New Assignment: Rule Of Thirds

Rule Of Thirds Project Details:

Your next assignment is to compose 3 different images that demonstrate the rule of thirds. Your images must be properly lit, have the right levels of exposure and must be in focus. You must apply the Rule Of Thirds to each images composition. Try to compose your image in camera, and only crop your image if needed. These must be new images, not previous work examples.

You can shoot any subject you like, such as landscape, portraiture, still life. 

You should shoot many images and choose the best... on average you should shoot about 15-20 shots and choose the single best example from each set.

Assignment Deliverables:

1- Three images that demonstrate the use of the Rule of Thirds in their composition. Each image must be a different subject matter, the subjects could be landscape imagery, portrait, still life etc.

2- Written Synopsis of the Rule of Thirds as you interpret it. Write a short description of this principle and how you used it in your images. Tell me what/where the focus point in each image is... where is the eye drawn to?

Grading:

• Your work will be evaluated on its ability to demonstrate this principal in a creative and informative fashion and to meet all deliverables on time.
• Image enhancement (color, B&W, color tweaking) is allowed as long as it enhances and does not detract from clearly demonstrating the principal. 
• These images must not be over or underexposed and must be in focus. Use a tripod to ensure a jitter/blur free image.
• Your images must demonstrate proper exposure techniques

Deadline:

This assignment is due at end of class Monday.

Links:

Tutorial: How to Crop an Image in Photoshop with the Rule of Thirds

Reading: Cambridge in Colour - Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds Lecture Review:

Have fun with your new assignment!

  - Mr. W

Post Processing Assignment : "Andy Warhol-ize" A Portrait

Andy Warhol was a painter, printer and filmaker and one of the originators of the pop-art movement. His images were often of mundane subjects such as a campbells soup can, and had deep levels of contrast.

Your next assignment is to process one of your photographs into the Andy Warhol signature style. Follow my tutorial below. Use a portrait you shot in one of our previous assignment for this project. Make sure you have similar levels of color/detail/variation as the examples on this page.

After you complete the tutorial post your results to your blog...

The Andy Warhol Process in Photoshop CS5:

Open up one of your favorite pictures that you have taken during this class in Photoshop.

Create a copy of the background layer

Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation

Pull down the Saturation slider until your  image is black and white

Next, go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast

And adjust the brightness and contrast until your image looks "high contrast"

Then go to Image  > Threshold

And adjust the Threshold slider until your image looks satisfactory

Next, create a new blank layer

And grab the Polygonal Lasso Tool, and draw an outline around the elements in your image

Next pick a color from your swatch palette or color picker and fill the selection with your color (Option-Delete, or go to Edit > Fill)

Now change the Blend Mode of your color layer to Darken, this is located on your Layer Palette

And now your image will show through the color

Continue this process until all of your image is filled with color, create a new layer for each color, this is important as you will go back and edit each layer later on.

For an added effect, airbrush the edges of your image with a large brush and black fill color

Then change the Blend Mode to Dissolve

Next, Shift-Select all your layers and go to Layer Palette Sub Menu > Create New Group From Layers. Now you can create copies of those layers and edit the colors of each group like I have below...

Student Work Samples:

Have fun!

- Mr.W

How to Write a Good GREAT Letter of Introduction

Hello Students,

Your next assignment is to create a "Letter of Introduction" that describes you! Your special traits, qualities, hobbies, and personal, educational and career goals. List your top 5 skills and abilities. It should consist of at least one page. Make sure to use correct spelling and grammar.

Letter of Introduction Assignment:

• This is an introduction letter, about you, written to people that may be viewing your portfolio.
• Should be about 1 page long.
• Letter should be free of typo's, spelling and grammar errors.
• Follow the examples in the Portfolio Handbook and include the information listed below...

You letter should include:

• Who you are
• Where you are currently attending school
• What courses you are currently enrolled in aside from standard courses (such as this ROP class your in right now)
• Your top 5 work related skills
• Special acknowledgments from employers/instructors
• Future education plans
• Hobbies or other activities you enjoy
• Discuss what is contained in your portfolio
• Discuss the type of work/projects/activities you enjoy the most in school

Sample Introduction Letter:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Star

242 Crest St.

Capitola, CA 95010

(831) 553-2323

jostar@yahoo.com

Date

To Whom It May Concern:

I am currently attending Santa Cruz High School where I will be graduating this year in June. I have enrolled in ROP classes, which are business-oriented. ROP classes have given me a closer look at the business world and I have learned excellent work skills. 

My top five work skills are:

• Excellent communication skills with strong listening skills
• Responsible and reliable with attention to detail
• Strong team player who thrives in teamwork situations
• Good computer skills
• Excellent time management skills

I have received special acknowledgement from my employers for strong skills and work ethics.

I recently was accepted to CalPoly and plan to go there in the Fall and pursue a degree in Agribusiness. After receiving my degree, I plan to work in my family’s strawberry farming business. Eventually, I hope to be the president of the business. I have many hobbies including surfing, skiing and playing baseball but most of all, I enjoy riding my horse up in the hills. It gives me a sense of freedom and independence.

My portfolio shows some of the skills and abilities I have acquired in while attending Soquel High School and throughout my work experience. I have always enjoyed landscaping and have enrolled in the Horticulture class for my last semester of high school. From my past experience you will notice that I enjoy working especially when I leave the job better than it was when I first got there. I have been doing tree work for three years and have worked for commercial and residential customers. Thoroughness and safety are some of my favorite qualities.

Included in this portfolio, is my resume summarizing my schooling, work experience, and skills. In addition I have a list of references, letters of recommendation, and samples of my work. I hope you enjoy reviewing my portfolio.

Sincerely,

John Star

- Complete your letter of introduction and add it to your Portfolio project!

 - Mr.W

Using InDesign for Portfolio Creation

Hello Students,

To develop your print portfolio we will use Adobe InDesign's powerful layout software to create multiple page document with compelling design, color, typography and content. Use this post and the details below to explore and become familiar with InDesign

Launch and Explore InDesign

• Go to the dock and launch InDesign, or look in your Applications folder to find the app
• Go to the File Menu and create a New Document
• Go to the Window Menu and set your Workspace to Advanced
• Explore the tool bar, click on the text tool and draw a text box to create text, try the shape tools and look for the color modifiers to change colors at the top of the screen
• Open all the palettes under the Window Menu and explore all the functions, look at the quick guides below for reference
• See if you can create text of different sizes, change the colors, modify the text kerning and tracking and draw shapes in different colors and with different borders
• Try importing an image, use File Menu/Place... you can insert a photo into a shape, or drop it onto the page you want
• Try opening the Pages Palette and create multiple pages
• When you are comfortable, begin creating your portfolio!

Hidden Tools and Shortcut Keys

Character Formatting Panel In InDesign

Paragraph Formatting Panel in InDesign

Have fun!

Studio Portraiture and Lighting Patterns

Hello Students,

Having a studio environment and using studio lighting is one of the best way for a photographer to have total control over the lighting and background elements in their photos. Different lighting positions are used to enhance facial features, eyes, hair... and to create different moods, atmosphere and effects in the photo. We will cover some basic lighting set ups and then you will work in groups to create examples of the different lighting positions for portraiture.

When you begin to recognize lighting patterns you can experiment with placement, shadows and light effects.

Studio Lighting Patterns:

A lighting pattern pertains to how the light and shadows fall across the face. We all know that harsh outdoor lighting can be unflattering to our subjects, casting deep shadows under the lips, in the eye sockets and neck area. By using studio lights we can create pleasing light patterns with rich tonal value to accentuate our subjects facial contours. Different lighting set ups work better for women and men separately, and it is important to know the basics, once you have an understanding of basic light patterns you can begin to experiment and achieve the results you desire in each of your portraits.

1: Split Lighting

Split lighting is a simple, single light set up. It is called split lighting because it divides the face into light and dark areas. This setup tends to be rather dramatic in effect. To achieve this look the light is placed 90 degrees to the left or right of the subject. Any lighting pattern can be used on any facial position, but the light may need to be moved in relation to the subjects face for best results.

Term Definition - Catch light: Sometimes the subjects eyes may be too dark in a split lighting set up, so often a "catch light" is used in front of the subjects eyes to fill the reflections in their eyes and to avoid a "dead" look in their eyes. This catch light can be a big diffused umbrella light, not bright enough to affect the split light set up, but just enough to cause some reflection in the eyes, brightening up the subjects look over all.

2: Loop Lighting

Loop lighting is when lighting is positioned to create a shadow of the viewers nose falling across the face. To create this look the light position must be slightly higher than eye level and about 30-45 degrees from the camera. This positioning may need to change with each person, everyones face is different. Learn to read your subjects face, in loop lighting the shadow of the nose and the shadow of the cheek shouldn't touch. Adjust light as needed to achieve this. Loop lighting is a common method as it is usually flattering to the subject and is easy to achieve.

3: Rembrandt Lighting

So named because the same lighting is used in Rembrandt's paintings. This set up is identifiable because the shadow created by the nose and the cheek do touch, creating little triangle highlights under the subjects eyes. Proper Rembrandt lighting should also use a catch light on the shadow side of the face to keep the eyes from looking lifeless. This is a dramatic lighting set up that creates a deep mood. If your subject has high cheekbones this is a good method, if their nose is very short or shallow you may need to adjust your lighting to achieve the light triangle so endemic of this method. To create Rembrandt lighting the subject must turn slightly away from the light and the light must be above the top of the head. Not everyone's face is ideal for this method, so do what looks best and is most flattering.

4: Butterfly Lighting

This lighting setup is named because of the butterfly shaped shadow that is created under the subjects nose. In this setup the light is placed above and behind the camera. This setup is used for glamour lighting and to create shadows under the cheeks and chin. It can be flattering for older subjects as it tends to minimize the shadows in wrinkles, which would be more pronounced in side lighting. Sometimes in Butterfly lighting a reflector is placed under the subject, sometimes the subject will hold the reflector themselves. This pattern flatters subjects with thin faces and high cheekbones.

Studio Light Styles / Broad Lighting:

Broad lighting isn't a pattern itself but a style of pattern, any of the above patterns can be broad or short. Broad lighting refers to the subjects face being turned away from the camera so that the lighted area of the face is broader and the shadow areas are smaller or shorter. This type of lighting can make a persons face appear wider and may not be flattering, or it can be used to make a thinner persons face seem fuller.

Short Lighting:

Short lighting is the opposite of broad lighting, the subjects face is turned towards the light making the shadow area smaller, and often more flattering. It puts more of the face into shadow, adds depth to the image and tends to me more slimming and flattering.

Link: 6 Portrait Lighting Patterns

Studio Lighting Assignment:

Pair up with 3-4 others and sign up for some time in the studio. We only have one studio so we will need to share. When you use the studio be extremely careful when handling the lights to avoid broken bulbs and broken equipment. Take turns acting as models and create examples of the following light setups:

• Split lighting
• Loop lighting
• Rembrandt lighting
• Butterfly lighting
• Broad lighting (in any pattern)
• Short lighting (in any pattern)
• Experimental (choose a light position/pattern/technique and get creative with it)

Post process or shoot your images as B&W images to demonstrate the proper lighting patterns, B&W can show tonal patterns and light/dark areas with more clarity than a color image. Post your 7 best results to your blog when complete.

Have fun!

- Mr.W

Student Examples: