Conceptual and Celebrity Photo Illustration Assignments
Both Due March 22 -- handed in via Flickr. Include a headline description, no caption needed.
Celebrity: Sometimes newspapers need "art" for a story about someone who has died. In this case, sometimes photojournalists will create a photo illustration using props and sometimes models.
Your assignment is to illustrate the last birthday of an iconic celebrity. For example: Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Jimi Hendrix, or Buddy Holly. Find some props that fit your subject and arrange them in a visually interesting way. Don't forget the birthday aspect -- a cake, cupcake, calendar date, etc.
Conceptual: 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
Cheating in college
Relationship blues
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.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
New portrait assignments
Candid & Studio Portrait assignments
Candid portrait due Feb 15
Studio portrait due March 8
These are similar to your family/friend portrait except this one should be of someone you don't know well. Friend of a friend perhaps. Part of the reason for this is to practice capturing the "story" of someone who you might not be comfortable with. Photojournalists have to do this every day.
One candid - this means NOT in the studio or in your back yard. It should be in an interesting location that means something to the subject. Your subject at work or home doing "what they do," in a candid, unrehearsed moment.
Make sure we can see their face.
One studio portrait - here is where you can show off your studio, posing, and lighting skills. Include props to help illustrate your subject's interests. (If you haven't used studio lights yet, Andy can give you a quick lesson)
You don't have to use the studio -- you can find an interesting location, but make sure you have "good" light -- sun low in the sky, overcast day, light coming in through a window. Use a fill flash outside if needed.
Unlike the candid shot, you have the ability to pose your subject.
Tips for the studio 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 -- see our website for a link to lighting examples.
• You can 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, 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.
Candid portrait due Feb 15
Studio portrait due March 8
These are similar to your family/friend portrait except this one should be of someone you don't know well. Friend of a friend perhaps. Part of the reason for this is to practice capturing the "story" of someone who you might not be comfortable with. Photojournalists have to do this every day.
One candid - this means NOT in the studio or in your back yard. It should be in an interesting location that means something to the subject. Your subject at work or home doing "what they do," in a candid, unrehearsed moment.
Make sure we can see their face.
One studio portrait - here is where you can show off your studio, posing, and lighting skills. Include props to help illustrate your subject's interests. (If you haven't used studio lights yet, Andy can give you a quick lesson)
You don't have to use the studio -- you can find an interesting location, but make sure you have "good" light -- sun low in the sky, overcast day, light coming in through a window. Use a fill flash outside if needed.
Unlike the candid shot, you have the ability to pose your subject.
Tips for the studio 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 -- see our website for a link to lighting examples.
• You can 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, 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.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
NewsU.Org assignment
Hi folks,
You might have noticed in the syllabus that for February 1 we have listed NewsU.org "Language of the Image."
Here are the directions to complete the assignment....
1. Go to NewsU.org and create a free 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)
2. Search for the "Language of the Image" course and click enroll (it's free).
3. Complete the self-directed course (should take 20-30 minutes or so) and click "Email course report" to me (andylangager at gmail dot com). The course is a bit open-ended, so hopefully it's not too confusing.
That's it! It's worth 25 points. It'll be due in two weeks (February 8th).
You might have noticed in the syllabus that for February 1 we have listed NewsU.org "Language of the Image."
Here are the directions to complete the assignment....
1. Go to NewsU.org and create a free 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)
2. Search for the "Language of the Image" course and click enroll (it's free).
3. Complete the self-directed course (should take 20-30 minutes or so) and click "Email course report" to me (andylangager at gmail dot com). The course is a bit open-ended, so hopefully it's not too confusing.
That's it! It's worth 25 points. It'll be due in two weeks (February 8th).
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sports Assignment(s)
Sports Assignment #1 & 2
Due: February 8 & April 22
Specifics:
• Three of your best shots from one sporting event -- don't overlap with a News Event
• Captions for each
• Handed in via Flickr
Ideas:
High school or college wrestling
Drake, Grand View or DMACC basketball
Track & Field
iCubs (April 15-22)
Off-road bike race/cyclocross (bikeiowa.com / Ride calendar)
Des Moines Buccaneers hockey
Mixed Martial Arts
Media pass:
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:
• 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 objects!
• 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.
Due: February 8 & April 22
Specifics:
• Three of your best shots from one sporting event -- don't overlap with a News Event
• Captions for each
• Handed in via Flickr
Ideas:
High school or college wrestling
Drake, Grand View or DMACC basketball
Track & Field
iCubs (April 15-22)
Off-road bike race/cyclocross (bikeiowa.com / Ride calendar)
Des Moines Buccaneers hockey
Mixed Martial Arts
Media pass:
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:
• 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 objects!
• 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.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Assignments 1 & 2
Family/Friend photo story • due January 18 • 25 points
In 5-7 photos, capture a story with images. Following your family or friends is okay.
This should be a real event. Don't influence or contribute to events. Let them unfold and do your best to gather a variety of photos to convey the story to anyone who wasn't there. Try to include a beginning, middle, and end. Try to pick something photogenic.
Remember to get a variety of angles and shots: close-ups, wide shots, low-angle, high-angle, medium shots.
Remember that the shots should work together as a whole, not just one by one. If you have seven shots that are too similar, your story won't be very interesting from the reader's perspective.
Write a short caption for each photo (1-2 sentences). Simply describe what is happening and who is in the photo. Say when it happened in the first photo (if the story happens over the course of time, tell the reader at every major time jump). Remember the where, as well. Who, what, when, where (and why).
Photo story ideas: Following a sibling athlete before, during and after the game. Following a friend through their day at work or school. Documenting your friend giving their dog a haircut. Telling the story of your cousin as she replaces a flat tire. Capture a series of images showing the story of a hunting trip.
5-7 shots, cropped 5x7 or 8x10
Uploaded to your Flickr account
10 points: storytelling
10 points: technical proficiency (focus, exposure, composition, cropping, etc.)
5 points: caption
Family/Friend portrait • due January 25 • 25 points
Find an interesting family member or friend.
Take their portrait in a way that really shows who they are. What is their story? What makes them interesting?
Think about looking at a simple portrait of someone you don't know. It usually doesn't have much interest to you, does it?
As a photojournalist, your job is to make the photo interesting by using lighting, props, location, and positioning the subject (for portraits, photojournalists are allowed to influence the shot, unlike most other assignments).
Don't forget to write a few sentences telling us what the "story" is. Captions play a vital role in making the photo interesting for the reader. Think about what is unusual, interesting, quirky, etc. and include it in the caption. Explain the prop or location in the caption if needed.
1-2 shots, cropped 5x7 or 8x10
Uploaded to your Flickr account
10 points: storytelling
10 points: technical proficiency (focus, exposure, composition, cropping, etc.)
5 points: caption
In 5-7 photos, capture a story with images. Following your family or friends is okay.
This should be a real event. Don't influence or contribute to events. Let them unfold and do your best to gather a variety of photos to convey the story to anyone who wasn't there. Try to include a beginning, middle, and end. Try to pick something photogenic.
Remember to get a variety of angles and shots: close-ups, wide shots, low-angle, high-angle, medium shots.
Remember that the shots should work together as a whole, not just one by one. If you have seven shots that are too similar, your story won't be very interesting from the reader's perspective.
Write a short caption for each photo (1-2 sentences). Simply describe what is happening and who is in the photo. Say when it happened in the first photo (if the story happens over the course of time, tell the reader at every major time jump). Remember the where, as well. Who, what, when, where (and why).
Photo story ideas: Following a sibling athlete before, during and after the game. Following a friend through their day at work or school. Documenting your friend giving their dog a haircut. Telling the story of your cousin as she replaces a flat tire. Capture a series of images showing the story of a hunting trip.
5-7 shots, cropped 5x7 or 8x10
Uploaded to your Flickr account
10 points: storytelling
10 points: technical proficiency (focus, exposure, composition, cropping, etc.)
5 points: caption
Family/Friend portrait • due January 25 • 25 points
Find an interesting family member or friend.
Take their portrait in a way that really shows who they are. What is their story? What makes them interesting?
Think about looking at a simple portrait of someone you don't know. It usually doesn't have much interest to you, does it?
As a photojournalist, your job is to make the photo interesting by using lighting, props, location, and positioning the subject (for portraits, photojournalists are allowed to influence the shot, unlike most other assignments).
Don't forget to write a few sentences telling us what the "story" is. Captions play a vital role in making the photo interesting for the reader. Think about what is unusual, interesting, quirky, etc. and include it in the caption. Explain the prop or location in the caption if needed.
1-2 shots, cropped 5x7 or 8x10
Uploaded to your Flickr account
10 points: storytelling
10 points: technical proficiency (focus, exposure, composition, cropping, etc.)
5 points: caption
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