For your midyear assignment, you will be taking a series of photos of windows. You will shoot from inside, from outside, with a person and without. You will consider framing and reflection, and the concept of what a window as a metaphor can mean.
As always, think about:
location (home, neighborhood, city, old mill, run down, commercial building) distance time of day
large or shallow depth of field (portrait mode on phone) color or black and white? looking from inside or looking out? what is the age of the window? is it old, abandoned? dirty? dusty? a new building? an old mill? a home? a kitchen, a bedroom, a basement, an attic? is there a person on the inside or out?
does the window appear as a barrier, or a gateway? does it allow light in or block what you can see? Is the window a symbol of safety or protection? or something that makes you trapped? or something that lets in cold or rain? is is broken, cracked or clean? is it a portal to another place? does it reflect what is outside or act as a veil of privacy? is there a curtain?
what is the time of day? how does light interact with the window? does the window show the promise of the future? show a mystery or what is inside or a glimpse into someone else's life?
DUE: 6 photos (or more) 1- from inside 1- from outside 1- with a person 1- with reflection 1- showing the entire frame/wall of the window 1- with a curtain or shade
THIS IS YOUR MIDYEAR. YOU SHOULD BE SHOWCASING YOUR COMPOSITION SKILLS, EDITING SKILLS, TIME AND EFFORT,AND ABILITY TO CREATE MEANING AND EMOTION IN YOUR PHOTOS. YOU SHOULD BE EDITING IN LIGHTROOM WITH SOME WORK IN PHOTOSHOP IF DESIRED. YOU WILL ALSO WRITE ABOUT YOUR WORK AND PRESENT TO THE CLASS. PRESENTATIONS: PERIOD 2: 1/28 PERIOD 3: 2/4
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. RECOMMENDED TIMELINE: PHOTOS TAKEN BY 1/20 EDIT AND WRITE 1/20- 1/27 (class meetings 1/20, 1/21, 1/23, 1/24, 1/27)
YOU MAY PRESENT YOUR WORK ON YOUR WEBSITE OR IN A GOOGLE SLIDE SHOW.
Windows are a transparent barrier between what is interior and what is exterior. Through them, we may visually perceive the outside world but, unlike with a door, we may not exit through them. Inside may be warm and cozy, or oppressive and imprisoning. The outside world might be a longed-for adventure or the threat of expulsion. They divide spaces between the private and the public, between that which is sheltered and that which is exposed. Through a window, not only may we see the world outside, but we ourselves may be apprehended. Light emanating from a window reveals a glimpse of the mystery within. The eye is a window through which our mind accesses the visual world, and how often have we heard the axiom that the eyes are windows to the soul? Merriam-Webster tells us that the first known use of the word “window” dates back to the 13th century, and that the Middle English window derives from the Old Norse vindauga, itself a combination of vindr wind and auga eye. The interpretations of the symbolism of windows is as boundless as the human experiences of interiority/exteriority, light, and observation. - Elana Haglern.
Directions:
Step 1: (_____/6 pts) Place your 6 (or more) unedited photos in classroom.
Step 2: Color photos (_____/18 pts) (image quality, variety of shots) Open each image in Lightroom to edit. -Crop if you want (is there something distracting in the photo?) -Adjust for proper exposure Adjust Temperature, Highlights, Shadows, Whites and Blacks as needed. Also look at Clarity and Texture… You may use modified presets (and then adjust) or create your own. Consider split toning and
Export a color version of each image (make resolution 72, longest side 10 in) and Post in a gallery on a new Weebly page called Midyear or Windows .
Step 3: Black and White (_____/18 pts) (image quality, proper exposure) Create a black and white version of each image showing understanding of proper exposure. You may use the following options: In Photoshop Image>Mode>Grayscale Image>Adjustments>Levels Image>Adjustments>Black and White
Filter>Camera Raw Filter (Select Black and White for Color Treatment (upper right) and then adjust sliders as desired.
Or use Lightroom again, creating a black and white color treatment.
Post these 6 in another gallery on the Midyear page on weebly.
Step 4: (____/18 pts) Written Statement (I would recommend writing in a doc and then copying and pasting onto weebly) This should be in complete sentences.
Place what you consider to be your best photo from this series as a single image on your webpage under the galleries and answer the following questions: Describe and discuss the composition of your best photo. (Discuss at least 4 of the following: line, shape, pattern, texture, leading lines, movement, point of view, distance, repetition, depth, framing, rule of thirds, positive and negative space, focal point) (8 pts)
Describe the camera settings that you might have used for the photo if you were shooting on a DSLR camera (ISO, White Balance, shutter speed, aperture). (4 pts)
Finally, what is this window image expressing? How does time, weather, lighting, location, and color impact the meaning of the window? What other elements or parts of the photo convey this idea? (6 pts)
Total ______/60 pts
Prepare for Mid Year Presentation:
Windows: Describe the locations, time of day your took your photos and then discuss the photo you wrote about as your best image. (5)
Select what is your 1-2 strongest assignments or photos from the year and tell why- composition, meaning/concept, technical strengths, editing. (4)
Review your work from this year and last year- select a photo or photos to illustrate your growth or change as a photographer (again, think about composition, meaning or technical control of camera or editing). You could select your worst and best photo to show, or tell how have you changed or improved? (5)
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a photographer? (4)
What is a skill or concept you would like to focus on or improve upon for/in the rest of the year? (2)
Share what you selected and wrote for 100 photos. (5)
This will be your first grade for term 3! _____/25