Digital Photo -- Assn 1

My first assignment in digital photography is due on Saturday. All it is, is a Power Point presentation with at least 36 pictures. Then take the three best, not necessarily your favorites, and put them as duplicates at the end. These pictures need to be of our "world" but not to include ourselves. We were supposed to explore our everyday environment by looking closer at it through the lens. Again, thinking abstractly about it, etc. He did say to include the good and bad, and things that you like, dislike, or feel neutral about. Rather vague again!

All in all, these are more or less our introduction to each other. The pictures will tell our classmates about us as well as give the teacher an idea of where we are photographically. I turned it in a few minutes ago. Lets hope the response is better than the one I got yesterday! ;-)

I'm not sure if it will work, but here is a link to it (I really doubt it will work, but I'm not going to load a bunch of pictures right now...I'm really not that interesting!).

Assignment Two

So, I showed my pictures today. I don't know how it went really. I wish he would post grades right after we turned the pics in! Oh well.

I did end up showing the first picture, I don't know why, I couldn't decide, so just used it. He was more than not impressed. One person didn't like this picture because it was too dark on the main subject, that the light on the right side overtook the picture too much. The teacher and two people commented in a good way on this picture, so it was a good choice.

All I know is that I seem to be the exception in the class. Everyone seems to be taking random, artsy pictures. I want to improve my portrait/people picture skills. If no one else shows pictures of people on Friday, I think I'm going to ask if it would be better for me to take those artsy pictures as well and learn to take better pictures of what I enjoy another time.

I know I have a lot to learn, but I think it was just a let down. I was trying really hard and I thought they were at the very least ok. Not just snapshots of my kids where they are in the center of every pic, etc.

Assignment Two -- Deciding

My pictures aren't due until Wednesday, but I'm probably going to turn them in tomorrow just so I won't have to go in super early or wait in line for 30 minutes to use one of the four computers everyone will be trying to use right before class. I have narrowed my massive amounts of pics down to 45, and from that have 10 that I'm debating on which ones to share. Its hard to look at these pictures abstractly, especially because I love the expressions and whatnot my kids make. I pretty much know three of the five I'll be sharing, but the other two...well...I guess I have this evening and tomorrow morning to figure that out! Remember, I'm still learning to take more than snapshots...so...they aren't brilliant photographs!

I like this as I love her expression. Her body weighs down the right side of the picture, adding some contrast to the white and brown...but I doubt I'll use it.

I like the movement of this one, the eyes and bodies all go to the right. The door either gives it interest or makes it not work...I don't know which. Probably won't use this either.

I like the movement and the shadow in this, but most likely wont use it either.

Here is where it gets a little harder for me to decide.

I really like this one. But if I would have stood up, I think the composition would have been better. There is too much empty space at the bottom of the picture. Damn, would have been perfect to show if I would have just taken it from a foot or two higher.

I love this one. How her body takes up the upper part, the shadow takes up the middle, and the white snow at the bottom. I also like the curves and movement of it as a whole.

I love this one also. I like the bland colors and lines of the trees, with the bird houses giving it a little bit of interest. I like the curve of the path, and the movements of the two girls feet as well as Ethan standing in the opposite direction. Oh, and the shadows are kinda cool too.

I really love this picture, but I don't think it truly fits the assignment. If I would have gotten the paper in it too, not been quite so close, I think it would have been better.

I am going to use this one.
I like the curve of the hat, his mouth, and the book. The horizontal lines of the window, book, and arm. The darkness of him stands out against the light from the window.

I am using this one as well.
I like the curve the three buckets make. It seems to draw they eye around the picture well. And the bucket at the upper left corner gives it a little balance I think.

For some reason this last one is still my favorite, so I'll be showing it for sure.

In ways, I wish the assignments were in black and white, but I'll get to that someday I'm sure. I'm taking lots of pictures. Most suck...but I guess thats the point of taking a class! Learning what works and what doesnt!

Assignment Two

Yesterday I started taking pictures of my kids doing various things. After school I let them play on the snow piles much longer than I normally would, so I could get pictures. I took pictures of Ethan doing homework. I even took pictures while they were watching a movie before bed. Although its only 5 degrees out, I took them and Natalie's friend to the park this morning to take more. It was supposed to be cloudy all weekend, and when I saw the sun out I figured we should take advantage of it. This assignment is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I've taken well over 350 pictures, and I honestly don't know if I have more than a handful that will "fulfill" the assignment requirements. Thank god for digital cameras! lol I'm trying to look at the pictures as abstractly as possible, and to think about the frame while I'm taking each picture. This can be quite difficult with moving subjects!!! ;-) Not to mention I'm trying really hard to manually focus...and well, I'm not doing so hot with that either. So far, I've narrowed it down to 78 pictures, and I plan on taking more. I'll go back and look at these and see if I feel like any of them will actually work.

For now, here is one of the pictures I will most likely turn in. I really like the lines of the trees and the shadow that is parallel with the sidewalk. I dunno, I think it looks nice! :-)

Assignment Two

Today we got our second assignment. He actually posted it online too! Here it is:

ABSTRACT COMPOSITION

In this assignment the goal is to explore composition and design elements of photography, through abstracted images. The main “subject” of your photographs for this assignment should be shape, line, rythym, light, dark, positive and negative space.

The “object” of your photographs for this assignment is less important than the compostition and design elements you are exploring.

An abstract image, by its definition, is not an actual (recognizable) representation of a subject. Since there is no one point of interest (a recognizable subject) to save it, a precise sense of design is necessary to make a good photograph. Form is primary; content is irrelevant. For the photographer, this offers an other way of seeing the world with a camera. There can be a conflict inherent in this type of work because of the nature of the medium. Usually a camera records life in realistic form. However, the nature of the medium requires that you translate a three-dimensional subject onto a two dimensional plane. A photograph is always a translation of reality, and it is only representational. For the viewer, the first question may be, "What is this? No, don't tell me." After trying to identify the subject of the photograph, they may say "What is it?" The search to define something in terms of what is familiar is a natural function of how the mind organizes information. For those who can go beyond defining the image in terms of the original subject, it can be enticing, and another element to add interest. Since the viewer's perception is personal, the responsibility of the photographer is to facilitate visual motion within the frame and communicate in a coherent way, no matter what the subject of the photograph may be.

Key elements

-Use photographic elements such as light and focus to manipulate how we see your subject matter

- Pay attention to the edges and corners of the frame.

- Pay attention to elements of line and how it affects the movement of your eye.

- Pay attention to light and shadow and how it accentuates certain elements of the photograph.

Please turn in a folder of at least 40 images for this assignment. You will need to select 5 of your most successful images to share during class.

* * * * * * * * * *

He said over and over to not take "abstract" photographs, but to think about our subject abstractly. For example; "These lines complement this round object on the other side"...etc. Instead of "The trees look pretty cool over here with my dog in the other side of the picture." He also said over and over to be mindful of the whole frame. The edges too, not just whats in the center. As I like taking pictures of people, and pretty much have the weekend to take my pictures (although it isn't due until Wednesday), I'll probably have my camera in hand most of the time. I'm not sure how I'm going to go about it as the temperature is supposed to be below 25 and mostly cloudy all weekend. I guess that's where the challenge comes in!

Tomorrows Information

I was looking at the class site this morning to see if he updated the syllabus (he has already changed when a couple things are going to be due). He posted, what I'm assuming to be, Power Points that he's going to go over tomorrow. It looks interesting enough. Here are the links to the two Power Points. The first one is about technical aspects. The second one is about the history of photography. (I don't know if anyone can open these, if you cant let me know and I'll see if I can figure something different out.

I haven't looked at them yet, but I will after I take my kids to school. I'll try to remember anything interesting he says tomorrow!

Class Today

Not a lot going on in class today. We finished looking peoples pictures. There were a few people that took great pics, most were clearly unthoughtful snapshots. My teacher then talked a little bit about why we chose the subject we did. How for future assignments we should really go with our first instincts of what we want to take pictures of. (I was still surprised that he didn't mention the whole "inanimate" part. But whatever.) I clearly want to take pictures of people, but from my understanding that didn't fit into the first assignment.

Friday he will show us various ways people go about taking pictures of similar subject matter and how they make it interesting using different styles/techniques. I'll try to remember a lot of it, hopefully he'll post some of it in the assignments area online. The next assignment will be due on Wednesday, but I'll try to get it done this weekend so I can concentrate on my online classes during the week when kids aren't at home!

Assignment One -- The Actual Assignment

I think after getting half of our pictures yesterday, my teacher decided it would be a good idea to see how we misunderstood the assignment. Then realized he didn't post it! It's posted now, so if you want to give me your feedback on if I did it right/wrong or if you want to try it yourself...her is the assignment:

EXPLORING A SINGLE SUBJECT

For this assignment you must turn in at least 30 pictures exploring a single subject larger than a bike.

Use this opportunity to explore a single subject in as many ways possible as you can imagine. Think of how you can interpret the idea of subject. Is it an object, is it a theme or idea. Take different pictures from many different angles. Explore the subject in different lighting situations and at different times of the day. Pay attention to all of the things around your “subject” and how they influence the composition.

Find something outside so the conditions are constantly changing.

Assignment One -- Turned In

Today we turned in our assignment. There were some issues with the computers, and 20 people trying to use four computers all at once. Of course I'm one of the two people who don't have a file in the sever, so I wasn't even able to actually turn it in. I did, however, share my pictures.

With each assignment, we will turn them into our folders, then share them with the class. Today wasn't very thorough...more just showing that we did the work. Future assignments will have much more explanation and critique. Only about half the people showed today (its only an hour long class), and he is going to give us collective feedback on Wednesday/Friday.

I was quite surprised by what some people took pictures of. At least three people took pictures of their dogs/horses. How the F is that an inanimate object??? I dunno. There were several people who took the "subject" a little further than I did, by making it a "theme." One person did "Country Living" and took various pictures of things around her house. A couple others took pictures throughout the "Old Market" in Omaha. He didn't say much...so I don't know if I did the assignment completely wrong or what. Either that, or there are a bunch of IDIOTS in my class! Considering there are so many point-and-shoot cameras and for many of them its their first time taking digital pictures...who knows.

I start my Digital Photography online class today. I logged in earlier, but only had a couple minutes to see if I was in the class, etc. I need to go check out my online classes now to see what I'm getting myself into! If I learn anything cool, I will definitely share!

Assignment One Cont.

I got back about an hour ago from taking the rest of the pictures that are due tomorrow. I did decide to take several of the pictures I posted yesterday out of the "turn in" file, and may still take a couple of these out as I have 35 total to turn in. I think he wants to get more than 30, so I may just turn them all in even though I don't love them all. I also know that some of these are near repeats from yesterday...but 30 pictures of the same thing is surprisingly hard!

Don't love this...I could do it better...not get the black on the bottom/side...but I'm not trudging through the mud again today.

I did take one of the gas cap pics from yesterday out. I like this angle though!

Another shadow pic...which one do you think is better???

Not sure about this one either...too much brown/metal???

Assignment One

I'm learning to take photographs with complete manual focusing, and honestly don't know how to take 30 pictures of one inanimate object!!! I started out taking pics of a playground. I came home and didn't like most of them. There were a few that I thought were cool, but I wasn't feeling it. I then took some pictures of a stump, the snow, footprints in the snow, and branches growing from it. I didn't love those either. I thought I'd be able to get more from the yellow tractor than either of the previous "subjects" so I'm sticking with it! I've been over there three times now, and need to go back tomorrow. I'm not sure what he's expecting, or what other people will be taking pictures of...but hopefully mine aren't the worst!!! ;-)

Here are the photographs I've taken so far. I still need ten more and I'm thinking of taking one of the "gas cap" pics out. Please don't judge too harshly! (I did resize them so they would upload quicker and not be ginormous if you click on them.)

This one took about 20 tries. Its not perfect, but I like it!!! (That and it was cold!!!)

Any thoughts, or ideas would be great! I'll post the remaining ten tomorrow after I figure out what else to take pics of!

First Week Of School

I started out at IWCC on Monday. I was hoping to get into a Tue/Thur photography class (that I was in at one point...but I won't go there now), but didn't. Regardless, I am in Photography 1 three days a week and am taking Digital Photography online.

I'm extremely excited to be taking these classes! I've been wanting to take a photography class since before I started high school! (And that was a while ago!!!)

I was a bit surprised by the teacher. He has huge chops, and isn't exactly what I had in mind for a photography teacher. He seems really nice and that he loves what he does, so I'm sure I will learn a lot!

The class is a good mix of young and "nontraditional" students. I am "nontraditional" as I'm not right out of high school. There are only two other people who have "fancy" cameras (SLR), everyone else has point-and-shoot. I think I was more surprised by this than by the teacher! Oh well, I think I'll get more out of the class than they will...but it shows that you can take great pics with a point-and-shoot!

The first day was spent talking about the class and what he will expect from us. Cool, whatever. The second day was spent talking about cameras and the settings we should use (as manual as possible, with no flash). In my opinion, this should have taken all of five minutes, but apparently there are people in the class that have never touched a digital camera. Seriously. I thought that would be a prerequisite for the class!!!

Yesterday we got our first assignment. I'll paste future assignments, but he hasn't posted this one online for some reason. Anyway, if anyone reads this and wants to join in, please do!!! Feel free to share any photographs you take with me via email or any other way!!!

Here it goes:

Assignment One

Take at least 30 photographs of a single subject. Find an inanimate subject outdoors. Explore the subject in different lighting, angles, etc.

That's about it. The assignment was worded much longer, but that's what I got out of it. He wants us to explore using our cameras and what we can do with them to communicate with photographs. He's big on using pictures to communicate. I'll post what pictures I have so far in another post, and will share any feedback I get in class next week!