Photography & Graphic Design
Rodriguez Media
Assignments
Advanced Photography 1
Advanced Photography 2
Breadth Study
One final project will be due each week, this includes a written project statement due on Sunday and a final image fully edited due on Thursday. You should have 10 of these done by the end of 1st trimester.
Assignment: Self Portrait
Due Dates: 9/18
The self-portrait has been a popular form of expression ever since man first saw his own reflection. Much like Narcissus, it’s often the case that we need not look beyond the tip of our own nose for a muse worth studying.
Create a self portrait that tells the viewer something about your true personality. This image should evoke emotion in your viewer and lead the viewer into a story about who you are or at least make them wonder about how you are. Pull them into the image but leave some questions unanswered. Key aspects of this shoot should include interesting lighting, dramatic camera angles, use of props, creative use of depth of field, as well as creative Photoshop techniques.
Assignment Street Photography
Due Dates:
Vivian Maier Website (check out her portfolio)
Street photography is candid photography of life and human nature. It is a way for us to show our surroundings, and how we as photographers relate to them. We are filtering what we see, to find the moments that intrigue us, and to then share them with others. It’s like daydreaming with a camera.
Assignment Geometric Composition
Your goal is to develop your sense of composition. Forcing yourself to shoot while looking at your subject in a different way will help you to expand on your photography skills and ultimately make you a better photographer. For this assignment focus on finding a subject that has a strong geometric aspect composed with strong lines and shapes.
Assignment: Headshots
Video: Peter Hurley
This is a specific style of portrait photography. You are looking to work with corporate executives, small business owners or aspiring musicians and actors. Everyone needs a picture of themselves on their website and you are the photographer to do it.
Project: Light & Form
Due Dates:
Negatives: 10/15
Contact: 10/16
Enlargement: 10/22
Photographers, like other artists working in two-dimensional mediums, lack the ability to physically recreate an object in three dimensions, so we must rely on visual clues to make our images look as if they are three dimensional.
Assignment Compositional Point
Your goal is to develop your sense of composition. Forcing yourself to shoot while looking at your subject in a different way will help you to expand on your photography skills and ultimately make you a better photographer. For this assignment focus on finding a subject that has a strong geometric aspect composed with strong lines and shapes.
Skills USA Class Contest
Due Date: 11/27/19
This project will determine which photographers represent our class at the Skills USA State Contest in Grand Rapids.
Hand in on the Advanced Photography team drive. When handing in, create a folder within the hand in folder with your last name on it and place all work within that folder. Late work will not be accepted.
Skills USA Photoshop Practice
Due Date: 12/4/19
Improve your PhotoShop skills. Practice working with masks, adjustment layers, transforming, warping, and creating text. This will help prepare you for the State Skills contest.
Darkroom
A Sense of _____
Due Date: 12/11/19
A sense of...
So many words to choose from and we want you to pick just one then go out and
shoot an image that encapsulates it. We're looking for strong well shot and printed
images that make us believe that we can see, hear, think or feel the word that you
have chosen.
HDR Assignment
The idea with this project is to learn how to improve the definition of your digital images by combining the newest technology in Photoshop. At the same time you should be improving your photography skills by working on composition techniques. Work with elements and principles of design while taking the photograph as well as while editing in Photoshop.
Backyard Macro: Lincoln ONLY
Due 1/29
The world of macro is about anything that you can get close to to make an image of. And if you think about your own backyard, one of the great things that you’ll find out there is textures, loads and loads of textures that, unless you’re looking for them, you may not even realize exist. To find a good texture, you have to get down close. You have to get low, close to the ground, close to your subject, and try looking at it from different angles. You may find textures that you never knew existed.
Darkroom Assignment
Each Trimester I will provide a list of darkroom projects. Students will have the opportunity to choose from the list to complete the required number of project for that trimester. These project will be in addition to our weekly digital projects. I have about ten 35mm cameras that are available for checkout on any given day. Once you have show me your plan for a darkroom project you may checkout a film camera and get a roll of film.
Due Date:
Darkroom Project#1 2/20
Darkroom Project#2 3/5
Assignment: Photoshop Challenge (restoration)
Old photos are often faded, stained, cracked and have other damage. Using photoshop see if you can fix the tonality, repair damage, and recolor the image. Use the "Start Image" and try to match it to the final image.
35mm Light Assignment
Your goal for this assignment is to shoot photographs using light as the main emphasis. How you choose to capture light is up to you as the photographer. I expect to see a variety of examples of how you captured the various qualities of light using a variety of subject matter.
THIS IMAGE WILL BE TONED WITH A UNIQUE COLOR.
Bulb Assignment
The term bulb is a reference to old-style pneumatically actuated shutters; squeezing an air bulb would open the shutter and releasing the bulb would close it.
Holga Assignment
Holga is for those who want to create truly unique images - for those who appreciate light leaks, enjoy slight soft focus and welcome retro vignetting. Due to its simple and inexpensive design, Holga is categorized as a toy camera. The very features that personify the Holga would be considered defects in any other camera. Holga’s lo-fi attributes create distinctive images not created with any other conventional camera.
Due Date:
Wednesday April 10th
Photo Essay Assignment
A photo essay is simply a collection of images that are placed in a specific order to tell the progression of events, emotions, and concepts. Used by world class photojournalists, the photo essay takes the same story telling techniques as a normal essay, translated into visual images.
Due Date:
Wednesday April 10th
Color Gradient Assignment
Enhancing your photos color. This technique is a way to accent the colors that are already in your images but make them a little larger than life.
Due Date: 4/25
Food Shoot
This shoot must use at least one artificial light source, more than one light may be better. The most important part of a shoot like this is deciding on styling and concept for the product. Then creating the light that can bring your ideas to life.
Due Date: Wednesday May 1st
Pinhole Camera
This shoot must use at least one artificial light source, more than one light may be better. The most important part of a shoot like this is deciding on styling and concept for the product. Then creating the light that can bring your ideas to life.
Due Date: Wednesday May 8th
Protect the Highlights
This is a lesson about capturing light as well as a life lesson about using photography to clear your mind and gain perspective on life. You will need to take a photo walk for this assignment. On this photo walk focus on seeing and being. Think about the light that you are trying to capture. These images should revolve around the idea of Light, specifically highlights that draw your view to the images.
How to Read a Histogram Article
Due Date: Wednesday 5/8/19
Assignment Alphabet
This is a specific style of portrait photography. You are looking to work with corporate executives, small business owners or aspiring musicians and actors. Everyone needs a picture of themselves on their website and you are the photographer to do it.
Assignment
Concentration
A concentration is a series of works organized around a compelling visual concept
Film Project 1
Due Dates: 10/24/17
In Class Demo
Particular elements of art are important in their ability to control an image and how it is viewed. The repetition or implementation of an element can add interest and unite a composition. Find a scene with interesting elements of art and bring them to the viewers attention.
Assignment Compositing
This project should help you get better at editing in photoshop without worrying about the images. Follow along with the videos provided by Adobe. I have prepared the assets you will need to follow along.
Assignment Original Composite
Use 3 of my images from the assets folder along with at least 3 of your own images to create the most interesting composite. Use the skills learned from the previous assignment to help you create the best image in the class.
Assignment Composite
Example Websites:
Composite an image that was constructed from two or more different photos. Most composites these days are done by layering images one on top of one another and then masking out the unwanted pieces using different methods. Another option is blending the layers together using various blending modes.
Assignment Dreamscape
Example Websites:
The most in demand digital advertisement creators in the world today are combining photographed subjects with photo manipulated images making some of the most incredible digital advertisements that the world has ever seen. This is a skill that takes time, planning and practice with Photoshop. Learning this skill can also get you as an artist, designer, and photographer more notoriety, clients, and eventually money! Remember, with this kind of work the sky’s the limit!!!
Assignment PDNedu Contest
Research: Past winners
The PDNedu Student Photo Contest is open to students of undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, and also includes a category for high school students. Winners and honorable mentions will be recognized in the Spring 2018 issue of PDNedu, which has a circulation of 50,000 copies to students and educators nationwide.Featured photographers will also be promoted to PDN's online audience of more than 475,000 followers.
Grand-prize winners will also receive prizes that include a Nikon DSLR camera, $150 to B&H Photo and Video and a portfolio consultation with either an editor at PDN or a contest judge.
Product Photo
A well known and old saying states, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” this is never more true than when trying to convert visitors to your web site into paying customers. Clear, crisp and high resolution images for use on your online shop increases sales and lends credibility to the products for sale, as well as to the company selling them. Professional product photography also brings the advantage of proper lighting and captures the true colors of your products.
Due Date: Friday 1/19/18
Photo Challenge
Theme: Convey positive aspects of your school through your photographs.
Goal: Create interesting images of a subject that may not be super interesting. Use any techniques and software learned to this point. Be creative.
Hand in one fully edited digital file
Due Date: Friday 1/26
Self Portrait Portrait Collection
Due Date Critique 2/2
Photographer to check out:
Self-portraits can be quite helpful in opening up, and exploring parts of photography in which you don’t normally find yourself involved. Mix it up and stay creative with your surroundings and emotions.
Use settings and props that truly make a statement about who you are.
*feature 2 completely different settings (location, outfits, props, etc.)
*use at least 2 different techniques (timer, reflection, etc.)
Turn in a collection of 4 images on a single document (do this in PS)
Photo Challenge
Theme: Ugly Location
Challenge yourself, instead of searching out the usual beautiful locations around where you live, do just the opposite, go somewhere ‘ugly’ by all conventional photography standards and then see what we could do with it.
You need to work with whatever is already there.
You shouldn’t rearrange the displays or make any big changes.
Due Date: Friday 2/9/18
Open Shoot
This is the last project of Trimester 2 I want you to create your own shooting assignment. This project should emphasize photography skills you have gained in this class. I will be looking for a well thought through concept, technical photography skills relating to exposure, use of light, composition, etc. As well as creativity. Show me how talented a photographer you are.
Due Date: Friday 3/9/18
Photo Challenge
Theme: Happiness
Take a photo following the theme with strong composition and technical aspects (think elements/principles of photo). The photo needs to be strong out of the camera with basic tonal adjustments only, NO "Photoshopping" this image. Size the image to 11"x14" (360 dpi). Then, use the same image use Photoshop to manipulate the image to enhancing it. Size the image to 11"x14" (360 dpi).
Turn in the two images separately
Due Date: Friday 4/13/18
Sports assignment
Handouts
Sports photography is a tricky subject. Fast moving subjects, quickly changing lighting conditions, and restrictions on where you are allowed to stand. All these things can be overcome and conquered – with practice!
Due Date: Friday 4/20/18
Photoshop Challenge
Use any PhotoShop skills you know to create an interesting creative composition. I have supplied you with 4 images you must use and you have the option to bring in one image of your choice.
Senior Portrait
This special moment should be captured with a photograph that speaks to your life, your passions, and your potential. Your personality can come out in so many ways, from your love of sports or the arts, to a fun senior photo idea that demonstrates your spirit of adventure.
Environmental Portrait
Due Date Critique 2/2
Photographers to check out:
An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject’s usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject’s life and surroundings.
Phone Shoot
Due Dates Critique 9/20
Lecture
For this project you will need to use your cell phone or similar device. The goal is to understand and take advantage of the benifits of a phone camera verses a DSLR, which we will use for most of our other projects.
Dramatic Portrait/Object
The idea behind this style of work is to produce emotion. You are basically telling a story with only one image. There are many different ways to create dramatic emotion, your job is to figure out which techniques will work best for the message and emotion you are trying to get across to your viewers.
Distressed Negatives
Distressing your negatives gives you the artist a chance to add another creative aspect to the artistic process. It also creates another opportunity for you as the artist to emphasis your meaning, message or story to the viewer.
Action
Action photography requires specific skills to produce successful images. Panning, predictive focusing, and selective metering are all important skills that are not as hard to master due to new technology and advances in digital cameras today. Also knowing your subject matter is very important when one is shooting action photography. It helps in predicting when a good shot will happen and you will be prepared to capture it.