Friday, September 19, 2008

Crop and Enlarge-it!


It's always important to push the limits as an artist. As photographers, it's important to experience and understand the limits of your medium, 35mm film. Sometimes when we push the limits, we venture into new and exciting territory!

Over the next several days as you work on your shooting assignment outside of class, I would like you to use the large adjustable print easels in the darkroom to both enlarge and crop sections of chosen negatives to then be combined into an elegant abstraction. By doing this, you will practice using a new print easel, as well as see how large you can push sections of a 35mm negative.

Each "cropped" section of your old exposure should be enlarged to at least three times it's normal size so that you can see the "grain" of your film.

You may crop sections of your old negatives into any shaped format of your choice; square, rectangle, long, short, etc. Discover all the cropping possibilities you have with these print easels!

Your final recombined design should use at least 5 images from at least two different negatives or more. Consider using related subject matter so that your design is visually logical.

Consider creating both negative and positive images from negatives of cropped sections and/or by making contact prints.

You will matte your final recombined design for your portfolio!

Critique on recombined design on Fri. 9/26

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Homework #6: Comment & Critique (10 points)

Raissa Rosenbaum

For homework log onto flickr and look at the Learning to Love You More prompts of your partner (partners are listed below).

Leave comments (both praise and critique) that utilize appropriate photographic terminology in the comment section under the 2 or 3 images that you choose to select. Remember what the prompt was and how they answered the question

If you would like to leave comments for others in the group while you sift through the classwork than feel free...try to perhaps get used to using this like an on-line learning class. We will be working to leave constructive criticism on the site in the future!!!

The pairs are pre-selected and are as follows:
Amina M. <-> Marian A.
Leslie B. <-> Jemini P.
Kate Y. <-> Jennifer L.
Raissa R. <-> Tracy L.
John K. <-> Krisy K.

Passion H. <-> Lauren K.
Bianca M. <-> Celene M.
Megan C. <-> Amanda S.
Michaela J. <-> Katie L.
Katie H. <-> Gunter O.
Chris R. -> Kyria G. -> Carolyn S.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Homework #5: Contradict & Juxtapose

For our new shooting assignment we will be focusing on an idea very common in photography, contradiction and juxtaposition.

Contradiction (noun)-a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another.

Juxtaposition (noun)-to place or deal with close together for contrasting effect.

This assignment will be broken into two parts:

1) Sketchbook analysis-Select two examples from the slideshow below to print and glue into your sketchbook. Label each example with the artist's name and title. Then respond to the following questions for each work:

-What are the two elements that are visually being juxtaposed to create this visual contradiction?
-What emotion or idea do you feel the artist is trying to convey through this unexpected contrast? (Defend your response by citing specific evidence you see in the work!)




2) Sketchbook Brainstorming

In the style of a visual journal in your sketchbook, Find or create examples that are opposite or contradict one another. Create a two page layout in homage to your opposing forces!!! Please remember that the two page design and layout should utilize the same elements and principles that you have come to know well in making photographs visually dynamic! Any media is fair game...remember that if you are using images that you should cut/crop them to insure that you are making them your own (no full magazine images that are just glued in!). See examples below!

When creating your "homage," consider the following:
-What ironies or contradictions do you find in the news or media?
-What contradicitions do you see or find in friends or people around you?
-Think opposing forces! What opposites could be placed next to each other that would be ironic or surprising?


Chris Rhodes


Katie Lozupone

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Homework #3: Love Everyone More

Clockwise from top to center: Julie Ogden, Liz Rench, Wenjei Cheng, Lauren G, Sarah Reid

This assignment is inspired by the artist Miranda July, who over a decade has strived to create works of art that connect people in unexpected and beautiful ways. Her website project, Learning to Love You More is full of assignments she gives to the public or anyone who visits the site to perform and post in order to provide a way for people to meet, see, and hear each other's stories.

As we begin the year, we too will spend time getting to know one another, and each other's interests and styles. Follow these directions:
1) Visit July's website here: Learning to Love You More
2) Choose five of the following assignments to complete, by carefully following July's instructions:
9. Draw a constellation from someone's freckles.
no. 11. Photograph a scar and write about it.
no. 23. Recreate this snapshot.
no. 27. Take a picture of the sun.
no. 30. Take a picture of strangers holding hands.
no. 50. Take a flash photo under your bed.
no. 55. Photograph a significant outfit.
no. 63. Make an encouraging banner.

3)Use a camera that instantly takes pictures for this assignment, no film processing necessary! Digital cameras and polaroids work great! Remember to use proper lighting and shutter speeds where necessary.

4)Upload your pictures onto your Flickr portfolio,label and add descriptions to each of your images.

5)Batch / group them together as the "Learning To Love You More Collection" We will be commenting on each others images on-line!

6) The final shots are due on Friday, Sept.12th.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Homework #2: "I'm a Photographer..."

Create a minimum 2 page sketchbook entry in the style of a visual journal that illustrates what you feel is most important for being a photographer, in the form of a personal map or journey. Your entry must be well designed (elegantly uses the entire space of two pages), organized, legible, and be thematic, (see below). This entry should visually set the tone for the rest of your sketchbook entries. Make it your own and use lots of visual examples!

See handout below for additional requirements.

Use links below to help you find examples of master photographer works:

Photography NOW
Masters of Photography
ProFotos-Photography Masters
Photokaboom

Read this document on Scribd: I’m a Photographer assignment