Assignment 1: More than Meets the Eye (100 points)

Requirements:

A 6 megapixel (or higher) digital camera

Print card

Photo Quality inkjet paper

Student Learning Outcomes:

· Visually problem solve including selection of equipment, composition, lighting and color

· Conceptually problem solve using the creative process from conception to critique

· Operate a digital camera, including ISO, image quality and compression

· Process digital images using Photoshop by adjusting and/or applying levels, sharpening, resizing, resampling, formatting and resolution

· Print digital images on an inkjet printer

· Archive digital files to CD

· Appropriately organize and present digital media

Assignment:

Picture a scored football field the morning after the big game. Visualize the unclean arena floor after a rock concert or a racetrack after a 5-hour motorcar race. The world is full of scars left by sometimes mysterious and unexplained events. “To live is to leave traces.”[1] Like a detective, seek out these scars, photograph them and try to imagine what event took place to create them. Are the traces new or old? Was the event constructive, playful or violent? Is the story obvious or ambiguous?

Next, divorce yourself from thinking of photography as a device for capturing memories. Remember, you’re a detective and the camera is your device for collecting clues (traces) to countless unsolved mysteries.

Finally, the point to this assignment is to be mysterious and suggestive, “More than Meets the Eye.” So don’t be afraid if the audience can’t figure out the “cause” of the scar. In fact, it might be more interesting if we can’t determine the cause. Also, don’t try and connect all your pictures as if they are clues to a single event. Each picture can and should be a stand-alone idea.

Print:

Produce 4 high-quality (300 ppi) 8x10 inkjet color prints

You will turn in:

4 inkjet color prints

25 examples of the assignment (or more), inside a folder labeled, “pictures”

PSD files of the pictures selected for printing, inside a folder labeled, “prints”

All files should be on a CD, void of any superfluous media

CD should be inside a manila envelope marked with your name and assignment number

Due date:

March 3rd, at the beginning of class

Date: Spring 2010

Student: Name: _______________________________________

Assignment: More Than Meets the Eye

Overall Grade: _________/100 points

Visual and Conceptual Problem Solving: _ __/50

q At least 25 digital images

q Proper selection and application of equipment

q Numerous and various attempts at the theme

q Images are generally suggestive and not descriptive

q Images don’t try to link a single story or event

q All images appear to fit the intent of the project

q All images have considered composition, lighting and color

Processing of Digital Images: _ __/20

q All printed images have been adjusted for contrast and color balance using Photoshop’s Levels adjustments

q All printed images have been sharpened using Photoshop’s Unsharpen Mask Filter

q All printed images have been scaled to the proper print resolution of 300 ppi or greater

Prints: _ __/20

q 4 inkjet prints on photo quality paper

q All images have been set to match the appropriate portrait/landscape orientation

q All images have consistent color balance

Archive and Presentation: __/10

q All files are burned to a CD-R titled with the individual student’s name

q All materials have been handed in, inside an envelop with the student’s name and date

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