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Photography I

This class explores the basics of traditional black and white photographic printing as well as digital photographic processes using Adobe Photoshop. We will examine both the aesthetic and technical aspects of the photographic process through several method based assignments. The uses of metering, lighting, composition, and technical aspects of the camera will be reviewed during class to give students a basic understanding of the art of photography.

Photo i Course expectations

Pinhole Photography

9/12/2016

This week we will be making real working cameras out of a can of oatmeal, a piece of aluminum with a tiny hole poked into it, some paint, and a whole lot of tape. I promise these are real working cameras and they give a very nostalgic, almost dreamlike quality to the images.

Justin Quinnell is a great pinhole photographer who has been working solely with pinhole photography for the last 22 years—he's even made a pinhole camera out of his mouth!

Pinhole Photography

9/9/2016

A pinhole camera, also known as camera obscura, or "dark chamber", is a simple optical imaging device in the shape of a closed box or chamber. In one of its sides is a small hole which, via the rectilinear (straight lines) propagation of light, creates an image of the outside space on the opposite side of the box. Aristotle wrote about a rudimentary concept of the pinhole camera. Today, photographers continue to use pinhole cameras for artistic purposes. Many pinhole cameras can be bought (even pinhole kits can be purchased), but we are going to make ours from scratch!

This week we have been making real working cameras out of a can of oatmeal, a piece of aluminum with a tiny hole poked into it, some paint, and a whole lot of tape. I promise these are real working cameras and they give a very nostalgic, almost dreamlike quality to the images. Here are a few examples of homemade pinhole cameras.

Objectives:

Study pinhole photography and construct a pinhole camera
Study the application of pinhole camera to create a negative image
Employ darkroom techniques to develop your prints

Materials:

Black tempera or acrylic paint
Oatmeal containers
Tin
Pin (to poke hole)
Black & white photographic paper
Mounting tissue
Black board

Steps:

Obtain an oatmeal canister
Paint ENTIRE the canister black (inside and outside)
If your box has a clear plastic lid, cut a circle to place on the inside of the lid and paint it black, glue in with elmer’s glue.
Carefully cut out a small window (about 1 in x 1 in) on one side of the oats box. It should be about half way up the container.
I have precut aluminum squares for you
Poke a hole in the aluminum (we will do this together)
Tape the aluminum on the inside of the box with masking tape
Paint the masking tape black
Let it all dry!
In the darkroom, cut a 5x7 piece of paper in half
Scroll a small piece of tape on the back side (non shiny side)
Place the paper inside the pinhole camera so it faces opposite the pinhole "lens."
Go outside (carefully holding the pinhole with your thumb), find a great shot, set up your pinhole camera on a solid surface, and take your thumb off of the hole.
Expose for about 10 seconds (depending on the amount of light)
Place the paper through the darkroom chemistry. Now you have a NEGATIVE.
Place the negative face down on top of a new piece of b&w paper.
Expose with white light on the enlarger for 10 seconds.
Mount your prints
1. Prints must be cut evenly and straight
2. Prints must be centered (use a ruler)

Grading Criteria:
always refer to the BHS photography grading rubric

Content

Effectiveness in communicating the idea within each design
Subject/idea is uniqueInteresting angle/perspective

Composition

Quality of positive and negative image?
Image is eye catching; has visual impact
Uses interesting lines/shapes
It is visually balanced

Technical Quality

Construction of the pinhole
The image is in acceptable focus
Images are well exposed/developed
No dust, water spots or marks
There are no fix stains or tong prints
Images are neat and well presented.

Work habits

Working with peers
Working with materials
Outside behavior
Arrives to class on time and fully prepared.
Stays on task all period every day of project.
Always makes productive use of class time.
Always takes the print through the final stage of development, the water wash, and sets prints to dry before leaving the darkroom.
Well-organized.
Asks questions when help is needed.
Re-organizes station. Cleans up thoroughly.

Tips to Get Started:

If your image is too dark, decrease the exposure time
If your image is too light, increase the exposure time
If your image is streaked with gray or turns completely black, check your pinhole camera for light leaks
If your image is streaked with black, turn your camera pinhole away from the sun
If your image is blurry, make sure your subject and camera do not move during exposure
If your image is fuzzy, your pinhole is too large. Make a new pinhole lens or use another camera.

Start timing your exposures using this chart:

Bright Sun with Distinct Shadows
10 Seconds
Cloudy and Bright, No Shadows
15 Seconds
Heavy Overcast, Open Shade
25 Seconds
Indoors- Bright
30 Minutes to 1 Hour
Indoors- Average
1 to 2 Hours

Vocabulary:

Pinhole
Enlarger
Developer
Fixer
Stop bath
Negative
Dry mount
Camera Obscura (dark chamber)

Resources:
http://www.pinhole.cz/en/pinholecameras/whatis.html

IPad Self-portrait

9/8/2016

You are going to create a self-portrait with the iPad and incorporating the iPad in to the self portrait (see above examples for inspiration). Also, click here for more examples.

Step 1: Take a self portrait of yourself using your iPad (or iPhone if you have one).
Step 2: Incorporate that first photo into another photo of yourself by holding up the iPad to your face and having a friend take a second image of you (your friend can email or text it to you to work on).
Step 3: Play with different ways to make the image interesting with photo effects and/or several overlapping self portrait.

Photography I

Pinhole Photography

Pinhole Photography

IPad Self-portrait

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