Assignments

PROJECT 1

6 CHARACTERISTICS 

John Szarkowski in “The Photographer’s Eye” identifies the following characteristics as the key elements of a photograph:

1) The thing itself refers to photography providing representation of the world. Is it possible to take a true picture? Is it possible to capture a moment? Does any photograph objectively represent the world it displays.

2) The detail is the way a photograph can tell a story without telling the whole story. The details you choose to photograph make you the narrator. Photography has the ability to reveal meaning in what might have gone unnoticed.

3) The frame is where you choose to begin and end the photograph. What are you including? What are you leaving out? Why? The composition can be formal or loose, close-up or far away, straight on, from above, from the side. There are infinite possibilities, but what and how you frame are intentional choices that you make as the artist. Make sure you are purposeful with your framing and can explain why you chose to frame the photograph the way you did.

4) Time is a fascinating element in photography. Not only can the photograph freeze time, but it can document it, render it, expose it, distort it, subject it, and reveal it. Not only can time be a subject of the photograph, but it is also inherent to the physical process of the photograph. The amount of time you expose the negative will give you very different results.

5) Vantage Point is otherwise known as perspective and is not always in our control as photographers. When we can be intentional about the vantage point, the photographs often reveal a very different world than we are accustomed to seeing. This can function in many ways – graphically, poetically, politically, etc.. How does the vantage point change the viewer’s relationship to the subject of the photograph? How are you implied in the vantage point?

6) Light is the most elemental of all photographic concerns. Translated, photography literally means “light-writing”. The process of capturing photographic images pivots solely on the negative’s exposure to light. As a result, light both makes the process possible and can act as a powerful tool in addressing the poetic, metaphoric, allegorical or psychological.

For Critique:

• 6 photographs that address the thing itself, the detail, the frame, time, vantage point, and light respectively. Shoot at least 60 images in total (or 10 images for each of the six characteristics). You’ll be presenting digitally your 6 edited PSD files with layers - one for each of the above categories.

• All raw files shot

• PSDs (unflattened)

• JPGs (Flattened 72dpi @ 2000px on the long edge)

• Check-in date: September 9

PROJECT 2

INFRA-ORDINARY

After reading George’s Perec’s “Infra-Ordinary” and listening to Alec Soth’s “Magic Hour” interview, examine the everyday world around you through a different [figurative] lens. Think of this work as a series focused around a singular theme.

Goals:

Become increasingly comfortable with basic camera functions, shift traditional perspective into an especially curious and observant space

For Critique:

• 5 Infra-Ordinary images on one theme.

• PSD’s for each of your 5 images

• JPGS of the 5 images (Flattened 72dpi @ 2000px on the long edge)

• Digital contact sheet of images shot

• Artist Statement

• Check-in date: September 23

PROJECT 3

ABSTRACT VS. CONCRETE

Some photographers find images within their surroundings and some stage or manipulate their subject matter. Others do a little bit of both at the same time. After learning about the studio practices of artists such as David Hockney, Jerry Uelsman, and Maggie Taylor, you will use photomontage techniques to create an abstracted composition.

Goals:

Learn how to place multiple images on a a canvas, opacity changes, & masking.

For Critique:

• PSD of final composition

• Printed version of final composition

• Digital contact sheet of all images shot

• Artist Statement

• Check-in date: October 7

PROJECT 4

PORTRAITURE

Part 1 - Create a self-portrait.

Part 2 - Photograph and have a conversation with someone within your COVID circle. Answer the following questions:

10 edited images are due at crit with two prints (any size) of your favorites.

Goals:

Turn inward to consider how oneself can be represented in the photographic format. Step out of one’s comfort zone to photograph subjects that we may typically be more hesitant to confront.

For Critique:

• 2 prints - 1 self, 1 stranger

• 10 PSD’s (Unflattened - from either shoot)

• JPGS (Flattened 72dpi @ 2000px on the long edge)

• Contact sheet for each shoot

• Artist Statement for self portrait. Blurb about stranger.

• Check-in date: October 21

PROJECT 5

IN THE STYLE OF…

Choose and research a photographer and answer these questions in addition to shooting at least 50 digital photographs. 6 will be edited and printed. You’ll be presenting a Google Slide show via Zoom. 

For Presentation:

• 1 Google Slideshow with presenter notes

• Include the following information:

  1.     Give a brief biographical description of the photographer.

  2.     Choose seven or more photographs from the photographer’s images. Describe these images. What is the subject matter? What do the photographs communicate? Why do you think the photographer took the picture?

  3.     What do you think of the photographer’s work? Why did you choose this person? What about their work do you like/dislike? Why? Have they changed your view of photography and/or how you photograph?

For Critique:

• 6 Prints (Give images titles)

• 6 PSDS

• 6 JPGS (72dpi @ 2000px on the long edge) Rename the Jpgs with their title.

• Contact Sheet of all RAW files

• Artist Statement (1 page double spaced) - Talk about what aspects of your photographer’s style you incorporated into your photographs. Did you like this assignment? Did you have any difficulties you’d like to share?