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!

How to write an artist statement

1. Start with the basics

Jot down some basic information about the photos included in this collection. Are they color? Do they have a common theme? Were they all taken in a similar location? Having a short list of details will help later when you are trying to tie everything together.

2. Try not to get too technical

Nobody reading the statement will care if you shot with a Canon 5D or if Photoshop is your post-processing software of choice. If there are some truly unique elements involved in the work (printed on a special material or you shot through a hand-crafted lens, for example), feel free to include that information. Otherwise, leave out the details about your gear.

3. What would you like someone else to say of this work?

This is possibly the best way to get to the heart of why you took these photos. If you would love for someone to say “these photos bring sunshine to my home”, then you already have a pretty good starting point for your statement. Lead off with something like “I have done my job as an artist if these photos bring happiness and warmth to your home”.

4. Share your background and history

All too often, artist’s statements are all about the art and don’t go into any detail about the artist. How long have you been doing this kind of art? Why did you start? Why do you enjoy it?

5. Try not to pat yourself on the back too much

It is fine to say you are proud of this body of work, but try not to go overboard with the self praise. I have seen statements that say things like “an expert of her craft, this photographer captures beauty in a way that nobody else has”. I understand the value of confidence and selling yourself, but these kinds of descriptions will be a turnoff to a lot of people.

6. Does it have to be a traditional artist’s statement?

A friend once suggested that I do a haiku for my statement, which I thought was a genius idea. Different venues will have their own requirements, but take the opportunity to do something out of the norm if you can.

Source: http://digital-photography-school.com/6-tips-for-writing-an-artist%e2%80%99s-statement#ixzz1sDcYDKWg

Here are ten examples of different Artist Statements:


http://www.artbusiness.com/artstate.html

http://www.carrieacosta.com/class/specialprojects/artist_statements.pdf

http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/ebooks/PATH/39_back_to_you_artist_statement.htm

http://artistemerging.blogspot.com/2006/08/writing-artists-statement.html

http://trefethenstudios.com/2009/12/how-to-write-an-artists-statement/

http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/tips/034a_write_artist_statement.htm

http://siberart.com/wp-content/uploads/artists_statement.pdf

Monday 16 April

You should have 5-7 of your final images ready for viewing on your blog tonight.  Please have your hard drive with all of your images for me to take a look at your metadata.  Tonight we will begin working on an artist statement for your final project.

Wed April 11

Tonight we will learn a little more about how to print using PhotoShop.  I want to take a look at your image you have ready to print tonight and all of your original files for that one image.  Remember, you need to have a least 100 images taken of each one of your subjects.  After I look at your files and your image, please be sure to post it on your blog.  Then, those of you who are ready to print can head on into the Print Lab.

You should so consider entering your Aaron Siskand!

1650 Gallery presents:

Juried Photography Exhibition:
ABSTRACTS
The Alternative Eye

Submission Deadline: Thursday, April 12, 2012

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION:
Saturday, April 28, 2012
7:30 - 10:30pm

Submission Guidelines

Make a Submission

1650 Gallery is hosting the juried photography exhibitionABSTRACTS
The Alternative Eye

Photography at first blush has often been thought of as a literal or pictorial art, and the withering truth of the camera lens has often held the power to open hearts and change minds. But beyond realism and narrative, documentary and expose lies another universe of possibilities… a universe where the formal rules of focus, composition and exposure don't necessarily apply anymore.

It is a world of "anything goes", where the elements of light, shadow, texture, color and line combine to form images of emotional power or visual beauty, stark contrasts or subtle shades of tonality -- the world of ABSTRACTS. It is a world without boundaries, real or imagined… as unlimited as the photographer's imagination.

This month, let your imagination run wild as 1650 Gallery explores the world of Abstract Photography! Open to all photographic methods and techniques, digital or analog, subject matter is unlimited; real or imagined -- recognizable or not! There are no rules, so just have fun, make some good photos and show 'em to us!

SHOOT NOW AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER, THIS MONTH ONLY, AS 1650 TURNS OUR MIND'S EYE TOWARD ABSTRACTS! Ernst Haas had done some exquisite color work in this genre. Here's some examples to get you going!

DEVIANT ART - THE BEST OF ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY - 2008

THE ERNST HAAS ESTATE

Photo by Gönül Koçak

Photo by Andrew Overtoom

Photo by Tomasz Kaluzny

Approximately fifty works will be chosen from submitted photographs to be included in the ABSTRACTS exhibition at 1650 Gallery in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Additional works may also be selected for an online gallery exhibition page.

There is an entry fee of $25 for up to 5 images. Additional entries may be submitted for $5 each.

All accepted entries must submit a high res jpeg (300-360 dpi , minimum size 5x7") to be included in the printed SHOW CATALOG.

We offer free matting and framing for accepted photographs that fit our pre-cut mat sizes for the duration of the exhibition. We have a variety of frames and mats to choose from.

We will also print your photo for a nominal fee if you are accepted into the show and would prefer not to mail a print.

Submit Now!

Selected artists may choose to offer their work for sale. The gallery retains 50% of the sale price, as well as 8.75% California sales tax. We offer free matting and framing for accepted photographs that fit our pre-cut mat sizes for the duration of the exhibition.

Questions? Please email us at 1650gallery@gmail.com

Mon 9 April 2012

Good discussion on Wednesday concerning everyone's plans for the final photography project.  Please make sure you have your Final Plan updated and on your Blog by Monday.  You also need to have 1 of the proposed photographs uploaded onto your blog for us to go over along with your photographer's sketch on the board provided for you.  Please bring all of the photos you took on your jump drive or external hard drive so we can look at how many images you took and how you approached the subject matter.  See you at 6 on Monday!

Wed 4 April

We will be looking at each class member's blog tonight and discussing everyone's plan for the final project.  Please participate in the discussion to help everyone narrow down their proposed projects.

A great big congratulations to Parker Ellis for getting 2 of his Aaron Siskand pictures in the Student Art Exhibit.  This is a rare honor for a PHO 111 student!  Way to go Parker!

Planning for the Final Photos

Please complete this proposed outline of work and post on your blog before you leave class on Monday, 2 April 2012.
Final Project Proposal

My final project proposal for PHO 111, Introduction to Digital Media, is to photograph and produce ....

Among the key issues that will need to be taken into account in developing a successful collection of images over the next five weeks are
1.

2.

3.

Stages of work1. This proposed project entails basic research on .....



2.  A reflection essay discussing what has been achieved during the course of this final project assignment along with a self-directed grade for the semester will be completed by 7 May 2012.
3. A 1-2 page artist statement explaining the final project and the artistic choices employed within the final images.
4. Explain what you hope to accomplish by:
 Wed 4 April: 
  Mon 9 April
 Wed 11 April
 Mon 16 April:   Mid-point review of at least 5-7 pictures due
 Wed 18 April
 Mon 23 April
 Wed 25 April:  Artist Statement Due by end of class
 Mon 30 April:  Reflection Essay and Self Directed Grade Due
 Wed 2 May:  Final printing and matting
The final 10-15 images will be ready to display for critique on or before 7 May 2012.


PHO 111 FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE IMAGES THAT EXPRESS WHO YOU ARE AS A  PHOTOGRAPHER. YOU MAY USE ANY AND ALL TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE BEEN COVERED DURING THIS SEMESTER.
OBJECTIVE:
TO PRESENT PHOTOS IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND TO CRITIQUE THOSE IMAGES USING THE EVALUATION CRITERIA LISTED BELOW. SHOW THROUGH PRINTED IMAGES HOW YOU USED DIGITAL OUTPUT TECHNOLOGY TO EXPRESS YOUR VISION LEARNED IN PHO 111, INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL MEDIA.
PORTFOLIO:

• 10 TO 15 IMAGES.
• ALL SUBJECTS MUST BE IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS CLASS USING TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY COVERED
• IMAGES MUST BE PRINTED NO SMALLER THAN 8 X 8 INCHES.  OF THE 10-15 IMAGES, 4 WILL BE WINDOW MATTED IN MATTES 16 X 20.
• ALL IMAGES MUST BE PRESENTED IN A NICE, PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION AS PER CLASS INSTRUCTION
• PRINTS MUST SHOW A FINISHED APPEARANCE; LEVELS, COLOR BALANCE, CONTRAST, SHARPENING, ETC. RETOUCHING IS A MUST BUT NO STRONG MANIPULATION OF THE IMAGE, I.E. CHANGE COLOR OF SUBJECT OR PLACING SUBJECT ON A COMPUTER GENERATED BACKGROUND, ETC.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
CREATIVITY – STRENGTH OF THE IMAGES (COMPOSITION, LINE, SHAPE, FORM) AND CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER.
TECHNICAL – CAMERA SKILLS: THE EXPOSURE, USE OF LIGHT & COLOR, FOCUS, ETC.
PRINTING SKILLS: LEVELS, COLOR BALANCE, CONTRAST, ETC.
PRESENTATION – QUALITY OF MOUNTING, PRESENTATION OF THE WORK AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CRITIQUES.
WORK IS DUE ON DAY OF THE CLASS FINAL.

Mon 2 April 2012

Tonight we will begin the discussion on the final project for the class.  Grades on the Aaron Siskand assignment will be returned.