Assignments

Listed assignments submitted after 5-11-12 will not be considered for a grade.

• NOTE: For all of the assignments that follow, please size all files that you submit to a screen resolution of 1024 pixels (width or height which ever is greatest). Please save them as high quality JPEG files and either send them to me as email attachments or post them in the forum and notify me. Include in your email a note about what was attached. When you save the files name them so that I can identify them, for example: joe_asgn_01_a.jpg, joe_asgn_01_b.jpg. When I say edit your photos what I'm expecting is that you take the originals from the camera and, using image editing software (Photoshop/GIMP), make any necessary adjustments for tone/color response, distortion and sharpness. You're going to begin taking photos before you know how to edit them. As the semester progresses I may ask you to go back to some earlier images and correct them once you've learned how.
  
  
• NOTE: The assignments I have selected are designed to give you a broad introduction to using your camera to photograph both color as you find it as well as color as you create it. I am open to the option that you already have a strong interest in a subject or type of photography and if you wish to concentrate more on your interest, I am willing to consider some substitutions. Talk to me first and get my OK.
  
  
• Assignment 1, The Colors of Winter: Winter's colors are often subdubed -- warm browns and greys. But we also get crisp days with bright blue skies. For this first assignment wait (not too long) for a nice day, and head out into the natural landscape. Take some landscape photos and pay attention to color. Look for photos in which color plays a strong role. Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (50 points)
  
  
• The old photo question: It is fair to assume that in a college class the work you do to complete assignments should be done during the semester in response to the assignments. How many high school comp. essays die only to rise yet again? Even impalement on a sharpened wooden pencil won't kill them. I'd love to see your vacation photos from the Rockies or the Bahamas -- especially if you have questions about them, but they're not appropriate to complete class assignments.
  
  
• Assignment 2: This one is a little harder now. Back outside in the natural world. Take photos that are dominated by one color. An accent in another color is ok and neutrals don't count. The photo of the wilted roses at right is an example. The image is dominantly orange and the snow is neutral. For this assignment black, grey or white are not colors. Find some color. And NO SUNSETS. Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (50 points)
  
  
• Assignment 3: Into the city now. Turn your attention to cityscapes. Photograph buildings, infastructure, city skylines, your neighborhood, city sculpture, important landmarks (no Arch, and no giant eyeball!). Look for effective and interesting color combinations and pay attention to the lighting! Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (50 points)
  
  
• Assignment 4: We're still working with found photographs -- city or country: Find photographs that are dominated by a complement pair (blue/orange or blue/yellow, red/green or red/cyan, purple/yellow or magenta/green). Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (50 points)
  
  
• Assignment 5: This one is going to be a little harder now so you're permitted to cheat -- you can alter a color using software so long as it remains believable (no yellow skies). Find photographs that are dominated by two or more analogous colors. A complementry highlight is permitted and neutrals don't count. (No sunsets/sunrises.) Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (50 points)
  
  
• Assignment 6: Time to turn your camera on people. I want a portrait. Enlist a cooperative friend or family member and take their photograph. Find a location outdoors in open shade without sunshine on the subject or background. Take a head and shoulders or head to waist portrait. Experiment with a variety of poses and facial expression and take control of the color. Choose the color of your subject's clothing and the colors of the background. Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (50 points)
  
  
• Assignment 7: Another portrait. This time place your subject in a setting or dressed and accessorized in a manner that tells the viewer about who the subject is or what they do. Again experiment with a variety of poses and facial expression and control the color as much as possible. Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (50 points)
  
  
• EXAM: Here it is -- take your time: EXAM Remove the wrong answers and email it back to me. NOTE: Use what resources you wish but be careful; if you ask for help from someone who "knows photography" you may get some wrong answers. Because of photography's popular appeal there are quite a few incorrect assumptions out there about how photography works. For example, many "photographers" will tell you that changing lens focal length changes perspective. The answers are in the lessons. (100 points)
  
  
• Assignment 8: For this assignment I want you to construct photographs from the ground up. A product photo (see right) would be one example, but not the only option. This is a change of gears as most photographers "take" images of what they find. This time you need to "make" the image, and of course take complete control of light and color. Try a couple different ideas. Edit your photos and pick the best 5 to 6. Size them to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit them. (70 points)
  
  
• Assignment 9: Just like assignment 8 but with a twist. Just one photo. I want you to find a work of art (preferably not a photo) by a master artist that you like. It's got to be in color. Create a photo that uses the same color scheme. Edit your photo, size it to a maximun width/height of 1024 pixels and submit it along with the ID info on the art piece you selected. (50 points)
  
  
• Assignment 10: Download the file m_campisi.tif by clicking on the photo at right. The photo at right is my adjusted version, you will download a camera original that requires both a Levels adjustment as well as a local color adjustment. The color of the photo overall is pretty good, but the sky is way magenta. Make the needed Levels and color correction. Size your finished work to a width of 1024 pixels, and submit it. (30 points).
  
  
• Assignment 11: Read through Lesson 12 and select from one of these: Hand Coloring B&W Photos, Neutral Blending Layers, Adjustment Layer Masks, or Creating a Fake Sky. Choose a photo of your own that would benefit from one of these treatments. Do the work and send me before and after files. Size your finished work to a width of 1024 pixels, and submit it. (30 points).
  
  
• Assignment 12: Download the file washtubs.tif. The green garden hose is distracting. Change it's color to something dark and less saturated. There's too much pink in the flowers. Make the petunias blue but leave the red flowers alone. And get rid of that turned over license plate on the floor lower right. Size your finished work to a width of 1024 pixels, and email it to me. (30 points) NOTE: If you don't want to waste long hours trying this the hard way, click on the photo for help.
  
  
• Assignment 13: Here's an easy one to start winding down. Download the file apples.tif. Use the history brush and blending modes to make the apples "pop" (Lesson 10, Chapter 1). Make the colors more vivid and punch the contrast. Here's my version: link. I used the Overlay blending mode and the Multiply blending mode selectively. Size your finished work to a width of 1024 pixels, and email it to me. (25 points)
  
  
• Assignment 14: The final three assignments are your choice with one caveat: If you've been waiting to try something unusual or very "special effects" here's your chance, but not all three of these assignments -- just one of these last three. Take photos of your favorite subject, pick a couple good ones and submit them (sized to width/height of 1024 pixels). (25 points)
  
  
• Assignment 15: The final three assignments are your choice with one caveat: If you've been waiting to try something unusual or very "special effects" here's your chance, but not all three of these these assignments -- just one of these last three. Take photos of your favorite subject, pick a couple good ones and submit them (sized to width/height of 1024 pixels). (25 points)
  
  
• Assignment 16: The final three assignments are your choice with one caveat: If you've been waiting to try something unusual or very "special effects" here's your chance, but not all three of these these assignments -- just one of these last three. Take photos of your favorite subject, pick a couple good ones and submit them (sized to width/height of 1024 pixels). (25 points)
  
  
• That's all folks!