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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

Assemblage Panorama

5/8/2018

A panorama usually refers to a long photograph. To assemble something means to put it together from various pieces. So for this project you are going to be assembling a panorama image. However, a panorama—in our project—can take on many different shapes besides the usual long image. Think about vertical images or images that follow a particular shape. This can be any subject (i.e. a long hallway, a fire hose, a portrait of a person, a flag pole, etc.). Think of how to create a panorama of your subject because often the subject of your photograph is going to determine the shape of your panorama. Your panorama must have 12 or more frames in it and they cannot overlap so that one image is completely hiding (or mostly hiding) the image beneath it.

Artists to consider: Matthew Chase-Daniel, Rachelle Dermer, David Hockney, Pablo Picasso

Assignment:
You must photograph 50 exposures of panoramas. Since each panorama requires AT LEAST 12 frames, I suggest that you shoot 2 different objects or scenes with 20/25 frames apiece. This will ensure that you are able to get enough good images for your panorama. You are responsible for lining up the frames and overlapping them so that when printed, you can assemble them to make an image that makes sense to your viewer. Your subject itself does not need to be panoramic; you need to make it a panorama.

You will be passing in two edited digital "panoramas" on google drive and choosing your best one to print—you will be printing your favorite panorama images as small 2x3 photos and cutting them out and pasting them together using a rubber cement mounting technique.

Steps:

Look around you. How can you make your surrounding a panoramic image? What creates an interesting shape when photographed with numerous frames?
Once you choose something, think about how to make it more interesting. If you photograph a flag pole, is it more interesting if it is long and skinny or if all of the background information is included? Or with a fire hose, what if you follow the shape of the hose and make it swirl into the center? How does this make it more interesting than just photographing every frame so that the hose is straight within it?

Objective: Use the camera in a non-traditional manner to assemble a photograph made up of several different images/parts, Harkening back to ideas of cubism and collage.

Resources: Assemblage Panorama Pinterest board

Boston: Past and Present

4/26/2018

Caroline Akerley :: class of 2016

The city of Boston is steeped in history. Your job while you walk around the city is to photograph the juxtaposition between historic Boston and the popular culture that exists there today. This is a very open ended assignment and can be interpreted in many different ways. What I want to see in your photographs is your opinion and your personal point of view on our very unique city. Think about the signs and buildings in the city that date back hundreds of years. Think about streets and burrows that speak about the history of the city, and then think about who lives there today—these things should be on your mind while you are photographing.

Assignment:
You must photograph several images that show both modern day Boston and the older neighborhood that we are walking through. You will be passing in 10 edited images on google drive and choosing your best three—you will be printing your favorite of the three images.

Consider these questions while shooting in the North End: Who or what inhabits the city? Where do you see both old and new Boston? Who works at the city’s oldest restaurants and shops? What surrounds the oldest houses and buildings in Boston? What does our contemporary signage and clothing say about the history of the city?

Steps:

Do not shoot below 1/60 of a second
Use all 24 exposures on your roll of film (or at LEAST 50 frames digitally)
IF you shoot on film, remember to push the button on the bottom of your camera BEFORE you start rewinding your film
Always walk with a partner and DO NOT lose track of time
We MUST meet at determined locations ON TIME
Keep track of your camera, it is YOUR responsibility and it will have to be paid for in full if it is left somewhere in the city
If it is cold, keep your camera underneath your sweater or jacket when you aren’t using it to keep it from getting too cold (the shutter sticks open if it freezes) and make sure the camera doesn’t get wet if its raining!!!
Be aware of your surroundings and stay safe

Interacting Diptych

4/9/2018

Interacting (or interactive) diptychs are so much fun. A diptych is an image that is made up of two separate photographs, and the interacting part is that both images are different but make sense when looked at as one whole image. In this project we will be thinking about the elements and principles of design, specifically in color, tone, contrast, composition, and leading lines. Compose and frame your subject with the whole idea in mind.

Assignment:

You must photograph 50 frames with interacting diptychs (or tripychs) in mind. You will be putting these together in Photoshop and are responsible for making two or three unrelated things make sense together as one.

Steps:

Have fun with this!
There are two options of how to combine imagery—one is to be funny and have the two frames interact with one another, and the other option is to have two or three frames that make sense with as a whole.
Look closely. Sometimes combining two or three images together helps you to tell a larger story. Maybe you focus closely on something in one and then further away on another.
Contrast and juxtaposition are important in this project, sometimes contrasting two different things (white and black, full and empty) can help your idea

*Check out the Pinterest interacting imagery board for more inspiration

Macro & Abstract Photography

3/27/2018

Ernst Haas

Macro photography refers to a style of photography where the subject is close-up (usually of small objects). Since many of you have standard lenses (or prime lenses), you must move close to your subject in order to zoom in but may not be able to get close enough to actually make the image macro—in this case you'll want to think about how to make images more abstract. Frame your subject and create an interesting composition out of a very ordinary object; think about how you can make ordinary objects look extraordinary. Look directly up or down, change the angle and create some abstract imagery.

Assignment:

You must photograph one roll (24 frames) of “close-up” and/or abstract objects. You are responsible for making something appear unique and interesting, even if it isn't. Think about color, shapes, black and white tones, line, texture, light, and shadow.

Steps:

Look around you. Most often you will notice that even ordinary and everyday subjects can have interesting or abstract qualities.
Look closely. Sometimes the texture of something small and insignificant becomes really interesting. Think about stacked towels, or clothing lined up in your closet, or a head of lettuce with its many layers. Try to fill your entire frame with your subject (or object). If it is a head of lettuce, get close enough so that you can focus on the ripples in the layers, not just a small part of your frame.
Use correct exposure and FOCUS. DO NOT GET SOOOOOOO CLOSE THAT YOUR CAMERA CANNOT FOCUS. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE FOCUSED ON YOUR SUBJECT AND IT IS NOT FUZZY IN THE FRAME. This project will only be interesting if everything is in focus, a soft image will not captivate your audience.

*Check out the Pinterest abstraction board for more inspiration

Thematic Photography

2/5/2018

In this project we are going to focus on one single theme for our photo shoot, but what the theme ends up being is entirely up to you. Try photographing all one shape, or all one color, focus on line, or texture, shallow depth of field, or forced angles. Really anything at all can work for this project and you should be considering this theme in every image that you shoot.

Assignment:

You must photograph 50 frames of your chosen theme. You are responsible for making your audience understand what the theme is by looking at all of your images together as a group. Think about color, shapes, line, texture, light, perspectives, etc.

Steps:

Start small, this does not have to be a huge or conceptual idea--blue, for instance, is a perfectly acceptable theme.
Once you have your idea start to walk around with only that idea in you head and you will start to see that "thing" everywhere

Stop Motion Animation

1/22/2018

If the above video won't play click here to view it on another website.

In this project you are going to be creating a stop motion animation—also referred to as an animated GIF. For this assignment we are going to be making an animated GIF. An animated GIF is made up of several photo frames that fit together to make an animation. Traditional films (movies, commercials, TV shows) are all made up of 24 frames per second. We are going to be making a stop-motion story that is between 10-30 seconds long. Essentially, stop motion is a technique that uses animation to make an item or object that appears to move on its own. You will create a 10-30 second animation or film that should be telling a story. The story can be simple or more complex.

Here is a great example of a stop-motion film that was created for the video to the song Lost Things by A Fine Frenzy. (click here if it won't load).

Below are a few student examples. Click on them to see the full gif.

Midyear Project :: Recreating A Famous Painting

1/2/2018

Nathan Siket :: class of 2016

The photography midyear is a major project and a personal critique. The project will be worth 80% and the critique will be worth 20%. Your project is to choose 2 famous paintings and recreate them using any interpretation you think would be appropriate. You must approve your choices with me before you begin. You will pass in both recreations and print and mount the best set before the midyear exam period. We will do a critique on the day of the midyear.

Things to think about:

Choose 2 FAMOUS paintings that you are interested in. Think about what is possible for you to do. If you choose a painting of a ship at sea, how will you recreate a sea? You’re going to have to do a lot of preparation for the photograph.
Think about every little detail. Socked feet are ugly. A pile of clothes in your room is ugly. Get rid of unnecessary objects BEFORE you take the picture.
Brainstorm with your friends. You will have to set up your space or spaces. Involve your friends/family as models or assistants in the shoot. You most likely won’t be able to accomplish this on your own.
Remember, natural light or controlled studio light is best.

Resources: Recreate A Famous Painting Pinterest board

Photogram

12/14/2017

Photograms (also called rayograms) were made famous by photographer Man Ray but they were actually invented in 1843 by Anna Atkins, who illustrated the book, British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions which was the first book illustrated with photographs. All photographs in the book were solely photograms of botanical specimens (an example can be seen here to the left). A photogram is actually a photograph created without the use of a camera. Objects are placed in a pleasing manner on the surface of photographic paper and exposed using an enlarger. The final product is a very design-oriented image of blacks and whites.

Assignment:
For this assignment you must study photograms and create two interesting compositions with objects (both transparent and opaque--natural and man-made) and cut paper.

2 Photograms must be passed in. They must contain different objects and look like two different compositions.

Steps:

Study photograms from master artists.
Compile objects to experiment with photograms.
Play with your objects in order to find a pleasing composition.
Place your paper under the enlarger.
Place your objects on the paper.
Run the enlarger for about 4-8 seconds depending on your objects.
Develop using the normal chemistry.

Tips:

Before you begin in the darkroom, be sure to play with the placement of objects on your paper. What makes the best photogram?
Remember, no cheesiness. We are striving for fine art.
Think graphic patterns and clean design.
Plants work really well. Try them.
Transparent objects also work well (cellophane, clear plastic, glass paper weights,tulle fabric,etc.)

Glitching

10/10/2017

A glitch is a momentary fault in a system. The last few years all of the photo I classes have played with the idea of glitching photographs that they made and we came up with some really awesome results. Glitching is fun and easy. To glitch, all you have to do is the following:

Duplicate your photo (because you WILL mess it up!)
Change the file extension to .txt
Open up the .txt file in text edit
Change it up! Add text, copy, paste, go wild!
Change the file extension back to .jpg (please remember this is NOT a proper way to save a file)
Open the file and see your masterpiece

Assignment:
You are creating 3 different glitched images. You can use photos you have already taken (but not ones you've passed in) or you can shoot new imagery for the project. You will be passing in your best 3 glitches and printing and mounting your favorite one.

Steps:

Choose a few images to start glitching—they must be original jpg files, not ones that have been edited in Photoshop (those won't glitch)
Images must be in color, black and white photos don't work
Changing from jpg to a txt file is NOT the proper way to save a file, but it is a necessary part of this process, Do NOT save your regular files this way or you will cause corruption.

If you glitch too much you may not be able to see the photo so take your time and check back on what you have done every once in a while by changing the extension back to jpg. If you like the glitch the way it is but want to play more, duplicate that photo and try making more changes again. You will have the option of doing Photoshop editing once you've finalized your glitch.

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!