of using a hand-held light meter as opposed to a reflected light meter.

4)What is a gray card? What can you use as a substitute on your body, and how is it helpful?

5)Compare the picture on page 116 to the top picture on page 123 then answer the following question: When photographing someone against a bright background like the sky, how would you light meter correctly to avoid creating a “silhouette” effect and keep all the details of the figure and the sky at once?

6)Explain the process of bracketing. Why would you bracket your exposures?

Light Metering - Upload a Document to Scribd

Shooting Assignment#1: Ordinary to Extraordinary

For your first shooting assignment, you will transform an ordinary, everyday subject into something extraordinary by using a principle of composition.

Your subject should be large enough to photograph from many different angles and points of view, (DO NOT photograph small objects like we did in class). For example, you might photograph an old car parked on your street, or your deck, or the exterior of your house, or even a favorite friend. Whatever you choose, you must follow these rules:

1) You must photograph outside, on a sunny day. Wait until noon when light casts interesting shadows and highlights. DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH INSIDE!

2) You must photograph your subject in a variety of ways, using at least two principles of composition to guide your approach, (see slideshow below).

When photographing, consider the following:

1)Shoot the same subject matter twice

2)For the first shoot, use aperature of f16 and a shutter-speed of 1/125 (Your aperature is small so almost everything will be in focus)

2) For the second shoot, keep the aperature of f16, but read the LIGHT METER and change the shutter-speed accordingly

3) Use your focusing prism to make sure your subject is in focus!

4) Load, advance,rewind, and unload film from your camera correctly. When in doubt bring your camera in to me, DO NOT OPEN IT!

5) Consider creative controls like depth-of-field and movement.

Have fun! Your first roll of film should be shot entirely, (24 exposures), rewound, and ready to process by next week. Don't procrastinate and don't rush!

Ord to Extraord. Print Assess & Questions

Homework Due!
Period 4B: Due on Monday, Nov. 8
Period 4A: Due on Tuesday, Nov. 9

How to Load, Advance, and Unload film correctly

Here's a brief slideshow that demonstrates the process for correctly loading, advancing, and unloading film correctly when using a 35mm SLR camera. Click on the video here to watch a short demonstration on how to correctly load film!

Principles of Composition

A Scavenger Hunt!

In your sketchbook, collect two examples of each of the following photographic principles of composition: Light & Shadow, Rule of Thirds, Edges of the Frame, Frame-Within-A-Frame, Leading Line, Point-of-View, Fill the Frame/Cropping, Pattern & Texture. You should have a total of 16 images when you're finished! You can find examples of these principles everywhere, (if they're works of art!). You can visit one of several of the links below, or you can look the old-fashioned way through books, magazines, and newspapers.

Requirements:

1) You must include the entire image, no cutting into it or cropping.

2) You need to find two different examples of each principle of composition for a total of 14 images!

3) High quality images = no pixelation, and each must be larger than 3" in one direction.

4) Neatly cut out and carefully glued into your sketchbook, (no taping!)

5) Label each principle of composition with it's name, (see examples above)and write the source from which you found the image, (artist's name, magazine title, etc.)

6) Brief Explanation-identify what you see in the photograph that demonstrates this compositional principle.

Check out the following links for online sources for finding examples of master photographers work. Remember, almost any strong photograph can illustrate a compositional principle, you just have to be able to articulate how you see it in the photo!

Photography-NOW (An ultra-contemporary resource to many brand new national and international photo exhibits)

Masters of Photography (The traditional photo masters!)

ProFotos (A super-helpful list of all sorts of photography resources!)

Photokaboom (A photographic image search engine, looks up master photographers all over the internet)

New York Times (One of the best sources of photo journalism anywhere!)

Below is the Photographic Principles of Composition powerpoint we looked at in class to refresh your memory of what types of images you're looking for!

Principles of Composition

Photogram

Assignments that are due:
1. Photogram
2. Documentations on Test Strips
3. Evaluation Form
4. Reading Article on Snapshot
5. Snapshot Vs. Work of Art
6. Principles of Composition

Period 4B: Thursday, 10/21
Period 4A: Friday, 10/22

Photogram

This week, while we begin to talk about the parts and functions of a camera, you will begin to create a very experimental type of black and white print called a "photogram." Photograms are made by placing objects with different opacities directly on a piece of photo paper, and exposing their "shadows." Based upon the types of objects you bring in, the possibilities are endless!

Check out the slideshow below to get some ideas about how to go about making a photogram, and also some suggestions about how you can use design principles to connect your images together into a series. Start by learning how to get a good exposure, and then begin to experiment with multiple exposures and layering your objects even more.

Make test strips, print carefully, and don't waste your photo paper or photo chemistry! Have fun

Making a Photogram


Photograms Print Evaluation 08-09

Homework

1. Study for a quiz on Pinhole (Period 4A: Friday, 10/1, Period 4B: Thursday, 9/30)
2. Bring in personal objects for Photogram (Period 4A: Tuesday, 10/5, Priod 4B: Monday 10/4)
Ex. Photogrphs, ribbons, transparent objects, jewelry, and etc.

Snapshot vs. Work of Art

What is the difference between a "snapshot," and a "work of art?" when we talk about photographs? For the untrained eye, it's simply a matter of opinion, but for a professional photographer, there is always a reason why one picture is desirable, and one is not. In photo class this year, you will be asked to solve problems that ask you to reflect on yourself, your surroundings, and even on your own life. You will create images that have meaning, that evoke emotional impact, and that speak to whomever might be looking at them. Your photographs will be works of art, and just like a painter uses a brush to create an artwork, you will use images to express yourself and your ideas as a person.

We often hear the expression, "A picture is worth a thousand words," but what does this mean?

Review the slideshow below, and reflect on the discussion we had in class. Then, visit the "masters of photography" link at on the right, or look through magazines and newspapers to find a photograph that you consider a "work of art." Identify the main subject of the photo, and then type that word into Google image search, and you'll find thousands of "similar" photos. But, are they merely snapshots? or will you find a work of art?

Directions:
1) Find, cut-out, and glue your examples of a snapshot, and your photographic work of art. Label them as such, and below them, write the following information:

Photographer: Who took the picture?
Source: Where did you find the image
Date: When was the photo taken?

2) In your own words, make a strong case as to why you think each is an example of a snapshot and a photographic work of art. Be sure to address each of the following in your response:

-What do you see in each photo? (be specific)
-Is there anything unique or interesting about the photo? If so, explain. If not, explain why it's boring to look at.
-Take a guess as to why the photographer took the picture, what was his/her intent?
-Defend your opinion, why is it a snapshot? Why is it a work of art? Support your opinion with actual things you can see and describe in each image.

DUE: TBN

Pinhole Photography

Assignments that are due:
1. The Pinhole Camera
2. The Sketchbook Journal (Documenting the Process)
3. The Pinhole Negative/Positive/Test Strip
4. Pinhole Camera Image Evaluation Form
5. Pinhole Assessment Criteria
6. "The Pinhole Point of View" Article
7. Family Portrait(H.W)


Period 4A: Due on Friday, Oct. 1
Period 4B: Due on Thursday, Sept. 29

Homework due!

Period 4A: Due on Tuesday, September 7
Period 4B: Due on Wendesday, September 8

1. Bring in your signed syllabus
2. Bring in a light tight box for a pinhole camera! NO SHOE BOXES PLEASE!

Welcome to Photography I

In this course, students will apply the language of art in producing fine art photographs. Primary experiences will concentrate upon the use of a 35mm single lens reflex camera, film processing, darkroom techniques, print manipulation and the presentation of work. Technical skills evolve through the introduction of pinhole photography and contact printing. Experiences throughout the course will include composing, exposing, processing, enlarging images in the darkroom, and basic experiences in digital imaging.

Course Syllabus

Photo I Syllabus