For your first photographic shooting assignment, choose a subject to your liking, and perform an in-depth analysis of the situation. Whatever, or whomever, it is, you should shoot a complete roll of film, or the digital equivalent thereof (24-36 exposures). Shoot a complete range of exposures (extreme bracket), from very dark to very light. If at all possible, use either available light, or incandescent lighting ONLY. Do not use flash units. If you are using artificial lighting, try to be creative in your set-up, even if you are using common furniture lamps. Remember, in most artificial settings, it is the lighting set-up that takes the most amount of time. The object here will be to try to reveal the “inner truth” of the subject in question; to convey, for all to see, the essence of the person, place, or thing that you choose to examine. And then, once revealed, to abstract and obscure that reality of portraiture.
Examine the subject from as many angles as possible; a 360-degree sweep, and, if possible, from above and below the subject. Examples: If it is a portrait of someone you know, photograph that person while engaged in an activity specific to that person. If it is a public place, walk freely through that area and try to fill the foreground AND background with related objects. Be aware of your depth of field exposure settings at all times. If you are shooting a still-life of objects, rearrange the lighting set-up after every few shots.
SHOOT BLACK AND WHITE FILM, or CONVERT DIGITAL IMAGES TO GRAYSCALE (either in the camera or in Photoshop).
Scan all black and white prints at minimum of 400dpi, 150% scale. If digital, adjust downloaded images accordingly (we will discuss each individual camera and what the image settings are).
Using Photoshop, create minimum of TWO 8-1/2 x 11” ABSTRACT COLLAGES based on elements from the images. The idea here is to use Photoshop for a purely aesthetic purpose, while abstracting the signs and signifiers of the original images you took to create an interesting and aesthetically compelling composition from the disparate elements, while still revealing and communicating the essence of the subject in question.
BRING PART-ONE
PRINTS FOR COMPARISON
You will repeat the above process, but you will do it all IN COLOR. Avoid fluorescent lighting, as no film is color-corrected for it and will render all objects with a green cast. Print out results at home on ink-jet printers, or have high-res prints made at a commercial service bureau.
NOTE: FOR THESE ASSIGNMENTS YOU WILL NEED A PORTABLE DATA
STORAGE DEVICE FOR CARRYING YOUR DIGITAL WORK TO
AND FROM CLASS.
The Color assignment will comprise the Final Project for this class, no final exam will be given. Grades will be based on your Mid-Term test scores, and the performance and execution of these two shooting assignments and diptych collage results.
Final assignment results
will be posted for one year on a class-dedicated
area of my personal web
site:
http://scottmarshall.org/mcd221.htm