Monday, April 2, 2012

Photographic Media Assignments

Final Project CD
Should include;

Black and White assignments

Fragments- 3 prints
Visual Rhythm- 5 prints
Selective Focus- 5 prints
Motion-5 prints
Color in the World-5prints,
Night-5 prints
Image Meaning Icon Combinations 3 combinations,
Image and Text, 3 versions
Time Based Project - 2 minutes minimum          
Final project is a CD including Final images in project titled folders and Time Based Project
Due 4/16

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Visual Rhythm

Make a series of  photographs exploring the idea of Visual Rhythm. This is the effect of the extension or repetition of a shape. or linear element across the two dimensional surface of the photograph. This is different from mere pattern in that it has variation which is clear and can be described. Think about the occurance of pattern in shadows or the traces of natural forces on the environment.

Shoot a minimum of 36 exposures based on this visual idea.
Present contact sheets, test prints, and five final prints for this assignment.

Final Prints due 2/29

Friday, February 10, 2012



Next Class Project
Selective Focus
Project Description
Using the manual aperture control in combination with the shutter speed control on a 35 mm camera to achieve a shallow depth of focus in a series of photographs (one roll, 36 exposures).
Materials
35mm camera, 36 exposure black and white film, Tri-x or Ilford XP 5, Light,
 Process
Using the manual aperture and shutter controls of the camera, shoot a minimum of one roll of black and white photograph that demonstrate the phenomenon of shallow focus.  Explore the expressive possibilities of fragmenting and designing with the camera frame. Use the selective area of focus to create visual meaning by isolating, clarifying or obscuring a subject or object. Create an extended series of photographs based on this process. (no less than 36 exposures)

Select five negatives from this series for printing up to 8x10 size.

Due; 2/20

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Assignment, Fragments

Montserrat College of Art
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA
PROJECT  SHEET

Project Title; Fragments
Project Description;
Three to five 8x10 black and white photographs which explore the compositional idea of photographic composition through framing and fragmentation.
Materials; Photo studio lighting, 35 mm camera with black and white ISO 400 film, 36 exposures., Use the light meteer in the camera to manually set  aperture and shutter speed. Frame images of the human form in fragments. Using at least two edges of the film frame to compose fragment image of the subject. Shoot a minimum of 18 frames. Make contact sheets from negatives. Select 3 images to print at 8x10 size.
Process;
Pair up with another student in the class, Load one roll of  36 exposure black and white . film into a 35 mm camera Using the 35mm film camera with the setting on manual shoot  one half of the roll (18 frames) of each other in the photo studio. The studio will be set up with continuous light instruments. You can collaborate with your partner on how to approach the shoot.  Do not show the whole figure in any of  the frames ie, no portraits, use parts of the face, torso and limbs to compose the photographs. Take frequent light reading to determine proper exposure. Trade places with your partner.
Concept; An exploration of 2-dimensional composition by framing and fragmenting the subject. Using the photographic frame to compose abstractly.

Due Date;2/13

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Intro to Photo Syllabus for Fall 2012

                                                   Richard Avedon, Instructions for his printer.

PHOTOSPRING 2012
“Hotography”

PH204 Photographic Media I 3 credits
This course introduces the basic tools, techniques and concepts of photographic media. Students are introduced to a variety of photographic methods for generating and outputting images, with a primary emphasis on lens based representation and production. Modes of image generation and output that are addressed include black and white and color film, digital, and time-based visual imaging systems. Students explore the aesthetic aspects of photography while they complete a series of assignments geared towards developing their technical and conceptual abilities. Issues related to camera vision, representation and picture interpretation are also explored.
Prerequisites: 
Fulfills: Lens, Technology, Time Elective; Introduction to Photographic Media Requirement (Photography and Graphic Design students); Studio Elective

What this means is that in the first part of this course, you will learn how to use a 35 mm film camera using black and white film. You will also learn to develop film and make black and white prints in the darkroom. The second part of the course will involve using digital 35 mm cameras and Photoshop to learn the basics of digital photography. You will do a series of assignments that will teach about how to use the equipment and also challenge your creativity and inventiveness. You will be making prints for each assignment, participating in critiques and making brief presentations about contemporary photographers. While we are doing this, we will be tracing the history of photographic technology the history of photography as art. Including contemporary photographers. And finally you will be discovering and developing a point of view or “voice” in the way you see and use images in your work regardless of your area of concentration.


You are not required to own a 35 mm camera in order to take this course, although it would be helpful if you could have access to your own camera. The college has equipment for sign out at specific times, If you choose to sign out equipment you will need to plan accordingly.


This course engages with the technology of photography but the primary aim of introductory courses is to expose you to technology and forms of expression, which you may not have considered as options for your work as an artist. You are not expected to become “a photographer” You are expected to engage with the terms and forms of this way of making images in doing the assignments for this class.

CRITERIA FOR CREDIT
Engagement: You will be expected to do work outside of class time in order to complete the assignments for this class. You will also be expected to engage in critiques and discussion during class time. Your engagement can take other forms as well; you may do extra work, repeat assignments, or invent projects.

Communication; I expect you to be in communication with the instructor regarding questions about assignments, technical information and absences, If you need to miss a class, I expect to communicate with me before the fact. 

Attendance I expect you to attend every class. Some classes such as critiques cannot be made up. If you miss a lecture or demonstration of technique you will need to get the information from the class blog or another source.

Synthesis; I assume that you will be connecting the work you do in this class with the work you do in other classes. Basic issues of design and composition pertain to the consideration of photographs as well as other dimensional work. There are concepts and terms that relate to photographic representation that you will be learning as well. We will be learning these terms and concepts connecting them to what you have learned in other classes and applying them to discussions
and critiques

Production: You are expected to complete every assignment on time. Late assignments will be marked down. In critiques you may hear comments about how you might improve an idea or revisit a choice you had made, you have the option to incorporate changes into redoing an assignment.


While the marketing of photography creates an impression that ALL photography is digital, many photographers and filmmakers use traditional means to produce their work. Consequently, the darkroom experience is important since much of the terminology and many techniques used in digital photography editing programs refer to the conventions of traditional photographic practice. Although the result is the same (a two dimensional color or black and white photographic representation on paper), the technology differs. For this reason we will need to pay attention to the formal and aesthetic issues that are particular to photography, traditional photography, and digital photography.    E Berry 2012

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Assignments




Montserrat College of Art
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTGRAPHIC MEDIA
PROJECT  SHEET

Project Title; Fragments
Project Description;
Three to five 8x10 black and white photographs which explore the compositional idea of photographic composition through framing and fragmentation.
Materials; Photo studio lighting, 35 mm camera with black and white ISO 400 film, 36 exposures., Use the light meteer in the camera to manually set  aperture and shutter speed. Frame images of the human form in fragments. Using at least two edges of the film frame to compose fragment image of the subject. Shoot a minimum of 18 frames. Make contact sheets from negatives. Select 3 images to print at 8x10 size.
Process;
Pair up with another student in the class, Load one roll of  36 exposure black and white . film into a 35 mm camera Using the 35mm film camera with the setting on manual shoot  one half of the roll (18 frames) of each other in the photo studio. The studio will be set up with continuous light instruments. You can collaborate with your partner on how to approach the shoot.  Do not show the whole figure in any of  the frames ie, no portraits, use parts of the face, torso and limbs to compose the photographs. Take frequent light reading to determine proper exposure. Trade places with your partner.
Concept; An exploration of 2-dimensional composition by framing and fragmenting the subject. Using the photographic frame to copose abstractly.

Due Date;2/13