Element of Design: COLOUR

Cool Colours with a Splash of Warm

Color is the part of light that is reflected by the object we see. Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. They are called primary because they are not mixtures of other colors. Mixing any two primary colors results in a secondary color.

The color wheel is created when the primary and secondary colors are placed in a circle. Colors directly across from each other on the color wheel are called complementary colors. Complementary colors used together provide extreme contrast.

Another way to organize color is by color "temperature." Colors are either "warm" or "cool." Reds, oranges, and yellows are considered warm colors. Blues, violets, and greens are considered cool colors.

Look for colours that work well together and don't clash like hot pink and bright red next to each other for example. Try not to overcrowd with too many bold colours. In digital photography it works best if you have the main subject has the bold colour, rather than multiple points of bold colour in the background for example.

More Information about colour: http://605.wikispaces.com/color

Colour Assignment:
Take 10-15 digital photographs of the Element of Design- COLOUR
This time, really consider what your main colour is an how it looks with other colours in your photo. Three things to try:

1. Look for a scene with all warm colours.
2. Take a photo with all cool hues.
3. Mix some colours: take a few photos with one dominant colour (background) and a small splash of a complimentary colour as your main subject. i.e a portrait in a green landscape with some one wearing red...

Download, edit and evaluate, save top three to sharing folder.
Upload your best to your personal blog with a definition of colour (in your own words) and an explanation as why your image is a good example of colour.

9 Composition: Leading Lines

Leading lines are compositional tools within an image that leads the eye to another point in the image, or occasionally, out of the image. Anything with a definite line can be a leading line. Fences, bridges, even a shoreline can lead the eye. If can pair leading lines with a subject that is placed according to the rule of thirds your image should be very strong.

1. Take 10-15 images using the lines to emphasize or to point to the main subject, 
2. Then download the images, 
3. Select your top 2 photos and save them to the share folder.
4. Post your best image to your blog, 
5. Title your post using the emphasis technique- Leading Lines.
6. Write out a reflection: identify the subject and explain how the technique emphasizes it.
7. Collect all of your images (up to 40 max) in a contact sheet,
8. Save your contact sheet as a jpg and post to your blog.

10s Aperture- Depth of Field Assignment

Aperture is ‘the opening in the lens.’
The aperture number that you set your camera to impacts the size of the lens opening. The larger the lens opening, the more light that gets in – the smaller the hole the less light.

Aperture is measured in f-stops- f1, f 2, f 2.8, f 4, f 5.6, f 8, f11, f16, f 22, f 32, f 64. 

Moving from one f-stop to the next doubles or halves the size of the amount of opening in your lens (and the amount of light getting through). Keep in mind that a change in shutter speed from one stop to the next doubles or halves the amount of light that gets in also – if you increase one and decrease the other you let the same amount of light in.

Large apertures (where lots of light gets through) are given f/stop smaller numbers and smaller apertures (where less light gets through) have larger f-stop numbers. So f/2.8 is in fact a much larger aperture than f/22

Depth of Field (DOF) or range if focus is that amount of your shot that will be in focus.  

Large depth of field (f11 and above) means that most of your image will be in focus whether it’s close to your camera or far away. A landscape shot above has an aperture of f/16 produces a sharp image from the background to the foreground.

Small (or shallow) depth of field means that only part of the image will be in focus and the rest will be fuzzy. You’ll see in it that the subjects eyes are in focus but the background is blurred. Even her hair which is only a little behind her eyes is blurred. This is a very shallow depth of field and was taken with an aperture of f1.8).


Depth of Field Assignment- Take a series of photographs where you manipulate Depth of Field (range of focus) by adjusting the aperture on your camera. Set your camera to Av or Aperture priority and change the aperture settings for each photo with the dial.

Set up visually interesting scenarios that have visual depth/distance and a strong subject and background relationships.

For each scenario, you are to take a series of photos for each scene you choose starting from the lowest aperture setting to the highest- only using the standard F-stops. Take the same photo each time only with a different f-stop. (Watch when your shutter drops below 1/60).
Then take some photos and experiment with your aperture so that you have an example of short, medium and long depth of field, (low # on your aperture dial, medium and high). Then create compositions using appropriate depth of field settings that would work best for the subject.

Make a contact sheet of 25-35 photos shoot at least 3 different scenarios using the smallest aperture, medium, and largest, then experiment with your aperture for the rest.

Then post and label one (or more) of each (short, medium, long) in your journal/blog.

For more information on Aperture and Depth of Field visit Digital Photography School site.

Lines, Leading Lines, Horizon Lines

Lines
A line is: A mark that is longer than it is wide

Line is often referred to as “the most basic element of design”. Yet this simple element functions in complex ways. Used effectively, line expresses a variety of verbal and visual concepts. Line works either by itself or in conjunction with other lines to communicate messages and impact audience.

A line can have different qualities - it can be curved or straight, thin or thick, loose or precise, delicate or bold, expressive or controlled. The qualities of a line will evoke different feelings; a curved line feels natural and organic, while a straight line feels man made and mechanical. A delicate line feels soft and feminine, while a bold line feels strong and masculine.

A horizontal line reminds us of a calm horizon or a person lying down; it implies quiet and rest. A vertical line makes us think of a skyscraper or a person standing straight and tall; it feels strong and aspiring. A vertical line contains potential for activity, and so creates a more energetic feeling than a horizontal line. A diagonal line is like a bolt of lightening or a person leaning forward poised to run; it suggests energy and movement. Diagonal lines are the most dynamic.

Line #1 Assignment- Element of Design: Lines
Take 10-15 digital photographs around your home or school community using the Element of Design- LINE. Look for all sorts of different types of line, straight, wiggly, craggy, weaving, diagonal, organic, geometric...

• Download your line images
• Upload your best line photos to your blog.
• Make a contact sheet with all of your photos post to your blog.
• Write an explanation as why this image is a good example of line. 

 

Leading Lines

Leading Lines are compositional tools within an image that leads the eye to another point in the image, or occasionally, out of the image. Anything with a definite line can be a leading line. Fences, bridges, even a shoreline can lead the eye. If can pair leading lines with a subject that is placed according to the rule of thirds your image should be very strong.

Line #2 Assignment- Leading Lines
Take 10-15 digital photographs around your home or school community using the Leading LINE compositional technique. Look for all sorts of different types of lines to direct the view towards the subject. Then upload, edit and evaluate,

• Download your images.
• Upload your best line photos to your blog.
• Make a contact sheet with all of your photos post to your blog.
• Write an explanation as why this image is a good example of leading line- hint: how it directs attention to the subject.

Horizon Lines
One of the main ‘rules’ you often see written regarding horizons is that they should never be placed in the centre of the frame, but positioned closer to a ‘third’. to the top or bottom. As with most rules, there are plenty of times when this can be completely disregarded, so here are a few guidelines to help you to decide where to position the horizon when composing your shot.



Low Horizon
Placing the horizon towards the bottom of the frame is a great way of emphasising a dramatic sky. By placing the horizon low in the frame, you are giving dominance to the upper portion of the image and so, ideally, you want to have something there to keep the attention of the viewer, i.e. don’t do this if the sky is completely clear, as you will be dedicating over half of the frame to an empty blue sky, and that will not hold interest for long.

Centred Horizon
A centred horizon works very well when dealing with reflections as, by default, the composition is easily balanced.

High Horizon
Placing the horizon towards the top of the frame gives dominance to the lower portion of the image, allowing you to emphasise foreground detail to draw the viewer through to a sky.

Line #3 Assignment Horizon Lines
Take 10-15+ digital photographs around your home or school community exploring different horizon line techniques. Look for all sorts of different types of lines to direct the view towards the subject.

Upload, edit and evaluate,

• Download your images.
• Upload your best line photos to your blog.
• Make a contact sheet with all of your photos post to your blog.
• Write an explanation as why this image is a good example of the horizon line/ rule of thirds technique. 

Email me dusher@sd35.bc.ca if you have any questions, or when you are finished

9 Element of Design: SHAPE

Shape is the element of identification. The most important thing to keep in mind when shape is the essential element in an image is that it is best defined when the subject is front-lit or back-lit. For that shape to be successfully identifiable, it needs to be in strong contrast with its surroundings so that it is detached from the clutter around it.

Shapes in images can be seen as silhouettes - these are best shot several minutes before sunset up to several minutes following it, as well as several minutes before sunrise up to several minutes following it. Also, you can try to place your subject in between you and the light source, or photograph shadows.

There organic (natural free flowing) and geometric (man-made, angular) shapes. 

Shape Assignment:

• Take 20-30 digital photographs of the Element of Design- SHAPE
• Download, edit and evaluate, save top three to sharing folder.
• Upload your best shape image to your personal blog 
• Include a definition of shape and an explanation as why this photo is a good example of shape.

Blog Banner

Creating a Banner

Step One: Create a new document in Photoshop. If your document is going to be used on the web, I recommend setting the resolution to “72.” Next, type out your Name. I chose “HELLO” to keep things simple, but you could also use this tutorial for blog headers, as text to lay on top of photos in posts, etc! For a banner, you create the document as a custom size 1000 x 300 pixels at 72 resolution. Long and skinny. 

Make your text BIG and BOLD. Use the option menu on the top of the page to set your font style, size, boldness...

Step Two: 
Select an image you have taken or find one on Pexel. Select an image that you like and save the image to your folder. Open the image in Photoshop. Select All (or CTR A). Then Copy (or CTR C) and Paste (or CTR V) the image onto your file into the new layer. Then, when you create a clipping mask, your words will take on the effect of the image you’re using, which makes my words look gold!

OR

Create a new layer ON TOP OF your text layer. You can create a new layer either by going to Layer >> New >> Layer (in the top menu) OR by clicking the thing that looks like a piece of paper next to the trash can in the bottom right of your layers panel. Your new layer will be blank (white). If you can't see the Layer panel, then click f7 on your keyboard.

Step Two A: You can draw whatever you want in that new layer. I chose to draw some colorful scribbles using the brush tool.

Step Three: Make sure your new layer is highlighted in the layers panel (like mine is). Then, go to Layer >> Create Clipping Mask. A shortcut is to hover between your two layers (in the layers panel) with your cursor while holding down the option key (on a Mac). You’ll see a little arrow pop up and when you click, it will create a clipping mask.

Step Four: Admire your work.

Example of a photo instead of scribble:

Step Five: Post your heading to your blog: find the LAYOUT tab- click on HEADER- and then EDIT- Then remove heading insert instead of Blog title and description. Browse for your image. SAVE.

Tutorial Credit: http://www.melyssagriffin.com/create-clipping-mask-photoshop-great-bloggers/

Favourite Photo

Create a new post on your blog and upload your favourite/best photo that you have ever taken.
Then write why it is your favourite on your blog.

Photo 1 (AKA Photo 9) Outline

“Photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”           
Elliott Erwitt

Photography is an excellent way to capture the moment and hold memories. It is the contents in the family album, and the essence of human history. Upon completing Photography 1, students learn how to use the camera as creative tool to document the world around them. Students will learn photographic concepts and processes from digital to film processes: they will understand basic properties of light, composition, and darkroom processes from developing B/W film to enlarging images, and have an introduction with computer imaging.

1. Blog/Journal- Design a blog/journal that includes inspiring photos from magazines/internet, and your personal work. There will be small deadlines and a final submission- This will be on going throughout the semester.  
2. Elements of Design- The basic elements of Photography: lines, shapes, form, colour/tone, textures. We are going to focus on each of these one at a time. 
3. Composition- Learn how to identify your subject and how to direct attention towards it. 
4. Lumen Print/Pin Hole- Create a simple photographic composition without a camera.
5. Learn about light. Take photos with a basic box.
6. Computer Manipulation- Learn basic image Photoshop. How to touch-up and manipulate your images digitally.
7. Shutter- Learn how to use the shutter to manipulate movement with a digital or manual camera.
8. BW Portraits- Photograph people using Black and White film; develop and print in the darkroom.

Evaluation will be based on the following:

Question Sheets and Vocabulary (knowledge): 10%

Journal (display knowledge of concepts, gather ideas): 20%

Contact Sheets (skill):10%

Projects /Prints (skill): 60%

Photo 2 (aka Photo10) Outline

“A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know.” 
Diane Arbus

Photography 2 (AKA Photo 10) is an exploration of the visual world around us as we collect memories, thoughts, and ideas by capturing light. In class students learn how to use and operate cameras, from point and shoot to manual cameras composition, symbolism, concepts, and issues. Students are introduced to a wide spectrum of the medium from darkroom to digital. Upon completing Photography 2 (10), the student will be able to identify and compose a successful photograph, and learn how to use the camera as creative tool to document life and as a means for artistic expression.  Students will learn more advanced photographic concepts and processes from film to digital processes.

1. Blog- Create a blog that includes inspiring photos from the internet, and your own original work. There will be small deadlines and a final submission- This project will be on going throughout the semester
2. Home - Get creative with composition and learn how to push the rules of photographic composition to create thoughtful imagery.
3. Solargraphy [Pin Hole]- Learn about light. Take photos with a basic box. 
4. Aperture- Learn about light, and how to control the movement of your photos.
5. Panorama/Scale- Take multiple images of landscapes that look like they are somewhere else in the world. Collect images by David Hockney for your journal.
6. Studio Lighting portraits- Learn how to set up lights and control your environment. Be a studio Photographer- it’s fun
7. Computer Manipulation- Learn how to be creative with Adobe Photoshop.
8. Photographic Comic Strip- Tell a story through a series of images and thought bubbles.

Evaluation will be based on the following:

Questions, Vocabulary (knowledge): 10%

Journal/Photo Diary (display knowledge of concepts, gather ideas): 20%

Contact Sheets (skill):10%

Projects /Prints (skill): 60%