DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

What I have Learned

Due: May 13th

Re-do one assignment on the blog from this semester. After you create the new assignment post it to your blog along with a few sentences starting with “One thing I have learned in this class is….” Also tell me why you chose to redo the assignment you chose.

PHOTO of the WEEK Theme: NATURE

Due: May 9th

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: THEME- EMOTION

Due: Monday May 2nd

FAMOUS ART RE-WORKED

Due Friday, May 6th

Recreate a historically famous artwork in your photo by using props, Photoshop, or another creative combination of media and/or software. Get your approval before using a “famous” artwork.

Check out this site for a clue: http://www.madisonartshop.com/20-most-famous-paintings-of-all-time.html

Photo of the week: Reflections

PHOTO of the WEEK : COLOR Due April 15th

Nothing is as it seems: DUE Monday the 25th of April

1. Take two pictures of the same thing in a way that is SO different that you trick the class as to what it is. (Sorry no Photoshop for this one!)

2. Save them to the shared folder titled “trick photography”

http://www.rd.com/funny-stuff/look-twice-one-scene-two-very-different-views/

Holding On: Photoshop Due Monday April 11th

Using Photoshop create an image of a person holding something unexpected or funny.

PHOTO of the WEEK: Action. Due Friday April 8th

Humans of Nikiski Middle/High Part 2

This project has been so captivating for students and staff. I always see people reading your display by the door. Let’s make a new list of questions and find some other (possibly less visable) humans on the Nikiski staff to highlight before the end of the year. Before we start lets revisit some of our criteria for the first round and add at least two goals to it.

LINE Due April 1st.

Take a photo that focuses on line as the predominate element. If the photo is taken in the school building make sure that it NOT MUNDANE or boring. Make the subject interesting using zoom, angle, or viewpoint. Take photos of at least 5 different line scenarios with enough shots (10 or more each) to ensure you have a good photo.

How to Use Lines in Photography Compositions

Be ready to discuss in class before the assignment.

Photo of the Week: Light

Due: Friday, April 1st

Photo of the week: Mountains

Due: Friday, March 25th

Asignment: Combining 2 Images Using Photoshop

1. Choose a Landscape photo you have taken.

2. Choose a portrait you have taken

3. Combine the two images using the below instructions or by finding a tutorial on line to get a desired result. Be prepared to share your resources with the class.

The Main Steps
Use the simplest method of combining images in Photoshop if you have an object (or a number of objects) that you want to be totally visible as a part of an image other than the one in which it originally appears.
Separate the desired object from its original image by creating a selection area around it and cutting the rest of the image. There are many tools and methods for selecting an object. If the object is very simple, like a brick or a basketball, use a Marquee selection tool to drag a selection area around the object. If it’s a somewhat complicated object, use the Lasso tool to trace a selection area around the object. If it’s a highly complicated object, use the Pen tool to draw a precise selection area around the object.
Once you have the desired object selected (the marching ants encompass the desired object and nothing else), use the “Invert selection” command under the “Selection” pull-down menu in the main menu bar. You will now have everything in the image selected except the desired image.
Press “Apple-X” to cut everything out of the image except the object you want. This is the best way to cut a single object out a complex image, but there are many methods to separate a section of an image from the whole. The background of the image will also factor into which tool and method you use. Blank or single-color backgrounds are easier selected and cut with the Magic Wand tool. Backgrounds of medium complexity and strong color distinctions could be separated using the Magic Wand tool, or you might need to use one of the tools listed above. With complex backgrounds, you should always select the desired object directly with one of the tools above, then invert the selection and cut the rest of the image. With the picture of the butterfly, the butterfly is on a white background, so it would be easier to simply select the white background with the Magic Wand tool and then cut it directly, leaving only the butterfly. It’s up to you to determine which separation method and selection tools would work best with each unique image you work with.
Drag and drop the object layer (the layer on which the desired object lives) from its original document into the image document in which you would like it to appear once you have your new object separated from its original image. Drop the layer anywhere in the image window, and the desired object layer will be added to the Layers palette automatically.
Move the object to the spot where you would like it to appear in the new image by clicking on it and dragging it with the Move tool (top tool on the main tool bar).
Use this technique if you have an image you would like to appear within another object in a separate image. This example will demonstrate placing a satellite image of a city within a billboard in an urban environment.
Remove the content in the area you want to fill with another image. Do this by creating a selection area around the area you want to clear and cutting (Apple-X) the content. You should now have a hole through the original image, showing the background layer or whatever layer is underneath it.
Import the new image by dragging and dropping its layer from its original document. This will create a new layer with the new content in it.
Resize the new image to fill the entire hole in the original image if necessary.
Place the new image layer underneath the layer containing the original image. The new image will now only be visible through the hole in the original image.
If the new image is significantly bigger than the hole in the original image, move it around to create the perfect crop using the original image.
Use this technique to improve many areas of the photograph, such as the sky behind the billboard.
Use the “place between” technique if you want an imported object to appear over one aspect of an image but under another aspect. This is useful for, among other things, placing an original object in someone’s hands, or placing another person in a group photo.
Use the object separation methods detailed in Section 1 to collect the new object that will be going into the desired image.
Determine the background areas that will encompass the new object. Select, copy and cut these areas; then paste them on new layers.
Position the cut portions of the background underneath the rest of the image so that the cut areas line up with the hole you created in the original image. In the example, Jerry Skywalker is on one layer, and the area of space behind him is on another layer behind the Jerry Skywalker layer. If done correctly, the image will appear not to have been modified at all
Import the object you want between the two layers. In this case, we’re going to position the object so that it looks like Jerry Skywalker is holding it.
The new object will appear in front of the background but behind all parts of Jerry Skywalker. Now it’s just a matter of lining up the object so it looks like the subject is holding it.
Use the Dodge tool to lighten areas of the new image that appear too dark to have been a part of the original image
Use the Burn tool to darken areas of the new image that appear too light to have been a part of the original image.
Use the Color Balance tool, found under the Adjustments tab of the Image pull-down menu, on both the new and original images. Doing this will align the colors of the old and new images, making them appear as one.
Use the Brightness/Contrast tool, found under the Adjustments tab of the Image pull-down menu, on both the new and original images. Doing this will align the lighting value and patterns of both images, making them appear as one.
Use the Transform tools (scale, rotate, perspective) to make new objects appear in line with the scale, perspective and orientation of the original image. The transform tools can be found under the Transform tab of the Edit pull-down menu.

THINGS YOU’LL NEED

  • Always use the Dodge and Burn tools, and Image, Color and Brightness correction tools to give the new object the same lighting patterns and colors as the original image. The number one thing that makes an image feel fake and “Photoshopped” is a clash between the lighting of the original and new images.
  • It’s up to you to determine which technique will work best in each situation. This will become easier with experience.
  • It’s possible to use the “place on top” technique to make something appear within an object by creating a precise crop of the within object and placing it over the opening where you would like it to appear. This is a less flexible method, however, as you won’t be able to move the “within” object to create an optimal framing of that object. It’s also more time consuming to do.

TIPS & WARNINGS

  • Always use the Dodge and Burn tools, and Image, Color and Brightness correction tools to give the new object the same lighting patterns and colors as the original image. The number one thing that makes an image feel fake and “Photoshopped” is a clash between the lighting of the original and new images.
  • It’s up to you to determine which technique will work best in each situation. This will become easier with experience.
  • It’s possible to use the “place on top” technique to make something appear within an object by creating a precise crop of the within object and placing it over the opening where you would like it to appear. This is a less flexible method, however, as you won’t be able to move the “within” object to create an optimal framing of that object. It’s also more time consuming to do.

PHOTO of the WEEK 

Theme: Food Due Monday March 7th

LINE

How to Use Lines in Photography Compositions

Be ready to discuss in class before the assignment.

Photo of the week: Theme VINTAGE Due one week from Friday

Staff profile: Due March (TBD)

Interview a staff member find out their interests and hobbies. Get a comfortable or appropriate photo that captures their personality. You need to make a list of at least 5 questions and choose a staff member not chosen by another class member (ask that staff member if they have been chosen). Then set up a time and place to get the shot. Be considerate about the staff person and their time. Try not to just snap a photo a desk unless that is really the place that speaks to them. Do a short write up on the blog telling about the picture.

Check out this site: http://www.humansofnewyork.com/

It was a great interesting book because the photos really spoke to who the people were. IT makes them seem real.

Grade: ANGLE, LIGHT, FRAMING, APPLICATION to ASSIGNMENTS, CREATIVITY

Texture: Due Wednesday 24th

View something from nature close up or find an interesting fabric, how about something industrial. Brainstorm a list of possible textures to look for then choose 5 or more. Post your best shots (5 total) on the blog. Do not forget to play with lighting and angle to create a rich, textural piece.

Check these out: http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/gallery/assignments/225-abstract-nature.html

Grade Based on 10 possible points for each of the following: TEXTURE, CREATIVITY (angle), FRAMING/COMPOSITION, IMPROVEMENT, LIGHTING

 

Photo of the Week Due Wednesday Feb.18th

Theme: Animal

Assignment Photo with intent: due Monday Feb 16th

#1 Plan your photo! Find a photograph you love on line or snap a picture of one you find in a book or magazine keeping in mind you will be trying to recreate it. Now post it to the blog. #2 Identify and post the following on the photograph you foud: Subject (Focal Point), Lighting (natural, ambient, etc), Location, Mood, and Framing. Now try to re-create this photo in a creative way wherever you may be this week/weekend.

Assignment: Light Painting due Wednesday 2/3

Now that you know what it is and have experimented you know that there are some awesome things that can be done with light painting! Plan out a place, time, and subject and get shooting. Remember the more you take the more options you will have to choose from!

You will be graded on the following: Background, Technique, Angle and Cropping, Creative Ideas, Effort and Ability to attempt different techniques (experimentation and research).

We will build a rubric as a class.

LIGHT PAINTING

http://digital-photography-school.com/light-painting-part-one-the-photography/

http://www.balloflight.com.au/

http://lightpaintingphotography.com/light-painting-photography/denis-smith-light-painting-workshops/

Assignment: Find one app you could use on a device that is accessible to you for light painting. Be prepared to share with the class.

Photo of the week: Due Wednesday February 3rd

Theme: Black and White

Assignment 4: Photographing people at work. Due end of class Wednesday 1/27

http://www.takegreatpictures.com/photo-tips/photo-tips-and-techniques/photographing-people-at-work

Assignment 3: Alternate Angles and Framing.

Post on the blog two photos of the same INTERESTING plant or animal. You will be graded on the following:

  • Remember in photography you always have the power to make your subject INTERESTING. Take out the distractions and shoot from cool angles.
  • How well did you use space? OR Is the photo framed well?
  • How different are your photos in COMPOSITION

Post to your Blog WITH an artist statment about how you took the photos. What was the biggest challeng in getting two INTERERESTING photos?

Assignment 2: Shutter Speed and F-Stop

In groups of 1-3 (each individual needs to do their own shots but one can record settings while one photographs etc.

Take at least 10 pictures of the same object in the same lighting . FIND SOMETHING INTERESTING AND FRAME IT WELL.

You will be changing your shutter speed to 5 different settings for the first 5 photos.

You will be changing the F-stop to 5 different settings for the last 5.<%2