This is your last chance to finish up your Photo Essay! Please let me know if you need to borrow a camera. Also, most of you still need to edit your images in photoshop and upload them to the folder for grading. Your grade in this class depends on it!
Here is a list of the assignments from this quarter:
1. Photojournalism Research 11/4/13
2. Photojournalism and activism video and questions 11/5/13
3. Photo Essay Project Proposal 11/7/13
4.NY Times Photo Essay questions 11/13/13
5. Documentary "Streetwise" video and questions 11/19/13
6. Research about Mary Ellen Mark 11/21/13
7. Questions about Magnum Photo 11/25/13
8. Photoshop Editing 12/9/13 upload before and after of 6 of your images from your photo essay. all images should also be on flickr.com.
We will be printing the essays when we return in January. Finish them this week and over break!!!

These are the assignments that are due! Get them done now!

The Graduates:
Use the links below to finish watching the documentary from class. Here is the second part as well.

Primero Parte

Segundo Parte

Click on the link below to add your comments to the discussion. Which part of the film did you relate to most?
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/graduates/talkback.html

Photoshop Focus: I would like to see each of you working on editing your Photo Essay pictures in Photoshop this week. I want to see two versions of each picture: the original, unedited version and the second will have been Photoshopped in a variety of ways. You may choose from the following options:
-make it black and white
-crop out unwanted elements
-adjust the color/brightness/contrast/shadows

Upload your best 6 images (so a total of 12, two of each, before AND after) to the link below by end of class on Thursday for us to give feedback on Friday during class.
click here to upload your finished before and after photos

3 more images from your photo essay due for feedback today!

I would like to see your images and have you work on editing them in Photoshop. Please pick at least 3 images from what you have taken so far. What can you do to them in Photoshop?
1. Experiment making them black and white.
2. Crop out unwanted parts of the photo.
3. Adjust the contrast, color saturation, brightness or highlights and shadows

I will be checking in with each of you to see your progress. Ask if you need a camera.

"Magnum is a community of thought, a shared human quality, a curiosity about what is going on in the world, a respect for what is going on and a desire to transcribe it visually." – Henri Cartier-Bresson
This week's focus is on the photo cooperative called Magnum Photos. I want you to learn about the who, what and why and then explore some of the work found there. It is a good example of some of the best photojournalism happening today.

Magnum Photos is a photographic co-operative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer-members. With powerful individual vision, Magnum photographers chronicle the world and interpret its peoples, events, issues and personalities. Through its four editorial offices in New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, and a network of fifteen sub-agents, Magnum Photos provides photographs to the press, publishers, advertising, television, galleries and museums across the world.

The Magnum Photos library is a living archive updated daily with new work from across the globe. The library houses all the work produced by Magnum photographers and some special collections by non-members. There are approximately one million photographs in both print and transparency in the physical library, with over 500,000 images available online.

Explore the website to find the answers:
1. Who started Magnum Photo?
2. When was it started?
3. How does one join Magnum?
4. Explore one of the Photo Essays featured on the Magnum Blog. Why did you choose this essay? Describe what the topic is. How does the photographer present this topic? What do you learn from the photos? How do the photos make you feel? How do you think the photographer took these? How long did this project take?

This link takes you to the blog. To see the full site, click on the black Magnum Photos logo in the upper left corner of the screen.
http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_3

Today I want you to explore the work of Mary Ellen Mark. She is one of the people who made the documentary we watched about street kids in Seattle.
Use the links below to learn and answer questions:
1. Read about her Kickstarter campaign. What is she raising money for?
2. Read her bio, how did she get her start in photography? What awards has she won? What kinds of projects has she done?
3. Which of her projects do you find most interesting? Why?
http://www.maryellenmark.com/index.html
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/young-lives-big-night/?_r=0
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/365603/Mary-Ellen-Mark
http://bombsite.com/issues/28/articles/1213

Today we are watching the documentary film by photographer Mary Ellen Mark, Martin Bell and Cheryl McCall. It follows a group of homeless teens in Seattle. It was made in 1984. We are watching this because Mary Ellen Mark was a photo journalist who made photo essays (extensive ones) about different topics that you all may find interesting and inspiring: prostitutes in India, circus performers, patients in a mental hospital, and the kids we are about to see in the documentary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj7UM-KWJS8

When you finish the film, read the following articles:
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2006-10-04/film/where-she-is-now/
http://www.maryellenmark.com/text/magazines/aperture/904I-000-007.html

This gives an update to some of the people in the film.  Write a reaction to the film:
1. What did you think?

2. Was it a realistic portrayal of their lives? Why or why not?

3. What good could come of this kind of film?

Today many of you can begin taking photos for your essays. Upload them to your flickr account when you are done.

Three images are due Monday.

flickr.com

For today's lesson I want you to explore the topic of photo journalism. Please look through the pictures on the site below and answer the following questions:
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/
1. Pick three interesting images. For each one describe the picture, where it was taken, when it was taken, who took it and why the photographer took it.
2. What do you notice is similar about these pictures?
3. What do you see here that you could use in your Photo Essay project?
4. Do a google search for Photo Journalism. What do you find that is interesting?

upload your finished work to the folder in the last blog post. Otherwise write your answers on a piece of paper and turn in.

Research Proposal

Today you will be writing the proposal for your Photo Essay. The proposal will outline what your topic is, what kind of photos you will be taking and how you will go about getting this project completed. The final Photo Essay will be 5-7 images.
Answer each section to complete your proposal:
1. What is your topic? Why did you pick this topic?

2. Describe what your photos might look like? Do you know who might be in your photos?

3. How will you go about getting these photos taken? During class? After/before school? Do you have a camera you could use? You may check one out from me to use before or after school but it must stay in the building.

4. Make a timeline for your project. By next Friday you must have started and bring at least 3 images to class next Monday for feedback. Here are some due dates from me:

Proposals due to me by end of class Friday Nov. 8th

Monday Nov. 18th 3 images due for feedback (does not have to be in the final selection)

Monday Nov. 25th 3 more images due for feedback

Friday Dec. 13th Begin whole class critique of proposed 5-7 images

All images photographed and edited in Photoshop by end of class on the 20th of December. 

January will be for organizing the exhibition, hanging the exhibition and writing artist statements. 

click here to upload your completed Photo Essay Proposal

Once you finish your research assignment from Monday, here is the new assignment. You will need headphones.

1. Watch this video:
click here to watch
2. After you watch the video, respond to these questions.
     1. What was the main point of the video?
     2. What is the difference between journalism and activism?
     3. What is the role of a photo journalist during war?
     4. Could you be a photo journalist in a war? Why or why not?

click here to upload your finished work

Research! Our new unit for Q2 is about photo journalism. This week you will be spending some time researching a particular time from history and the significance Photojournalism had in it. Please choose one of the following topics to research:
The Great Depression and the FSA Photographers
     1. Explain what the FSA was and what the photographers were supposed to do.
     2. Who were the most famous FSA photographers?
     3. What was significant about the FSA photographers? Or, why was this unique/special?
     4. What influence did these photographs have on history?
     5. Pick three famous photos from this event. Put them into your paper and describe them, why they are famous, and who the photographer was. Why did you pick these images? How do they make you feel?
good sites but there are many more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farm_Security_Administration#Photography_program
https://soundcloud.com/agnes-duchamp/latoya-ruby-frazier-the
http://education.eastmanhouse.org/discover/kits/files/6/overview.pdf

Matthew Brady and the American Civil War
     1. Explain who Mathew Brady was and why he is called the father of photojournalism.
     2. What kind of pictures did he take?
     3. How did he take these pictures? What was his process?
     4. What happened to his career after the war ended?
     5. Pick three of his photographs to describe. For each image: Why is this picture important? How did he make this picture?
Good sites, but there are many more:
http://www.mathewbrady.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathew_Brady
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwbrady.html

Upload finished work here as a pages document or google doc.
click here to upload your finished work

Photography in the Vietnam War
     1. What role did photography play during the Vietnam War?
     2. Was this role different from the photographers in WW2?
     3. Who were some famous photographers during this war?
     4. Pick 3 famous images to describe. Why is this picture important? How was it made?
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/vietnam-photos/
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/vietnam-war-photos-that-made-a-difference/?_r=0
http://life.time.com/history/vietnam-1963-america-wades-deeper-into-war/

Extra Credit!
In the spirit of Halloween, I will give extra credit to anyone who takes a portrait of themselves (photobooth) and puts themselves in a Halloween background and adds special affects (make up, blood, general gore) for a true horror show! Use Photoshop!

Upload finished product to the same folder as the other Photoshop editing assignments.

So far many of you have NOT turned in your Photoshop Editing pictures. You should turn in both the baby picture and the one of the young woman.
So far I have from:
Melchor (both)
Gina (baby pic)
Marisol (woman)
Sasha (woman)
Anthony (woman)
Somaris
So that means you all owe me some work. This assignment is due by the end of class. Please upload to the folder using the link below.

in addition, here is a new Photoshop assignment. Follow the step by step instructions.
Tiger Photo
Step 1: down load this picture and open it in Photoshop
click here to download
Step 2: make a duplicate copy of the background layer
Step 3: remove the tiger and place him in a different background
Step 4: make adjustments to the image (tiger) to make it more interesting
Step 5: upload your finished work here:
click here to upload the finished tiger pic

Detroit Photo (see a theme?)
Step 1: download this photo and open it in Photoshop
click here to download the pic
Step 2: Make a duplicate copy of the background
Step 3: Remove the red part of the sidewalk from the pic
Step 4: Crop out the left side of the picture so it looks better
Step 5: Try to make the house look nicer
Step 6: Find an image of a window and put it in one of the boarded up windows
Step 7: Upload the finished pic to the link below
click here to upload your finished Detroit pic

Photoshop Assignment
Only a few of you turned in one of the two assignments. Please make sure you complete both portrait editing assignments and upload them to the folder. The link is below. Make sure you include your name in the title or I may not know it is yours! This week you will be using Photoshop to edit a series of photos. Each assignment has a list of tasks you must do to the photo and the points you will get for completing each step.

#1 Portrait Editing
Step 1: download this portrait:
click here to download photo
Step 2: open the photo in Photoshop
Step 3: Use the Healing Brush or Clone Stamp to clean up the face (remove pimples, freckles, dark circles, makeup, etc) 25 points
Step 4: Lighten the shadows using the image adjustments 25 points
Step 5: Remove the background and put in this background and fit to size 25 points
click here to download background photo
Step 6: upload your finished photo here: 25 points
click here to upload your finished work

#2 Portrait Editing
Step 1: download this portrait
click here to download photo
Step 2: open in Photoshop
Step 3: Use the Healing Brush or Clone Stamp to clean up the face (remove cuts and bruises)
Step 4: Use image adjustments to make it black and white
Step 5: Remove the original background
Step 6: Insert one of these backgrounds:
background #1
background #2
background #3
Step 7: Keep the background in color
Step 8: upload finished work here
click here to upload finished work

For those of you who wanted to watch more videos about photographers: here you go!!
Watch this segment about photographer Sally Mann and answer these questions:
1. What was it like to go up with Sally Mann as a mother?
2. What kind of photography does Sally Mann do? Does she use old photography techniques or modern techniques?
3. What is your impression of her work?
Write your answers on a piece of paper and turn in when finished. Then upload your pics from yesterday onto Flickr.com

click here to view the video

Tuesday October 8th
Flickr.com
You are going to begin building your photography portfolio on a photo sharing site called Flickr. If you already have a site that is fine but you still need to build one with Flickr. Today I want you to:
1. Set up a Flickr account
click here to go to flickr
2. Upload the following pictures:
-your self-portraits
-the portraits of others you have done so far
-any other awesome pics you have taken that you want to share with us (the more photos you upload, the more credit you get)
3. In Flickr, make sure to give each pic a title.
4. Share your flickr.com address with me by writing the website address on the paper up front.
5. Explore the awesome photos on Flickr.com

Contemporary Photographers
Today you will view videos about two different contemporary photographers. Use headphones to view the videos and answer questions about each one. Here are the questions to answer:

1. Describe this photographer's work:
2. Do you like this photographer's work? Why or why not?
3. How does this photographer use technology?

Artist 1: Florian Maier-Aichen
click here to view video

Artist 2: An-My Le
click here to view video

Photoshop Tutorials
Today I want you to view at least one Photoshop tutorial from the link below and then try the effect on one of your portraits. Portraits are due by Tuesday of next week when we will have a small group critique. Remember, you need 3 different portraits for this assignment:
1. natural/candid
2. Stylized (lighting, make up)
3. Abstract (Photoshop effects, weird POV)

click here for Photoshop Tutorials
Pick the tutorial that is most interesting to you.

Lesson 9/30 Monday
Goal: Today your goal is to work in Photoshop to upload the portraits you took last week. Some people have photos on the school cameras and some have their work on their phones. If your photos are on your phone it is your responsibility to get the images either from your email, a flash drive or icloud. We can't use class time to go get your phones.
Use the following tools in Photoshop: clone stamp or healing brush and the adjustments tools. For directions on these tools see the earlier posts.
Also, please upload your Annie Leibovitz work when finished.
click here to upload your finished Annie Leibovitz assignment
click here to upload finished portraits

click here to upload your self-portrait

Investigation: Portrait Photographers
Part 1: Annie Leibovitz
Directions: Use the links below to learn about the famous American Portrait Photographer Annie Leibovitz. Once you finish, create a Pages doc that answers these questions:
1. Where did Annie go to school? What did she original study before photography?
2. What was Annie's first job as a photographer?
3. What is significant about the photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono?
4. Explain the influence Susan Sontag had on Annie.
5. Pick an image of Annie's that you find interesting. Describe it. What story is she trying to tell? What photographic attributes are most significant?
Photo Attributes:
light
focus
shape
time
motion
point of view
framing
cropping
technique

Use these links:
bio info and images
documentary video
click here to upload your answers to the questions

Photoshop Mini lesson #4 notes: Retouching your photos

Selection Tools:

1. Use the selection tools to move, copy, delete, scale, rotate, or anything else you want to

do to all or a part of your image.

2. The selection tools are:

A. the marquee selection tools (use when you want to select something of a regular 

B. The lasso tools (use for odd shaped objects)

C. The quick selection and magic wand (are great when your object is of similar color)

D. Extract tool (use this to pull the object from its background in one step)

Retouching Tools: Once you have something selected you can:

1. click edit

2. click transform

3. then select any option you want from the list

4. click the check mark at the top to apply the transformation

5. To feather the edge of a selection (helpful if you have removed an object/person )

6. Click Refine Edge

7. A dialog box will appear. Input a number between .1 and 250 to the feather selection from the original background) click Select

to determine the softness of the edge. The larger the number, the thicker the softened edge.

8. Click OK.

9. To fill a selection with color first make a selection.

10. Click Edit

11. Click Fill

12. Click on the arrow with the Use option.

13. To use the custom Pattern option, click the rectangular marquee tool and select an area

14. You can decrease the opacity to fill with a semitransparent color or pattern by

15. Click OK.

16. To apply a “ghosted” white over a part of your image, select the area and set to fill

17. To correct defects in your image, click the Clone Stamp tool.

18. Click Brush and set your brush size.

19. Hold down the Option key while clicking on the area of the image you want to copy.

20. Let go of the option key and then click and drag over the area you want to correct.

21. You can apply the Clone Stamp more subtly by lowering its opacity in the Options

22. You can also correct defects in your image using the Healing Brush.

23. Click the Healing Brush tool in the menu bar.

24. Set your brush

25. Make sure the Sampled option is selected from the menu at the top.

26. Hold down the Option key and click the area you want to heal with.

27. Release the Option key and then click and drag inside the area you want to heal

area of the image to use as a fill pattern, then click Edit and Define Pattern.

changing the opacity number.

with white and the opacity set to less than 50%.

bar.

28. You can get really crazy and use the History Brush to paint a previous state of your

image from the History palette into the current image. Use this to revert just part of

the image.

29. Click the History button from the menu bar on the RIGHT side of your workspace.

30. Click the Create New Snapshot button in the History palette. This puts a copy of the

current state of the image into the History palette.

31. Change your image to make it different from the snapshot.

32. Click the left of the snapshot  in the box to the right to select it as the History brush

source.

33. Click the History brush in the tool menu on the LEFT of your workspace.

34. Click Brush and set it how you want.

35. Click and drag inside the image. Pixels from the old image are painted onto the new

image.

36. That is enough for now. Have fun!

Photoshop Mini Lesson #3: Clone Stamp and Healing Brush

Take Notes!!!

Key Vocabulary: clone stamp, healing brush,

Objective: Students will learn how to use the clone stamp and healing brush in Photoshop and to know when a situation is appropriate for one of these tools

Clone Stamp:

Step 1: Import a photo into photoshop

Step 2: Review Photoshop’s interface

Step 3: Clone Stamp tool: what is the purpose?

Purpose: To clean up small flaws or erase elements in your image. Clone stamp works by coping information from one area of an image to another.

Step 4: Zoom in on the area of your image where you want to erase

Step 5: Click on the Clone Stamp tool

Step 6: Select the appropriate size brush for the job

Step 7: Hold down the OPTION key and click on the area you want to copy (can also select from another open image)

Step 8: release the option button and click as many times as needed on the area to erase (click and drag too)

Tips:

o   choose an area to copy that matches the tone of the area you want to erase

o   to apply more subtly, lower its opacity in the options bar

o   select a soft-edged brush

Healing Brush:

Step 1: What is the difference between the healing brush and the clone stamp?

The healing brush also copies one area to another but the healing brush also considers the lighting and texture of the image as it works, which can make its modifications more convincing

Step 2: Click and hold the spot brush tool, select the healing brush from the list

Step 3: select brush size

Step 4: OPTION click the area you want to copy

Step 5: release the OPTION key and then click and drag inside where you want to erase

Step 6: Once you release the mouse button, photoshop will adjust for the lighting and texture

Tips:

o   Spot healing brush does corrects on autopilot. Takes samples from surrounding area once you select the diameter.

Mini Lesson #2: Manipulating Selections

Key Vocabulary: manipulate, scale, rotate,

Objective: Students will be able to move, copy, delete, rotate and scale a selection.

Once you have selected a specific area of your image you can manipulate that selection in a variety of ways.

Move a Selection: You can place elements of your image either in the background or in layers.

Step 1 : Click the background layer in the layers palette.

Step 2: Make a selection with a selection tool.

Step 3: Click the Move Tool.

Step 4: Click inside the selection and drag

Note: Photoshop fills the original location of the object with the current background color.

Move a selected object in a layer

Step 1: Click a nonbackground layer in the layers palette

Step 2: Make a selection with a selection tool.

Step 3: Click the Move Tool.

Step 4: Click inside the selection and drag. Photoshop moves the selection in the layer. Photoshop fills the original location of the object with transparent pixels.

Tips: How do I move a selection in a straight line?

Press and hold SHIFT while you drag with the Move Tool. Doing this will constrain the movement of your object horizontally, vertically, or diagonally --- depending on the direction you drag.

Copy and Paste a Selection: You can copy a selection and make a duplicate of it somewhere else in the image.

Step 1: Make a selection with a selection tool.

Step 2: Click the Move Tool.

Step 3: Press OPTION while you click and drag the object.

Step 4: Release the mouse button to drop the selection.

Note: Photoshop creates a duplicate of the object, which appears in the new location.

OR

Step 1: Make a selection using a selection tool.

Step 2: Click EDIT.

Step 3: Click COPY.

Step 4: Using a selection tool, select where you want to paste the copied element.

Step 5: Click EDIT

Step 6: Click PASTE

Note: Photoshop pastes the copy into a new layer, which you can now move independently of the original image.

Friday 9/13/13

Mini Lesson #1: Selection Tools

Take Notes!

Key Vocabulary: marquee tool, lasso, magnetic lasso, quick selection tool, magic wand

Objective: Students will be able to use the selection tools efficiently and determine which tool is most appropriate for the task.

Marquee Tools:

Marquee Tools allow you to select a rectangular or elliptical area of your image in order to then move, delete or stylize the selected area.

Step 1: Click the rectangular Marquee tool (curser changes to a cross)

Step 2: Click and drag diagonally inside the images window. You can press and hold SHIFT while you click to create a square selection.

Step 3: You can now perform other commands on the selected portion.

To deselect, click SELECT (on the top menu bar) and click deselect

Step 4: To use the elliptical marquee tool, click and hold the marquee button. From the list, click on ELLIPTICAL marquee tool.

Step 5: Click and drag diagonally inside the image. You can press and hold SHIFT while you click and drag to create a circular selection.

TIPS:

You can customize the Marquee tools:

Feather: typing a feather value softens your selection edge – which means Photoshop partially selects pixels near the edge.

Lasso Tools:

The Lasso tools allow you to select oddly shaped selections which you can then move, delete or stylize.

Step 1: Zoom in on the area you want to select.

Step 2: Click the lasso tool.

Step 3: Click and drag your cursor around the area you want to select.

Step 4: Drag to the beginning point and release the mouse button.

Polygonal Lasso

Step 1: Click and hold the lasso button.

Step 2: From the list click the polygonal lasso tool.

Step 3: Click multiple times along the border of the area you want to select.

Step 4: To complete the selection, click the starting point.

TIPS:

What if my selection is not as precise as I want it to be?

This is difficult, try:

Deselecting and trying again.

Fix your selection by adding to or subtracting from your selection

Switch to Magnetic Lasso tool

Magnetic Lasso Tool:

This tool allows you to quickly and easily select elements of your image that have well-defined edges. (contrasts sharply with the background)

Step 1: Click and hold lasso

Step 2: select magnetic lasso from the list

Step 3: Click the edge of the object you want to select. A beginning anchor point is created.

Step 4: Drag your cursor along the edge of the object

Step 5: To help guide the lasso, you can click anchor points as you go along the path.

Step 6: To finish, click the beginning anchor point or double click anywhere in the image and Photoshop completes the selection for you.

TIPS: More anchor points will improve precision

Practice, Practice, practice!!!

Now what? Once you have a selection you can move it, delete it or copy and paste it.

Use the link below to upload your finished work for the 100 Self-Portraits assignment. Click the + in the upper left corner to upload.
click here to turn in your work

Once you turn in the assignment, take some self-portraits!

Class work 8/29
Self-Portrait Reading
Read the article and answer the questions in your D.W.
click here to download the reading

Research in Mac Lab 8/30
Use the link below to go to the following website. Answer the questions as you work into your D.W. Be prepared to share your favorite self-portrait from the list with the class.
click here to see 100 Cool Self-Portraits


Questions: work alone to answer these questions.

1.  Using the link on the class blog (100 cool self-portraits) look at the images and answer the
following questions. Be prepared to share your response to these questions with the class.

      a. Pick your favorite self-portrait from the images. Describe the image:

      b. How do you think the photographer achieved/created this photo?

     c. Why did you pick this as your favorite self-portrait?

     d. What does this photo tell us about this person?

2. Describe an idea you and your partner have for your first self-portrait. What would you like us
to learn about you?

3. Which of the 5 tips will be most useful to you as you make your own self-portraits? Why?

Monday 8/26/13

Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year. I am excited to have you in my class. I will use this blog to post assignments, cool and relevant links, photos, and project guides.

So, if you are absent from photography class, look here to see what you missed!

To get us started I am uploading the syllabus.
click here to view the syllabus

You are responsible for getting your parents to sign the back page and you have to fill out the survey on the other side. Due Friday 8/30

click here for Q1 unit plan