Assignment 9: Through the lens in an entirely new way…

David Hockney - a new perspective on seeing

You use your camera as your eye, documenting what you see in your mind.  Now I want you to use your camera to gain another perspective on your images.  Artist David Hockney is a painter and therefore may think of his camera as an extension of his brush.  Rather than just "point and shoot", Mr. Hockney focuses his lens and vision on his imagery as if it were a canvas he is painting in sections.

Your assignment:
1.  Research who David Hockney is.
2.  Tell me something about him as both a painter and a photographer in a paragraph or two you will be posting.
3.  Compose a photograph you will shoot using the same technique.  Use today to experiment with your camera and the assignment by shooting objects, scenes, and perhaps each other.
4.  Create your final piece in Photoshop, using the images you have taken.  Do not crop them but use in their entirety.

Due date:  November 2

Assignment 8: Will the real Aaron Siskind please stand up?

We never seem to look enough at photographers who could make a difference in the images we want to produce.  In this assignment you are going to be looking at the work of photographer Aaron Siskind.  After researching his images, you will be using your camera to shoot in his "monochrome" style, concentrating on shapes, patterns, contrast, and textures.

Post 2 of your well edited photos to your blog with the technical information.

Beneath each of your images include a well thought out paragraph describing what you see in your work that was influenced by Siskind's work.

Due Date:  October 27

What elements do you see in Aaron Siskind's images?  Pattern?  Texture?  Contrast?  Shape?
Now you take the lens and see what you can discover around you?

Assignment 7 - Nature, Inspiration, and Design

Inspiration from Nature

I've seen inspiration come in many forms.  Sometimes it comes slowly, with much thought, sometimes it comes as a flash, and sometimes it comes from a fleeting idea or image we see everyday that suddenly takes on a new perspective.

Fashion - the beauty in how fabric surrounds, the stark design that emphasizes the human form - where would your inspiration come from if you could combine what you photograph with what someone might wear?  Admittedly I've borrowed this idea but I'd like to see where you take it.  

The assignment:  find, in nature, what you might use as inspiration in an object of fashion.  It does not have to be a dress, as you see in the images above, but cold be other objects one wears.  You will need to think creatively in order to combine the two.  I do not want you to simply take a flower and make a necklace, for example.  This assignment is more about how you visualize an object from nature and rethink it's purpose as an object to wear.

Due date:  10/12

Assignment 6 - Me, myself, and I

What would it look like if you could talk to yourself?  

You know yourself better than anyone, so in this assignment you will be capturing several images of yourself in the same location, then will put them together in Photoshop to make it look as if you are relating to yourself. One of the photographs will be the base image.  Position the others to create a final image for the assignment.

Writing Critique: Post the final image, titled "Me, Myself, and I" and write both your inspiration for the final image and a paragraph on the final meaning of the photograph.

Due Date:  10/6, end of class