Basic Photoshop (Levels). Assigned in-class only 10/28 - no grade associated

This is a quick tutorial on how to edit photos in Photoshop in case you missed the presentation in class or were not here today. If you need help to do these steps, please ask and I will help you. Missing this class was though so you need to get this done ASAP so you know what to do. 

If you are not in class today, I have created step-by-step instructions for what we will be doing in class, but it will be best if you come to a FIT or to tutoring before school (anytime), or after school (by appointment ONLY), to get additional support. You will not be able to do this without access to Photoshop. I will go over how you can access it at home, IF you have the appropriate computer to do so.

Color

Color changes take a little longer and can be much more evident to the eye.

1. Open the photo in Photoshop (there are multiple ways to do this, use whichever way you remember)

2. The first thing we want to do every time is to SAVE AS and rename your photo and save it in the correct folder. For right now that folder is your folder on the  desktop.

3. Go to – Image>Adjustments>Levels

A box should pop up on your screen. In that box is a drop down box that has RGB in it. Use the drop down box and go to >BLUE

Move the black and white slider tools (the hershey kisses) and move them as needed to be underneath the mountain.

go to >GREEN
repeat

go to >RED
repeat

go to >RGB

On this step you move ONLY the middle one which is brown (do not move the black or white slider) just slightly where the photo appears a little lighter than perfect.

Now - here are some new instructions - I will show you this quickly today, but I wanted to give you the instructions here as well.

4. The final step, go to >Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen

You should only do this one time

5. Crop and make sure you have the correct resolution as requested.

6. To change the photo to black and white go to: Image>Mode>Grayscale

When the pop up appears asking if you want to discard the color information, hit yes or okay. 

7. Save and close the file - MAKE SURE IT IS A .JPEG, not a .PSD file. I will show you how to correct this.

Mural Project planning. Assigned 10/26, due 10/28 - Minor

Mural Project

This will be the first day to plan your project. I expect a detailed plan from your team. 

1. Meet with your team to decide upon a theme. Be very detailed. Every person on your team will need to take multiple photos and the more you help each other plan that out, the better your project will be. For example, if you decide to do a "rainbow" theme. Make sure you assign colors to every member. And then brainstorm actual objects for your team to go take pictures of. Do you want to have similar objects, or different? The more details the better. It needs to be cohesive and make sense. You are free to choose what you want. This theme must be something you can accomplish at school. All photos will be taken during class next week.

HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE IDEAS: Shapes, colors, nature, food, architecture. Here is a link with lots more: https://www.theatreofnoise.com/2008/05/250-photography-themes.html

2.  Every member of the team must FULLY plan how they will organize the photos to best show them off. To do this each member will create the following on a sheet of paper:

    A drawing that shows me where the photos will go on their mural.

    A label showing me who will take each specific photo

    A sketch OR words that describe what each image will look like.

3. You can have different ideas on how to show off your photos. You are also all allowed to have a similar plan if you wish. You will be using Canva to layout your designs, so you have lots of flexibility to design your project the way you want. The only common element MUST be that you use all of the photos that each team member provides.

Here are the requirements:

1. There must be 28 photos submitted with your project, which means each person must provide 7 photos in 3rd period. In 4th period since there are mixed sized teams, teams with 3 people must have 24 total photos (8 each) or teams with 4 people must have 28 photos (7 photos each).

2. You must have a coherent theme that I can see in the photos.

Here are the deadlines:

All photos must be taken by Monday, Nov. 16

You will have that week to actually finish the project in Canva and turn it in. The project is DUE on Wednesday, Nov. 18 by the end of the period. You will turn in your Canva product on your Google Site. I will share more information next week on how to do this correctly.

There will be multiple grades for this assignment:

1. A self-grade - grading your own efforts
2. A group grade -grading the efforts of the rest of your team
3. A deadline grade - achieving the multiple deadlines associated with this project
4. A completed task grade - your final grade, I will use a rubric for this and you will have it in advance

5. A peer review grade - you grading another teams project - you will actually grade 3 other projects and you will get a grade for accomplishing this on time

Here are some examples - REMEMBER YOURS WILL NOT BE PHYSICALLY MADE, YOU WILL USE CANVA TO CREATE YOUR MURAL:

Here are the groups for each class:

3rd - 7 teams of 4 (28 people)

1. Emma, Paige, Luci, Rubi

2. Isabella, Lu, Leah, Leila

3. Paige, Renee, Aubrie, Zoe

4. Sky, Erin, Ava, Remy

5. Ben, Sebastian, Ryan, Brayden

6. Zoe, Reese, Abdullah, Noah

7. Theo, Smith, Drew, Rodrigo

4th - 5 total teams - 2x3, and 3x4 (18 people)

1. Sophia, Kaitlyn, Addison

2. Ella, Ovelia, Ava

3. Olivia, Clesi, Kriz, Tucker

4. Oakley, Easton, Jaiden, Luke

5. Michaelangelo, Ben, Nathan, Kani

Prompt Shoot #2, Post Shoot Reflection & Photo Manipulation and Ethics. Posted 10/16, due 10/21 - MAJOR, Minor, MAJOR

Posting Prompt Shoot #2 (MAJOR) and Post Shoot Reflection (Minor)

Please make  a new Google Site subpage titled Prompt Shoot 2 and uploaded 4 images, 1 for each prompt. 

Please answer the following below your photos, once you have your 4 images on your Google Site:

Make sure you label each properly with the prompt name and explain the compositional rule evident in the photo. You should do this for ALL FOUR PHOTOS! UNDER THE PHOTO.

Don't forget to make the image larger by holding down Shift and the Command key and using your mouse to drag the bottom right corner downwards. I need to see these photos BIGGER!!

In a new text box, answer these questions: 

1. What challenges did you encounter while trying to shoot in Manual?

2. As you were shooting, explain how you exposed the photo properly?

3. Explain how you adjusted your position or how you thought about compositional rules as you were taking these photos. 

Remember - there are always THREE goals when you take photos:

1. Your subject is clear and in focus.

2. Your image is exposed properly.

3. That you have thought about and controlled for either movement, or depth of field. You have to be considering those two things every single time.

Photo Manipulation and Ethics (MAJOR)

 Soon we will start using Photoshop to adjust and edit photos, but before we do that, it is very important that you understand what changing photos means and how that impacts the image, as well as the audience.

I think it is important to understand what happens when you alter a photo. If you eventually join newspaper and/or yearbook there are "rules" about changing photos. 

Here we will look at what has been published around the world and the impact of changing photos.

There is a time and a place to change photos. Let's start that discussion here:

1. Read the following story about examples of photo manipulations.

https://ethicsinediting.wordpress.com

Here is the website in image form so you can do this assignment:

On your Google Site create a new subpage called Photo Manipulation and Ethics and answer the following questions.

A. What are some of the main points you read about in the website above regarding manipulating images?

B. What is the philosophy of newspapers like the Washington Post and the New York Times regarding image manipulation?

C. What do you think are acceptable things you could do to an image and not cross the line unto an unethical manipulation?

D. Post the manipulation from the photos you looked at above in the reading (this means get that image by either downloading it OR taking a screenshot and post it on your site) that you think was the most unethical, and explain why you think it was the most unethical. If you do not know what the word ethic or unethical means, look them up on the internet. It is very important you know what those two words mean. Please write at least 2-3 sentences explaining why you think it is so bad. You will most likely have to take a screen shot to get this image. Command-shift-4 gets you the cursor you need to take a screen shot. Make sure that screen shot ends up in your Google Drive.

E. Post the manipulation, which means the photo that you read about above, that you consider the least unethical, and explain why you think it is not as bad as others. Please write at least 2-3 sentences explaining why you think this one is not so bad.

YOU MUST WRITE ENOUGH TO SATISFY ME ON THIS ASSIGNMENT. I WILL BE GRADING ALL OF THESE FULLY, NOT SKIM READING AND CERTAINLY NOT JUST FOR COMPLETION. YOU MUST ANSWER THESE ONE CORRECTLY AND IN DEPTH FOR A GOOD GRADE!!

Prompt Shoot #2 (focus on exposure). Assigned 10/14, due 10/16 - MAJOR

Here is your next assignment: Prompt Shoot #2

You know what to do with these after the first shoot. But remember, you need to take more photos than you intent to turn in. I would shoot 1 photo for every minute you are out there. So today a good goal would be 45-50 photos.

You will, generally, be graded on the following:

Focus - is the picture in focus? If not, you will lose points

Subject - is the subject clear? 

Interest - how interesting is the subject

Composition - did you incorporate rules of photography

Uniqueness - is it something new, something I haven't seen before, were you creative?

Don't forget that you are thinking about composition AND the prompts. Today, you have the added layer of making sure your photos are EXPOSED properly. And then you can start thinking about depth of field and/or stopping action. YOU MUST SHOOT IN THE MANUAL SETTING!!

A good starting place today, since it is relatively sunny; ISO 200-400, Aperture f8-f16. shutter speed around 350 or so. If you are inside, you might need to start with ISO 400-800, Aperture f4.5-f8, shutter speed 60-250 or so. But make sure you use the LIGHT METER. If you need help, come back to the classroom. If you can't get your photos to come out - COME BACK TO THE ROOM.

Here are your prompts today:

Metal

Bowie

Square

Gate

You will turn in FOUR images labeled, and complete a post shoot reflection on Friday when I see you next.

Sim Cam part 2, catch-up day. Assigned 10/7, due 10/7 - Minor

  Today we will revisit the Sim Cam and finish off that project. Then you will have the rest of the period to get caught up before grades are due tomorrow.

Next week we will go on our second Prompt Shoot and you will be using the manual settings. I will help you along the way to make sure you are getting properly exposed images.

 Please go to this website and wait for instructions.

https://camerasim.com

Please do not set anything and do not take any photos until I direct you to do so!!

I will be handing out a guided response paper that you will turn in at the end of class for a grade.

If you miss class today, I will give you this paper when you return and you will need to complete the assignment before you can go take Prompt Shoot #2 (manual).

Mural Project Preview. Assigned 10/5, due 10/7 - Minor

 Mural Project Preview

It is time for our first group project of the year. For this project you will team up with a group of four people to create a photo mural. In the past we have created physical versions of this mural, but this year, you will create a digital version. We will use Canva to do this. While you will work with a team of people to come up with a theme and to generate images for the project, you will create your OWN mural. To do this you will need to meet with your team to come up with a theme, and to decide who will take what photos.

For years artists have used wheat paste to basically graffiti open spaces in urban settings. While the unauthorized use of wheat paste is illegal, many cities around the country have started designating places where artists can safely and legally produce wheat paste-based art. They appear in places like NYC, Seattle, Minneapolis and other places. Austin used to have its own version at Castle Hill downtown (perhaps some of you went there in the past). Here is a link to some images taken there:

Hope Outdoor Gallery

To prepare for this assignment I think we should look at wheat paste art, specifically with photography. To be clear, I am not endorsing doing this in a destructive way. It is just another way to take a digital idea and convert it into an analog product.

Please make a new Google Site subpage called Mural Project preview, and as you work your way down this assignment, answer the following questions:

Let's start here - make sure to look at the gallery at the top (there are 6 images): 

Watersville

1. Why did Watersville decide to commission this project?

2. What was 1 interesting thing you learned about wheat paste products?

3. Pick one quote from the story that you think really defined the project to the community or the artists. Share it with me.

Now go look at what is happening in Denver, CO, again make sure to click through the gallery at the top  AND READ THE CAPTIONS BELOW THE PHOTOS (there are 13 images in this slideshow):

Wheatpasting Denver

4. Why is Denver embracing this type of art?

5. What are three things on Mark Sink's "wishlist" (There is a photo gallery at the top of the page, you will need to click view slideshow and look through the captions to find this answer)?

Check out one of the Denver artist's here: Mark Sink - Denver

6. Screen shot 3 images from The Big Picture installation that you like and share them with me on your Google Site.

Here is another cool project that was done in Atlanta: Atlanta

7. What was the goal of the artists who created the Neighbors Connected?

8. Who did they take photos of?

Now it's your turn:

11. Think of at least three ideas you have about what your team could take photos of, that are in the same theme? Be creative, but be realistic. You will be shooting ON campus, and every member of your team will need to be able to take similar photos or whatever you decide to do as a group. Use some of the examples you found above to drive your concepts. I am very, very open to strange ideas and new things. Share them with me.

Our next assignments will be to get into groups and start planning this project. I will be assigning the groups. Your group will meet to talk about theme and plan the project. You will have to decide the format that you want this to take. How can we show off 30+ images in a digital fashion that still holds true to this project intentions?

Africa and Abandoned Theme Parks. Assigned 10/2, due 10/5 - Minor

  Africa

Visit the following website. IF THIS WEBSITE DOESN't WORK PLEASE DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR NICK BRANDT AND SEE HOW MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM YOU CAN ANSWER!

http://www.photographyoffice.com/blog/2014/5/on-this-earth-a-shadow-falls-across-the-ravaged-land-by-nick-brandt-photography

1. On your Google Site make a new subpage called Africa and post your reactions to what you read and what you saw. How about 3-4 sentences.

2. Do a google image search for Nick Brandt, find your favorite photo and post it on your blog.

3. Describe it and tell me why its your favorite.

4. What rules of photography are evident in the photos you selected, be sure to explain the rule to me?

Do a google/wikipedia search for Nick Brandt

5. What kind of camera and lens does he use and why is this important?

6. What is his reason for taking these photos?

7. What is his hope by taking these type of photos?

8. Find something he has to say about Africa, and post the quote on your blog. 

Now go to the following website:

https://create.adobe.com/2018/6/8/opening_eyes_nick_br.html

Answer the following questions:

9. What is Brandt's newest focus with his photography?

10. What was the process he did to create these new images?

11. What effect do you think his work might have?

12. How did these new images make you feel? Describe the emotions you felt as you scrolled through them.

Abandoned Theme Parks

Open a browser and go to Google and do a Google image search for the following locations:

Prypiat Amusement Park, Pyrpiat, Ukraine

Holy Land, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA

Gulliver’s Kingdom, Japan

Six Flags, New Orleans, USA

Land Of Oz, Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA

Spreepark, Berlin, Germany

Kpo Land, Okpo City, Geoje Island South Korea

Dunaújváros Vidám Park, Dunaújváros, Hungary

Joyland, Wichita, Kansas, USA

Akakanonuma Greenland, Hobara, Japan

and

http://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-21-creepiest-abandoned-amusement-parks-20140225-htmlstory.html

Make a new page on your Google Site called Abandoned Theme Parks and please complete the following:

1. Tell me which amusement park that you learned about today that you would like to visit and take your camera along and what about that park made you want to go there. Write at least a paragraph.

2. Post one photo from that park. You may use the photos from the link, or you can google an entirely new photo. I would prefer to see a photo of the park in disrepair and not a photo of it when it was still operating.

3. Think of at least FIVE other unusual places you think would be of interest to photographers. List them. For example: A cemetery

4. Use google or another search engine to research ONE of the five places you came up with and see if anyone has already started documenting that place. If you find that someone has already started - post at least one photo of their work. For example: do a Google Image search for cemetery photos and see if anyone has specialized in cemetery photography. I found this guy 

Cemetery Photographer

Here is a photo of his I liked:

5. Write a paragraph about why you think that it would be fun to document that location. Tell me what interests you about that place and what kind of photos you could expect to take there.

6. Tell me what it would take for you to go and take photos at your location. What would you need as far as equipment goes, travel plans, expenses you might encounter and what laws you would have to take into consideration to take photos at your spot.

Sim Cam. Assigned 9/30, due 9/30 - Minor (in-class only, absences with be excused)

 Please go to this website and wait for instructions.

https://camerasim.com

Please do not set anything and do not take any photos until I direct you to do so!!

I will be handing out a guided response paper that you will turn in at the end of class for a grade.

If you miss class today, I will give you this paper when you return and you will need to complete the assignment before you can go take Prompt Shoot #2 (manual).

Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. Assigned 9/28, due 9/30 - MAJOR

Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO

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.

Go to this website and read about Aperture:

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

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 images on a new Google Site page called Aperture, SS and ISO and label them.

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

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 images on your Google Site page and label them.

Then answer the following questions:

1. If you were assigned to shoot at Bulldogs and Hotdogs night, what shutter speeds 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: You can answer: Low, Medium or High.

At the beginning while the sun was still up and the courtyard had reasonable good light

a.) a booth in the middle of the yard near the Tree
b.) a food booth outside under one of the big red awnings
c.) the Stars performance inside the gym
d.) students dancing near the center of the courtyard
e.) people streaming in from the front doors
f.) the basketball booth where students are shooting basketballs at a hoop

Towards the end when there is no sun and has gotten dark enough that you can't see from one end of the courtyard to the other. Again you can answer: Low, Medium or High.

a.) a booth in the middle of the yard near the Tree

b.) a food booth outside under one of the big red awnings

c.) the Stars performance inside the gym

d.) students dancing near the center of the courtyard

e.) people streaming in from the front doors

f.) the basketball booth where students are shooting basketballs at a hoop

2. List the FOUR settings your camera has regarding setting shutter speed (these are found at #9 Understanding Digital Camera Modes 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

Once you are finished, 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 images on your Google Site and label them.

Then answer the following questions:

1. What are the advantages of shoot at a higher ISO at a sporting event like basketball or 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?

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

https://canon.ca/CanonOutsideOfAuto/play

This simulates a DSLR camera. Make sure you set the camera on MANUAL setting at the top.

List the aperture settings available on this camera starting with F2.8 and working up
List the shutter speed settings available on this camera starting with 4000 and working down to 1 second.
List the ISO settings available on this camera starting with 100 and working up.

Now have some fun and play with the settings. We will use a similar site next class to learn more about how to make adjustments in your camera for these 3 important adjustments.

Copyrights. Assigned 9/23, due 9/28 - Minor

Review the below slides and watch the embedded videos using earbuds or CC. 

Create a new Google Site Subpage called Copyright. Answer the questions below using the resources provided.

Part 1 Questions - Reflect on the information in part 1 of the slides to answer the following: 

1. If you find a movie online at a site that encourages illegal sharing, why should you care about that? 
2. How would you feel if someone took something you made and put it online?
3. What would happen if everyone got music or movies from sites that give away copies without artist’s permission?

Think of a new recording artist or band you like

1. How do you think they make money?
2. How do they distribute their media to consumers like us?
3. How do you think copyright might relate to what they’re doing?
4. Could copyright be important to their current or future ability to make a living by making music?   

Part 2 Questions - Reflect on the information in part 2 of the slides and watch this video to answer the following: 

1. Have you heard of a site like this Napster before? 
2. What do you think about sites like that? 
3. Was it fair for millions of consumers to copy and give away songs to millions of other people?
4. How did Metallica figure out their new song had been distributed on Napster? 
5. Why did Metallica fight back? 
6. What do you think other artists at the time thought about it? 
7. What do you think consumers thought?
8. Do you think having music distributed for free through Napster devalued the music for listeners?
9. What do you think about unfinished drafts of songs being leaked to radio stations? How would you feel if that happened to your work? 

Part 3

Watch the following videos:

1. What do you do when you’re checking legal sources but still can’t find some of the songs, movies, or games you’re looking for? 
2. What if you want to find a newly released movie, but it is not available yet on Netflix or Hulu or another movie site? 
3. What does being an ethical and respectful digital citizen mean in this context?
   
4. How can you share a song you just discovered ethically?
5. What if the song has a Creative Commons license that allows sharing? What if the song is old enough to be in the public domain?

Key Words

Define the following key words, using your knowledge from this unit. If you need to look a definition up elsewhere please share the URL you found it. 

1. Consumer
2. Copyright
3. Copyright Infringement
4. Licensing Agreement
5. Media
6. Public Domain

Watch the 6 videos in this playlist. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm8a9mXz_9Y6XF5VCRqygelhf_5RkT5_T

Answer the following questions using information from the videos. If you do not recall the answer or are not sure, please use Google to find your answer. If you do this, please paste the URL of the site you found your answer next to your answer.

1. Review the Creative Commons, to learn about the initiative. Summarize the purpose the Creative Commons site, and other options for finding creative work with limited restrictions. 
2. What does it mean if work is part of Creative Commons?
3. Share an image from Creative Commons with its terms of use. Provide the source URL for the image. Briefly summarize its terms of use. 
4. What does it mean if work is part of the Public Domain? 
5. Share an image from the Public Domain. Provide the source URL for the image. 
6. Suggest a  good way to reference material you find online in the public domain?
7. What does 'Fair Use' mean?
8. What is direct permission? How can you get this?
9. Share one regularly copyrighted image with its source URL. Please note use of a copyrighted image for a classroom assignment constitutes fair use. 

Prompt Shoot, Post-Shoot Reflection and Sensory Overload. Assigned 9/18, due 9/23 - MAJOR, Minor, Minor

FIRST - post your "Prompt Shoot #1":

Please post your FIVE prompt shoot images on a new subpage on your Google Site called Prompt Shoot #1. One for each prompt. Please make sure to LABEL the images so viewers (ME) know which prompt they are looking at. While you are are posting the images, make sure to type a couple of sentences explaining what rule of composition evident in the image and explain the rule to me in your own words.

If you need to go take photos, please make sure to ask me ASAP.

SECOND - "Post Shoot Reflection":

At the bottom of your Prompt Shoot #1 subpage, make a new text box and answer the following questions:

1. What challenges did you encounter while trying to get the photos of your first 5 prompt?

2. What technical aspects of photography or the assignment in general (focus, framing, holding the camera, etc.) did you find yourself thinking about the most? Provide a specific example of what you did to do this correctly.

3. Are you interested in shooting those same prompts again, why?

4. List FIVE prompts that you think would be fun to go take photos of.

THIRD - "Sensory Overload"

Check out this link:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/01/world/cnnphotos-commodity-city/index.html

After you read the story please answer the following questions on a NEW subpage on your Google Site called Sensory Overload.

1. The last sentence of the story says

"I believe that more and more, we are defining our environments not as the spaces themselves, in terms of the buildings or architecture, but rather by the objects and devices that we buy and surround ourselves with. ... I would like that message to carry through universally," Seymour said.

Please write at least 2-3 sentences on what you think about this statement, you should explain why you agree or disagree.

As an aspiring photographer how does this make you feel about your photography?

2. When you looked through the images, did you want to visit this place and take your camera?

3. What do you think it would be like to be the child of someone who worked at this place?

4. Please take a screen shot of your favorite image and tell me why it is your favorite.

To take a screen shot - hold down the SHIFT, COMMAND and the #4 key. This will then give you a new cursor that looks like a little target - you can then click and drag across any image to take a screen shot. That screen shot goes into your download folder and should be moved to your desktop folder, and then into your Google Drive to place on your Google Site page.

Prompt Shoot #1. Assigned 9/16, due 9/18 - MAJOR

Today you will go out to shoot your first "Prompt Shoot"

Here is how the prompt shoots work - you will each have your own camera and about 40 minutes to go out and shoot images. You will get quick instructions with the camera again, and then when you return, you need to make time to move all of the photos off of the SD card and into a folder on your desktop called Prompt Shoot #1. I think you should have time to move SELECT images from your desktop to your Google Drive before class is over. You will NOT need to finish this assignment until next class. Next class you will make a new Google Site subpage and post your images with a reflection portion.

In the prompt shoot, I will give you a few key words that should guide your shooting that day. You can interpret the words any way you want, but you should make it clear which photo goes with which word when you turn them in.

For example, I might give you an emotion like Angry - you might shoot something that makes you angry, you might find a color that you associate with angry (like red or purple) and shoot that, or you might find someone who is actually angry and shoot them as they talk. You can ask your classmates to work with you, but be careful the photos aren't too "posed" or made up.

A couple of words of advice from me - be careful shooting through glass - those usually don't turn out too well. Also, be careful with big, huge wide shoots with lots of stuff going on, it is hard to pick details out and to show off some of these prompts. And finally, make sure you are watching your backgrounds for people - I know at school its hard, but be looking so it is very clear who your subject is.

You will, generally, be graded on the following:

Focus - is the picture in focus? If not, you will lose points

Subject - is the subject clear? Are there distracting elements in your photo?

Interest - how interesting is the subject

Uniqueness - is it something new, something I haven't seen before, were you creative?

Most people get a 90+ on this assignment unless they don't turn in the required amount of photos, or they really mess up the focus and subject portion. The rest are minor deductions. Remember getting a 95+ means you are doing something very right AND there are very few people who get all four perfect, so don't expect a 100.

Today, I also expect to see evidence of composition rules. In fact when you reflect on these next class, I will ask you to share what composition rules you were trying to achieve with the images you turn in. You will write a couple of sentences on this subject, so make sure you fully understand the six compositional rules. In your five images, I expect to see AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT composition rules.

Compositional rules that you can use are: 

Simplicity, Rule of Thirds, Lines, Framing and Balance

Of course, you should be trying to AVOID MERGERS as much as possible. Be aware of the foreground and background for all images you take.

Here are your prompts today:

Sign

Current

Lost

Transportation

BONUS PROMPT: Change 

For the bonus, I will be picking three people's images from this bonus photo to share with the class and the best three will get a prize for their efforts!

Composition 9/11 PART 2. Assigned 11/14, due 11/16 - Minor

Now, let's talk more about composition. I will be going through the Composition Rules and giving you my interpretation of them. Once I am done, you will move on to the assignment below.

Please complete this assignment:

Analyze and reflect on your 9/11 composition selections.

Now that you have found good examples of the different composition techniques in 9/11 photos, go back and edit your Google Site and write about the photos you picked out.

Explain your choices. Help me understand how the photo you picked meets the rule you think it shows.

What to discuss - Be specific - Describe specific elements in the photo. Explain what the technique is all about. Explain the EFFECT of the technique.

If you can't remember all the rules, here is the website again:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/192HfRA92dE7FSuc3UNKx8eswGOvWk4loZv2jcsrTE8M/edit?usp=sharing

Example:

Below you will see examples of a well written description and one that isn't so great:

Lines

Example 1 (a good one) - In this photo, the red stripes of the flag and the grey ladder all form lines that lead the eye to the man playing the bagpipe. Since these lines are diagonal, they give the photo a dynamic feel.

The above example is the correct amount of writing and analysis.

Example 2 (a not so good one) - The flag makes leading lines to the guy.

The above example is too short and doesn't really show me that you understand the rules.

Do this for all six of the photos in your post. Make sure you clearly explain who or what the subject of your selected photo is, and how the rule of composition works with the subject. Remember, the goal of all of this is to prove to me that you understand the composition rules which are focused on making the photo more appealing to the viewer so they can better "see" the subject.

If you think you didn't pick a very good photo, feel free to go back and redo the assignment. Eventually you will be asked to prove your knowledge by taking photos that show me you understand these rules.

Composition 9/11 AND Extra Credit. Assigned 9/11, due 9/14 - MAJOR

  Overview Like great pieces of art, great photojournalism shots are well composed. The photographer carefully places the elements of a photo within a frame in order to tell a story in the most visually powerful way possible.

Unlike art, the content of photojournalism is not, for the most part, controlled by the photographer.
This was never more true than during the attacks of September 11, 2001. This has been called one of the most photographed events in history. Most of you weren't even born when this event happened, but it is still a very important moment in the collective memory of most Americans.

Imagine being a photojournalist on that day, running into this disaster while most people are running away. In the midst of this misery and chaos, it's a photojournalists job to capture the the human side of the story in an orderly and effective way.

Assignment

You will learn about some composition techniques and find examples of how photojournalists applied them to the chaos of 9/11.

First - Everyone must read about the the rules of "Simplicity, The Rule of Thirds, Lines, Balance, Framing, and Avoiding Mergers" on the following web site:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/192HfRA92dE7FSuc3UNKx8eswGOvWk4loZv2jcsrTE8M/edit?usp=sharing

Next- Go to the four websites below, and find excellent examples of photos shot on 9/11 that follow each of the rules. When you find one that you think fits the Composition rule, save it into your AISD Google Drive. I would suggest you make a new folder called Composition 9/11 inside the folder you made for my class.

On your Google Site, create a new subpage called Composition 9/11 and share one example of each of the six techniques from the composition web site, that you saved into your Google Drive

Make sure to title each photo with a text box that tells me the name of the technique.

For example- Post a photo with "Framing" as the title. You will need to do a post for each of the composition techniques. Which means you should have SIX photos on your page today, labelled correctly.
Here are the websites - they should be clickable links, if not copy and paste then into a new browser window.

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/911-attacks-photos-aftermath/13/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/pictures/110908-about-911-september-9-11-twin-world-trade-center-towers-indelible/

https://time.com/3449480/911-the-photographs-that-moved-them-most/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2013/09/11/iconic-911-photos.html

(for the Daily Beast website above, there are 25 pictures make sure you find the clickable link labelled NEXT and look at all 25 photos.)

It may be hard to get these images to right-click and save to your folder on the server. If you want, you are welcome to do a google search for specific images and save those images. The important thing is that you are picking photos that show me you understand the six composition rules and getting them onto your Google Site. 

When you have found 6 photos; ONE for each of the composition "rules" we looked at today, make sure you have them labeled and then push Publish. Don't forget you have to push that button TWICE.

When your done - you might be interested to read this story - if you post your reactions (meaning you create a new Google Site subpage called Falling Man extra credit and you write at least TWO paragraphs (250 words minimum and I will be checking this one, if you need a word count, write your paragraphs in a google doc and then copy and paste it onto your Google Site subpage), responding to what you read and saw, I will give you extra credit points. This is graphic and not the easiest thing to read, so if you are squeamish, you might want to skip this one. Once you click the link, hit continue and it should redirect you to the website.

https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/the-falling-man-story-behind-the-most-powerful-image-of-911/news-story/33c7bd71bf1de7f158c02e372c3244c1

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mggbey/long-fall-the-most-famous-9-11-photo-is-still-suspended

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1596786/posts

Famous Black and White Photographers. Assigned 9/9, due 9/11 - Minor

 PART I

To learn what it takes to make Great images, it's important to look backwards at some of the most famous photographers and their work to get ideas and examples of what great photos look like.

The first photographers worked mainly in the Black & White medium. Each spent thousands of hours  in the darkroom perfecting their prints which were as important to the final power of their prints as was their hard work and artistic eye when they originally shot them.

Although we won't be going into a traditional wet darkroom this year, we will be using another type of darkroom, Photoshop, to change and manipulate our photos. In the near future we will begin using Photoshop but first lets look at some of those famous photographers and their work.

First - Preview some of the masters

Go to:

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/

Click through all of the master photographers linked at that site. Look at their photos. You should be able to click each individual photographer's name, or if you like you can scroll down and see some sample photos. You will also be able to click on those photos to see more. Take a look at a minimum of 12-15 different people to find your favorites. DO NOT PICK THE FIRST 3 YOU LOOK AT. Spend some time with these photographers.

Next - Choose three you like - make note of their names.
Choose well because you will be assigned one of these photographers for a more extensive assignment. At least two of the three must have done documentary work (candid photos of people). Also please make sure that at least 2 of the 3 you pick have black and white images. I do not want to see a bunch of color photos.

On your Google Site - Create a new subpage and call it Famous B/W Photographers. Create a new text box and put in the names of the three photographers you like and insert your favorite photo from each near their names. You may have to do a google image search to find the photo you want, as not every photo on the "masters-of-photography" website are linkable. Make sure you SAVE the photos you pick out to either your Google Drive or on your desktop somewhere. Make sure you can find it.

PART II

Now it's time to get to know your favorite in detail. Select ONE of your three favorites from Part 1. Head to the Internet and use your favorite search engine to get more information about that person, please verify your facts by finding TWO sources to make sure it's accurate.

Add a new text box on that subpage and share a biography of that person. Important information that should be included: name, birth (and maybe death) dates, origin of birth, education, jobs, books published, etc.

DO NOT COPY AND PASTE this information, retype it in your words.

Yes, its just a bio, but don't plagiarize. 

Now find another 3-5 images from that photographer that you like. Save those images onto your Google Drive OR your desktop and insert them onto your Google Site page.

At the end of this assignment you should have a single Google Site subpage called Famous BW Photographers that has the following information:

3 photos and the names of your top-3 favorite B/W photographers from the masters of photography link.

1 biography of your absolute favorite B/W photographer.

3-5 images from that photographer.

This is the first part of a project that you will complete later.

Posting your 1st photos AND The Camera. Assigned 9/2, due 9/4 - MAJOR/Minor

The first day of school, you got to go take some photos. Now is the time to access those photos and share them with me. If you were not in my class the first day, you will be excused from this assignment!

Now it's time to turn those photos in. Here are the instructions on how to do that:

1. On your Desktop please make a new folder called Digital Media. To do this, all you need to do is RIGHT click on the desktop and select MAKE NEW FOLDER. You should be able to name it immediately. If not, RIGHT click on the folder and select RENAME. I will make sure to help you with this step if you need it.

2. Click on the appropriate link below to access your photos. 

3rd period

4th period

3. Find your name. Click on your name. At the top, find the download button. Click the download button.

It will create a ZIP file and it will put that ZIP file into your download folder. Find your download folder and MOVE that ZIP file to your Folder on the Desktop. Once you have the ZIP file into your personal folder, you can double click the ZIP file and it will open all your photos.

Now open the photo folder and look at your photos. You can use the Gallery Mode to see them bigger. I will show you how to do that.

4. Move your favorites to your AISD Google Drive. You might make a folder in your Google Drive and call it Digital Design - Reeves.

5. Once you have selected your favorite images, make a new subpage on your Google Site, title it First Photos. Insert at least THREE IMAGES and not more than FIVE IMAGES onto that new subpage. Make sure at least ONE is of a person.

6. Once you have the images uploaded from your Drive - insert a text box and write a paragraph explaining to me your photography experiences. Have you used a camera like that before? How did you like using that kind of camera. Have you used any other kind of camera besides your phone? Where and When?

Make sure to hit PUBLISH (you have to do this twice!!) so I can see your work. 

I WILL BE SHOWING YOU HOW TO DO THESE THINGS ON THE SCREEN!!

When you are finished sharing your best photos, please begin the following assignment:

 The Camera - 

Overview: To take good photos, it is necessary to understand the parts of a camera and how they work to take photos. To learn more about cameras click on the following link and then answer the questions that go with that link.

Assignment: Click on the link and answer questions in a new subpage titled The Camera on your Google Site. Make sure you do the following:

Under the words Publish on the top right side, create a new page by clicking the THREE DOTS next to the HOME page and select Make Subpage. Name it "The Camera". If you use the + sign, you will then need to make it a subpage of your home page, by clicking and holding on the page titled the camera, and dragging it into your home page. When you have done this, make sure to go up and hit the publish button. You will have to hit Publish twice. The first time will open the Publish page and show you the changes you made, the second actually publishes it so I can see it. Although Google sites has an auto save function, I cannot see your work until you hit Publish. You should get in the habit of doing this when you make a new page at the beginning of every class period, AND most importantly at the end of every class period before you log off. 

On that new subpage, called The Camera you will answer the following questions. Please read the questions and then click the link to appropriate website for those questions. There are multiple places I an sending you today to learn more about the camera, the history of photography and what all the buttons and screens on the back of the camera mean. We will go into greater depth on all those functions later, but these are the important ones for now.

First, lets take a look at the History of the camera:

https://photographylife.com/what-is-photography

1. Who is credited with taking the first "permanent" photograph?
2. What specific materials did Louis Daguerre use to create the first "commercial photographic material"?
3. What type of images is Ansel Adams famous for?
4. What are the three fundamental settings you need to understand to be an excellent photographer?

Now let's shift to Metering briefly:

https://photographylife.com/understanding-metering-modes

5. What are the three types of metering modes?
6. When does the article suggest you use "Center-weight" metering?
7. What is one very specific subject does the article suggest would be great for "Spot" metering?

Next, Camera Modes:

https://photographylife.com/understanding-digital-camera-modes

8. What are the four Camera Modes?
9. What is the difference between the Aperture and Shutter priority modes?

Take a peek at Focus next:

https://photographylife.com/understanding-focus-in-photography

10. What is the difference between Manual and AutoFocus?
11. Which do you think is best for most circumstances (make sure to answer why you think this)?

How about using a Flash:

https://photographylife.com/when-to-use-flash

12. When should you use a flash indoors?
13. When should you use a flash outdoors?

Let's take a short look at Video:

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-shoot-better-hd-dslr-video/

14. Why is using a tripod a good decision?
15. Should you use auto focus when shooing video (why or why not)?
16. What are the percentages according to the article when deciding to shoot wide, medium and close up (or even extreme close up)?

Finally, lets finish off this assignment with a look at the Histogram:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/how-read-your-cameras-histogram

17. What is a histogram?
18. What will a "low key" histogram look like?
19. What will a "high key" histogram look like?
20. What is clipping?

Now click Publish in the upper right corner. Remember you have to hit the Publish button TWICE. Google Sites will show you a preview of the changes. ALWAYS HIT PUBLISH TWICE or I cannot see it.

When you finish these 20 questions and have published, you are most likely done. I will let you know if you need to do anything else. Some of you may still have some minor issues with your Google Site. Others might still need to finish the "This is Me!" slide. This is your time to finish those two assignments.

NOTE: I will be grading this weekend, so make sure you are caught up. Everyone should have a 100 when we check grades next week