Illustration

Photo Illustration Assignment

Due October 5 -- handed in via Flickr. Include a headline, no caption needed.

Your task is to illustrate a concept through photography, and, if you want, Photoshop.

Here are some ideas:
Crime on college campuses
College students trying to live on a small budget
Computer frustration
Avoiding the flu
Anger management
The stress of parenting
Kids playing too many video games
The challenge of dieting
Living environmentally conscious
Too much texting/Facebook on campus
Print is dead
Surviving an all-nighter
Binge drinking on campus
Rising cost of textbooks

You can take a concept and go to the next level: for example, with "Computer frustration," you could illustrate too much email spam and someone being frustrated by it (maybe someone buried under a pile of letters?). Then you could have a headline like, "How to keep from being buried in spam."

Think about these ideas from different angles and use wordplay. For example, for living on a budget, you could try to convey the concept of literally "pinching pennies." You get the idea. Use a visual metaphor (see p. 342 in the book) or an archetype (e.g., Mother Nature, knight in shining armor) as a visual shortcut.

Focus on not only your subject but also what colors and lighting you use. Does it call for high key light? Moody shadows? A backlit alley? You'll have to say a lot about an abstract concept for the reader very quickly and clearly.

Your background will also add to the mood of the scene. You can use a simple backdrop or even use a composition in Photoshop. Remember, if you use Photoshop, don't incorporate someone else's work.

Picking the right model and props will also be key. Make sure your props are accurate enough (if you need to fake it, that's fine if we don't notice!). Like a good actor in a movie, your model should make sense in the role.

See p. 345 for thinking creatively. Brainstorm with a friend or classmate. Play with words and puns. Don't rely on overdone cliches. Try to put a new spin on them.