PHOTO II // IN CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

2020-2021

Tuesday, 8/25/20
Feeling rusty after a summer stuck in quarantine? Have you forgotten the difference between LOSSY and LOSSLESS files? Do you feel a deep sense of malaise because you haven't had Bridge crash on you in months and you don't know what to do!? Don't sweat it; this assignment is for you!

For today's assignment, you are going to complete a mini scavenger hunt! So brush the dust off the ol' camera and step outside!

Go outside in your front or back yard. You may also work in your house if you have a good idea for an image. For this assignment, you are going to be focusing on the elements of DESIGN. You may choose your own subject matter. For each element, make a photograph that emphasizes:
  • Line
  • Shape (two-dimensional)
  • Texture
  • Color
  • Space (think negative and positive space)
  • Form (three-dimensional)
  • Motion/Time (think about how your shutter speed can influence this)

I will stay on the Zoom call in case you need any help. If you finish early, go ahead and begin uploading your images. If you don't finish, you can work on this tomorrow! Come to class on Thursday ready to talk about your photographs.

Good luck!

Thursday, 10/12/19

Today you will use class time to prep 2 composite images for soft critique.
  • Convert your images to JPEG using Image Processor in Bridge at 2000 pixels on the longest edge, quality of 12.
  • Label your images lastname_firstname_p2_soft_1, 2, 3, etc.
  • Drop your files HERE in the Google Drive soft critique folder. Be sure to choose the folder that corresponds to your class period!

Thursday, 11/7/19

Today you will use class time to complete your quarterly exhibition submission. You have 2 options for submitting your work this quarter:
Follow the instructions for submissions, and BCC me on your submission email to earn credit for the assignment.

Tuesday, 10/1/19
PHOTO SMACKDOWN #2

Today you will use class time to compete in your 2nd Photo Smackdown Challenge!

You and 1 other team member will compete in a DUST OFF of epic proportions! Here are the rules:
  • ​Divide into teams of 2. Each team must consist of 1 Photo II and 1 AP student. (Use this challenge to make new friends and get to know one another!)  Two groups will have 1 AP student and 2 Photo II students. Give your team a creative name!
  • Each student will need their own computer with access to the Adobe CC. Navigate to Google Drive and look in your Shared With Me folder for the ADVANCED PHOTO CLASS FOLDER. Within this folder, you will see PHOTO SMACKDOWNS > 10/1/19. Navigate to this folder and download the TIFF file that corresponds to your class (AP or Photo II).
  • Each team member will open their TIFF file in Photoshop and remove as much dust as possible using the 3 tools we discussed in class yesterday (Spot Healing Brush (J), Healing Brush (J), and Clone Stamp (S). Don't forget to duplicate your background layer (Command+J) and do all of your dusting on a separate blank layer (Shift+Command+N)! You have until midnight on Wednesday to complete this challenge.
  • Once each team member has dusted their file to the best of their ability, they will safe their TIFF file and label it as smackdown_scan_teamname_AP or smackdown_scan_teamname_PII.
  • Upload your completed, correctly labeled challenge TIFF file in the Google Drive folder that says "TURN IN YOUR CHALLENGE FILES HERE". You will see this when you download your images. I will judge your work on Thursday during class. The team that is able to correctly remove the most dust wins!
  • The winning team gets both:
    - street cred
    - to decide on the theme for the next class family photograph! *Please note all class photo themes must get final approval from Mrs. Cooper McCauley

The stakes are high, so try your hardest!
AP - I almost made you dust/restore this image

Thursday, 9/19/19

Today you will use class time to write a proposal for your Holga project. Your project proposal should be thought out, cohesive, and feasible for your given time frame. We will go over your proposals in class. Write a 3 paragraph minimum proposal as a Google Doc detailing:
  • WHAT or WHO you'd like to photograph 
  • WHY you'd like to photograph your chosen subject matter
  • WHERE your project will be photographed
  • HOW you are going to go about photographing for your project (what materials will you need, how you will prepare, etc.)
  • Remember to consider the photographic process you will be using (black and white film, toy camera images). How might the process affect the way your finished images look? How might your process influence your given subject matter?

Type this in a Google Doc and label your proposal lastname_firstname_holga_proposal. Place it in your Project 1 folder in Google Drive and share it with me!

Wednesday, 5/1/19

Today you will use class time to prep your 5 strongest images from your previous homework shooting assignment for soft critique.
  • Convert your images to JPEG using Image Processor in Bridge at 2000 pixels on the longest edge, quality of 12.
  • Label your images lastname_firstname_p5_soft_1, 2, 3, etc.
  • Drop your files HERE in the Google Drive soft critique folder.

Wednesday, 3/20/19

Today you will use class time to write a proposal for your documentary project. You will do this as a blog post on your Weebly student website.
  1. Write a 1 page proposal detailing what you want to photograph for your documentary project. Be sure to describe the who, what, why, when, where, and how of what you plan to do. 
  2. Consider any equipment needs you might have, or any challenges you anticipate facing so that you can plan accordingly.
  3. List examples of artists you are inspired by and include images of their work in your post.
  4. Be sure to hit PUBLISH in the top right hand corner when you are finished!

Thursday, 1/31/19

Today you will use class time to prep your 5 strongest images from your previous homework shooting assignment for soft critique.
  • Convert your images to JPEG using Image Processor in Bridge at 2000 pixels on the longest edge, quality of 12.
  • Label your images lastname_firstname_panorama_soft2_1, 2, 3, etc.
  • Drop your files HERE in the Google Drive soft critique folder. Be sure to choose the folder that corresponds to your class period!

Thursday, 1/24/19

Today you will use class time to prep your 6 strongest images (3 landscape, 3 portrait) for soft critique.
  • Convert your images to JPEG using Image Processor in Bridge at 2000 pixels on the longest edge, quality of 12.
  • Label your images lastname_firstname_panorama_soft_1, 2, 3, etc.
  • Drop your files HERE in the Google Drive soft critique folder. Be sure to choose the folder that corresponds to your class period!

Tuesday, 1/8/19

Today you will use class time to submit your work to an exhibition opportunity for a grade. This quarter, you will be submitting to the Rocky Mountain School of Photography High School Photography Contest.
  1. Navigate here: https://rmsp.com/photo-contest
  2. Read the call for entry and read through the different categories. You will choose 5 images that you have made so far in this class to submit; consider which category they would fit in best.
  3. Navigate to Adobe Bridge and choose the 5 images you wish to submit. You will need to save these as JPEG at 2000 pixels on the longest edge.
  4. Label your files lastname_firstname_hs_contest_1, lastname_firstname_hs_contest_2, etc. 
  5. Click Enter The Contest. You will need to create an account using your TMI email address. Once logged in, fill out the required information and choose which category or categories you plan to submit to.
  6. Upload your JPEG files to the correct categories. Once you've finished, raise your hand and show me where you have submitted your work so that you may earn your grade.

Thursday, 11/29/18

Today you will use class time to prep your Project 2 images for soft critique on Friday. You will submit at least 3 composite images for soft critique.
  1. Choose 3 composite images that you would like feedback on. 
  2. Do not worry about converting these to JPEG. You will upload the larger PSD files for critique.
  3. Label your files lastname_firstname_p2_sc_1, lastname_firstname_p2_sc_2, etc.
  4. Upload your files HERE to the class Google Drive folder. These need to be uploaded by midnight tonight.
  5. We will begin critique on Friday. That way, you can take the feedback you were given during soft critique and reshoot images this weekend if needed.

Thursday, 11/15/18

Today you will use class time to write a detailed shot list for your upcoming weekend homework. Remember, this weekend you must shoot 400 images towards your Conversation With Yourself project.

You will post your shot list to you Weebly student website blog. This is due by the end of class for a grade. On your shot list, you must write a detailed list of who you plan to photograph this weekend. You will plan out and describe ideas for 5 separate photographs. Each description must be 1 paragraph long (minimum). In each description, you must include:
  • Who you plan to photograph
  • How you want the photograph to look (describe your idea in great detail—how will the model fill the frame, what will they be wearing, what is in the background, etc.)
  • What kind of light and location you want the image to be photographed in
  • What you want to say about the person you're photographing
  • What kind of equipment you plan to use to create your image (tripod, type of lens, etc)
​
You must complete and post this by the end of class for a grade. Make sure to hit PUBLISH on your student website so that I may see your post. Good luck!

Monday, 9/10/18

Use class time to read these 2 chapters from Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual by Henry Horenstein. Take notes on your student blog.

Wednesday, 8/29/18

Photo Smackdown: Portrait and Studio Lighting Challenge

Today in class, you will complete your first Photo Smackdown! We will periodically have challenges where you compete in teams as a class, or against my other section of Photography I. Today you will divide into 2 teams and compete against each other. These are meant to be fun, with points awarded for creativity and ingenuity, so use your noodle!

See below for your instructions. When you return to class, your team will begin importing your images onto 1 computer, and you will process your images in ACR as a team. We will then vote on the strongest images—the winning team will receive a fabulous prize!
​
TMI PHOTO II / PORTRAIT AND LIGHT CHALLENGE
Divide yourself up into 2 teams. Give your team a name. I will name a captain for each team. Designate 1 person to operate the camera, 1 person to direct models, 1 person to adjust lights, etc. Come up with a game plan before you get to work.
Set your camera to Manual mode for this challenge. Make sure that you are shooting in RAW format, and that your camera’s color space is set to Adobe RGB 1998.

Teams may only work in the area designated by Mrs. Cooper McCauley. Practice common sense while working. Conduct yourself according to TMI’s honor code and behavior expectations.
The team with the most successful images wins. Points will be awarded for creativity and ingenuity. The winning team will receive a fabulous prize!
​
This challenge aims to get you to pay attention to how different kinds of light can affect portraiture. As a team, you will create a series of portraits using various lighting styles. Each team member will sit for at least 1 portrait. You will be working in both the lighting studio and outside.

Head to the lighting studio in the Photo Lab. As a team, and using 1 softbox, make a portrait that uses:
  1. side lighting
  2. direct frontal lighting
  3. backlighting
  4. 2 soft box lights
  5. Now make a portrait that is in 3/4 (three quarter) view.
  6. Now make a portrait using at least 1 gel light.
  7. Now make a portrait of 2 models, using your choice of lighting (as long as it’s in the studio).
​

Monday, 8/27/18

Weebly Website Set Up
Today in class, you will set up your new Weebly student website for Photo I.
  • To log in, navigate to https://students.weebly.com/.
  • ​Your username is photo2lastname (be sure to type in your actual last name).
  • Your default password is Panthers1! You will need to reset this once you log in.
​
​You may choose to decorate your website how you wish. You must include these pages on your website:
  • ​​Projects
  • Assignments
  • Portfolio
  • About Me
  • Blog
​
​Once you have created your pages, navigate to your blog. You will use this throughout the year for various graded writing assignments, such as responding to photographs or art, writing artist statement drafts, project proposals, etc. For your first blog post, write 3 paragraphs that answer these questions:
  • What are you most excited for this year at TMI? This doesn't have to be related to our class.
  • What are you most nervous about this year at TMI?
  • Name 1 goal you hope to accomplish in our class this year and why. What kind of photography are you interested in? Did you have a favorite project in Photography I? What are you hoping to learn from this class?​

Be sure to hit the blue Publish button in the top right hand corner when you are finished!

Tuesday, 1/30/18

Project 6: Soft Critique 1
Today you will prep your 5 strongest images from your homework shooting assignment for soft critique.
  1. Choose your 5 strongest images and process them in Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop. 
  2. Convert these to JPEG at 1500 pixels on the longest edge.
  3. Batch rename your JPEGS lastname_firstname_p5_soft1_1, lastname_firstname_p5_soft1_2, etc.
  4. Drop your JPEGS HERE for class soft critique.

Thursday, 1/25/18

Project Proposal
Today you will write a proposal for your next project: Documentary Photography. Your goal for this project is to document or "bear witness" to something in your life: consider what kinds of locations, people, or viewpoints you have access to in your own life.

Write a 3 paragraph minimum proposal on your student Weebly blog detailing:
  • WHAT or WHO you'd like to document 
  • WHY you'd like to document your chosen subject matter
  • WHERE your project will be photographed
  • HOW you are going to go about photographing for your project (what materials will you need, how you will prepare, etc.)

Consider what impact this project could have. Can you use your camera and images to give a voice to others? Can you use your camera to facilitate empathy by helping others understand another culture or way of life? Or do you simply want your photographs to serve as visual record of a place, time period, group of people, etc?

We will discuss your proposals in class. You must get approval on your proposal before moving forward with your project.

Monday, 11/6/17

Quarterly Exhibition Submission 1: Submit to Tamron Student Showcase
Today you will use class time to submit to the Tamron Student Showcase Contest. Navigate HERE to submit your images.
  1. Choose 2 of your strongest images that you have created either this year in Photo II or last year in Photo I.
  2. Open your 2 original, high res TIFF files in Photoshop. Under Image>Image Size, leave Resample checked. Resize your images to 2000 pixels on the longest edge at 72 PPI.
  3. Save these newly resized files as JPEG to submit online. Label them lastname_firstname_tamron_1, lastname_firstname_tamron_2.
  4. Navigate to the website listed above and submit your images. Fill out the submission form correctly.
  5. Once you have submitted your images, raise your hand and show me so that you may receive credit for your submission grade.

Monday, 10/23/17

Project 3: Portfolio
Culling Images
Use class time today to go through your projects from Photography I and II. Create a Project 3 folder on your external hard drive. Pull out the strongest images and place them in a folder titled Culled Images within your Project 3 folder on your external hard drive.

Monday, 9/25/17

Project 1: Holga
​Work Day: Scan 
Use class time today to scan your remaining contact sheets. Once complete, open the contact sheets on your computer in the Mac Lab and choose your 10 best negatives. You may begin scanning these once you are ready.

Monday, 9/18/17

Project 2: VSCO
Work Day

Spend class time today finishing up your VSCO project.
  1. Create a contact sheet for your 200 homework images and upload it to your Project 2 folder on Google Drive for a grade. You can import your images onto your computer from your phone with your charging cable OR use Airdrop. Label your contact sheet lastname_firstname_p2_cs. This is due by midnight tonight.
  2. Edit your final 20 images and upload them to your VSCO grid with the hashtag #tmiphotographyII. You must also turn in your final 20, edited images to your Project 2 Google Drive folder. Label your files lastname_firsname_p2_final_1,  lastname_firsname_p2_final_2. etc. This is due by midnight tomorrow, 9/19/17.

Friday, 9/15/17

Project 2: VSCO
Topic and Proposal

Navigate HERE for your 2nd project handout.

You will pick a topic in class today to pursue this weekend as you make images towards your 2nd project. Write a short proposal for your chosen topic on your student website blog. Label the post Project II: VSCO Proposal. Be sure to list at least 1 photographer you are looking at for inspiration, and include at least 2 images by that photographer in your blog post.

Friday, 9/8/17

Photo II students, unfortunately I am not feeling well so I can't be in class today—I apologize for the delay, but we will begin your next project next week once I return!

You will spend today's class researching photographers who use their cell phones to create work. Then you will make a blog post on your student websites titled Project 2 Research. Here, post any images that you find particularly interesting from your research. Find a photographer whose work resonates with you and write about them in the blog post. Be thinking about what you'd like to photograph for your VSCO project.

I have listed below some iPhone photographers to get you started. Be sure to check out their Instagram accounts, as well:
  • David Guttenfelder National Geographic Photographer. Used his iPhone to document North Korea in 2013. Also check out #AmericanPhoneographs
  • Kevin Russ Great interview here.
  • Zachary McCauley Images made on both an iPhone 4s and DSLR.
  • Luisa Dörr Shot the latest TIME Magazine covers on her iPhone.

If you have some cell phone photographers that you are interested in, we will share them next week in class.
​Good luck!