Essay - How Photography Connects Us
What is due? 1 essay with 3 paragraphs.
Objective: Think about the power of photography and how you have felt that power with different photographs.
Watch the video and then write a short, 3 paragraph essay. Each paragraph needs to explain one way that you have felt a connection with a photograph.
Objective: Think about the power of photography and how you have felt that power with different photographs.
Watch the video and then write a short, 3 paragraph essay. Each paragraph needs to explain one way that you have felt a connection with a photograph.
Faces in Places
What is due? 10 photos.
Objective: This exercise is to help you see the world a little differently and to also help you to pay attention to details around you.
You need to photograph 10 different faces in places. These need to be naturally occurring in architecture, objects, clothing, or nature. Look at big things or look at really small things. Look at things sideways or upside down to try and find awesome faces.
Objective: This exercise is to help you see the world a little differently and to also help you to pay attention to details around you.
You need to photograph 10 different faces in places. These need to be naturally occurring in architecture, objects, clothing, or nature. Look at big things or look at really small things. Look at things sideways or upside down to try and find awesome faces.
Camera Modes
What is due? 20 photos.
Objective: to gain a basic understanding of how camera modes work and to demonstrate the use of those modes as discussed in class. Cameras have modes a photographer can use for various situations. Pay attention to how the photos change when the environment changes even though you're using the same camera mode.
Portrait Mode
Portrait mode is the ideal setting for capturing shots with a single person or object as the main subject.
Take four photos using Portrait Mode.
Landscape Mode
Landscape mode is suitable for shooting wide shots and getting everything in focus.
Take four photos using Landscape Mode.
Sports Mode
Photographing moving objects is what Sports Mode is designed to do. It is also called Action Mode on some cameras.
Take four photos using Sports Mode.
Night / Night Portrait Mode / TV (Shutter Priority)
Night mode is for shooting in low light situations and uses a slow shutter speed. Use some movement of a subject or the camera or moving light to make these fun.
Take four photos using Night Mode.
Macro Mode
Macro mode lets you move closer to your subject to take a close up picture and have a shallow depth of field.
Take four photos using Macro Mode.
Objective: to gain a basic understanding of how camera modes work and to demonstrate the use of those modes as discussed in class. Cameras have modes a photographer can use for various situations. Pay attention to how the photos change when the environment changes even though you're using the same camera mode.
Portrait Mode
Portrait mode is the ideal setting for capturing shots with a single person or object as the main subject.
Take four photos using Portrait Mode.
- These must be portraits of a person.
- The portraits should show the chest to the head (just like your school picture).
- Two portraits have the subject stand right in front of a wall/background.
- Two portraits have the subject stand far away from a wall/background.
Landscape Mode
Landscape mode is suitable for shooting wide shots and getting everything in focus.
Take four photos using Landscape Mode.
- Two photos need to be taken close to a detail in the landscape.
- Two photos need to be taken far away from the detail in the landscape.
Sports Mode
Photographing moving objects is what Sports Mode is designed to do. It is also called Action Mode on some cameras.
Take four photos using Sports Mode.
- Two photos need to be of a moving subject in a well-lit area.
- Two photos need to be of a moving subject in a poorly lit area.
Night / Night Portrait Mode / TV (Shutter Priority)
Night mode is for shooting in low light situations and uses a slow shutter speed. Use some movement of a subject or the camera or moving light to make these fun.
Take four photos using Night Mode.
- Two photos need to be taken in a well-lit area.
- Two photos need to be taken in a poorly lit area.
Macro Mode
Macro mode lets you move closer to your subject to take a close up picture and have a shallow depth of field.
Take four photos using Macro Mode.
- Two photos should be taken as close as you can to a small object and still have the subject in focus.
- Two photos need to be taken far away from the small object.
Photoshop Collage
Your objective is to create a collage in Photoshop that represents you and your interests. Be creative and find great images to include into your collage.
Requirements
Requirements
- 20 images used. Images must be school appropriate! (Would you show it to your grandma?)
- 10 images are cut out completely.
- Creativity is shown through arrangement, size, and image blending
- Entire document space is used.
- 20 images downloaded from the Internet. Filter your search by size to get the largest sized images possible.
- Create a new Photoshop document (File > New) that is 8 inches by 10 inches (you choose if you want it tall or wide) with a resolution of 72.
- Open all of your other images in Photoshop and move them into the new document by using the Move Tool, clicking and holding on the image, dragging it to the tab of the new document, wait for it to change to that document, drag the mouse cursor into the new document, and then let go of the mouse button.
Another option: Use command-A to select your image, command-C to copy it, and command-V to paste it into your new document. - Resize and rotate by using Command-T and drag a corner when to resize.
- Position your images creatively.
- Use the Magic Wand or Quick Selection Tool to quickly select a white background and then erase it with the Eraser Tool. Remember to Deselect when you’re done with the selection!
- Use the Eraser Tool to have the images blend into each other or erase unwanted parts of the image.
- You must have 10 cut out images in your final collage.
- Save as a JPG and name it your last and first name when you’re done.
Photobombing Aperture Practice
What is due? 6 edited photos (3 large aperture, 3 small aperture).
Objective: Show the effects of aperture and distance by photobombing each others portrait photos. For this assignment you will practice taking long, medium, and close up photos with different apertures. See the list below for which photos you need. To accomplish this, The photobomber will need to photo bomb from three distances.
Objective: Show the effects of aperture and distance by photobombing each others portrait photos. For this assignment you will practice taking long, medium, and close up photos with different apertures. See the list below for which photos you need. To accomplish this, The photobomber will need to photo bomb from three distances.
- Large Aperture (around f/4), Close distance (from subject to photobomber)
- Large Aperture (around f/4), Medium distance (from subject to photobomber)
- Large Aperture (around f/4), Long distance (from subject to photobomber)
- Small Aperture (around f/11), Close distance (from subject to photobomber)
- Small Aperture (around f/11), Medium distance (from subject to photobomber)
- Small Aperture (around f/11), Long distance (from subject to photobomber)
Face Swap
What is due? 1 photo.
Objective: Learn how to use the selection tools, eraser tool, move tool, and the layers panel.
You will need to take one photo that has two people in it. Pose the people so their faces are facing the same direction. Remove glasses and move any long hair off of the face. This is often entertaining if the people are making faces and if you have a male and female as your subjects.
Photoshop Instructions
Objective: Learn how to use the selection tools, eraser tool, move tool, and the layers panel.
You will need to take one photo that has two people in it. Pose the people so their faces are facing the same direction. Remove glasses and move any long hair off of the face. This is often entertaining if the people are making faces and if you have a male and female as your subjects.
Photoshop Instructions
- Open the photo in Photoshop.
- Use the Lasso Tool to select around one of the heads.
- Right click on the photo and choose "Layer via Copy". This will copy the pixels inside of the selection and put them on a new layer.
- Select the Background layer in the Layer Panel.
- Use the Lasso Tool to select the second head.
- Right click on the photo and choose "Layer via Copy".
- Use the move tool to move the current active layer over the other face.
- Use Command T to resize the face to fit on the other person's face.
- Use the Eraser Tool to erase the edges of the face to help it blend in.
- Click on the other layer that has a face in the Layers Panel.
- Use the move tool to move the face on the other person's face.
- Use Command T to resize the face to fit.
- Use the Eraser Tool to erase the edges of the face to help it blend in.
- Save it as a JPG, and name it your last and first name when you're done.
Surrealism
What is due? 2 surrealist images.
Objective: Create two awesome surrealist images in Photoshop by using images downloaded from the internet and combining them in unique and interesting ways. Each surrealist image needs to use at least 3 images from the internet. You may also use your own photos or take a photo for this activity.
*Update for doing this at home: Download the free app called Photofox and use the below video as a tutorial.
Instructions:
Objective: Create two awesome surrealist images in Photoshop by using images downloaded from the internet and combining them in unique and interesting ways. Each surrealist image needs to use at least 3 images from the internet. You may also use your own photos or take a photo for this activity.
*Update for doing this at home: Download the free app called Photofox and use the below video as a tutorial.
Instructions:
- Brainstorm ideas by searching the internet for “photoshop surrealism” or use your own brain (highly suggest this last one!)
- Download 3 large photos from the internet to get a better quality final image. (Or use your own images.)
- Combine the 3+ images in Photoshop. Use a layer mask to hide a portion of a layer. Paint black with the brush tool on the layer mask to “cut” a hole in the layer. Paint white to fill in the hole.
- You can use selections to help you paint on the layer mask.
- Rearrange the layers to have some things behind others.
- Use command t to resize, rotate, and warp (right click on the picture) to get the images to fit together.
- Save as a jpg.
Rule of Thirds Practice
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What is due? 10 photos.
Objective: Learn how to compose a photograph by using the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds involves dividing up your image using 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines, as shown below. You then position the important elements in your scene along those lines, or at the points where they meet. Those points create visual tension and the viewers eyes are drawn to those areas of a photograph. Explore the school to find 10 interesting subjects (person, a leaf, bug, vehicle, etc.) that you can photograph following the rule of thirds. 
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Alphabet Photography
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Objective: Practice seeing the world and showing everyday objects in an interesting way.
What is due? 26 photos. Each photo of is something that starts with a letter in the alphabet. So one photo of something that shows an object or something that starts with an A, another photo of something that starts with a B, and so on. |
Selective Color
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What is due? 5 photos.
Objective: Learn how layer masks work with adjustment layers. This is often called "selective coloring." You need to take 5 photos that have a colorful subject that has a solid shape (trees would be very difficult!). Please no photos of posters, artwork, or other flat things! Photoshop Instructions:
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Color Change
What is due? 5 images.
Objective: Learn how to adjust and change colors of specific parts of an image using the Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and Layer Masks.
Pick any 5 images that you have taken, and adjust the color of at least 1 major thing in the image. I
In Photoshop:
Objective: Learn how to adjust and change colors of specific parts of an image using the Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and Layer Masks.
Pick any 5 images that you have taken, and adjust the color of at least 1 major thing in the image. I
In Photoshop:
- Add the Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer.
- Use the eye dropper in the properties panel to click on the color you want to change in the image.
- Adjust the hue, saturation, and lightness sliders to get the color to change the way you want.
- Fine tune the color that is being affected with the range between the two colored bars.
- If needed, use the brush tool to paint black on the layer mask to make sure only the thing you want the color to change is being affected.
Photoshop Tutorials
What is due? Complete at least 2 tutorials.
Objective: Learn some new techniques in Photoshop from these tutorials.
While I'm gone on vacation, complete at least 2 of the following tutorials. You will learn new editing techniques or Photoshop tools from each tutorial. You will also learn how to read and follow an online tutorial. Feel free to use your own photos for the tutorials.
Objective: Learn some new techniques in Photoshop from these tutorials.
While I'm gone on vacation, complete at least 2 of the following tutorials. You will learn new editing techniques or Photoshop tools from each tutorial. You will also learn how to read and follow an online tutorial. Feel free to use your own photos for the tutorials.
5 Different Edits
What is due? 5 differently edited versions of the same photograph.
Objective: Post-processing is a significant part of creating photos and different edits can tell the photo's story in different ways.
For this exercise you should start thinking about different post-processing techniques and options. See what happens when you increase the saturation. What if you decrease the saturation a bit and increase the vibrance? See what happens when you drop the contrast. Even small adjustments go a long way. Experiment and try new things!
Objective: Post-processing is a significant part of creating photos and different edits can tell the photo's story in different ways.
For this exercise you should start thinking about different post-processing techniques and options. See what happens when you increase the saturation. What if you decrease the saturation a bit and increase the vibrance? See what happens when you drop the contrast. Even small adjustments go a long way. Experiment and try new things!
Visual Puns
What is due? 2 visual puns.
Objective: Create two awesome visual puns in Photoshop by using images downloaded from the internet and combining them in unique and interesting ways. Each pun needs to use 3 images from the internet.
A visual pun is taking a word or compound word literally and creating a visual representation of it. For example, a pool table could be a table made out of a pool.
Instructions:
Objective: Create two awesome visual puns in Photoshop by using images downloaded from the internet and combining them in unique and interesting ways. Each pun needs to use 3 images from the internet.
A visual pun is taking a word or compound word literally and creating a visual representation of it. For example, a pool table could be a table made out of a pool.
Instructions:
- Brainstorm ideas by searching the internet for visual puns, compound word lists, or use your own brain (highly suggest this last one!)
- Download 3 large photos from the internet to get a better quality visual pun.
- Combine the three images in Photoshop. Use a layer mask to hide a portion of a layer. Paint black with the brush tool on the layer mask to “cut” a hole in the layer. Paint white to fill in the hole.
- You can use selections to help you paint on the layer mask.
- Rearrange the layers to have some things behind others.
- Use command t to resize, rotate, and warp (right click on the picture) to get the images to fit together.
- Save as a jpg.
Forced Perspective
What is due? 5 photos
Objective: Learn to pay attention to the background by creating humorous photos that change/alter the perspective of the viewer.
Take five photos that show different perspectives. Can you change which way is down? Can you make someone look really tiny or extremely large? How can your foreground element interact with the background?
Objective: Learn to pay attention to the background by creating humorous photos that change/alter the perspective of the viewer.
Take five photos that show different perspectives. Can you change which way is down? Can you make someone look really tiny or extremely large? How can your foreground element interact with the background?
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Replace the Sky
What is due? 1 image that we create together, and 2 images you do on your own.
Objective: Learn about selection tools and how to refine layer masks. Photoshop Steps: 1. Select the sky you want to replace by using the Quick Selection Tool or Magic Wand Tool. 2. Create a layer mask by clicking the Add Layer Mask Button. 3. Invert the Layer Mask by double clicking on the mask and then scroll down to click Invert. 4. Clean up the mask by painting black or white with the brush tool. 5. Move in a new sky and change the layer order so the new sky is under the foreground image. 6. Press Command T to resize the rotate the sky, if necessary. |
Add Layer Mask button
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Halloween Lenticular Image
What is due? 1 image which is made up of two photos.
Objectives: Learn how to use blending modes and clipping masks to create a Halloween image, and then learn how to create a lenticular image in Photoshop.
A lenticular image changes depending on the direction that you look at it. You will print out the image you create and fold it so the image changes as you view it from different angles.
To create an interesting image, think about juxtaposition or what two things you can put together that show contrast in meaning or opposites.
Photography Steps:
Photoshop Steps for Halloween Image:
Objectives: Learn how to use blending modes and clipping masks to create a Halloween image, and then learn how to create a lenticular image in Photoshop.
A lenticular image changes depending on the direction that you look at it. You will print out the image you create and fold it so the image changes as you view it from different angles.
To create an interesting image, think about juxtaposition or what two things you can put together that show contrast in meaning or opposites.
Photography Steps:
- Come up with a plan or idea of what two images you want to make. Are you going to use the same image twice or take two separate images? Do you want to have a person's expression be different between the images? Do you want to have something appear that wasn't there before?
- Take the two photos. Use a tripod to keep the image's background steady between the two photos.
Photoshop Steps for Halloween Image:
- Experiment with the Liquify Tool in Photoshop to alter the shape or features of a person.
- Use the provided resources or download your own images to create your Halloween image. Please keep the image relatively gore-free!
- Use adjustment layers masked to specific ares to change color or saturation like making eyes red or black, or changing skin color, or saturation of skin.
- Use blending modes to blend in fake blood splatters or fake wounds (see image below left on where to change blending modes).
- Use clipping masks to edit specific layers to get colors of layers to match (see image below on how to clip an adjustment layer to the layer immediately below it).
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Photoshop Instructions to create the Lenticular Image:
Instructions continued below image... |
Step 2 Image: Crop Tool settings
Step 6 Image: New document settings
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Step 9 Image: Guides along the inch marks
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10. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to draw a selection of the first inch of the image from top to bottom.
11. Right click inside the selection and choose "Layer Via Cut" (see screenshot to the right). 12. Select the layer that has the image you are cutting. 13. Draw a new selection with the Rectangular Marquee Tool between inch 1 and 2 and cut that to a new layer by right clicking and choosing "Layer Via Cut". 14. Repeat steps 12 and 13 but select the different inch segments of the image until you have cut apart the original image. 15. Hide all the layers with the slices and repeat steps 12 and 13 for the other layer that has the full image on it until that layer has been cut apart (see screenshot to the right and below on how you layers will be). 16. Use the Move Tool to move the layers so they don't overlap and the image alternates between the two layers that you cut up. The slices should go Image 1, Image 2, Image 1, Image 2,... (see screen shot below). Hold shift as you move the layers to keep them lined up horizontally. The purple canvas guides that automatically pop up will help you keep the spacing the same as you move the layers. 17. Save and turn in the image as a JPG. 18. Click File > Print and then choose the printer that ends in "Color" and click "Print". 19. Grab you paper from the printer, cut off the white, and carefully fold the image like an accordion to achieve the lenticular effect. |
Step 11 Image: Right click and select Layer Via Cut
Step 15 Image: Layers panel
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Step 16 Image: layers positioned in alternating pattern
Wanted Poster
- Take a portrait of a person with no modern things in the background. Be creative!
- Search and download a large texture from online.
- In Photoshop, move the texture photo into the document with the person.
- Change the blending mode to one that YOU like and adjust the opacity of the texture layer to get an effect that you like (see image on right).
- Add a layer mask to the texture layer and paint grey to soften areas of the texture.
- Add a title that says, “Wanted” and be sure to change font, font size, and color to make it fit the feel of the poster.
- Place a layer mask on the title to make it look like the title goes behind something in the photograph.
- Add at least 3 more lines of informational text.
If you finish early, make the edges of the poster look worn, burned, or cut. Use other textures, layer masks, or search the web on how to do it.
Diptych - What's in Your Bag
Lenses, Focal Lengths, & Apertures
What is due? Paper with the following answers on it.
Objective: Take photos with different lenses, focal lengths, and apertures and compare the effects of each.
Take headshots (shoulders and head) and the head needs to be the same size in each picture – very important! Make sure you focus on the eyes of the person. Use Aperture Priority Mode (AV) and double check that the ISO is on Auto. The background needs to be at least 20 feet away from the subject.
A kit zoom lens (18-55mm).
A telephoto lens (70-200mm or 70-300mm)
A wide angle lens (8mm or 10-18mm)
A fixed lens (50mm)
Questions
Objective: Take photos with different lenses, focal lengths, and apertures and compare the effects of each.
Take headshots (shoulders and head) and the head needs to be the same size in each picture – very important! Make sure you focus on the eyes of the person. Use Aperture Priority Mode (AV) and double check that the ISO is on Auto. The background needs to be at least 20 feet away from the subject.
A kit zoom lens (18-55mm).
- 1 picture using the shortest focal length and smallest f-stop. The f-stop is _____________.
- 1 picture using the longest focal length and smallest f-stop. The f-stop is _____________.
A telephoto lens (70-200mm or 70-300mm)
- 1 picture using the shortest focal length and smallest f-stop. The f-stop is _____________.
- 1 picture using the longest focal length and smallest f-stop. The f-stop is _____________.
A wide angle lens (8mm or 10-18mm)
- 1 picture using the shortest focal length and smallest f-stop. The f-stop is _____________.
A fixed lens (50mm)
- 1 picture using the smallest f-stop.
Questions
- What happens to the depth of field as the focal length increases?
- What happens to the amount of the background you can see as the focal length decreases?
- Compare the fixed 50mm photo to the kit zoom lens photos. Which one has less of the subject’s face in focus?
- How does the depth of field on a kit zoom lens and a fixed lens differ?
- What happens to the subject’s facial features as the focal length gets shorter?
- In your opinion, which lens takes the most flattering portrait?
Textures
What is due? 8 photos
Objective: Learn to pay attention to your environment and photograph interesting textures.
A texture is an object's surface quality. To create interesting texture photos, you need to find interesting textures. Smooth textures do not make the most interesting photos. Use the macro mode or aperture priority mode to control the f-stop and create a shallow depth of field. Also, changing your perspective might be a desirable way to show the texture and create depth. If the lighting is even which makes the texture look flat, create your own shadows by using your phone's light and move it to an angle of the texture.
Objective: Learn to pay attention to your environment and photograph interesting textures.
A texture is an object's surface quality. To create interesting texture photos, you need to find interesting textures. Smooth textures do not make the most interesting photos. Use the macro mode or aperture priority mode to control the f-stop and create a shallow depth of field. Also, changing your perspective might be a desirable way to show the texture and create depth. If the lighting is even which makes the texture look flat, create your own shadows by using your phone's light and move it to an angle of the texture.
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Alphabet Photography
What is due? 1 image that spells your name.
Objective: Students will practice seeing their surroundings in a different way.
Objective: Students will practice seeing their surroundings in a different way.
- Find the letters of your first and last name and take pictures of them. Upload them on to the computer.
- Create a new Photoshop document by clicking File>New.
- Make the document’s width 10 inches, height 8 inches, and resolution of 300 dpi.
- Open all your alphabet pictures in Photoshop.
- Crop the pictures that need cropping (shortcut = c). Be sure to keep the aspect ratio the same
by holding shift! - Click on the move tool (shortcut = v).
- Click and hold the mouse button on the picture as you drag the picture into your empty
document. - Click Edit > Transform > Scale to make it smaller (shortcut = cmd t) and hold shift while
scaling the picture smaller. - Click Edit > Transform > Rotate if you need to rotate it.
- Repeat with all the pictures.
- Save it as your name and make sure the format is a JPG.
Multiplicity
What is due? 1 scene and each scene is made up of at least 7 photos.
Objective: Students will learn how selections are used with layer masks and practice thinking creatively to come up with an interesting scene.
Your goal is to create a seamless image in which the same person appears at least seven times and overlaps him/herself at least three times. You will need to get in a group of 2-3. No more than that! You will each do your own multiplicity scene.
Photographing
Objective: Students will learn how selections are used with layer masks and practice thinking creatively to come up with an interesting scene.
Your goal is to create a seamless image in which the same person appears at least seven times and overlaps him/herself at least three times. You will need to get in a group of 2-3. No more than that! You will each do your own multiplicity scene.
Photographing
- You will need a tripod, camera, and a good idea. Find a location around the school (inside or outside). Location is key to making this look good. Think about the depth of the scene and where the figures will be. Your main person needs to overlap at least three times.
- Consider the point of view. Will you shoot from above, down below, or eye level?
- Mount the camera securely on the tripod.
- Turn off the flash or put the camera in no flash auto mode.
- Pose the figures and take the photographs (no overlapping in the same picture).
- Make sure your photographs are in focus!
- Return to class.
Layer Mask icon
Photoshop
Watch out for: Visible layer edges. Use a soft brush to fix any hard/visible edges by painting black or white on the layer mask.
- Open your images in Photoshop.
- Select one image as your master (I recommend using the photograph that has the person furthest from the camera).
- Move all the photographs into your master document.
- Use the Quick Selection Tool to select your people.
- Create a layer mask by clicking on the add mask button at the bottom of the layers panel.
- Use the brush tool to paint black and white on the layer mask to clean up the edges.
- Make sure you show any shadows or reflections to add to the realism of the scene.
- When you have one person in the image at least 7 times you are done!
Watch out for: Visible layer edges. Use a soft brush to fix any hard/visible edges by painting black or white on the layer mask.
Typography Poster
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What is due? 2 images.
Objective: Learn about the type tool and shape tools in Photoshop and how to download and install fonts. Use the Type Tool in Photoshop to create an typographic poster. Experiment with fonts, color, size, and effects to create the mood you desire for your image. You can download new fonts at dafont.com. After you have downloaded a font, you need to find the zipped file in your downloads folder, double click on it do unzip it, then go into the folder to find the .OTF or .TTF and double click on that font to install it. Also experiment with the shape tools to add borders or other design elements to your image. FYI - the stroke is the border of a shape and the fill is the color on the inside of a shape. |
Posing Practice
What is due? 9 photos (3 wide, 3 medium, and 3 close up).
Objective: Students will practice posing for portraits and also practice taking wide, medium, and close up photos.
Great poses for photography can be difficult. However, there are plenty of tips and tricks to help the photography pose the subject with confidence and get the look you want. Here are a few articles that can help you begin with posing: Article 1, Article 2, Article 3. Also, feel free to use Pinterest to find poses that you like, but analyze the pose so you know what it is that you like about it and can make it your own.
Wide photo photos will show the entire body of the subject and the environment in which the portrait was taken. Medium portraits will show most of the models body but will cut off mid-calf or mid-thigh. Avoid cropping people off at the joints (ankles, knees, waist, elbows, or neck) because this will give the impression of the subject being an amputee. Close up portraits will be show the tops of the shoulders and head. Close up portraits might even crop out the top of the head as long as it isn't cropped off at the hairline.
Objective: Students will practice posing for portraits and also practice taking wide, medium, and close up photos.
Great poses for photography can be difficult. However, there are plenty of tips and tricks to help the photography pose the subject with confidence and get the look you want. Here are a few articles that can help you begin with posing: Article 1, Article 2, Article 3. Also, feel free to use Pinterest to find poses that you like, but analyze the pose so you know what it is that you like about it and can make it your own.
Wide photo photos will show the entire body of the subject and the environment in which the portrait was taken. Medium portraits will show most of the models body but will cut off mid-calf or mid-thigh. Avoid cropping people off at the joints (ankles, knees, waist, elbows, or neck) because this will give the impression of the subject being an amputee. Close up portraits will be show the tops of the shoulders and head. Close up portraits might even crop out the top of the head as long as it isn't cropped off at the hairline.
Example of a wide photo by Dani Diamond.
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Example of a medium photo by Dani Diamond.
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Example of a close up photo by Filip Gorski.
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Studio Portraits
What is due? 4 portraits.
Objective: Learn the four 1-light setups for studio portraits.
Use the posing techniques you learned for the natural light portraits to pose your model and take 4 portraits. These should be medium shots or head shots. At least 1 of the portraits should be vertical so you can do the next in-class assignment (magazine cover).
Below are the four 1-light setups you will need to recreate with one of the studio lights.
Objective: Learn the four 1-light setups for studio portraits.
Use the posing techniques you learned for the natural light portraits to pose your model and take 4 portraits. These should be medium shots or head shots. At least 1 of the portraits should be vertical so you can do the next in-class assignment (magazine cover).
Below are the four 1-light setups you will need to recreate with one of the studio lights.
Split Lighting: The light is to the side and fairly level to the subject's face, which causes one side to be lit up and the other side to be in shadow.
Rembrandt Lighting: The light is at a slight angle to the side and up a bit from the subject's face, which allows some light to spill over the bridge of the nose to create a triangle of light on the cheek. The key to this is to get the nose shadow connected to the jaw shadow.
That triangle of light was a technique for light that Rembrandt used in his paintings.
That triangle of light was a technique for light that Rembrandt used in his paintings.
Loop Lighting: The light is to the front, up a little higher and slightly to the side of the subject's face. This will cast a small loop shaped shadow from the nose.
Butterfly Lighting: The light is in front and higher than the subject's face. This will cast a little shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly. Be careful that the light isn't too close to the subject's face so the eyebrows cast shadows on the eyes.
Magazine Cover
What is due? 1 image.
Objective: Learn about typography and design in combination with a photo.
Create a magazine cover from 1 of your studio portraits. Use the Type Tool in Photoshop and use a good color scheme that matches the photo. You can use color.adobe.com to help you pick out a good color scheme for the text. You can also download a font to use from fonts.google.com or dafont.com.
Magazine cover requirements:
Here are some principles of graphic design to help you:
Objective: Learn about typography and design in combination with a photo.
Create a magazine cover from 1 of your studio portraits. Use the Type Tool in Photoshop and use a good color scheme that matches the photo. You can use color.adobe.com to help you pick out a good color scheme for the text. You can also download a font to use from fonts.google.com or dafont.com.
Magazine cover requirements:
- Magazine title (masked to go behind the person's head)
- Main story
- 4 sub story
- At least 2 shapes or graphics
Here are some principles of graphic design to help you:
- Contrast - use contrasting colors or different sizes to make something stand out. The biggest thing is the most important thing (hierarchy). Portrait is the biggest, then magazine title, then main story, then all sub stories are the same size.
- Repetition - repeat colors or shapes to make the design feel more professional.
- Alignment - make sure text elements are lined up vertically and horizontally.
- Proximity - Related things should be closer together to help unite them.
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Product Photos
What is due? 5 photos.
Objectives: Learn to look how light is shaping a product. Learn how to photograph a product to make it interesting.
Your goal is to take 5 photos of 1 item. Each photo needs show different elements of the product. 1 photo might show the entire product, while the other 4 will show different angles or details of the product. Also, change the lights and experiment to see how moving the lights will shape the product differently or highlight different parts of the product.
Objectives: Learn to look how light is shaping a product. Learn how to photograph a product to make it interesting.
Your goal is to take 5 photos of 1 item. Each photo needs show different elements of the product. 1 photo might show the entire product, while the other 4 will show different angles or details of the product. Also, change the lights and experiment to see how moving the lights will shape the product differently or highlight different parts of the product.
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Christmas/Graduation Card
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What is due? 1 Christmas or graduation card.
Objective: Learn to use custom Photoshop brushes. Your goal is to create an interesting Christmas or graduation card. You may use your own photo(s) for it or download some photos to use. Feel free to seek inspiration online at a website like tinyprints.com. You can download Photoshop brushes from myphotoshopbrushes.com. After you download the brush, unzip it in your download folder. In Photoshop, click on the brush tool, then click on the box where you change the size, then click on the gear icon, click on "Load Brushes..." Navigate to your downloads folder to find the brushes you downloaded. After you load it, you will find the brushes at the bottom of the list of brushes. Photoshop Requirements:
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Abstract Photography
Color
Line
Shape
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What is due? 25 photos.
Objective: Use the elements of art to create abstract photos. Abstract photography concentrates on line, shape, color, form, and texture. The viewer is often unable to see the whole object with the focus on only a small part of it. You can also see it as an image that does not have an immediate association with the object world. Color – take five photos that show color as the main focus of the image. An element of art with three properties: (1) hue or tint, is the color name, e.g., red, yellow, blue, etc.: (2) saturation, is the purity and strength of a color, e.g., bright red or dull red; and (3) value, is the lightness or darkness of a color. Line – take five photos that show at least one type of line. Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, straight or ruled, curved, bent, angular, thin, thick or wide, or interrupted (dotted, dashed, broken, etc.). Shape – take five photos that have a shape as the main subject. Shapes are two-dimensional. Examples of shapes include: circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, etc Form – take five photos that show a three-dimensional form. Forms are three-dimensional (height, width, and depth) and enclose a volume. For example, a triangle, which is two-dimensional, is a shape, but a pyramid is a form. Texture – take five photos that display a good use of texture. Texture is the surface quality or "feel" of an object, its smoothness, roughness, softness, etc.
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Hands
What is due? 10 images.
Objective: Practice creating an interesting photo series and unique composition of the same subject.
Your goal is to take 10 different photos of hands. How can you show hands in unique (and appropriate!) ways with posing, lighting, composition, and props. Hands can say so much about a person. They can be wrinkly, working, dirty, or clean. They can be color, black and white, moody or bright. Just so long as they include hands!
Objective: Practice creating an interesting photo series and unique composition of the same subject.
Your goal is to take 10 different photos of hands. How can you show hands in unique (and appropriate!) ways with posing, lighting, composition, and props. Hands can say so much about a person. They can be wrinkly, working, dirty, or clean. They can be color, black and white, moody or bright. Just so long as they include hands!
Food Photography
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What is due? 10 food images.
Objective: Learn about and practice balance when photographing food. You need to practice using balance as you photograph some food. If you have a large item of food on one side of the image, how do you balance it out? What other things, elements, colors, or patterns can you use to make the image balanced? Consider taking flat lay photos (camera pointed straight down) as you practice balance, and then you can also take 3/4 shots or shoot straight across the food. Be conscience of the background so there aren't any distracting elements. If you use direct natural light, the texture will be pronounced because the shadows are harsh. Or you can use indirect light for softer shadows. Use a window that the sun doesn't shine through, or use something to diffuse the light (reflector or thin paper). |
Brushtacular
What is due? 1 image.
Objective: Learn how to use and control custom Photoshop brushes.
Your goal is to create an image manipulation that has colorful brushes which interacts with the person.
Photographing
Photoshop File
Create the Brushtacular!
Points will be lost if the layer mask of the person isn’t awesomely perfect and the person doesn’t interact with the brushes.
Objective: Learn how to use and control custom Photoshop brushes.
Your goal is to create an image manipulation that has colorful brushes which interacts with the person.
Photographing
- Find a plain or simple background.
- Subject needs to pose in a dynamic way.
- Take the picture of someone. Full body shot (head to feet).
Photoshop File
- Download brushes from myphotoshopbrushes.com that you will use for your photo manipulation.
- Go to your downloads folder, double click on the zipped file to unzip it. Then double click on the .abr file to load it into Photoshop.
- Create a new document (File > New) and make it 10 inches wide and 8 inches tall with 300 for the
resolution. - Fill the background with black or white by clicking Edit > Fill and changing the “Use” to black.
- Create two new layers. Name the top one “Colors” and the middle one “Brush.”
- Fill the “Colors” layer with the colors that you want to eventually show up on your new brushes.
- Change the “Colors” layer to Color Dodge for the blending mode (at the top of the layers palette).
- Open the picture of the person in Photoshop and move that picture into the new document. Resize the person to fit (command t). Make sure the layer of the person is on top of all the other layers.
- Use the Polygonal Selection Tool or the Lasso Selection Tool to select the person. Do a good job. Take your time to get nice, crisp edges.
- Once you have the selection create a layer mask.
Create the Brushtacular!
- Paint on the “Brush” layer using the brush tool and the cool brushes you downloaded earlier. Make sure you paint with the opposite color than what you have on the background.
- Make your Brushtacular image manipulation look awesome with the colors and different brushes. Be creative!
Points will be lost if the layer mask of the person isn’t awesomely perfect and the person doesn’t interact with the brushes.
Photoshop Silhouette
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What is due? 2 images.
Objective: Learn about juxtaposition to create an interesting image. Create an interesting image by combining two photos. Use any method you've learned in Photoshop to create a silhouette of an object or person that shows the second photo. To make it interesting, the silhouette should be an interesting shape and the photo you insert should use juxtaposition. Juxtaposition is when two things are placed close together with contrasting effect. Think of putting opposites next to each other. |
HDR Effect in Photoshop
What is due? 5 images.
Objective: Learn a new editing technique that mimics an HDR look.
Objective: Learn a new editing technique that mimics an HDR look.
- Rename your background layer to ORIGINAL.
- Duplicate the ORIGINAL layer by right clicking on the ORIGINAL layer and selecting duplicate.
- Rename that duplicated layer to BLACK AND WHITE.
- Change the blending mode of BLACK AND WHITE to Overlay.
- Click Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (shift + command + u) to make it black and white.
- Invert the BLACK AND WHITE layer by clicking Image > Adjustments > Invert (command + i).
- Add a gaussian blur to it by clicking Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Change it to something around 40 pixels (This causes the edges to look like their bleeding or glowing. Adjust the amount to your liking.).
- Duplicate the ORIGINAL layer and place it above BLACK AND WHITE. Rename it LINEAR.
- Change the blending mode of LINEAR to Linear Light.
- Change the LINEAR layer’s opacity to about 60% (Experiment
- with different percentages to get what you like).
- Save as a jpg named last name, first name.
