All of the work for Photo/Writing 9

 Writing

• Bucket list
• Photo poem ( poem should be about the photo)
• 8 line poem ( one poetic device)
• Choice poem ( min 8 line, one poetic device) OR thank- you letter
• Total 40 marks: Hand in to Ms Chase

Photo

• 5 Spring shots 10 marks student folder
• 10 Skate (focus on angles) 20 marks student folder
• 10 Portraits 20 marks student folder
• Overlay ( one photo on top of another, change opacity 10 marks) student folder
• Final video ( 30 shots, only 10 can be taken from assignments or before this class, should be a variety of different shots including: pets, nature, landscape, people, macros, headshots ect.) 40 marks to be presented in class On Mon/Tues June 19 and 20
• Total 100 marks

Final Deadline for all work is Thurs June 22

Week of May 23

 Due this week:

1. Photo poem

2. 8 line poem: write about something...a fav. place, fav meal, an experience, something you love or hate, something that bugs you, something you find funny, about school or what you do on your free time, a fav sport or hobby, what you did last Sat. night etc.

How to Write a Poem, in 7 Steps

1. Devise a Topic. The easiest way to start writing a poem is to begin with a topic. ...
2. Journal. At this point, you've got a topic for your poem. ...
3. Think About Form. ...
4. Write the First Line. ...
5. Develop Ideas and Devices. ...
6. Write the Closing Line. ...
7. Edit, Edit, Edit!

How to write a poem step by step

3. Portraits: 10 photos of one person

Week of May 8

 

Assignments due this week Friday May 12

STUDENTS SHOULD RETURN BACK TO CLASS 20 MIN BEFORE THE END OF CLASS TO UPLOAD PHOTOS. DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS SHOULD BE USED. 

TOP PRIORITY: 

• Writing: Bucket List (20 things you want to do before you turn 30)
• Skatepark (10 shots) and Spring shots (5) in your folder on M Drive

• Skatepark shots (10) Focus on angles and edited. Can include people, objects, or the skatepark itself. Criteria: in focus, well composed, edited shots
• Spring Shots (5) Evidence of spring...make sure each photo has a focal point

Finished all of this work...

• make sure your term 3 work is moved and saved to your One drive
• create your new term 4 folders: skate, spring, portraits, overlay, final slideshow
• Begin working on your Photo Poem ( check out post under this one)
• Begin the new Portrait Assignment ( see below)

Portraits

Working with 1 model of your choice, you will photographing a collection of portraits. 

You will need 10 different shots of your model. Plan to shoot a variety of shots 

( no candid goofy shots will be marked), including but not limited to: 2-3 head or head and shoulder shots, 3-5 full body used shots in a variety of locations and other shots with props. These shots should not all be taken on the same day or in the same outfit. Study other portrait photographer's work to learn how to pose your model. This should be part of the research needed and preparation for this shoot.

This assignment is worth 20 marks. Your portraits should be 

posted to M drive in the assignment folder.  

SEE POST BELOW for PHOTO POEM ASSIGNMENT

Week of May 8

NEW Writing Assignment: Photo Poem

Plan to take a photo that has some space around it, (or use one you already have) focus on a subject that you think you can write a short poem on. The poem should be a least 4 lines long. Focus your poem on meaning not rhyme. I really do not like poems that have no meaning and meaningless rhyme. 

Your poem needs to be about something.

Think about the concept of simplicity with regard to the poem and the photo. Make sure your text is large enough to read. Below are 3 poems I wrote from  photos to show you as an example. SIZE 8.5 wide x 11 PLEASE PRINT OUT to Library Colour printer.

All poems by L.Chase

Week of May 1

Things you should be working on this week

• Bucket list 20 items
• Saving term 3 photos on One Drive, creating new term 4 folders
• 10 skatepark shots with a focus on angles ( next Fri)
• 5 Spring shots (next Fri)
• Continue taking photos for final slideshow
• Edit skate and spring shots, move edited shots to assign. folders
• Take a photo that you can write a poem about ( have ready for next week)
• Begin to take your portrait shots

When taking photos focus on:

• Getting close enough to your subject
• Framing the shot so you have clean backgrounds
• Be aware of the assignment criteria
• Make sure your shots are in focus

Wed Apr. 26

Show this video as an example of the final video they will be working on at the end of the year. 30 of your best photos: start collecting these photos and begin editing them now.

Helena's Video

Here are a couple examples of high quality angle shots at the skatepark.

 

Reminder 30 photos for end of the year Slideshow

New Assignments Photo:

Spring shots (5 shots) 10 marks: Criteria: Signs of spring. Make sur photos are in focus and well composed.

Skatepark shots focus on angles (10 shots) 20 marks:

New Photo Assignment: Skate Park shoot  - In this assignment students should focus on taking shots from different angles. The skate park makes an excellent backdrop for photos, so make sure you have a focal point in all of your shots. You could shoot people, skaters/bikers in action, objects or even the skate park itself...just make sure you remember your rules of composition while shooting. Try a variety of different types of shots. Also if you take any objects out to shoot they must get returned. 

Keep in mind.....

• You need to take your time to compose the shot
• Many of the photos are taken from too far away, get closer to your subject
• Keep your background clean, ask people to get out of the way if they are in your shots
• Ask yourself if the shots you have taken meet the criteria

Review the Links

LINK to Article on Angles: Short Article to Review on Angles

LINK TO SAMPLE: car shoot angles

LINK TO SAMPLE: skatepark angle example

Show video, stop at 7:11 min

Welcome to Term 4

 

What Is a Bucket List?

A bucket list is a list that is made up of a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. These will usually consist of things that someone has never done before but hopes to do before they die. It's a way of keeping track of what is most important to you and identifying the milestones and experiences you hope to have.

NEW WRITING: Your first writing assignment for term 4 is a simple one, but you need to do some thinking. You are to create a bucket list of the top 20 things you want to do before you turn 30. Please be realistic and do not make the list repetitive. Think creatively...imagine what your life might look like at 30.

Macro slideshows will be presented in class on Mon of next week. So you have a bit of extra time.

Conflict writing assignment is due on Friday if you want to receive a mark.

New Writing Assignment: Conflict

 You are to create a conflict and then resolve it in this piece of writing. It does not have to be a great big long story just a situation involving conflict.

Human vs Human     Human vs Nature

Human vs Self      Human vs Technology

LINK to story conflict ideas: Creating Conflict IDEAS

Conflict brings stories to life, though it isn’t important for what it is, but for what it does. What does it do? The answer to this question lies at the very heart of storytelling. Conflict forces characters to act in ways that reveal who they are – and nothing tells us more about characters than how they deal with their troubles.

When conflict exposes who a character really is, the reader is drawn in through identification. The more difficult the character’s choice, the more his true nature will be revealed. In great stories – Romeo and Juliet; Hamlet; Scarlett O’Hara; Frodo; Harry Potter – the heroes are forced to go all the way. The more pressure you put on your character, the more you make him reveal his true, inner self and the more powerfully your readers will identify with them.

So, stories are about adversity. Happiness can be the ending of the story, but it can’t be the story itself. Why not? Because happy characters don’t want to change. Happiness doesn’t force the characters to act and thus reveal themselves and, if the characters are having a good time, the reader is not.

To be forced to change, to act and reveal their innermost selves, characters need to be frustrated, desperate and at the end of their rope. The worse you make it for your characters the better it is for the reader. When the characters give all they’ve got, readers experience it deeply and powerfully.

To create true conflict, two things are needed: a want and an obstacle. Your protagonist must want something, and there must be an obstacle (the antagonist) that’s trying to stop her from getting what she wants (Ahab wants to kill the whale, the whale wants to kill Ahab).

Both the want and the obstacle must be strong and determined. If either is weak, it will be impossible to create a good story. 

Criteria: At least a half page in length, have it edited by Ms Chase before handing in final copy.

LINK to how to write conflict: How to write Conflict

Mon March 20

 Assignments Due before March Break:

• Writing 1: Bio
• Writing 2: Setting 
• Writing 3 : Dialogue 
• Writing 4 : Conflict
• Photo 1: 5 low angle 
• Photo 2 : Scavenger Hunt 
• Photo 3:  5 headshots 
• Photo 4 : Headswap Photoshop
• Photo 5 : Macros 10 shots 
• Photo 6: Macros Slideshow due MON. IN CLASS

THERE SHOULD BE NO GAMING!

Mon Mar. 13

 

Dialogue Assignment #4

 Dialogue: Here is the info you need to do the assignment properly. Dialogue is a conversation between two people. In writing a story or novel, good dialogue will do one of two things; move plot or develop character. Your task is to create a dialogue between two characters that does one or the other or both. It might help to create a conflict between the two characters.

The minimum lines of dialogue are 8 lines per character.   Marks:10 

( Rough copy due before the break)

Here are 10 tips for how to write dialogue:

• Say the dialogue out loud.
• Cut small talk when writing dialogue.
• Keep your dialogue brief and impactful.
• Give each character a unique voice/character.
• Add world-appropriate slang.
• Be consistent with the characters' voices.
• Remember who they are  speaking to.
• Avoid long dialogue paragraphs.

More Tips....

Rewriting the 7 Rules of Dialogue

• “Dialogue should stay on topic.” ...
• “Use dialogue as you would actual speech.” ...
• “Opt for the speaker attribution said over all others.” ...
• “Avoid long speeches.” ...
• “Be grammatically correct. ...
• “Show what the characters are doing while they're talking.” ...
• “Keep characters' speech consistent.”

LINK TO: How to write good dialogue
Tips for writing good dialogue

Tues Feb 28

 

                Assignments so far:

• Writing 1: Bio
• Writing 2: Setting 
• Writing 3 : Dialogue (rough draft before March break)
• Photo 1: 5 low angle 
• Photo 2 : Scavenger Hunt 
• Photo 3:  5 headshots 
• Photo 4 : Headswap Photoshop
• Photo5 : Macros 10 shots (before March Break) slideshow can be done after 

Macro Assignment:  10 of your best shots put into a slideshow for viewing. Slideshow will be done in Photostory and it should be set to appropriate music. If your slideshow is not ready on the due date you will get 0 out of 10 for the slideshow portion of the assignment. Marks: 40 ( 30 for macros, 10 for slideshow)

Criteria: Shots should have a defined focal point and be edited effectively for lighting and cropping. Looking for in focus shots. Also try to have many different shots. I do not want to see the same shots exactly from people working toether. Take some phone shots, take the camera home, use the digital slr cameras.

Macro Photography Techniques

1. Use flash. If using your phone, bring in extra lighting ( another phone, make-up mirror light, lamp, external lights, use the light box
2. Use a tripod, or set your phone up against something for stability
3. Clean up dust, hairs on subject because it will show up in the photo
4. Take plenty of shots. ...more than you need

                                        

Thurs Feb 23

 How to use the digital sir cameras

Wed Feb 22 Photoshop Assignment

 Editing Assignment NEW

HEADSWAP IN PHOTOSHOP INSTRUCTIONS  (10 marks)

1. Find/or take photo of a person.When using google to find the image, get the largest size photo possible. ( ie superman, famous model or celebrity) no animals or cartoons.

2. Bring in both photos to Photoshop. Go to IMAGE, ADJUSTMENTS, IMAGE SIZE and change the photos to both be close to the same size. If one is way bigger than the other it will be difficult to do the assignment. While under ADJUSTMENTS, you can also change both photos to BLACK and WHITE.
3. Next go to the SELECTION TOOL,( right click) and using the tool, move the tool around the head of one of your photos, then click on EDIT CUT and go to your next photo.

Note: It is probably more interesting to put the student head on the celebrity body, but it does not matter which head goes where. Also if you do not have a head shot that works for the swap, simply go out and take a shot of someone in a similar pose and distance away from the camera.

4.When on the next photo, click on EDIT, PASTE. This will put the head on the page. Then to resize the head, click EDIT, TRANSFORM, SCALE. This will put a box around the photo and allow you to change the size of the head, you can also slightly rotate the head if you go to ROTATE under TRANSFORM tool.
5. Then you want to tweak the image by moving into place with the pick/move tool, or use the eraser tool to clean up the edges.

Note: SAVING the file: If you need to continue working on the head swap, save as a Photoshop file so you can come back and work on the image. It is always a good idea, to save your edited photos as Photoshop files as a backup in case you need to go back and make changes. However, if you think you are done you can save as a JPEG ( which is save as copy) put into your M drive folder and then print out the assignment, put your name on it and hand it in.

Criteria for this assignment: Looking for a clean transition, not warped but looking accurate, limited blurring to make the face/hair work. If I cannot tell it has been photoshopped it is a 10/10. Good Luck.

Tues Feb 21

 New Photo Assignment #3: The Headshot. You are to take 5 head and shoulders shots that have a clean background and are cropped in Photoshop shoulder to shoulder. 

Criteria: clarity, in focus, clean background, cropped shoulder to shoulder. Marks: 10

Sample head and shoulders shot

 NEW  Writing ASSIGNMENT: You are going to write about a favourite place using the 5 senses. As you describe the place, I want to you to use words that create visuals, sounds, tastes, and a sense of touch. The idea here is to write to create an atmosphere or feeling. 

• You may need to build a fictional story around this place or simply begin describing it. In this assignment students are to focus on the elements of setting ( time, place, description)  using the senses and the concept of show not tell.  (10)

LINK to further reading: Setting article: more info

Example:

from "The Old House at Home" (1940)

by Joseph Mitchell (1908-1996)

McSorley's bar is short, accommodating approximately ten elbows, and is shored up with iron pipes. It is to the right as you enter. To the left is a row of armchairs with their stiff backs against the wainscoting. The chairs are rickety; when a fat man is sitting in one, it squeaks like new shoes every time he takes a breath. The customers believe in sitting down; if there are vacant chairs, no one ever stands at the bar. Down the middle of the room is a row of battered tables. Their tops are always sticky with spilled ale. In the centre of the room stands the belly stove, which has an isinglass door and is exactly like the stoves in Elevated stations.

When describing a place in fiction, think about the sounds, smells and other sense details that distinguish it from others. Here is Dickens describing the industrial city of Coketown, for example, in Hard Times (1854):

It was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it; but as matters stood, it was a town of unnatural red and black … It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye, and vast piles of buildings full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where the piston of the steam-engine worked monotonously up and down, like the head of an elephant in a state of melancholy madness.

From Harry Potter:The first several chapters of the book take place at the Dursleys' prim house on Privet Drive. The Dursleys' home may look polite and regular, with its "tidy front garden" (2.1) and its inhabitants' emphasis on behaving just like everyone else, but that doesn't make it a nice or welcoming place to live. In a way, it has just as much darkness and unhappiness as you might expect from a magical landscape. Nephew Harry is forced to live in a "cupboard under the stairs" (2.13) while the son of the house, Dudley, enjoys two bedrooms to himself. The Dursleys' house might look cheerful from the outside, but inside Harry sees only bleakness. Let's not forget that Whinging, in British English, means whining. Even the town they live in is annoying.

CHECK OUT THIS LINK FOR INFO AND EXAMPLES

Wed Feb 8

Review Questions to ask yourself before taking a photo: 10 QUESTIONS

Assignment #1: 5 low angle shots: Put in folder on M drive. These shots are taken at ground level or looking up from the ground.

See video below for low angle shots.  (Show 2 min)( 10 marks)

 

Introduce Assignment #2: You are focusing on composing good shots and experimenting with angles.  Each shot is worth 2 marks and should be titled and put into an album called Scavenger Hunt on the M drive (20 marks) Allow students to take a photo of this assignment so they can refer to it when they are out shooting.

1. texture (something that has a touch quality to it)
2. high angle (shooting from high up, looking down)
3. flamingo, duck or bear ( in the bottom drawer)
4. something red
5. a flag
6. rule of thirds
7. a nature shot
8. fill the frame:
9. grafitti

10. GUMMY BEAR SHOT 

Bonus: A CREATIVE SHOT 

Criteria: In focus, well composed shots trying to utilize compositional elements. Please make sure your photos have been edited. Use you editing app for cropping and lighting.

Mon Feb 6

Writing Assignment #1: Students are to write a bio telling about themselves including: interests, hobbies, likes/dislikes, favourite foods, fav. books, foods etc. This assignment should be written in third person. Ex. Jane is a shy girl who lives in Comox with her two cats named Goofy and Mittens. Jane enjoys knitting in her free time ……Length 1 paragraph

Criteria: detailed, specific writing ( 10 marks)
When finished, you are to find a partner in the class to read your paragraph to and get them to help you improve  the piece by offering suggestions. Make sure the assignment is typed and has your name on it.

Examples:https://insights.bookbub.com/great-author-bio-examples/

Thurs Feb 2

 

1.  Create a folder on  Mdrive

What is HEIC? HEIC is the file format name Apple has chosen for the new HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) Standard. Using advanced and modern compression methods, it allows photos to be created in smaller file sizes while retaining a higher image quality compared to JPEG/JPG. This new file type, however, may not be compatible with all devices. Even earlier versions of OS X (pre-High Sierra) will not be able to open HEIC files by itself.

To set your Apple devices to take photos in JPEG/JPG instead of HEIC:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Camera
3. Tap Formats
4. Tap Most Compatible

2. Rule of Thirds

What is the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open. While there are other forms of composition, the rule of thirds generally leads to compelling and well-composed shots. But, once you know this rule and practice it a bit, you can break the rule.

2. Questions to ask yourself before taking a photo: 10 QUESTIONS

3. Composition : the way in which something is put together or arranged : the combination of parts or elements that make up something.

Watch beginning

Intro to Creative Writing/Photo 9

 Creative Writing/ Photo 9

Overview Photo/Writing 9: In this class you will learn much about how to see from a different perspective, how to improve your ability to take artistic photos and how to edit photos in Photoshop. There is much to know in the field of Photography and I am a learner as much as a teacher. In fact, we can learn much from each other. This class will allow a fair bit of freedom, but with this freedom comes responsibility. Along with photography you will be learning how to improve your creative writing skills by way of various exercises and assignments.

( Class GuidelinesTo be discussed)

Students initially will be encouraged to use their phones for taking photos, however everyone should experiment with the digital sir cameras.  School cameras will be available for student use in class.  Techniques on how to use your phones will be taught in class. Students may want to download the Flickr App on their phones,( not mandatory) but should also carry their phone charge cords with them as well to upload onto school computers. Students will be expected to disinfect all school camera equipment used periodically.

Students will be encouraged to find a phone photo editing app that works for them.

( VSCO or Snapseed) 

Assignments, links, videos etc will also be posted on this blog regularly which can be accessed  from home/phone.

Requirements for success in this course:

• a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and push beyond the level you are at
• your own cell phone and charger cables 
• using class time effectively and a respect the freedom you have in this class
• realizing the benefits of  taking photos outside of class occasionally
• be a good model for your peer/help out others when you can

•  ALL COMPUTER KEYBOARDS AND MICE ARE TO BE WIPED AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS
•  SHOOT OUTSIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Core Competencies

• Critical and Creative thinking
• Self and Social Responsibility
• Visual Communication skills

The First Steps

1. Create a folder on the ONE DRIVE  called Photo 9 and a folder called writing 9 ( all writing is to be done in a word document NOT google docs!!!!
2. Open Photoshop and Photo Story and drag them to the desktop of your computer
3. For ease of uploading, you may want to create a Flickr Account and install the Flickr App on your phone ( not mandatory)
4. All cameras and cards are to be signed in and out in the sign out book at the front of class

The Interview: 3 Crazy Questions

Questions link

 

Camera Basics