Hey folks,
Here is an opportunity for extra credit:
Go to NewsU.org and create an account. (You only need to fill in the required fields -- it will send an email to you -- you'll have to check your email and click on their link)
Search for the "Language of the Image" course and click enroll (it's free).
Complete the self-directed course (should take 30 minutes or so) and click "Email course report" to my gmail or DMACC address.
Earn 20 extra credit points!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sports assignment
Sports Assignment (25 points)
Due: November 30
Specifics:
• Three of your best shots from one sporting event -- can't overlap with a News Event
• Captions for each
• Handed in via Flickr
You can shoot sports for your News Event assignments, but use your best for this one.
Ideas:
High school football
Drake, Grand View or other college football
Drake Volleyball
Soccer
Cross country
Cheerleading
Off-road bike race (bikeiowa.com / Ride calendar)
Unless you have an "in" or know you can get on the sidelines at a high school game, you'll need to get a media pass:
• Call the media relations office for the team.
• Say a photojournalism student and you're interested in a media pass. They will take your name and usually just leave the pass at the ticket window.
Other tips:
• Try to figure out if there are any stars on the team and try to focus on them throughout the game. Watch for interesting interactions with the referees or the bench, or any interesting characters in the crowd.
• Put your camera in aperture priority -- if you don't have a lot of light, set it to the smallest f-stop number. This will automatically give you the fastest shutter speed available.
• If the setting is too dark and you're having trouble getting a fast shutter speed (1/500 or faster is ideal for sports), set your ISO up to 1600.
• Flashes are usually prohibited, although sometimes they are allowed (ask media relations).
• Shoot the scoreboard occasionally so you know what quarter/period the play happened in.
• Take notes during the game for your captions, especially if you know you got a great shot.
• For all games… STAY SAFE! Watch for flying players or balls!
Due: November 30
Specifics:
• Three of your best shots from one sporting event -- can't overlap with a News Event
• Captions for each
• Handed in via Flickr
You can shoot sports for your News Event assignments, but use your best for this one.
Ideas:
High school football
Drake, Grand View or other college football
Drake Volleyball
Soccer
Cross country
Cheerleading
Off-road bike race (bikeiowa.com / Ride calendar)
Unless you have an "in" or know you can get on the sidelines at a high school game, you'll need to get a media pass:
• Call the media relations office for the team.
• Say a photojournalism student and you're interested in a media pass. They will take your name and usually just leave the pass at the ticket window.
Other tips:
• Try to figure out if there are any stars on the team and try to focus on them throughout the game. Watch for interesting interactions with the referees or the bench, or any interesting characters in the crowd.
• Put your camera in aperture priority -- if you don't have a lot of light, set it to the smallest f-stop number. This will automatically give you the fastest shutter speed available.
• If the setting is too dark and you're having trouble getting a fast shutter speed (1/500 or faster is ideal for sports), set your ISO up to 1600.
• Flashes are usually prohibited, although sometimes they are allowed (ask media relations).
• Shoot the scoreboard occasionally so you know what quarter/period the play happened in.
• Take notes during the game for your captions, especially if you know you got a great shot.
• For all games… STAY SAFE! Watch for flying players or balls!
Portrait assignment
Portrait assignment (25 points)
Due: November 2
Two portraits -- of a stranger. Someone you don't know (well). No relatives or friends for this.
One candid - this means NOT in the studio or in your back yard. It should be in a place that means something to the subject. Your subject at work or home doing "what they do," in a candid, unrehearsed moment.
One studio/posed portrait - here is where you can show off your studio, posing, and lighting skills. Feel free to include props to help illustrate your subject's interests. The challenge is to show the persons's true self, as best you can. Let their personality shine through!
Tips for the studio/posed shot
• Use small talk or music to put the subjects at ease.
• Try using a remote shutter release or cable release to maintain a connection (and eye contact) with the subject.
• Lighting is key: Think about if you want high key (few shadows) or low key (moody, dark lighting), or something in between (maybe using some kind of pattern).
• If you're setting up lighting, remember the standard three point lighting setup (key-fill-backlight). The key and fill should be at about a 45 degree angle off the camera. The fill should be about 1/3-1/2 the power the key. The backlight adds a halo affect around their head.
• You can also use "glamour" or "butterfly" lighting with the light in direct line of sight of the subject and camera, raised slightly above eye level (this really only works with soft light, hard light with this method won't be flattering).
• Usually soft light is best (especially for the fill light), but also consider hard light.
• Be on the lookout for locations that have interesting lighting without having to do any setup
• Sometimes a reflector is called for to add some fill light. You can use anything from a white sheet of paper, foam core, aluminum foil, or a (real) store-bought reflector. Attach to a stand for added control.
• Avoid busy backgrounds; Use open apertures and/or telephoto lenses to blur the background (a 50mm f1.8 is a nice portrait lens)
• To make your background more out of focus, pull your subject away from it.
Due: November 2
Two portraits -- of a stranger. Someone you don't know (well). No relatives or friends for this.
One candid - this means NOT in the studio or in your back yard. It should be in a place that means something to the subject. Your subject at work or home doing "what they do," in a candid, unrehearsed moment.
One studio/posed portrait - here is where you can show off your studio, posing, and lighting skills. Feel free to include props to help illustrate your subject's interests. The challenge is to show the persons's true self, as best you can. Let their personality shine through!
Tips for the studio/posed shot
• Use small talk or music to put the subjects at ease.
• Try using a remote shutter release or cable release to maintain a connection (and eye contact) with the subject.
• Lighting is key: Think about if you want high key (few shadows) or low key (moody, dark lighting), or something in between (maybe using some kind of pattern).
• If you're setting up lighting, remember the standard three point lighting setup (key-fill-backlight). The key and fill should be at about a 45 degree angle off the camera. The fill should be about 1/3-1/2 the power the key. The backlight adds a halo affect around their head.
• You can also use "glamour" or "butterfly" lighting with the light in direct line of sight of the subject and camera, raised slightly above eye level (this really only works with soft light, hard light with this method won't be flattering).
• Usually soft light is best (especially for the fill light), but also consider hard light.
• Be on the lookout for locations that have interesting lighting without having to do any setup
• Sometimes a reflector is called for to add some fill light. You can use anything from a white sheet of paper, foam core, aluminum foil, or a (real) store-bought reflector. Attach to a stand for added control.
• Avoid busy backgrounds; Use open apertures and/or telephoto lenses to blur the background (a 50mm f1.8 is a nice portrait lens)
• To make your background more out of focus, pull your subject away from it.
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