New Assignment: Keep It Surreal

Hello Students,

Your newest assignment is an exercise in surrealism. You must pre-plan your image with a few pencil sketches so you can plan and shoot all the elements you need. Post processing is acceptable and encouraged, you can use all the software tools available to you to achieve the final image you have in your mind.

"To be a surrealist... means barring from your mind all remembrance of what you have seen, and being always on the lookout for what has never been." - Rene Magritte

"My idea of a perfect surrealist painting is one in which every detail is perfectly realistic, yet filled with a surrealistic, dreamlike mood. And the viewer himself can't understand why that mood exists, because there are no dripping watches or grotesque shapes as reference points. That is what I'm after: that mood which is apart from everyday life, the type of mood that one experiences at very special moments."- Ian Hornak

What is Surrealism?

Taken from the Heilbrunn timeline of Art History: "Surrealism originated in the late 1910s and early '20s as a literary movement that experimented with a new mode of expression called automatic writing, or automatism, which sought to release the unbridled imagination of the subconscious. Using Freudian methods of free association, their poetry and prose drew upon the private world of the mind, traditionally restricted by reason and societal limitations, to produce surprising, unexpected imagery. The cerebral and irrational tenets of Surrealism find their ancestry in the clever and whimsical disregard for tradition fostered by Dadaism a decade earlier. The visual artists who first worked with Surrealist techniques and imagery were the German Max Ernst (1891–1976), the Frenchman André Masson (1896–1987), the Spaniard Joan Miró (1893–1983), and the American Man Ray (1890–1976).

Keep It "Surreal" Assignment:

• Research surreal art, artists and photography for inspiration
• Brainstorm a few ideas and create a full page pencil sketch of your idea. Try to think of all the visual elements you would like to incorporate... consider setting, backgrounds, models, objects or props, costume, stylistic effects
• Begin shooting your photo(s) and use photo manipulation to achieve your desired look
• All processes are available to you, cropping, fine edge selection, airbrushing, colorization, layering, enhancement effects etc... try to achieve a worked over and artistic look to your image
• Post your your blog when complete

Inspiration:

40 surrealistic photo manipulations

Grading:

2 Points - Artwork shows understanding of concept

2 Points - Pencil Sketch, must be approved by instructor by end of class thursday

2 Points - Pencil Sketch turned in on time

2 Points - Final artwork reflects original sketch

2 Points - Final artwork turned in on time Wednesday

Image by Gala Darling

This photo was shot live, no amount of post-processing or Photoshop has been used to achieve this effect. It took 26 attempts and 5 hours. Philip Halsman would count to four, where Dali would leap into air, and three assistant will throw the cats, another will throw a bucket of water, and Mrs. Halsman held the chair.

Student Work Examples:

New Assignment: Remake a Classic Work of Art

Hello Students,

Your next assignment is an exercise in planning, preparation, creativity with location and costume and direction of your model. The idea with this project is to remake a classic work of art using photography.

Remake A Classic Work of Art With Photography:

• Look through the examples and links below for clarification and inspiration
• Research and find a classic work of art that inspires you. Your final choice of artwork to remake must be approved by your instructor before proceeding
• Keep it classic, think old masters. Im not looking for contemporary artwork, album covers, fashion photography or cinematic references
• Final result is a photo only, no color correction, cropping or special effects allowed. If you do it correctly the majority of work happens before you take the picture. For this project post processing is banned
• Put all of your creative energy into the arrangement and recreation of elements. Pay attention to costume, color, light, position, framing, facial expression etc... the key is in the details. Take shots and look at them closely, if something isn't right than re-shoot.
• Elements of your choice of artwork can be re-imagined of course. Strive for recreation of details with whatever you have available and at hand

Grading:

This project will be evaluated on your ability to meet the requirements as well as the intention of the assignment. Your work should show careful planning and execution. You are the artist with a vision and it is your responsibility to direct your costume, scene, model and props to achieve your desired results.

High performing student work: This is a lovely recreation of Daniel Hernandez Morillo's "woman carrying firewood". The student photographer, Gracie Thomas, took great care with costume, pose, light, props, setting and composition for spectacular results.

This is an example of low performing student work. The student grabbed a bike, a blanket and a model at the last minute and took a snapshot. Little care is put into setting, light, costume, pose, composition.

Links:

Example - Old Master paintings recreated by photographer Josef Fischnaller

Example - Famous painting recreated

Student Work Samples:

New Assignment: 3 Flavors of Portrait Enhancement

Hello Students,

For this assignment you will take your favorite portraits from your recent portrait projects and create 3 different post-processed versions of each of the images. The 3 techniques are cross-processing, tilt-shift and the Dragan effect, named for Andrzej Dragan.

Portrait Post Processing Assignment:

Take your favorite images from your recent portrait assignments and create 3 different versions of each image by working through the online tutorials posted below. Post your 9 post-processed images to your blog when complete:

Cross-Processing:

Cross processing is an effect where the film is developed with the wrong mix of chemicals. Work through the tutorial to recreate this effect and make your photo look like it's source was film and not digital. The border around the film is called the "film rebate". Search for one on google images to use on yours.

Tilt-Shift:

Tilt shift photography is a technique where the lens angle is changed to create a focused center area. This tricks the brain into thinking it is seeing something very small. This is the effect we see when we squint our eyes at a small object.

Dragan Effect:

Andrzej Dragan's photography is known for having an intensity in detail and tonal depth. Try to mimic his technique with photoshop by working through the video tutorial.
Prefer a plain tutorial? Check out this link: Dragan Effect in 5 steps

Advanced Portrait Study

Hello Students,

This assignment is an advanced study in portrait photography. You will have to find a volunteer to model for you. Your task is to take a series of portraits as outlined below. The challenge with this project is to coach your model to position themselves in a way that shows their best look. A standard roll of film has 36 exposures. Take at least 2 rolls worth of film, or roughly 70 photos over the course of this challenge, create a Contact Sheet and choose your final 7 images from them.

Advanced Portrait Study Assignment:

Your client (who is a famous model, celebrity, or actor, or millionaire executive, or anyone with money) has just hired you to shoot a series of portraits for an upcoming magazine ad/article/brochure/book/event/website/etc. Your job is to get them to open up and show their best side to your camera. You must coach them, break them out of their comfort zone and follow your directions to show their best look.

Required Reading:

6 Tips for Better Portraits from Peter Hurley, professional photographer for celebrities, actors and executives

• Find a volunteer to act as your model. You will be shooting many shots so they must be committed
• Shoot a series of images for each of the techniques listed below. Upon completion you should have over 70 images to choose your final 7 from
• Final deliverables: Contact Sheet and 7 final images posted to blog

1) Alter Your Perspective:

A photographers instinct is to shoot at eye level, try an extreme angle from different sides. Try to position yourself around the subject, not vice versa. Try multiple angles and take a shot or two from each one.

Photo by striatic

2) Looking Off Camera/Off Frame:

Have your subject framed at different distances and looking off camera. Have your model focus on something unseen or seen, off in the distance or closeup. This helps create an air of mystique. Shoot multiple shots from different distances.

Photo by monicutza80

3) Looking Within The Frame:

Have your subject looking at something within the frame. Consider what they are looking at. If it is a snack they might seem hungry. If it is a cell phone that is ringing perhaps they look annoyed.

Photo by paulbence

4) Experiment With Lighting:

Try shooting indoors with no lights except our studio lights. Try looking for a single light source, or anywhere with deep shadows or shadows that can cast a patter on the models face. Try light sources from the front, back, sides. Shoot multiple images.

5) Get Your Subject Out Of Their Comfort Zone:

Ask your model to get out of their comfort zone by doing something active such as jumping, spinning, dancing, riding a bike, sprinting, stretching, doing kung-fu etc. Shoot as many action shots as you can, make sure to adjust your exposure settings to reduce motion blur.

6) The Candid:

Ask your model to go about their business and pretend you aren't there. Follow them around, shoot images and try to capture those natural moments.

Photo captured by Christopher Rye

7) Get A Smile:

While you are taking pictures, at any time, tell a joke and try to make your model laugh a genuine laugh. If you time it just right and anticipate their laughter you can snap a shot at the right time.

Last Step) Make A Contact Sheet Of All Images:

A contact sheet is a great way to view all your images at once. That way your client can see all the images easily and pick the best ones.

 This project is due Tuesday. - Mr.W

Dutch Angle Portraits

Hello Students,

Read the assignment specification carefully to ensure a high quality result:

Dutch Angles:

A dutch angle, jaunty angle or canted angle is a technique where the camera is tilted off to one side to create an extreme angle. Derived from cinematic techniques it can be used to convey tension, or to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the image, adding a creative element to the framing.

Dutch Angle Portrait Assignment:

1. Team up with 2 classmates and check out a camera
2. Find an interesting background or scene to shoot your portrait, avoid putting your subject in a place that makes them squint from sunlight, this can result in an unflattering portrait. Look for areas that have colorful surroundings or interesting textures to shoot your model against
3. You must use Manual Mode and Manual Focus for this project
4. Shoot at least 24 images of your subject, try different angles and heights to create a cool and creative framing of your subject
5. Pass the camera on to a team mate so that everyone takes turns shooting portraits
6. Review your pictures and choose a single photo that represents the best of your shots, your image should be properly lit and exposed (not too dark or too light) and in focus
7. Display your best image on blog along with a contact sheet.

Student Work Examples of Dutch Angle Portraits:

New Assignment: Portrait Theory "Get My Good Side"

Hello Students,

Your next assignment is another exercise in portrait photography and this time we are testing a theory that a persons left side of their face shows more emotion that the right side of the face, and that viewers find the left side more aesthetically pleasing.

Does the left side of the face show more emotion? 

Portrait Theory Assignment: Left, Right, Front...

Read through the 2 links below. Take your portraits and write a 2-3 paragraph summary about your findings. Do you agree with the theory proposed? If not why? What are your personal findings and thoughts.

Links for reading:

 - Science Daily: Your left side is your best side

 - Petapixel: Photograph the left side of peoples faces to capture more emotion

Assignment Details:

• Pick 5 people and take 3 pictures of them each showing their face from the right, the left and straight on
• Take multiple shots (like a professional) and choose your best to show the left, side and front portraits
• Post your 15 images to your blog when complete, post processing is encouraged to enhance your portraits
• Write a 2-3 paragraph summary of your findings. Do you agree with the theory proposed? If not why? What are your personal findings and thoughts
• Due on Thursday

Left

Front

Right

Have fun!

 - Mr.W