New Semester with New Young Photographers

Welcome to the Media Arts Blog

This blog will be helpful throughout the semester.  You will find interesting and helpful links to enhance the studio experience.  Please take the time to view the links and tutorials for additional guidance.  Below is the link to your first photo assignment.  It is called "Find your Aesthetic" and requires a series of photographs of objects, scenes, people, and animals of your choice.  We will look at the images you capture to see how you view the world through a camera lens.

https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/-9H7jQO1e3nJ8A/edit

Take a look at the blendspace link for ways you can capture images over the holiday.  Christmas is a great time to document moments that can become great digital works of art.  ​Things to document include relatives.  Older people make the most dramatic imagery; take close-up images of their faces, hands, shoes, etc.  Capture moments not just prepared poses.  Candid images often show and tell a story of an event much better than a posed portrait.  Take images of food, decorations, and outdoors from all points of view.  (Bird's eye, worm's eye, and normal view.)  Think about the foreground, background, and middle ground when capturing an image.  Try to tell a story. 

Getting to know the Basics- Rule of Thirds, Horizon, and Point of View

Here are a few wonderful examples from this semesters Media Art class.  We are learning the rules of photography and getting familar with our own cameras.  Our focus during the next few weeks will be on specific lessons with assigned subjects to document.  We will progress on to learn how to use Photoshop to create original compositions with our imagery.

Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is one of the main compositional rules in visual arts, including painting, design, and photography. This rule is based around the idea that an image should be imagined as being divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two similar vertical lines, as shown in the photograph below. The rule continues on to state the important elements within the photograph, on these lines in order to obtain a successful photograph.

Horizon Line

Point of View

Point of view in photography simply means the position from which the camera sees the scene. Are you looking down on the subject? Are you looking up at the subject? How close are you to the subject? Is there anything between you and the subject? Every decision you make about point of view will change how your viewer sees the photo.

•   Shooting from eye level
•   Shooting from below
•   Shooting from above

Yeah!!! Media Art Class Returns

We are back at it again and I am so excited about the new group of students.  Our first lesson starts in a similar manner everytime but we will infuse the group with more inspiring photographers.

What to do with all your photos?

Here is a step by step guide to help you get the most from your captured images.

·         Name batch all your photos based on the assignment.  Example- name focus

·         Evaluate your images into groups of the best 10 images.

Answer these questions when deciding on your photos.

1.   Does the image satisfy the requirements of the lesson?

2.   Is the image clear in the message or design?

3.   Is the image “strong”?  Does the image grab the attention of the viewer, and communicate an idea, or share an experience?

The strongest images are those that are simple and present the subject matter in a clear, uncluttered way.

Photographers work with line, shape, texture, color, and pattern.

Each photo shoot you are assigned will emphasize one or more of these elements.

Delete all unnecessary images to prevent your computer from slowing down.  (Have a flash drive for Media Art Images if you wish to keep more than the required photographs.)

Reminder: Set your digital camera to the M1 setting or the

8.5 x11 setting. 

Do not use the Large Format setting.

First lesson-

Find your Aesthetic-“What do you find fascinating?”

·        You are to take as many photos that you like on the auto setting.  Take pictures of people, places, landscapes, and objects.

·        Capture the subjects that captivate you – impulse.

·        Take the same image from different points of view.

·        You will select only TEN and save in your Media Art folder for a class preview, but you will be capturing a lot of images.

·        Make sure you rename all photographs with Name-Lesson

Example: Schultz-Aesthetic

·        We will learn how to upload images to the Media Art SkyDrive in class for critique.

·        Write a paragraph explaining your choices for the collection you will be presenting in class.  You can email the document to me and also attach it to the BlendSpace folder with the best images from the critique. 

·        You will only place the very best images for your digital photography portfolio on BlendSpace.

You will present your photos and justification for your selection.  You will get feedback on your choices from your peers in class.  This process will give you insight into your personal aesthetics and we will build on this experience to help guide you through your future photo sessions.

 Great TedX for you to review

Chris Orwig - The poetics of pictures