*Click* Winner for Reenactment: Alex Zielinski

"Check" by Alex Zielinski

*Click* Expansion Series

For your final series of works for Photo 2, I'd like you to revisit the *Click* assignments you completed this year, and choose one assignment that you enjoyed more than any other. Consider how you initially solved this problem, how other students solved this problem, and how you can approach this problem in a new way.

Problem: Create a series of three photographic works that explore a click theme in a unique and engaging way.

-Your series must include a silver gelatin print, an alternative process print, and a digitally based work.

-You may combine processes if you'd like, but you must demonstrate one of each and have a minimum of three works.

-You may create more than three works.

-You must shoot at least one roll of black and white film, and at least 24 digital exposures.

-Your final works should be at least 8x10" or larger.

Click Assignments:

reenactment

double exposure

line

opposite composite

framed

resonance

macro

reflection

movement

photo text

transformation

monochromatic

pattern

Step 1: Research and brainstorm. In your sketchbook, write the definition for the word and identify what it means to you personally. Choose your three favorite student examples from this assignment and either print & glue/sketch them in your sketchbook. Lastly, brainstorm/sketch out at least two different ideas for how you'd like to explore this theme in a new way. DUE: Friday, June 4th

Step 2: Shoot, make a contact print for your B&W and digital exposures. DUE: Wednesday, June 9th

Step 3: Create your three works for critique, consider how you'd like to present them (narrative, diptychs, panoramas, collage, etc.) Scan and upload your non-digital works along with your digital to your Flickr page for a CRITIQUE on Wednesday, June 16th

Have fun!

Click #13 "Double Exposure" Winner: Heather McCarl

"Multiple exposure" by Heather McCarl

Photo Sculpture (Juniors only)

Problem: Using a sculptural element, modify the presentation of a photographic image in order to represent its subject matter or formal qualities in a new and interesting way.

Considerations: How might the subject matter influence your sculptural element? Or, how might the photo fit to the form of a sculptural element of your choice?

Grading Criteria:

-Your sculptural element must be well executed, and demonstrate clean and careful use of studio tools (scissors, glue, matte-board, etc.)

-It should also demonstrate well-executed studio techniques including cutting, folding, and gluing.

-The design of your sculpture should show a visual connection between the form and the subject matter of the image.

Because of time constraints, this assignment will no longer be required for seniors. Juniors will develop these works for critique on Tuesday, June 1st.

*Click* Winner for Line: Matt Holloway

"Leaf Lines" by Matt Holloway

Independent Series

Final Independent Series Presentations will take place on Monday and Tuesday, May 24th and 25th for seniors. Please have the following ready to submit the day of your presentation:

- contact sheets, (uploaded or printed)

- final prints, (uploaded or printed),

- self-evaluation, reflection questions (on Flickr), and exit survey (seniors only)

Presentation/Critique Schedule:

Tuesday, May 25th:

Katie B.

Collin M.

Reneé H.

Matt H.

Kathleen H.

Norma F.

Jennifer L.

(click #13 finale)

Wednesday, May 26th:

Zoe B.

Chloe B.

Megan B.

Matt D.

Lisa G.

Kelly J.

Thursday, May 27th:

Sunny K.

Becky L.

Heather M.

Becky S.

Nicole V.

Alex Z.

*Click* #11 Winner: Norma Fonseca

"Opposite Composite" by Norma Fonseca

Gum Bichromate Printing

For one of our last alternative processes, we will learn the technique of gum bichromate printing, or "gum" printing as it's often known. Gum printing is one the earliest color photographic process, invented by efforts of William Fox Talbot (who invented the first paper negative) and Mongo Ponton. Essentially, when a metallic dichromate (such as potassium) is combined with a colloid (a large moleculed gel or emulsion) like gum arabic, it becomes UV light sensitive and hardens proportionally to the amount of light striking it.

Unlike any of the other alternative processes, gum printing can be any color, because the gum arabic that's mixed with the dichromate can be tinted with watercolor. Layering multiple hues of color can create even create the illusion of a full-color image! (we'll talk about how Photoshop can be used to "split" a color image into three color spectrums and three different negatives to make a full-color bichromate print!)

While you are shooting your independent series, we will experiment with gum printing in class. To begin, create 2 new 5x7 ortho-litho negatives with which you can contact print with. You will need more than one to be able to layer imagery. Then, you can size and tone your paper with the dichromate solution to print with.

Here are two fantastic websites that explain the process and history of gum bichromate printing far better than I can:

Gum Bichromate Photography

Alternative Photography

Be sure to check out the Flickr group "Gum Bichromate" here to see a ton of examples of this printing process. You can also check out the simple slideshow below:

*Click* #10 Winner: Raissa Rosenbaum

"Red Ants" by Raissa Rosenbaum.

Photo Essays

For our next class assignment, you will play the role of a very important kind of photographer: the photojournalist. Photojournalists are at once photographers, and writers. They often collaborate with writers from newspapers and magazines to tell important stories, and illuminate important events that might otherwise go unnoticed. They are unbiased and truthful, but can sometimes also be loaded or sensationalized.

Over the next few days, we will look at works by many different photojournalists, and identify their mission. Where are they? What are they trying to tell us through their images? How do these images make us feel?

We will also look at photographers and artists who play the role of the photojournalist, and use elements of this role in their ideas and presentation of their work.

To begin, check out the links below to several websites that show professional photo essays by photojournalists that work around the world:

The TIMES photographic essay website
Lauren Greenfield
Bruce Davidson
Jan Sochor
Peter Menzel
James Nachtwey
Joachim Ladefoged

Lens: The New York Times Photo Essay Blog

And then check out the slideshow of artists and photographers who use a photojournalist approach to their work.

Photo Essay Requirements & Proposal

More Exhibition Opportunities!

Distinguished Scholar in the Arts- Open to juniors only, the Distinguished Scholar in the arts competition is for juniors who have a GPA of 3.7 or higher, and are willing to talk about their work in front of a panel of judges. Reservoir will choose 5 nominees, including candidates from drama, music and dance. Last year 3 of the 5 nominees were in the visual arts, and 2 of them were Photo students! Sign up in class and see me for more information. You need to sign up by Friday, March 12th

Congressional Show- Open to juniors and seniors, the art department will choose 8 works (combined from both art and photo) to nominate for the 2010 Congressional Art awards. Images must be submitted in the Flickr group pool, clearly labeled as "Congressional Art." Choose works that demonstrate elegant composition, and are more conservative in subject matter. If you're submitting work, please respond to the Flickr discussion here, and then post the work on the group pool by Friday, March 19th.

Click #9 Winner: Heather McCarl

"Bird's Eye/Mouse Eye" by Heather McCarl

Solarizing (the Sabattier Effect)

While you're shooting your Ego and Alter Ego next week, I'd like you to experiment with our new alternative process, solarizing. For critique next week, I'd like you to choose two images to solarize in the darkroom that each have different subject matter, and different compositional strategies. Consider using images that use negative and positive space, or landscapes that make use of interesting texture.

I would like you to create two prints for an in-progress critique on: Wed. March 3rd

The Ego and the Alter Ego

Ego- a person's self esteem or sense of self-appearance.

Alter Ego- an alternative personality that is usually kept hidden and is radically different than that person's appearance.

For your next shooting assignment, you will experiment with two different approaches to creating a portrait. One approach will be to most accurately present your subject's ego, that is photographing them in a way that candidly expresses his/her usual self-esteem or sense of importance. The second approach will be to collaborate with your subject and present their alter ego, or a radically different appearance by using combinations of props, experimental lighting, and digital effects.

Check out the slideshow on the bottom, and then open up your sketchbook...it's time to brainstorm! Follow the directions below for brainstorming ideas, and then the expectations for the shooting assignment.

Ego and Alter Ego Brainstorming 2010

Click #8 "Images of Resonance" Winner: Lisa Gigioli

"Resonance Rising" by Lisa Gigioli

"If I were to go blind, I'd remember what I know as the happiest place on earth. One of the things I take pride in most is my family. I'm very family oriented, and spending time with them is one of my favorite things to do. On top of that, I love the beach, especially at sunrise. The sky lights up shining amber as the sun rises up from behind the blue waters. Putting these two elements into one, and that is what I know as pure happiness."

Portrait Lighting Review: Recreation

Richard Avedon photographing for the "American West" series, and the final portraits as seen in a gallery.

Before we begin our portrait unit, it's good to understand how incredibly important lighting is for creating a good portrait. This assignment will have you focus on identifying light qualities and techniques, and then recreate them yourself by also mimicking point-of-view, composition, and depth-of-field/focus.

Directions: Create a group of three or four people for this assignment. Choose a different portrait for each person in the group to recreate as closely as possible. Each person must take turns being the model, the lighting technician, and the photographer. Print the examples below so you have each as a reference while you shoot. Shoot these pictures with a digital camera at a high resolution setting.

CRITERIA:

Light Quality: What type of lighting is being used, incandescent (artificial), or daylight? Are fills being used, where? Are shadows being cast, where?

Posture/Gesture: The model must closely match both the posture and facial expression, as well as the attire (if it's important for the composition of the photo). Use a neutral background, (black or white)

Composition: Crop and frame with your camera accordingly. Closely match the point-of-view and proximity.

Camera Controls: Focus, Aperture use (depth-of-field), and shutter speed are all important. Make sure you closely analyze the photographer's use of each before taking them yourself.

Submit the photo you directed and photographed to the Flickr group pool by: Monday (2/22) morning at 7:25.

Recreate These Portraits 2010

Richard Avedon: "Borrowed Dogs"

Richard Avedon is one of the most significant portrait and fashion photographers of recent times. His work has been shown internationally, both as editorials and as high art. He has exhibited in galleries across the world, as well as Vogue and Rolling Stone Magazine. Below is an article written by Avedon himself in 1992 that was published with an exhibition he had in New York. Read the article, (print and save it if you'd like), and respond to the questions on the following assignment sheet in your sketchbook. Enjoy! These will be due at the beginning of class on Thursday, Feb. 4th.

Richard Avedon Borrowed Dogs

Richard Avedon Borrowed Dogs Questions

*Click* #7 Winner: Norma Fonseca

"two water drops" by Norma Fonseca, January 2010

Expressive Text

Work by Stefan Sagmeister

Graphic designers and photographers often work together when creating designs that combine typography, image, and concept. For your next text/image design assignment, you will play the role of both the designer and photographer again, while applying some of your skills you developed in the the Photo-Letter assignment.

Problem: Create an "expressive text" design that combines one word and a digital photo to convey the meaning of that word in an interesting way. Your design should:

1) Use a photograph that you took yourself, no borrowed images from the internet!

2) You may use Photoshop to insert the text, or create the word somehow with the actual subject matter itself, (be creative!)

3) The word should be clearly legible in the design and be easy to read.

4) Consider a unique presentation format for your design, like creating a magazine cover, billboard, or advertisement!

Step 1: After selecting a word, create 5-6 thumbnail sketches that illustrate different ways you can solve this problem. DUE: Friday, 1/8

Step 2: After choosing a final sketch after a small-group critique, shoot the equivalent of one roll of film with you digital camera, (24 or more exposures). Explore different points-of-view, use of selective focus, cropping, and lighting scenarios. You may photograph any subject based upon your idea, but it will need to be elegantly merged with our word, or it might become the word itself! Digital contact sheet uploaded to Flickr pool: Tuesday, 1/12

Step 3: After shooting, use your sketchbook and Photoshop to create your final "expressive text" work. Keep in mind that you have lots of presentation options for this assignment, it could appear as a magazine or book cover, it could look like an advertisement, or even just like a work of art. Upload final "Expressive Text" work by: Mon, 1/18

Expressive Text (Photo) Evaluation

Cliche-Verre

Cliché-Verre is a unique photograph that is made by using a printmaking process of "etching" into the surface of a dried emulsion upon a transparent material like glass or mylar. Using a variety of "printing-plates," normal black and white photographs can be transformed into fascinating abstract, textural shapes and patterns.

Similar to cyanotypes, the cliché-verre process is expressive, allowing you to apply painting and drawing techniques like mark-making to create fascinating and expressive textures.

Create a few practice transparencies to experiment with. Try coating one solid, and then scratching into it, or brushing the ink onto the surface, or watering it down, splattering it, wiping it, using a sponge, or even sticking different textures onto the surface, letting it dry, and then peeling them off, (see leaf texture in slideshow)

Once you have a few to work with, choose images that might work well with the textures and surfaces...Be open-minded and try different possibilities. Contact print to make it negative, use your ortho-lithos, consider layering multiple transparencies together, or creating new ones!

Cliché-Verre Problem

You will be asked to submit a mini-portfolio of three cliche-verre prints. These images should share a visual connection, and be presented together as one work for the critique.

Also, here's a link to a photographer who makes beautiful cliche-verre prints using intricate patterns named Peter Feldstein, a link to his website can be found here.