Assignments

To submit assignments, put them in your dropbox. If necessary, you can verify upload by going to the dropbox website.

2013 Term 2 Advanced Class Photography Assignment

Create three new but creative images from a different theme you select  each week

What is this about?

The more you create, the better your creations will be! This is an activity that pro­fessionals do to improve their creativity and push themselves beyond their comfort zone. Be prepared to step outside your own comfort zone and create some unusual images. You are going to submit three photos per week, up to a total of 24 images during the term. You can have one “bye” during the term. Try wherever possible to use tips and techniques that have been discussed in class during the year. ALL of your photos must illustrate the theme you chose for that week. There will be points allocated for various reasons (to be revealed later)

Requirement: 3 Images Per Week

  • images need to be uploaded by the Wednesday night before any class
  • We will only review a few peoples images each week, but this is no excuse not to do your weekly assignment

What Kind of Entries?

Your photograph must be original, and created by you. No assistance from anyone else. No copying stuff from the internet. No trawling your old photos. You must take them during the term.

How do I Name the Files?

You must rename files before upload using the following method

  • FirstnameSurname-Theme-ImageNumber–Title.jpg
  • E.g. MartinYoung-Speed-1-Racing Car.jpg

What file format?

  • Must be .jpg but you can choose jpeg quality 12 or maximum.
  • images should be resized to max 1024 pixels width and max 768 pixels height with 100ppi minimum
  • File size can be anything provided you meet 1024x768x100ppi requirement

How do I Submit my Entries?

  • you need to upload three entries each week to your dropbox folder or via the class website
  • first entry is due  1 May 2013

Points

  • you will receive 10 points if all 3 images are uploaded on time, 5 points if you upload all 3 before the following week and only 1 point thereafter for each late image.
  • Points will be awarded for reasons revealed at the time (think about it!)
  • Points will be deducted for various reasons (can you guess what?)
  • The person with the most points at the end of term will be awarded a certificate of achievement
  • Points are just “for learning and fun”. Don’t take too seriously.

Choose One Theme each week from This List Only

  1. In 100 years (i.e. What will they think of these in 100 years time?)
  2. Time or Speed (i.e. choose either with each image to illustrate the passing of time or fast motion)
  3. Along the line (i.e. an image made very strong by the use of leading line(s))
  4. Grey (i.e. a low contrast black and white image. Usually you would strive for high contrast)
  5. The story (i.e. the image must make the viewer understand the story the image illustrates)
  6. Very small (i.e. a close-up or macro shot where the subject is very very small)
  7. Bright Background (i.e. an image where the background is much brighter than the subject)
  8. Opposites (i.e show two opposite subjects/items/ideas in one image)
  9. Upside Down (i.e. an image which is unusual but striking when  displayed upside down)
  10. Guess What (i.e. you challenge the viewer to identify the subject, but must be recognisable once revealed, though not necessarily in the title)
  11. Odds and evens ( can you illustrate the power of odd numbers in photography?)
  12. Painting (includes painting with or without light!)

Idea for this assignment courtesy of Adobe Education Exchange

Assignment 6: (weeks leading up to 28 Mar 2013)

  • visit the VIGEX exhibition site
  • study the rules
  • select a category from:
    • Monochrome
    • Colour
    • Nature (Mono or Colour)
    • Photojournalism (Mono or Colour)
    • Creative (Mono or Colour)
    • Portrait /People (Mono or Colour)
  • Select 4 images which you might be interested in submitting for that category
  • edit/improve as allowed within the rules
  • bring any/all of the 4 full sized images on a memory stick, if you wish to receive some constructive criticism in class
  • Get them printed in a size you would submit if entering the competition
  • bring to class for review (optional)
  • bring packaged, labelled prints with entry forms to class by 28-March latest if you wish to submit via David Bridge. Note: this can include your full VIGEX entry, up to 24 prints.
  • We will cover in the next couple of classes any questions on process etc. you may wish to ask.

Assignment 5:

  • select an image file to work on
  • using a photo editor resize image to 768 pixels maximum height. If using Lightroom you can export to resize.
  • Open in your photo editor e.g. Photoshop, Photoshop Elements etc.
  • duplicate layer (e.g. CNTRL/J). Create up to 3 layers.
  • experiment with “blending modes”. Default is “normal”. Try at least multiply and overlay
  • experiment with opacity slider
  • if you want a further challenge, put a layer mask on one layer, with “reveal all”, then paint out part using black foreground colour and brush tool
  • save your file as a “psd” or “tiff” format to preserve layers
  • copy and paste into your dropbox folder for review in class

Assignment 4:

  • Locate file 20120811-P1000890.JPG in the “U3a Adv Photography All The Classdropbox” folder
  • Edit file to improve the photo using Lightroom, Photoshop, or other image editor.
  • After you have finished editing, save as a “jpg” file 1024×768 pixels 100ppi or dpi with a maximum file size 300kb
  • rename with your own name in the file name
  • e.g. MartinYoung-20120811-P1000890.JPG
  • Add to your dropbox folder

Assignment 3:

Sliders in Photoshop or Lightroom

  • Open some photos in either Lightroom or Photoshop
  • Go in to the “Develop” mode in Lightroom or the “Edit” mode in Photoshop
  • Experiment with various “sliders” and see how they affect both the image itself and the histogram
  • In the histogram area, turn on the clipping warnings (rectangles at top left/right of histogram)
  • Explore how areas “clipped” increase/decrease with some sliders
  • Check out the “alt” key whilst moving sliders on histogram itself
  • Explore sliders you have not used before or only use rarely
  • Try understand what it does in context of image and histogram
  • Select one photo which can be displayed in class, where you indicate slider(s) to move and you will explain effect on image/histogram
  • Submit photo or if file is very large, bring on memory stick

Assignment 2:

Understanding Histograms

  • take photos (& checkout histogram via camera)
    • take a few photos of the same scene
    • try normal exposure
    • under exposed
    • over exposed
    • take a photo of a high contrast scene
    • take a photo of a low contrast scene
    • take a few other photos to analyze later
  • load to your computer
    • try relate histograms to scene
    • submit one photo where you find the histogram either easy or difficult to explain

Assignment 1:

Money!

  • Utilize information presented on Macro and Landscape
  • The title of your photo will consist of two words:
  • One of the two words will be “money”
  • For example the title will be:
    • ”xxxxx money” or “money xxxxx” where “xxxxx” is any other word
  • Take some photos and select the one you want to present
  • Rename the file to “your name – title”
  • E.g. if filename was:
    • “dsc0034.jpg”
    • You might rename it to:
    • “Martin young – money bags.jpg”
  • Email the photo to the tutor at:
    • the …….y7mail.com email address
    • or
    • copy and paste the photo in to your dropbox folder
  • Write down everything you can about the selected photo, and bring this information to the next class
  • Basic crop/resize/exposure/contrast/sharpness adjustment allowed but not selective area adjustment or montage/distortion etc.