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

Assignment 5 - Wrapped Object - Art and Photography

Wrapped Coast, Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Discovering the art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude is more than just trying to "unwrap" what they wrapped. The work they created as a team, both as artists and husband and wife, has spanned not only time but cultures.  For them, the purpose of their art is "simply to create works of art for joy and beauty and to create new ways of seeing familiar landscapes". Unique to other artists, the pieces "all go away when they're finished".

Your assignment:  Create a wrapped "landscape" of your own.  You will be making a piece of art with your selection of object/area/material/wrapping material, then photographing it in the studio as if it were going to be put on display in a museum.  (I want you to study - REALLY study - the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude so you know why they call their pieces landscapes.)

You are to work alone on this assignment.  Submit two ideas on your blog with the objects you have selected - remember, size does not matter - go big if you like!

Once you have the final image (please use Lightroom to fine tune your final image), post and write what you discovered about your work and the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, your inspirations, your difficulties, and ultimately what you learned about these two amazing people.

Due date:  Tuesday, September 26

Assignment #3: Barcodes rethought.

This assignment is a bit tricky.  I'll be honest, I don't know what I would do given the concept of "bar code".

I'd like you to think about what a bar code looks like, what it's used for, and what it represents as a polar opposite of nature and man.

How would you photograph the concept of this?

Due date:  September 19.

Assignment #2: Building Relationships, photographically.

by Zander Olsen

We all know what a relationship is.  We can describe it if someone asks us.  But what does "relationship" mean and look like if people are not involved?

Your assignment is to build a relationship, photographically, without the use of people or interaction of humans.  It could be a relationship between objects, between bodies of earth, between a few things or many.  In the image above, Zander Olsen, a welsh-born photographer, constructs a visual relationship between trees and the horizon.

Now it's your turn.  Create a final, portfolio-quality image that clearly shows a relationship.  Look for a creative visual, good composition and lighting, and after posting, explain your concept in a paragraph or two.

Due date:  Friday, September 1, end of class

Assignment #1: Hands/Feet

Creatively, carefully, compose a portfolio quality photograph of hands or feet.  

Black and white only.

Due:  August 21 

Assignment 11 - Lightroom Tutorials

http://www.jkost.com/lightroom.html

What do you know about Lightroom?  What would you like to know about making the images you take even more unique and interesting?  With this assignment, I'm giving you the chance to take the time to learn more.

Go to the link above and select at least three tutorials (the visual applications for this assignment please, not the organizations ones...and choose a challenging tool, not just the crop or color modification ones).  Using three different images you've captured, work through the tutorials and post both the before and after images on your blog.

What did you learn?  How did they help you improve your way of looking at your own work?  Post your comments after each of the images.

Due date:  2 tutorials due by end of class tomorrow, Friday, March 3, the 3rd due Tuesday, March 7th.