The "Less Seen" side of Mahopac

Holga Project

The Holga is a cheap, plastic camera that is produced in China.  It is the stepsister of the Diana Camera which was used extensively by photographers in the 1970’s . Poor quality control, a plastic lens and light leaks are the hallmarks of these cameras.

After the Crash, Manny Boccini 

Given their shortcomings, “toy cameras” can take some evocative imagery. The image is usually sharper in the center and quickly goes out of focus in the corners of the square image. Sometimes the corners are darker as well, creating a vignette effect. 

Saugerties Lighthouse

The grity, semi-focused look is perfect for our next assignment, The "Less Seen" side of Mahopac. Look for the junk, old cars, run-down buildings etc. This isn't about the lake front homes and tidy shops, it's about the dark underbelly of Mahopac. Look for dumpsters, old pallets, loading docks. There is alot out there if you start to look!

Process:

Shooting a Holga is extremely easy, but you must follow these basic steps. I'll load it and tape it for light leaks. You will take 3 exposures and pass the camera on to the next person in your group. (4 people)

1.  Try to shoot in Bright Sunshine or Cloudy Bright situations.
2. Guess the focus distance and turn the focus ring to the appropriate icon.
3. 3. Set the aperture to the Sun (F11) or Partial Sun(F8) setting.
4.  Frame your image.
5. Hold the camera steady and press the shutter release. Do not shake, the shutter speed is only 1/60 of a second.
6. Your group will develop it's film. (I’ll load the 120mm film for you.)
7. Make an 8x8" enlargement. 
8. Dry mount your image.

Focus Ring estimated distances.

• Head and Shoulders: about 4-5 feet.
• 3 People holding hands: about 9 feet.
• 7 People: about 18 feet.
• Mountain: 30 feet to infinity.

Letter Photos

This is an observation project. We “look” at the world around us but don’t often “see” the interesting detail. This assignment will force you to see the everyday and mundane in a different light.

________________________________________________

1. Using a digital camera and take photographs of the “letters” that make up your name. Each photo should be recognizable as a particular letter (see the photo above.)

2. You may choose to use a word that represents a strong feeling or emotion like love. (no fewer then 4 letters. You may not use your name)

3. A cell phone camera is satisfactory if the resolution is high enough.

4. The images will need to be scaled in Photoshop (Image/Image Size). The size will be determined by the length of the word.

5. Print image and dry mount on matte board. We will use a 2 inch border. “Gang up” as many images as you can on each piece of mounting tissue. 

Sunset or Sunrise and Image and Digital Edge Effects

Some of the best lighting for photographs is the period at sunrise and sunset. The golden glow and side lighting seems to make everything look more beautiful. 

The Assignment - Take photographs of sunsets or sunrises.

1. Find out the time for sunset or sunrise. 
2. Pre-select the location you plan on taking your photo. 
3. Arrive 15 minutes before sunrise or sunset and start snapping photos. Take plenty, because the sky will continue to change over a very short period of time.
4. Select the best image and post it. Write a short description about of  the location and the time you made the photograph.
5. Create a custom border effect for your image. (Photoshop)

This is a shot I took just before sunset on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. As time passed the colors continued to change. Make sure you shoot more than just the sky. The trees in the foreground "frame" the canyon behind and add perspective. Below is the same image with a border effect added.

Photostory 3

Telling a Story in Photostory 3

They say a photo is worth a thousand words and it's true. Often one photo can communicate a tremendous amount to the viewer. Sometimes it takes a series of photos to communicate our "story".

Photostory 3 is a simple Windows application that lets you link a series of images in a slide show format. You can add motion effects like those used by documentary film photographer Ken Burns. Different transitions between images can add interest. Words can be added to give extra information on  each of  the photos. Finally you can add music to your production.

Your Assignment

Tell a story or create a "How To" using digital  images. Place them into Photostory 3 and create a continuous slide show.

• Start with a "Title Page". This page must include an image that has been filter manipulated. (in Photostory 3 or Photoshop).
• Use a minimum of 10 slides to tell your "story".
• Use "text" slides (with appropriate background art) to add specific information.
• Add transitions to each slide.
• Use motion effects on at least one image. (more is better)
• Generate music that reflects your story.
• End with a credit page. Include your name and thanks to those who helped (models) and inspired your project.

Custom 3D Glasses

3D Photography

Most of us have had the opportunity to watch a movie in 3D. Perhaps you had the opportunity to take a 3D thrill ride at Bush Gardens. Some people play 3D video games. Long before 3D movies, photographers made stereo pairs with special cameras with two lens. These "pairs" were viewed with a special Stereoscope. 

We will be making basic 3D images called "Anaglyphs". 

In order to view our images we must make 3D glasses. Here is an unusual example:

Mr. Boccini 3D Glasses.

Assignment

Due Date: 4/5/13

Using "chip board" and acrylic paint make a "custom" pair of Stereo Glasses.

• Be creative, anything from super hero's to cartoon characters make good glasses.
• Make sure to use the template so the spacing between the eyes is correct.
• Think about adding three dimensional elements. (ie. hair made of yarn)
• If you need something special, ask! You never know what kind of junk I have collected.
• The glasses may be attached to a dowel or be worn in the traditional manner. (stems over the ears)
• Consider working with other people to create a theme. (ie the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs.
• Blog a picture of you wearing your glasses.
• Blog your anaglyph.

School Lunch

Assignment (Due: 4/5/13)

School Lunch, you love it or hate it. Bag lunch or cafeteria food? Are your friends in your lunch period? Is it crowded? Show me how you see "school lunch". (minimum 2 photographs.)

Recently a lot of people are talking about school lunch. Mrs. Obama's Hunger-Free Kids Act has limited high school lunches to 850 calories.

• Do you feel that school lunch is adequate? Are you hungry? Do you supplement your lunch by buying another lunch? Buying chips from the machine?
• Is lunch too long? Would 20 minutes be long enough? 
• Do you study or work on homework during lunch?
• Would you skip lunch if you could leave school 42 minutes early?

Write a paragraph describing your views on school lunch.

I took a few minutes out of my "lunch duty" to take a closer look at school lunch. I push the garbage can around and encourage the kids to recycle. Occasionally I come upon something like this.....YUK!

Ketchup Art?

Look at the lunch room in a different way. Try different points of views! There is a lot going on there!



The "regular" UNO game.



Photoshop Filter Project

Assignment

1. Duplicate your colorized pinhole image 25-30 times on a 8.5x11" Photoshop document.
2. Manipulate each small image with a different "Filter" effect. 
3. Center on the page.
4. Save as a jpeg file and post to your blog.
5. Add the caption: Photoshop Filter Project.

Due 3/16/13.

Photoshop Filter Project

Colorize a Pinhole Image

Assignment

Scan either your Pinhole Self Portrait or Pinhole Close-up. Using the same technique we used on our digital restoration, add color to your image. Post it to your blog. Due 3/16/13.

Here is one of my pinhole images. Another art teacher had a bag of old toy baby parts which I used as my subject. Creepy!

Colorized Pinhole Photo

New Digital Assignment - Automobile Parts

Car Parts?

The automobile is ubiquitous part of the American society. Cars are everywhere and we rely on them for our livelihood. There is a real attachment to cars in our culture. High School students take the day off to take their "road test", and earning a license is a rite of passage to adulthood.

We love them, but do we really take a close look at them. We know when we see a car we like, but our perception is of the whole, not the many individual parts that make a "car". Look at your car (or family car) closely. Photograph it from different perspectives. Look for unusual detail. What about the engine compartment? The wheel covers? Even the undercarriage! Don't forget to get close with your "macro" capability.

The assignment

Make a series of 5 images that explore your car from many points of view. Write a short paragraph explaining why you picked this car. Tell me how cars and driving are important to your life.

Example

My father was in the automobile leasing industry for years. He always came home with different cars. I grew up thinking of cars as appliances, we called them vehicles. Function was more important than Form. My Scion XB is a reflection of that attitude. It's dumb ugly, but functional. It's an appliance, like a refrigerator.  I select cars for what they can do, not how they look. This car can seat 4 comfortably, get 30 plus miles to the gallon and was inexpensive. PERFECT but UGLY!

Scion XB Engine Compartment

Scion XB Battery



Scion XB Speedo



Scion XB Shocks





Scannergram Self Portrait (Copier Arts)

Copier Arts are a new media that was created with the advent of Xerox machines and printers. Originally an artist would use copy machines to degrade and manipulate original artwork to create different effects. With the advent of scanners and photo manipulation software, copier art can be taken to a high level.

A scanner can take photographs of small three dimensional objects.



Even ugly art teachers.

We will create a Scannergram Self Portrait that incorporates a photo of ourselves, and 4 scanned ojects that reflect our persona. Additional photos and your name may be added. Here is my example. I was having a "bad" day.

Don't run with the scissors!

Post your "Scannergram" to your blog and write a brief description of your concept. Why did you choose particular objects? How do they represent you?

My example:

My self portrait is my attempt at self depreciating humor. You can't imagine the number of times I've warned kids to be careful with a scissor or x-acto knife. My family (my two kids) are the "glue" that keeps me together when I'm having a bad day. The "scissor" glasses represent how I see the world through the creation of art.

See my tutorial Making a Scannergram Self Portrait for further information.

This project should be posted to your blog by 2/22/13.

Project Due Dates

1. Closeups are past due. If I don't have them by Thursday (3/14/13) , its a zero.
2. Film should be developed by 3/14/13 or you will have trouble meeting the deadline on "Water, Ice or Snow" and "Line".
3. Scannergram Self Portrait is due 2/22/13.
4. Your "Money" image should be completed and posted to your blog by 2/19/13.
5. "Water, Ice or Snow" and "Line", two mounted prints due 2/26/13.

I will not accept any excuses. If your are not managing your time effectively, your grades will reflect it.

 

Local Landscape Exhibit

The best way to become a good photographer is to take photos, lots of photos. But another way to improve your work is to view the work of others. I still read my local newspaper, the Pougkeepsie Journal., because it gives me local news. This week's "Our Town and Schools" section had an article highlighting the upcoming show of Robert Rodriguez Jr. Rodriguez is a landscape photographer who lives in Beacon.

His show, "Light and Landscapes", will run from February 9 to March 4 at the RiverWinds Gallery  in Beacon. Even if you can't make the trip, check out his website Robert Rodriguez Jr Photography,Beyond the Lens

He has a free downloadable ebook on Landscape photography that you may want to take a look at.

Close-up Project

Because of the snow storm, the due date for the Close-up project has been extended to Monday 2/11/13.

Next week students should be prepared to develop their film for the Water, Ice and Snow image, and the "Line" image.

There shouldn't be any excuses about finding "Snow"!

Copyright Infringement is a Crime!

Do a Google image search and you'll find hundreds of great images. The first instinct is to think that these photos and graphics are in the public domain and can be used freely. WRONG!! Copyright infringement  is illegal and can bring heavy monetary penalties to those who violate them.

Any image on your blog must be your own work!

 

Roni Loren, a teenage romance writer, learned the hard way what can happen when you violate copyright law.  Read Blogger Beware: You CAN Get Sued For Using Photos You Don't Own on Your Blog. 

I reserve the right to request your original file. If you can't produce it, you will be given a zero for that assignment. Do the right thing, shoot and post your own work.

All the best,

Mr. B

First Photo Blog

Hi Photography 6 and 8,

Today you will start the digital component of your class. Each of you will produce a "Photo" blog where you will post your digital assignments. I will view, comment and grade your work. You may also add comments and criticism to the photos of your classmates as well. (be respectful)

Your first assignment is Money! 

Yes it's an open ended subject, but thats the whole idea. I want you to think about a creative visual solution to this topic. Closeups, money being passed, banks, some serious "bling". You get the idea. Here is my shot. I desaturated it in Photoshop and increased the contrast to give it more impact.

Write a short paragraph about your concept.

"My photograph explores the concept of being "blinded" by wealth and prestige. Some value money above all things....but you can't take it with you. The ancient Greeks buried their dead with coins on their eyes, a toll payed to be carried over the river Styx. Are we paying too high a toll in this world. Do we amass wealth at the expense of things of higher value. There is so much value in the simple act of living.

Your digital camera should have a closeup feature. Explore how close you can get and still get a focused image. Read your camera manual for more information on this feature. Each camera is different.

Read  Macro Shots, What is that Flower Icon? to get some ideas on the use of the "Macro" feature.