WHAT: Art III - Honors and Standards: Summer Photography Assignment

WHEN: Due Second Monday, once we return to school in August

HOW:

• Use a digital camera or your phone • Deal breaker # 1: COMPOSITION: how an artist fills the space. Be

the art director and decide what makes it into the shot. Don’t rely on cropping afterwards.

• Deal breaker # 2: LIGTHING: If it is too dark, the viewer can’t see the subject. If it is overly lit, the details are washed out. Try a variety of light sources: natural sunlight, spotlights, etc. (flashes are rarely great)

• Deal breaker # 3: Do not include shots taken by other people or found on the Internet.

• Suggestion # 1: Find an interesting angle, zoom in, zoom out, stand below or above eye level

• Suggestion # 2: stuck for ideas > make a list > ideas beget ideas > look up the definition of the word for clarity > pictures provided are for inspiration only and in no way limit your subject matter

• These pictures will be used as reference photos for this year’s artwork. When taking the photo, think to yourself, “How would this translate to a drawing or a painting?” Bad pictures make for bad artwork.

• The photos will count for two homework grades. • Read directions carefully

Assignment #1: CHIAROSCURO GOAL: CHIAROSCURO: Italian word meaning dramatic lighting – like a spotlight in a play

Instructions:

• must be a portrait • must be black and white • two photos – must be different lighting or different people

Suggestions:

• work in a room with all of the lights turned off • use a window on a sunny day as your light source • use a lamp without a shade or your phone • have a third person hold the light source

Assignment #2: COLOR: GOAL: Create high contrast by using objects that are complementary colors (colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel)

Instructions:

• Must use color - obviously • Must take 2 photos, each of different objects • think about how this would translate to a PAINTING

Suggestions:

• you can set up the shot or capture the shot • food or clothing are good places to start

Assignment #3: SHADOWS: GOAL: capture how light bends

Instructions:

• 3 photos total – each of a different subject • one of which must include architecture: think angles of

walls, floors and ceilings, stairs, windows (one has to be architecture but all three could include architecture)

• One black and white, two in color

Suggestions:

• you can capture shadows you see • or you can be the art director and create your own

shadows • remember that objects that are boring shapes will make

boring shadows

THIS IS BORING

THIS IS BETTER

Assignment #4: CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

GOAL: is to see a room from an angle other than eye level.

Instructions:

• Must take two different images from two different perspectives (angles) ANGLE OPTIONS:

1. DOG’S POINT OF VIEW – this image is really about feet

2. FROM THE HIP – this is a good option when sitting at a table

3. BIRD’S POINT OF VIEW – looking down

• May be in color or black and white – your choice • SUGGESTION about subject matter – subject matter is open

but consider taking a photograph of an everyday scene, just using the interesting angles/perspective

Example: from the hip

Examples: Dog’s Point of View

Examples: Bird’s eye view