Art Photo Assignments
Project 1: The Pursuit of Beauty- due August 25
Merriam-Webster defines beauty as, "the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit". I think it's interesting that the most common definition of art also incorporates the idea of beauty, and since art is an expression of our humanity, it makes sense to take pleasure in showing beautiful things.
But what IS beauty? Ask yourself...
But what IS beauty? Ask yourself...
- Is it something that can be commonly understood and appreciated?
- Can it be deeply personal?
- Are we socially conditioned to think some things are beautiful?
- Can we create our own definitions of beauty?
- Can something be beautiful to us one day and ugly the next? (Google, "Antiques Roadshow disappointments")
For this assignment, I want you to explore this concept of beauty as it reflects your values. In other words, your response will tell me a lot about you and how you view the world. You will store all the images you take for the assignment (minimum of 30 images) in your Art Photography Google Drive folder as well as select your best shot to add to the shared Google slideshow.
Each day you photograph, choose one of the following different subjects to photograph. Be mindful of how you photograph your subject- think about your composition and lighting.
Each day you photograph, choose one of the following different subjects to photograph. Be mindful of how you photograph your subject- think about your composition and lighting.
- A beautiful texture
- A beautiful object/collection of objects
- A beautiful person
- A beautiful plant
- A beautiful scene/landscape
- A beautiful candid moment
- A beautiful play of light and shadow
- A beautiful play of color
Project 2: Portraiture and Light/Photoshop Editing- due October 6
Part 1: For this assignment, I want you to make TWO portraits where the light you use is carefully thought out and utilized to create a specific mood in your image. You are expected to take at least 30 photographs (these will be turned in in your Google Drive folder)
You will turn two images, each using a specific source of light as described below.
Part 2: Complete the following tutorial (I will live demonstrate in class) using the practice images.
You will turn two images, each using a specific source of light as described below.
- Studio Lighting or Alternative Light Source- Take a photograph using traditional studio lighting and light modifiers. Explore less traditional light sources- computer/television light, flashlights, led lights, cell phone light, etc.
- Natural Light Portrait- Take a photograph of your subject using only non-electric sources of light. You may also use a reflector to fill light where needed.
Part 2: Complete the following tutorial (I will live demonstrate in class) using the practice images.
- Basic editing/image clean up video demo HERE
- Download practice image below.
alley-before.jpg |
Project 3: Play of Light and Shadow- due November 3
Choose 2 of the following four options to explore:
1. Forks/Spoons
2. Eggs
3. Glassware
4. Crystal Balls
5. Portrait with reflection/shadow
1. Forks/Spoons
2. Eggs
3. Glassware
4. Crystal Balls
5. Portrait with reflection/shadow
Project 4: Masters of Black & White- due November 17
Look carefully at each photographers' body of work and choose one whose work appeals to you the most to emulate. A good emulation is not a direct copy, but rather an inspired attribution to the original photographer that also carries your own personal aesthetic and subject matter values.
Part 1: Create a Google Slide containing examples of your chosen photographer and add information about your photographer and their style. Answer the following questions- What did they predominately photograph? What kind of lighting and compositions did they use?
Part 2: Create a photograph in the style of your chosen photographer.
Part 1: Create a Google Slide containing examples of your chosen photographer and add information about your photographer and their style. Answer the following questions- What did they predominately photograph? What kind of lighting and compositions did they use?
Part 2: Create a photograph in the style of your chosen photographer.
- A landscape in the style of Ansel Adams
- A portrait in the style of Diane Arbus
- A portrait in the style of Richard Avedon's series, In the American West
- A still life in the style of Karl Blossfeldt
- A preserved spontaneous moment in the style of Henri Cartier Bresson
- A self portrait in the style of Claude Cahun
- A portrait inspired by literature and mythology in the style of Julia Margaret Cameron
- A gritty, high contrast portrait in the style Anton Corbijn
- A portrait of contemporary America in the style of Robert Frank's photo essay book The Americans
- An evocative image with added text in the style of Barbara Kruger
- A haunting Southern landscape in the style of Sally Mann
- A gritty but sympathetic portrait in the style of Mary Ellen Mark
- Street photography (campus photography?) in the style of Vivian Maier
- Spooky but playful images of your family/friends in masks in the style of Ralph Eugene Meatyard
- A cinematic self portrait in the style of Cindy Sherman's Untitled Film Still series
- A series of family portraits around the dining table (or sofa, front porch, or wherever your family gathers) in the style of Carrie Mae Weems' The Kitchen Table series.
- A still life in the style of Edward Weston
- A psychologically charged, long exposure self portrait in the style of Francesca Woodman
Project 5: Expressive Hands- due December 7
For this project, you will create 2 images that investigate the expressive nature of hands, choosing two of the three options below (or try all three!):
- One black and white study
- One color study
- One creative/editorial approach
YES!
Studio light Natural light Meaningful background or neutral background Interesting textures Get creative with paint Consider the body language of the hand |
NO!
Fluorescent light ANY overhead light, actually Distracting background Fancy nails (unless conceptually incorporated) Use the hands as merely a canvas for the paint Fingers spread out ("hand turkey") or inappropriate hand gestures (if you have to ask, it probably isn't appropriate) |
Project 6: Analog and Digital Collage- due January 19
Part 1: Analog Collage
Your 3 collages can include...
Links and Inspiration:
Inspiring artist- James Dawe
Instagram- @miss.printed
Instagram- @smallditch
Even more Instagram collage artists!
Your 3 collages can include...
- Published images in magazines and newspapers
- Found random imagery (junk mail, flyers, old drawings, old photographs, maps, handwritten letters)
- Photocopies or laser copies
- Painted areas (watercolor, ink, acrylic)
- Drawn areas
Links and Inspiration:
Inspiring artist- James Dawe
Instagram- @miss.printed
Instagram- @smallditch
Even more Instagram collage artists!
Part 2: Photoshop Collage
Complete the following tutorials (I will demonstrate in class and upload videos of the lessons daily) using the practice images.
Download Practice Images Here
Using your own photographs and high quality found materials (digital or scanned), you will be responsible for creating a composite image of your own in Photoshop, using one of the themes below-
Composite 1: a fantasy landscape/cityscape
Composite 2: an altered portrait
Complete the following tutorials (I will demonstrate in class and upload videos of the lessons daily) using the practice images.
Download Practice Images Here
- animal/human hybrid (video demo HERE) or celebrity face swap (video demo HERE)
- double exposure (video demo HERE)
- adding a background (video demo HERE)
- special effect (choose from Laser Eyes, "Crimson Peak" Effect, Peeling Plaster Face (video demo HERE), and Text Portrait)
Using your own photographs and high quality found materials (digital or scanned), you will be responsible for creating a composite image of your own in Photoshop, using one of the themes below-
Composite 1: a fantasy landscape/cityscape
Composite 2: an altered portrait
Project 7: Abstract- due February 9
For this assignment, I'd like you to focus on a fragment of an object and show us something special about that detail. Focus on the texture, color, shape, or line of the object to reveal a hidden or mysterious aspect. Pay careful attention to how you light your subject- you can create interesting visuals by playing with the intensity, color, and direction of the light.
NOTE: You will be making 2 PHOTOGRAPHS, one focusing on a single object and one focusing on a cluster/grouping of objects.
Bits of advice:
1. Keep it simple
2. Use everyday objects
3. Experiment with your lighting
4. Change your angle of view, camera orientation, and lens
5. Distort by shooting through objects/liquids
6. Play with transparency
7. Overlap
8. Use symmetry or asymmetry with intention
NOTE: You will be making 2 PHOTOGRAPHS, one focusing on a single object and one focusing on a cluster/grouping of objects.
Bits of advice:
1. Keep it simple
2. Use everyday objects
3. Experiment with your lighting
4. Change your angle of view, camera orientation, and lens
5. Distort by shooting through objects/liquids
6. Play with transparency
7. Overlap
8. Use symmetry or asymmetry with intention
Project 8: Photo Series Book: Typology or Narrative
-images due February 29
-finished book due March 7
For this assignment, you will create a series of AT LEAST 7 images using one of the following themes: Typology or Narrative. Your collection of images should be visually cohesive (all vertical, horizontal, or square) and conceptually cohesive. Please review the collection of examples below to gain an understanding of what you should be aiming for. Your images will be printed and bound in a small accordion book (see directions for formatting the images below)
- Typology - a classification according to general type. For example, a collection of images of chewed on pencils, colorful front doors, unusual objects hanging from rear-view mirrors, etc. For more inspiration, click here.
- Narrative- a visual story played out in several images. For example, a documentation of someone making something from start to finish, a transformation, or a visual diary.
Instructions for formatting and adding your images to the book:
- Download the templates- HERE
- Flatten your image layers, if you have any
- Select the Cropping tool in the toolbar and set your crop dimensions in the options bar from "Ratio" to "W x H x Resolution" and set the Width to 4 inches, the height to 2.654 and the resolution to 300 pixels per inch (for a horizontal book), Width-2.653/Height-4/300 pixels per inch (for a vertical book), or Width-3/Height-3/300 pixels per inch (for a square book) and crop your image.
Cropping guidelines for rectangular/horizontal images
- Copy and paste the image into the appropriate template
- Continue with the rest of your images and fill the spaces
- "Save As" and save as "Page 1"
- Delete the image layers in the template and continue with the other images until you have filled all your images into the template
- "Save As" and save as "Page 2"
Project 9: Anthropomorphic Creature/ Levitation- due April 5
For this assignment, you'll have a choice between creating your own animal/human hybrid inspired by the film, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, or making a levitation photograph.
For the Anthropomorphic project, collect a folder of material from multiple sources- scans, Google image searches, or your own images, and use those to combine into an anthropomorphic creature in Photoshop.
Video demo here
For the Levitation project you'll need to take your own original images based on a levitation concept.
Tutorial here
For the Anthropomorphic project, collect a folder of material from multiple sources- scans, Google image searches, or your own images, and use those to combine into an anthropomorphic creature in Photoshop.
Video demo here
For the Levitation project you'll need to take your own original images based on a levitation concept.
Tutorial here
Project 10: The Four Elements- due April 18
Choose one of the 4 elements for this project. You may interpret the assignment as literally or loosely as you like, but it must be the focus of your photograph. Consider not only the visual aspects of the element, but of its symbolic nature. Would you choose to reinforce known associations with those elements, or choose instead to be more subversive?
Project 11: Miniature Worlds and Paper Forms- due May 2
To paraphrase a quote often discredited to Albert Einstein, "Creativity is intelligence having fun". This assignment takes a tiny amount of creativity (sorry, not sorry). Your directive is return to your childhood and photograph toys, but give them a sense of purpose; a story to tell. This is a lesson in resourcefulness, creativity, and playfulness. Take a look at the examples below, have a dig around for some toys (or borrow them from a younger sibling/neighbor) and photograph it as it lives in the real world. You may need to consider multiple "scenarios" before you find the perfect setting.
Alternatively you can construct a small 3-D paper form through cutting, folding, and shaping and photograph the form using a variety of lights. The photograph will be the final project.
Alternatively you can construct a small 3-D paper form through cutting, folding, and shaping and photograph the form using a variety of lights. The photograph will be the final project.
Last Project! Choose Your Own Adventure/Final Exam- due May 16
Your last project will also count as your Final (which will have an extra written component on the day of finals). Choose one (or more if you're adventurous!) option from the list below:
- Scavenger Hunt- Photograph as many from the scavenger hunt list as possible (see me for the list). A prize will go to whoever gets the most from the list.
- Redeem Yourself- Choose a project from this year to redo.
- Rephotographing AHS- Go through the old AHS yearbooks, choose an old photograph shot on campus, scan it in and use the print as a guide (See above) to rephotograph from the original photographer's viewpoint.
- Propose a Project- Have a great idea for a project? Tell me, and if I think it's a good idea you can do it!
- Other Class Envy- Ever look at the Advanced Art Photo or AP Design assignments and wish you could do them? Now's your chance!
- Photoshop Collage- Create a Photoshop collage using your own source images