Have a great summer

Great job everyone on the final critique.  It was a pleasure to be a part of your PHO 111 IDM class this semester.  My part of the grades are in but I don't know when they will be posted. 

Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.  I wish all the best.

Ginger

Final Critique on Monday 7 May 2012

Final critique is Monday, 7 May 2012.  The critique will be held in Journalism Room 110.  We will start at 6 pm sharp.  Please be a little early so we can start on time and get out by 9 pm.

You will need to bring 10-15 prints with 4 of those matted.  2 will be given to the University.  Please make sure you have your name, class, date, etc. written in pencil on the back of the mats of the 2 you will leave with me.

Please be prepared to present your work using the methods of critique learned in class.  This time there will not be anything written on the board or slips handed out to you.  You will also need to participate and critique the work of others using the methods taught.

Don't forget to come dressed for the final critique.  It is important to look as if you are presenting your work to a client or a potential employer.  You now have your very first portfolio printed and ready to present.  Congratulations.

I'll bring the pizza, plates and napkins.  Anything else you want to bring to add to the meal will be most appreciated.

You have worked hard this semester and it shows!  Thank you.  I look forward to seeing the final results on Monday!

Monday 30 April 2012

Self Assessment Essay is due today.

Please write a 4 paragraph self-assessment based on what you learned/did not learn in Photography 111 Introduction to Digital Media class.

Values: 

What value did this Photo 111 Introduction to Digital Media offer to you this semester?

Some examples of what you might want to consider in your value statement are listed below.

• How did you perceive yourself as a photographer at the beginning of class and how do you perceive yourself now?
• What do you like/dislike about your experience in this class?
• What were your strengths/weaknesses in photography at the beginning of class compared to the end of the semester?
• Is photography/digital media important to you? Do you think it will be in the future?
• How did you feel about this course before you started it? Did you think you would enjoy it? Did you think it would be hard, or easy? How do you feel about the course now you are almost finished?
• What do you like about this particular class?
• Did any particular photography technique prove useful? If so, how?

Interest:
Was the class content interesting? What did you find interesting?  What did you find boring?

Skills:
What skills did you learn?  Are there any skills you wish you had learned but you were not offered the information.

Some examples of skills learned this semester might include:
- Composition
-Printing
-Presentation
-How to take a picture
-How to use a camera
- Information on photographers
-How to critique a photograph
-How to mat.

Grade for the semester
Finally, please give yourself a grade for the semester you feel that you have earned based on attendance, projects, participation in critiques, participation on the class blog and your final presentation.  Explain why you feel you deserve the grade you have given yourself.

Please print this out and hand it to me during class or just email it to me at gcook2@leo.tamu-commerce.edu

You won't receive a grade on this exercise.  It is a simple do it and you get a 100, don't do it and it will be a 0.  I will be using your feedback as I try to plan for the Fall 2012 class.  Thanks so much for your input.

Heads Up!
The print lab closes on Friday.  You might want to use the lab time in class tonight and on Wednesday to print and mat your final pictures.

It takes time

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me.

All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it's just not that good. It's trying to be good, it has potential, but it's not. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.

A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn't have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story.

It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I've ever met. It's gonna take awhile. It's normal to take awhile. You've just gotta fight your way through."
~ Ira Glass

Wed 25 April 2012 Artist Statements Due

Your artist statement is due tonight along with your updated Final Proposed Project.  We will be going over each student's work in class.

See you at 6!

Mon 23 April Lab Day

Today is your lab/work day.  Please use it very wisely!  We will not have a formal class tonight but you can come in and use the Mac and print labs as you need.  Keep in mind that both the Wathena and 3rd Floor pint labs close on Friday, May 4th.

Wednesday, your artist statements are due.  Please have them up on your blog along with your most recently updated proposal for the final project.  It will be most helpful if you also have any and all new images up for everyone to take a look at and comment upon before you go any further.

Work hard!

Wed 18 April

We are going to spend a little time this evening on artist statements.  Hopefully, most of you have 5-7 pictures up on your blog and you are ready for a review before printing.  There are still a few of you who have not updated your project plan.  This week I will be comparing your project plan to the work posted on your blog.  I hope they match!  We will also continue comments on blogs this evening.  At the end of class there will be time to print.  Please take this as fair warning not to wait to the last minute.  There will always be problems beyond your control in the print lab at the end such as running out of ink or paper for the printers, etc.  We only have 4 more classes to get ready for the final critique.  You are doing some great work!