GDES 73 - Digital Photography Online - Weekly Instructions
Spring 2012

Back to Angel

Week 1 Instructions:

  1. Watch the video orientation. The link to all video lectures is near the top of this page.
  2. Take the Opening Day Survey in the Week 1 Folder in angel.
  3. Watch the video on Camera Features.
  4. After watching the camera features video, take the 1 question survey about the video size in the lessons folder in angel.
  5. Read Ch. 1-3 in Digital Photography: Essential Skills.
  6. Check out these sites for camera suggestions
  7. Watch the video about Flickr.
  8. Join Flickr group http://www.flickr.com/groups/gdes73_online_spr2012/
    1. Sign up for Flickr.
    2. Go to the link for the group above and click join this group.
  9. There are no files to turn in this week.

Week 2 Instructions:

  1. Watch the video about exposure.
  2. Watch the video on downloading with bridge.
  3. Watch the video on creating a web gallery.
  4. Assignment 1 - First Shots - Practice Assignment:
    • Go outside and shoot portraits of someone
    • try out manual controls if you have them, and if you know how to use them. Don't worry if you don't.
    • Try some images posed and some candid
    • Try some images with the subject looking into the camera, and some not
    • Try some close-ups and some wider, full length shots
    • Try some with flash and without flash
    • Shoot at least 30 images
    • Download with bridge(watch the video tutorial)
    • Create a web photo gallery from your images(watch the video tutorial and see some instructions here). Make sure to use these settings in the appearance settings in Adobe Bridge when you export your web gallery.
    • To turn in assignments with multiple files or folders, it works best if you put all files in a folder and zip the folder. To zip a folder on a PC, create a folder and put the files needed in it, then right click, select "send to," and finally "compresses (zipped) folder." On a mac, control click or right click on the folder and select compress.
    • Drop your zipped file in the Assignment 1 drop box in angel. Check the calendar for due dates.

Week 2 Instructions:

  1. Assignment 2 - Location Scout - Main Assignment:
    Act as a location scout for a movie and document 1 indoor scene and 1 outdoor scene with 5 quality images each. Pay close attention to framing, composition and exposure. Change your perspective. You can turn around, get low, point up or down, etc. Make sure you get 10 images that you like.

    • Think about the camera settings for each shot(if your camera has manual controls).
      • f-stop(aperture)
      • shutter speed
      • ISO
      • shooting mode(manual, aperture priority, etc.)
      • general focal length(wide angle, normal or telephoto)
    • Experiment with the controls you do have on your camera.
    • Experiment with different angles, focal lengths, f-stops(If possible) and shutter speeds(If possible).
    • Make sure to shoot at least 1 image using each of the following settings(if your camera allows it).
      • aperture priority
      • shutter priority
      • manual exposure
      • manual focus
      • Turn in as a web photo gallery as before with only your best 10 images.
      Make sure to zip the folder after you make the web gallery(see above).
      Drop your file in the Assignment 2 drop box in angel. Check the calendar for due dates.
  2. Watch the Joel Meyerowitz video on street photography
  3. Assignment: Take the week 1 quiz in angel which covers the reading and videos
  4. Watch the video on camera controls on compact cameras
  5. Watch the video on camera controls on DSLR

 

Week 4 Instructions:

  1. Read Ch. 4 in Digital Photography: Essential Skills
  2. Read the terms page
  3. Watch the video on what makes a good image
  4. Watch the video on Adobe Bridge introduction
  5. Assignment: Complete the Camera Survey Assignment in angel
  6. Assignment 3: Collect at least 10 photos from a photographer of your choice. They can be the work of any kind of photographer(commercial, artist, photojournalist, etc). The work can be straight or manipulated. Create a web gallery in Bridge, zip the folder, and drop it in the drop box in angel.

 

Week 5 Instructions:

  1. Read Ch. 5 in Digital Photography: Essential Skills
  2. Watch the video about depth of field
  3. Watch the video on image processing and renaming files
  4. Read the files on thinking about photos and the file on critique proceedure.

Assignment 4 - Main Assignment - Shutter speed and depth of field:
Shoot photos exploring shutter speed and depth of field. If you do not have direct control of these features, like on a point and shoot, try to use the controls you do have, like scenes, or factors like the distance to your subject to change the depth of field. Turn in exactly 5 images that show different shutter speeds and exactly 5 images that show different depth of field.

  • When turning in, resize your images to a maximum dimension of 800 pixels wide or 800 pixels high(watch the video on image processing and renaming files) and save them as jpegs with a quality setting of 8.
  • Make sure your images are named like this:
    mark_garrett_assign4_datecreated_imagenumber.jpg.
  • Use your own name and date of course.
  • Put your 10 images in a folder, zip the folder and drop them into the drop box for the assignment.

 

Week 6 Instructions:

  1. Read Ch. 6 in Digital Photography: Essential Skills
  2. Watch the video about focal length
  3. Watch the video on white balance
  4. Read the file tips for photographing people with natural light located here. and More Tips for Portraits located here.
  5. Watch the Garry Winogrand video
  6. Assignment: Take the week 2 quiz in angel which covers the reading and videos

Assignment 5 - Main Assignment - Object photos:
Photograph a chair or other similar object. Don't use a chair unless you have no imagination. Be as creative as you can. You can move the object, change the lighting, etc. Think about all the options you have with 1 subject. Shoot at least 30 images. Select your 5 best images. They can be manipulated or straight. You will turn in all 30 images. See Examples Here.

    To Turn in:
  • Resize your images to a maximum dimension of 700 pixels wide or 700 pixels high(watch the video on image processing) and save them as jpegs with a quality setting of 5.
    • If you don't resize to this size, angel might not upload the file.
  • Make sure your images are named like this:
    firstname_lastname_assign5_datecreated_imagenumber.jpg
    • Watch the video on image processing to rename files quickly
  • Turn in as a folder of files, with your 5 selects in an inside folder.
  • Zip the folder and put the file in the drop box in angel.
    For help, consider the following list of characteristics of images:
  • Composition
  • Framing
  • Focus/depth of field
  • Light
  • Contrast
  • Color
  • Point of emphasis
  • Line
  • Shape
  • Texture
  • Balance
  • Point of view
  • Motion
  • Perspective


Week 7 Instructions:

  1. Read Ch. 7 and 11 in Digital Photography: Essential Skills
  2. Watch the video on scanning
  4. Watch the Video on Picnik
    1. Link to picnik.com
  5. Assignment 6: After watching the video on picnik, use 2 of your own photos and do some manipulation in picnik. You do not have to use the same effects as in the video. After you are done, save the before and after files as jpegs and drop them into the assignment drop box in angel. Turn in 4 total images.

Week 8 Instructions:

  1. Watch the video on Introduction to Camera Raw
  2. Go through Chapters 1-3 of the Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby (The Kelby Book from now on). I will not collect the finished files, but you do need to know the material.
  3. Assignment 7: Watch the video on Correcting a scanned image. Recreate the image in the video by following the same proceedure. The original starting file is here. After you are done, save the file as a jpeg and drop it into the assignment drop box in angel.

Week 9 Instructions:

  1. Watch the Video on Visual Weight/Point of Emphasis
  2. Watch these videos on shooting portraits with bounce
    1. http://www.youtube.com/user/snapfactory#p/c/BC5A73FEA8B7D7D2/23/Ts-_aQjqSTg
    2. http://www.lastolitevideos.com/using-trigrip-reflectors-diffusers
  3. Watch the Video - Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light (1/9)
  4. Make sure you have read tips for photographing people with natural light located here. and More Tips for Portraits located here. They will help with the portrait assignment.
  5. Assignment: Take the week 3 quiz in angel which covers the reading and videos
Assignment 8 - Main Assignment - Portraits:
Do 2 outdoor portrait series' of people.
Read Ch. 11 in Digital Photography: Essential Skills for more tips on photographing people.

Series 1:

One series will be of someone you know. The images can be posed or candid.

Series 2:

The second series is of someone you don't know. Approach someone who looks interesting to you and ask to take their photograph. It could be at an event, a park, etc. You can have them look at the camera, or you can capture the person as they are performing an activity or interacting with others. Get close.

For both series, try to portray the subjects character. Shoot at least 20 images of each person, probably more if possible. Lighting can can be natural or artificial, but try to use the ambient(existing) light as much as possible. You can use flash if necesary to supplement the existing light(fill flash). Watch this video for tips on fill flash. GET CLOSE.

To Turn in: Pick the 5 best images from each session, 10 images total and resize your images to a maximum dimension of 700 pixels wide or 700 pixels high(watch the video on image processing.)
Save them as jpegs with a quality setting of 8.
Put only your 10 best images in a folder, zip the folder and drop them into the drop box for the assignment.

Also, post your best 4 images, 2 for each subject on Flickr.
Add them to the group(http://www.flickr.com/groups/gdes73_online_summer11/) and tag them portraitassignment(all 1 word).
You can add tags near the bottom right of the page when the image is open in Flickr.

 

Week 10 Instructions:

  1. Read Ch. 10 and 12 in Digital Photography: Essential Skills
  2. Work through the exercises in Chapter 4 in the Kelby Book. I will not collect the finished files, but you do need to know the material.
  3. Watch this video on using flash to fill shadows(fill flash)
    1. http://www.youtube.com/user/snapfactory#p/c/BC5A73FEA8B7D7D2/23/Ts-_aQjqSTg
  4. Assignment 9: Watch the video on creating Frankenfaces(Lecture 19). Create your own Frankenface by photographing 2 people and combining using the technioques in the video. Make sure you photograph the 2 people in exactly the same way, so they will combine easily, similar to the images in the demo video. After you are done combining the faces, save the file as a PSD file with layers and drop it into the assignment drop box in angel.
  5. Read the web page on History of compositing

Week 11 Instructions:

  1. Watch the video on selecting(Lecture 20) Follow along with the video using the files located here.
  2. Watch the video on refining selections(Lecture 21). Follow along with the video using the bear and dune files located here.
  3. You can also watch the Adobe.tv video on refining edges
  4. Assignment 10: Watch the video on compositing with shadows(Lecture 22). Recreate the image in the video by following the same proceedure. The original starting files are here. After you are done, save the file as a PSD file with layers and drop it into the assignment drop box in angel.

Start Assignment 12 - Main Assignment - Compositing:
Make 2 composite images(not faces) on the subjects of your choice, with at least 1 being as believable as possible. Use at least 2 original(shot by you) images in each composit. Try to match lighting, color, f-stop, focal length, etc when shooting your original files to make the final images blend more realistically. Turn in as as a layered photoshop file(PSD) with a maximum dimension of 1500 pixels wide or 1500 pixels high. You can go to the image menu in photoshop and select image size to resize. Change the pixel dimensions at the top of the dialog box. Make sure resample image and constrain proportions are checked at the bottom of the dialog box. Download compositing assignment examples here. Check the calendar for due dates. New Due Date on Calendar.

Week 12 Instructions:

  1. Watch the video on Shooting and processing HDR(High Dynamic Range) images(Lecture 23)
  2. Read Ch. 8 in the Kelby Book on HDR
  3. Watch the video on Blending Modes and Blend if Sliders. It can help with Assignment 12. Follow along with the video using the files located here.
  4. Assignment: Take the week 4 quiz in angel which covers the reading and videos

Assignment 11 - Main Assignment - HDR:
Shoot bracketed images of 2 high contrast scenes and create HDR images from them using Photomatix and/or Photoshop. Make 1 realistic version of each scene and 1 painterly/hyperreal version of each for a total of 4 final images. Download HDR assignment examples here. Check the calendar for due dates.


Week 13 Instructions:

  1. Watch the video on color correction. It covers some of the material from Ch. 6 of the Kelby book. Follow along with the video using the files located here.
  2. Work through the exercises in Chapter 7 in the Kelby Book. It covers converting images to black and white. I will not collect the finished files, but you do need to know the material.
  3. Assignment 13: Create a Black and white image from a color image. After going through Chapter 7 in the Kelby book, use the techniques on a color image of your own and convert it to black and white. Save the before and after versions as JPEGs with a maximum dimension of 800 pixels wide or 800 pixels high, and drop them into the assignment drop box in angel. To save a single image as a jpeg, you can go under the file menu in photoshop and look for save as, and change the file type to jpeg.
Start Final Project Assignment 17:
Do a series of photos on the subject of your choice with 10 quality images, each able to stand on their own, as well as work as a group. Download assignment examples here. Check the calendar for due dates.
    Examples:
  • Tell a story with images
  • Document someones life or an event
  • Create a series of landscapes with a common theme or style
    To Turn in:
  • Resize your 10 images to a maximum dimension of 800 pixels wide or 800 pixels high(watch the video on image processing.)
  • Make sure your name is on each image.
  • Save them as jpegs with a quality setting of 8.
  • Put only your 10 images in a folder, zip the folder and drop them into the drop box for the assignment.

Week 14 Instructions:

  1. Watch War Photographer - James Nachtwey
  2. Assignment 14: Watch the video on Panoramas(Lecture 22). Create your own panorama by using the proceedure in the video. After you are done creating the image, save the file as a JPEG with a quality setting of 8. After you are done converting, drop it into the assignment drop box in angel. Download Pano Tips here.
  3. Continue work on Final Project.

 

Week 15 Instructions:

  1. Watch the video on Retouching (the files used in the video are here)
    Assignment 15 - Extra Credit : Retouch 2 portraits from your portrait assignment using the techniques in the video.     If you would like to shoot new, close-up portraits to use, that's OK. Do not use the files from the video. Turn in the 2 before images and 2 after images into the drop box in angel.
  2. Watch the video on Lightroom
  3. Watch this video on shooting with studio strobes and classic lighting styles
    1. Portrait Lighting for Photography and Video!

Week 16 Instructions:

  1. Post your 10 Final Project images to the flickr group and tag with gdes73finalprojectspr12
  2. Assignment 16: Critique 1 image from the Final Project of another student. After the due date for the Final Project, go into the drop box for the final project and evaluate one image from another student in the class using the file gdes73online_photo_critique_assignment1.doc (Download here). Critique the persons submission who is in the folder below yours. If you are at the bottom of the list, do the person's at the top. Fill out the form following the instructions on it, and drop it into the drop box in angel. All files will be visible to all students, so you can see the critique done on your image.

The Final Exam

The Final Exam will be taken on Angel at 7pm Thursday, July. 28. Let me know if you cannot take it at that time.
The questions are multiple choice, multiple answer and true false.
The questions will cover information found in the videos, exercises and files used throughout the course.
Login to Angel at 7PM and look under the lessons tab for the exam.
You have 2 hours to complete the exam.
Do not use the save button if visible.
Click the submit button only when you are finished.
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