PRELIMINARY SHOOTING ASSIGNMENT #1: DUE SEPT 7

 

PRELIMINARY CELL PHONE CAMERA ASSIGNMENT:

MY SO-CALLED LIFE (IN THE TIME OF COVID) – A PHOTO ESSAY

4-6 cell phone pictures due on your blog by Monday, September 7^th

 

In this warm-up shooting assignment, you will be using your cell phone cameras to examine and record the ‘new normal’ we find ourselves in, returning to college under the threat of COVID-19. Your goal is simple: to record your daily life and the lives of those around you, with a particular eye on what has changed since you were last here. What has changed in your routine, your dress, the way that people interact? If you’re quarantined, what is that like and how can you make it visual for other people? If you go into town, how do things look different?

Since you’re using your cell phones for this first assignment, you should focus on two things: the compositions of your photographs, and how you want to tell your story in an interesting way. You will be uploading four to six photographs to your blog, and you can keep them unedited or use any kind of phone editing software or filter apps you want if you think they help to tell the story better. Optimally, the photographs you submit should work together to tell a more fleshed-out story, almost like a visual journal.

As you shoot, think about the compositional elements we discussed in class, and use the links below to refresh your memory. Consider the rule of thirds, un-centering your subject, the use of lines, colors and values, balance, etc.

You may use a selfie as one of your photos if you wish, but please try to make it a visually creative one!

 

WATCH – 9 Photo Composition Tips with photographer Steve McCurry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVyNjKSr0M

 

REVIEW – 20 Composition Techniques: https://petapixel.com/2016/09/14/20-composition-techniques-will-improve-photos/

 

WRITEUP #1 – Due on your blog by Monday, Sept 7^th:

Go to https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographers/ and choose a photographer at random (or if you recognize a name and want to choose them, go ahead!). Magnum is a loosely organized group of documentary photographers that has been in existence for decades. Find a photograph that speaks to you, that you find tells a compelling story in a visually interesting or striking way, and write at least two paragraphs about what makes the photograph so compelling to you. Don’t worry if you don’t know the proper photographic terms or language at this point, do your best in your own words to explain why you think the photograph tells a good story and resonates with you. When you post your writeup, either include the link to the photographer’s page with the title of the photo you’re discussing, OR right-click to save the photo and upload it to your blog with the photographer’s name and title of the photo.