Artist Statement

This will be written in essay form. 3-5 paragraphs. Answer all of the following in an order conducive to your choosing.
-Overview of what will be found in the portfolio.
-How do you feel about your portfolio?

-What have you learned over the course of this semester?
-What do you feel you were most successful with? Why?
-What did you struggle with most? why?
-How or where could you improve in the future?
-What have been some of your influences?

-Where have you seen growth and improvement?
-Anything else you would like to say about your artwork.

Organizing our Portfolios

Today we are organizing our portfolios.

You need to look down the side of the home page and find the list of all the posts you need.
You need to organize your posts in that specific order.
You need to make sure each post as a title.
Conduct a thorough spell check of each post.
Fix any formatting inconsistencies.

Finish any missing posts if you can.

Adjustment Layers

We took our portraits and experimented with effects using our adjustment layers. We wanted to add a little flavor to our Black and White photos.

Self Portraits

Final Project: RAW HONEST Self-Portraits

The final project is as follows: You will be orchestrating 4 self-portraits. You will be receiving the grade for each photo you are in, so a word of caution: Be VERY direct. Explain to your photographer EXACTLY what you want. You are in charge. Be VERY picky and pay CLOSE attention to each detail.

In these portraits what I would like to see is an artistic raw look at the beauty inside you. That sounds intense, right? Good. I don't want to see snapshot- "hi, this is me" photos that we have seen ALL YEAR. I don't want to see portraits with fake smiles and chin tilts. Those are nice, but NOT what I am asking for. I don't want to see hands on your hips standing in front of the 7000 building because it is hot outside and you wanted to get it over with.

I want to see YOU in 4 different shots, expressed ARTISTICALLY, CREATIVELY, UNIQUELY, POWERFULLY.

I will expect you to bring or wear clothing specifically for your shoots; makeup, props whatever you need to set your pictures apart from everything you've done, and everything everyone else has done ALL YEAR!

I want these portraits to be awesome. I want these portraits to be honest. I want them to be RAW BEAUTY.

Your 4 portraits:

-WILL ALL BE BLACK AND WHITE

Keep in mind black and white photos work the best with bright contrasty light. Shadows become very interesting. Lights and darks stand out, while colors are grayed.

-WILL ALL BE COMPLETLEY DIFFERENT

This means that the final four shots submitted will be in different settings, different costumes, different angles, different moods. If they look at all alike, only one will be graded. You need to stretch your creativity and expression. I mean S T R E T C H.

-WILL ALL HAVE A CLEAR EMPHASIS

Meaning the focal point will be clear to everyone

-WILL ALL DISPLAY CONTRAST & VALUE

White whites, black blacks... and a good strong gray scale in between.

Your 4 portraits will include the following:

1 that incorporates STRONGLY the elements of either LINE, SHAPE, TEXTURE or SPACE.

1 that uses light in a very obvious clear way.

1 that uses the rule of thirds in its composition.

1 that incorporates a prop that is meaningful to you. (however no ipods or phones etc.... dig deeper)

They will each be graded on their CREATIVITY, CRAFTSMANSHIP, COMPOSITION, and their COMPLETENESS.

You will have 4 days to complete the portraits (thursday-Tuesday) That is two full days for each of you to be both the model and the photographer. DO NOT WASTE TIME.

USE all your skills. Your camera techniques, your composition.

BE AWARE of the background. Don't take a brilliant picture in a stupid setting.

GOOD LUCK. Impress me.

Shutter Speed

When exposing for a photograph a camera uses 3 major components. These are: ISO (film speed), Shutterspeed, and Aperture.


The shutter speed refers to how long or short the shutter of a camera is left open. Shutterspeed effects two major aspects of photographs.

1. The amount of light let in

2. Movement

Slower shutter speeds allow more light to enter the camera, but also capture movement creating blur. A faster shutter speed enables a frozen motion picture, but it requires a brighter light source since the shutter will be firing so quickly.

In our cameras shutterspeed is measured from seconds down to fractions of seconds. We can manipulate the shutterspeed in both S mode (shutter mode) and M mode (Manual mode). In Shutter mode, we get to choose the shutterspeed and the ISO, while the camera chooses our aperture for us. In Manual mode, we choose the settings for ISO, Shutter and aperture.

In class we have been experimenting with long and short shutter speeds. We have turned all the lights out for dark exposures leaving our shutters open for up to 15 seconds. We have also ventured around the school, taking indoor photos using our shutterspeed to allow for more light. We also experimented with Panning. Which is when you follow a moving subject, taking a photo while your camera is moving which freezes your subject and blurs the rest of the shot.

ISO: Film Speed

ISO is the film speed. Film speed refers to how fast or slow the camera reacts to the light given. In other words, how sensitive the film or pixels in the camera are to light. Back in the day, when we bought film, we would choose the film speed for the whole roll. We would buy ISO 100, 200 or 400 speed film. Now days with digital cameras we can change the ISO with every picture if we desire.

As a class we experimented with ISO. We started off by taking a picture of our partner in a dark room, lit up with Christmas lights, with the flash on. We then turned the flash off, and with our camera on P mode (Program mode:The camera chooses the appropriate aperture and shutter speed) we took pictures at different intervals up the ISO scale.

Our cameras ISO range is 50-5000.

One can see how much more light is able to get in when using ISO 5000 in comparison to ISO 50. One can also see how a flash destroys the ambiance of the scene.

Light metering

Light meters measure the amount of light. Then, for a given film speed, (ISO) they calculate what settings the camera needs to be on to create a perfectly exposed photo.
Light meters are designed to measure for middle gray.
This means that the camera after choosing a middle gray will create highlights and shadows based on the where the middle gray lies.

Most digital cameras now days have built in light meters, that are activated when pressing the shutter half way down. (at the same time you are focusing, you are reading the lighting)
•In regular lighting the camera does a pretty good job of metering correctly.

However, sometimes lighting plays tricks on the camera.
This is often found when there is a really bright background.
The camera meters for the sky, leaving the subject dark.

We used our camera meter to purposely meter for the computer screen, and then for the light on our partners skin. As you can see, when the camera rereads the light on our partners skin, they become visible to us, even though the room was dark.

It is not always necessary to meter, but when the situation arises, it can make all the difference.

Current Project: Personal Metaphor

We are currently working on our "Personal Metaphor" project. As you work please keep in mind the following guide lines.

(Canvas size: 8x10 300 ppi)

1. First you are to come up with a metaphor or simile that describes or expresses your feelings.
2. You need to have a photo of yourself.
-Be very aware of lighting, background, scenery, clothing, body position and facial expression.
3. You need to take a photo of the object you are comparing yourself to.
-If this is an impossibility, and you will be borrowing the image of your object, then you are responsible for incorporating a photo you take as a major part of your artwork.
4. Text layer: verbally state your metaphor.
-Remember text becomes part of your composition- choice of font, size, placement, and color will either add to your art or take from it.
5. Remember, in this project you are metamorphosing into the object of comparison. Along with your creative and artistic ideas, your Photoshop skills will be under scrutiny here.
-Which parts of you will you keep? Which parts will you change? How best can you express through an image what it is you feel?
6. Any borrowed images you use, need to be altered and changed to fit into your artwork, you are not just taking and using other peoples work.
-Also keep in mind image size. Images that are too small will not work.

The Aesthetic Experience

Today we learned about the Aesthetic Experience. An Aesthetic Experience is often hard to define. It has been described as spell binding; You become possessed; You find it difficult to tear yourself away, and when you do you're never quite the same. It is a sensory experience that brings one to a different level of emotional, intellectual, and spiritual consciousness.
A life full of such experiences is truly a life to be sought after. However it seems that some people experience things like this frequently, while others have never had the pleasure. I would submit that the lack of these experiences is simply due to the fact that they are unaware such experiences exist, or unaware that they can learn how to have them.
To open the possibilities of having aesthetic experiences big and small, one needs to allow themselves a level of sensitivity to the world around them. One needs to allow themselves the option of being blown away, by something as small as a flickering shadow.
In class I wanted to give the everyone the opportunity to turn an ordinary experience into an extraordinary one. I wanted to help heighten the sensitivity level to the world at large.
Everyone was given a cup with clear water. The students were to try to open themselves up, to having an experience, and interaction with this water. Dye was dropped in, different colors, explosion melodically, desperately wending their way through the water. Blending together, until the water became dark. Each student was to take a photo of their cup and write about their experience in their portfolios.

"Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in." --American Beauty

Hybrid

An exercise found in “I’ve Got a Human in My Throat” The Worth1000.com Artists. By Chris Johnson.

In preparation for our PERSONAL METAPHOR project we brushed up our skills combining objects together. Using layer masks and the clone stamp we blended this dog and bird together.

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

Frida was an artist who led an active, exciting and glamorous life alongside her husband, famed muralist Diego Rivera. She won recognition as a painter at a time when few women artists were taken seriously.
Frida began to paint while confined to bed, after a serious street car accident in which her spine, pelvis and foot were crushed and peirced by a metal handrail. She underwent over 30 operations and led the remainder of her life in physical pain.
Her relationship with Diego began with Art and led to marriage. He was not the most faithful husband.
Frida said, "I have suffered two grave accidents in my life, one in which a street car ran me over; the other accident is Diego."

Frida is most well known for her symbolic self-portriats and her enhanced unibrow.
She said, "I paint myself because I am so often alone. I am the subject I know best."

Diego Rivera 1886-1957

Magical Movie Moments!

Inspired by Cindy Sherman, and her Untitled Film Stills, we will be photographing ourselves in movies that have never existed. Each partnership will come up with a plot summary for an imaginary movie. This will be the movie that both of your scenes come from. Each student will set up one scene from their movie to star in.
To make your photograph successful I suggest you think strongly about the following three things:
-Costume/makeup
-Setting
-Expression
If you pay close attention to each of these aspects, your film still should be believable.
I cannot stress enough that I will specifically be looking for the effort it takes to create a moment out of your normal reality, which means, if you put no thought into the costumes or setting, your grade will reflect the lack of effort.
Another caution I would like to submit: If you go through all the trouble and effort of creating costumes and setting and expression, make sure that you take a good picture, (i.e. not blurry, good composition etc.)

Each partnership will be presenting their Film Stills to the class on the Aims testing days.



Here are some of your moments!!

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is a contemporary photographer who has become famous for her creative self-portraits. She first hit the scene with her "Untitled Film Stills" series. This series was a slew of photographs of her pretending to be starring in movies that never exsisted. She has explored fashion shots, death, and she has even dressed herself up as paintings.

We will be using Cindy Sherman as the inspiration for our next project.

Chocolate Frogs!

In honor of Valentines day, we celebrated by turning frogs into chocolate. This photoshop exercise required us to use more of the artistic tools in photoshop. We had to smooth texture and add highlights to create this effect.

If you missed out, the instruction will be in the outfolder.

Shadows and Reflections

Today we worked on two different Photoshop exercises. We learned how to make shadows and reflections. The purpose of the lesson today was not only to broaden your Photoshop skill pallette, but to understand the importance and place for shadows in composite works. In laymans terms, if it doesn't have shadow, it doesn't look real.
In both of these exercises we used layer masks to help us fade our objects.


If you missed today, you will need to come in after school to make it up. Check the outfolder for instructions.

Additional Program Covers

After finishing up your graduation program designs, you will be required to complete one more. Depending on which class you are in will determine which program you are in charge of designing. Read the following parameters carefully:

1st Period: Si Se Puede Honors and Awards Night
- 8x10 Vertical Layout (front page only)
-Include title: Si Se Puede Honors and Awards Night
-Artistic image created with photographs you have taken
-Quote: Having to do with accomplishments, excellence, etc.
-Keep in mind that this is an elegant evening with the purpose to honor your peers that have reached high and achieved great things. Your design, artwork, and quote should reflect that.

2nd Period: Academic Letters
-Read over the instructions for "Si Se Puede".
The parameters are the same.

5th Period: National Honors Society Awards Night and Induction Ceremony
- 8x10 Vertical Layout (front page only)
-Artistically incorporate the National Honors society's 4 principles:
_Scholarship
_Leadership
_Service
_Character
And/Or You may also incorporate the symbol of a lit candle.
-Make sure you include the title and date

6th and 7th Period: Student Handbook 2008-2009
-Tabloid Layout (the same as graduation)
-Title, School, Year
-1 or more photos you have taken
-Exemplify and represent your school
-While this should be professional and well done, the handbook will be a more casual, creative, young and fun design. Your graduation and handbook covers should be VERY different.

Antoni Gaudi: Artist Architect

Gaudi was a phenomenal, architect whose work creates a collision between the worlds of Art and Architecture. His organic, surreal style established him as a innovative leader of the Spanish Art Nouveau movement.

His largest project, La Sagrada Familia, consumed his life from 1883 up to the day he died in 1926. Its intended finish date is the year 2030. For over a century it has continued to rise out of the Barcelona soil.

Gaudi shows us that Picasso spoke truth when he said, "Anything you can imagine is real." We can learn from him that no idea is too big to be realized. Good ideas are worth sharing with the world.

Graduation Programs

This week all students will be designing a cover for the graduation program. One student's artwork will be chosen. There will be a lot of freedom artistically with this project. I expect to see the best you can do.

Students will need to have the following:

-Correct layout: Horizontal, the program will be both front and back.
-All important information: Title, School, Date/year
-At least one NEW photo: You may have as many photos on your cover as you want, but you will be responsible for taking each of them.
-A quote: Graduation is a celebration of your education. Your quote should come from a well-known, educated person.

Tips and Hints: The style of your program will be your choice, the amount of artistic expression will also be choice, although I would encourage you to put thought and effort into the idea you are trying to convey.
You may use Photoshop as much or as little as you would like.
The right side of your page will be your cover where all the important information should be found.
The left side of your project will be your back cover.
Break up your background using shapes and gradients.

Creating Our Portfolios!

Today we have began the task of creating our own individual online portfolios. As you will notice, those students successful in this task are listed down the side of this page. If you click on any of their names you will be taken to their portfolio. If your name does not appear on this list, you will need to come in after school to get your portfolio up and running. I have typed instructions for you to follow. For those of you that have not turned in your permission form, that needs to be done immediatley.
After we had our portfolios up and running we created our first post.
It is titled: My favorite project from last semester
-upload the image of your favorite project
-your write up should include: what the project was, a short description, what you liked about it, and what you thought you did successfully.
When you are finished, reread it for any problems, spellcheck it, and then publish post.