Another Multi-Row Panorama

This is one shot with 13 images. I played a bit of a trick on the software putting this one together, but it worked pretty well.



Nada's Creche, 2009

Multi-Row Panoramas

So I have shot a few multi-row panoramas, two were shot yesterday. The one of my mom is kind of fun b/c it's an angle that I haven't seen done of her before. The one of the creche in Brigham City worked really well, it's 15 shots and about 3 rows of images.



Mom Singing Christmas Carols At The Steinway, 2009



Detail Of Creche At Brigham City Tabernacle, 2009

Final Project

Your Final Project will consist of a portfolio of 10 (ten) related images. They have to relate to each other in a consistent theme. They don't always have to tell a story, but could be related by angle, subject matter, tonality (high-key/low-key), light, texture, etc... The individual images should tell me a story, but if the final ten images don't tell a continuous story, they should relate to each other in a different way.

I want you to post all ten of the images to your blog, do some writing about your portfolio and things that you feel you succeeded at, things you think you could have done better and write about the imagery itself. Tell me why you shot what you did, and how you went about it.

I want you to print all ten of your images as well. The prints are DUE at the beginning of the second-to-last class period that we will meet. We will spend two full class periods discussing everyone's work. I want to have EVERYONE turn in ALL of their prints at the same time. The lab will be closed for printing and image manipulation at that time. You can continue to blog, but I will shut down the server and no further work on prints or images may be done.

You also will need to turn in your camera at that time and any other materials that belong to the school. The memory card and your box of paper is your property. Keep track of it, you will use them next year.

If you still don't have a final project idea you should be thinking very hard what you want to do it on. Feel free to e-mail me about some ideas you may be having.

Good luck, I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

Winter Formal - Gallery

Ok kids, so I know that many of you are dying to see the pics from the dance...

HERE THEY ARE.

Panoramas - Don't forget to focus!

Here's one I shot last night at the Winter Formal. I focused on the far lights, didn't stop down very much (the exposure was six-seconds long as it was...), and realized when I looked at it later that I should have TAKEN MORE TIME to focus when I was shooting.



Waterford Winter Formal, 2009

Panoramas - some lessons

So I've been shooting these stitched panoramas for a long time...about nine years in fact. There are a few things I've learned. One of them is that it really is important to have a definite beginning, middle and an end. If they just go on and on and on and on and on and on and on...it's hard to look at them. Kind of like it was hard to read that last sentence. Give the viewer a chance to pause within the pano, read the story that is being told, linger a little bit in the frame, move through the frame and then find the end of the story.

Keep in mind my whole analogy of the panorama equaling a written story. Give me a strong beginning, let the story develop and give me a strong ending. These parts of the story work well in writing, and they work equally well in the panorama photograph. If there is no definite end to the story then maybe it's not such a good photograph. Remember, a panorama that doesn't have a visual ending is just another boring photograph that happens to be long and skinny.

Here is my 'Creche-a-Day' blog. It is made up mostly of panoramas. The ones that are stitched with the black border will be easy to spot. A few I cropped square and clean and they might be hard to tell if they're a pano or not. A few are just one-shot images, but most of them are not.

Take a look at the panos and find the ones that work. Find the ones that don't...there are many. The neat thing about this project is that I was basically forced to show everything I was doing. I had to show an image every day, even if it wasn't the best. A few of the images I really REALLY like a lot. Most of them are just interesting and a few of them just plain suck. It's easy to see looking back at them.

Here is the shot I did on Sunday. I think it was five shots...maybe six or seven if we count that double-exposure that got blended.



Creche In Reflecting Pond With Temple, 2009

If you haven't looked at the site that I suggested earlier, look at it again. This is a good example of a lot of panoramas shot of different subjects in different ways.

Wide Views Panorama Exhibit

There is also this cool website from The International Association of Panoramic Photographers.

You will want to shoot a wide variety of scenes for this assignment. You may even consider shooting something new every night after school. This is where the practice really pays off. The repetition will pay off...TRUST ME! Oh and remember that four prints are due on December 11th.

Please, PLEASE do not procrastinate this assignment. It's already getting late on this one.

Panoramas - Due Date

Both blocks are DUE on THURSDAY, December 17th.

Both blocks have to put FOUR panoramas on their blogs.

Two of the panoramas will be vertical.

Two of the panoramas will be horizontal.

Both blocks will print out TWO panoramas.

One of the panoramas will be vertical.

One of the panoramas will be horizontal.

IF THERE ARE ANY THAT ARE GOOD, I will print them out large and hang them in the hall.

Tree of Utah #2

On I-80 at mile-marker 36 is this little tree. I went out this morning at 5am to take this photograph. I got there about 30 minutes before the sun cleared the horizon. This image was made about 10 minutes before sunrise. This is the sweet light. I hope you have all seen it by now.



Tree Of Utah #2, Near Wendover, Utah, 2009

Kodachrome

Watch this. It is an interesting story about a type of film that is going extinct.

Click here.

JOBO ATL-3

Look what I got this week!

JOBO ATL-3 testing from Michael Slade on Vimeo.

You'll understand how cool this thing is once you start shooting color and large-format next year. For now, the Juniors and Seniors get to play with the new droid.

Photos From Mars

Take a look at these shots. They are amazing!

Link to article in the Boston Globe.

Today's Shot

Shooting With 11x14, Near Stansbury Island, Great Salt Lake, 2009

Panorama - A Worthy Subject

Here's opening night at the In-N-Out Burger in Draper.

There was some 'camera drift', but I'm OK with that.



Opening Night, In-N-Out Burger, Draper, Utah. 2009

So you think my assignments were hard?

Watch this!

Thanksgiving Challenge - Extra Credit

Pretend you are photographing a big assignment for Gourmet Magazine. Photograph the creation and finished product of your Thanksgiving Feast. Concentrate on LIGHT, getting focus SHARP, good tight composition, and last but not least, TELL ME A STORY. Shoot the people making the food, some portraits of the cook/chef would be nice.

This should be FUN for both you and the people that you are photographing. If you get in the way and are making things worse for everyone, consider backing off and shooting the wide shot. Also consider *HELPING* a little bit. It will go a long way to making those people who are actually *making* the dinner happy with you.

Also, a nice image of the table with all the food spread out, the family in their holiday finery preparing to chow-down would be fun.

Good luck and don't get too sick!

Mini-Final

Put your favorite six images on the blog.

Write something about each image. Why is it your favorite? What worked well? What would you change if you could?

This needs to be on your blog by the end of classes on Tuesday.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving vacation. Remember to give thanks.

Assignment #6 - Portraits

From Wikipedia (yeah, a terrible source, but I liked the definition...)

Portrait:

"A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer."



Three rules to this assignment.

Rule #1: NO MYSPACE PHOTOS - I think you all know what this means. You've seen 'em, you've taken 'em, I don't want 'em.

Rule #2: You need to shoot at least three separate people.

Rule #3: One of those three people MUST be yourself...but, you can't BE yourself...

Here is Cindy Sherman doing her version of Lucille Ball.



Here is a link to the National Portrait Gallery. You will get a lot of good ideas here from paintings, sculpture and photography.

National Portrait Gallery

Here is one of my favorite portrait photographers...Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon Portrait Gallery

Hiroshi Watanabe's gallery has a few sections of portraits that are interesting.

August Sander was a German photographer who made portraits of farmers and working class people near Cologne prior to World War II. After the Nazi's gained power, Sander continued to shoot the people in his city, many of them shown in Nazi military uniforms. Sander's portraits provide possibly the widest cross-section of Germans during that time.

Here is a self-portrait of me as Abraham Lincoln.



Due on Tuesday, November 17th.

C Block: 10 on blog, 5 prints

Z Block: 8 on blog, 4 prints

Trick or Treat

This is what you get when you come trick or treating to my house and you're older than 12 years.

I did give them out.

Panoramic Photography - Some Preparation

Read this thread:

What defines a panorama?

This will get you ready to start thinking about the panorama assignment. What dimensions/ratio are a panorama?

Read the thread and write what you think.

Here is a show I organized and curated several years ago.

Wide Views



Click on the above image.

Assignment #5 - 50 Shot Free Shoot (50SFS)

Take 50 (or more) pictures.

Kick it.



Due:

C Block: 10 on blog, 5 prints, Due November 6th.

Z Block: 8 on blog, 4 prints, Due November 6th.

Things that will HELP you:

1. Pay attention to the light.
2. Practice what you have learned.

Color vs. Black & White

Watch this.

Scott Stringham - Complimentary Color

Pretty sweet huh?

EXTRA CREDIT - HaLoWeEn CeMeTeRy!

Here are the rules:

1. Purely voluntary...this is 'extra' credit mind you...
2. How much you do...again, up to you. Do a little, get a little extra credit...do a lot, get a LOT of extra credit. Don't let this take up time away from other classes or other assignments for me. It's EXTRA...as in, to be done with everything else is already done.
3. You must photograph in a cemetery.
4. You must include people in your images.
5. You must use slow shutter speeds.
6. You must print and post to your blog.
7. You must turn these in *by* Haloween.
8. You must have fun with this.
9. You must respect the dead.

Grades - Some Suggestions

I am doing grades right now and there are some reasons why you guys are not doing as well as you could be. Here are some guidelines.

1. I expect that each of your assignments is titled on your blog...like this: Assignment #2 - Numbers

If I can't find your assignment on your blog, you get a 0 (zero).

2. I can't find your assignment at all on your blog. If you turned in prints, that's great, but if you didn't do the blog portion, the assignment is incomplete.

3. I am not finding required writing on your blogs. I am not seeing the essay about Irving Penn on several blogs. If I cannot find it you get a 0 (zero).

4. Notebook - if your grade was terrible on your notebook, it is your responsibility to me to show that you have improved your note-taking.

P/T Conferences are this week, let's see if I can have good things to say about you with your parents. You have to do the work to get the grade.

Monochromatic - Critique Assesment

Z Block -

YOU GUYS DID FREAKIN' AWESOME! No seriously, I am very VERY happy about how you guys did. You make me proud.

C Block -

You guys did pretty good. Oh wait, no you guys did FREAKIN' AWESOME TOO!

I love the fact that you all did very well on this assignment. LOVE IT!

Ralph Goings

Check this guy out.

Ralph Goings

Assignment #4 - Color Theory

We will be jumping into Color Theory a lot for this assignment. Ready? Here we go!

Here's the color wheel. Study it. You will need to learn how the color wheel works and how you can apply that knowledge to these assignments. It's easier than you think.



For this assignment you will concentrate on two different theories of color. That of complementary color and that of analogous color.

Let's start with complimentary color. It is the easiest. Here is a chart. If I were you I'd print this out and take it home with you so that you have it to use as a reference.



Click on the image to make it larger and easier to read. Right click on this and save it to your folder and you can print it out later.

Tessie Lammle figured out that if you think of sports teams, i.e. the Denver Broncos, the L.A. Lakers, etc...you will have a very good idea of what complimentary colors are.



Frankly I think if you remember the colors of Christmas you will be well on your way. What are the colors of Christmas? Red and green.



I want you to find OR CREATE a scene which you have two complimentary colors. I want you to take your time and find some good light, make an interesting composition, check and set your white balance (this is getting crucial right?!?!), and most importantly I want you to make a bunch of different exposures. BRACKET! Change your composition with the camera, change your composition of the objects. Get an interesting photograph! I want you to do at least one of these complimentary colors, do two if you are feeling ambitious. If you only do one you'd better work it and make sure that you have good exposures, good focus and good composition. Shoot a LOT of frames on this assignment.

Now let's talk about ANALOGOUS color. What's analogous color? Analogous color is similar to monochromatic color, but it gets to be quite a bit richer. Analogous colors are those colors that are adjacent on the color wheel. Let's look at this diagram:



Click on the image to make it larger and easier to read. Right click on this and save it to your folder and you can print it out later.

Monochromatic color got it's richness by the variations of light striking the object. Darker areas became a slightly different shade of that color, lighter areas where more light hit the object became a lighter shade of that one color.

Analogous color is *kind of* similar, except that I want you to find various colored objects that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Remember, to KEEP IT SIMPLE and you get to decide just how hard you make it on yourself. Don't try to choose too many colors. Stick with three...four at the most. This is something that you may want to create on your own. Ask your moms if they can help you find analogous color. They will love to show you how it works.

Here's a quick chart:



Here are some examples:









This seems like a big assignment. It kind of is. I want you to repeat for analogous color what you did for complimentary color. Shoot a LOT.

I'm not sure when this will be due yet or what the requirements will be...just start thinking about color like this and looking for ways you can fulfill the assignment.

It'll be fun. Trust me!

Here's an analogous color shot I made several years ago near Escalante, Utah.



Zebra Canyon, Near Escalante, Utah, 2002

Due by Friday, October 30th.

C Block: 12 images on the blog, 6 prints, journal from assignment.

Z Block: 8 images on the blog, 4 prints, journal from assignment.

Bigfoot?

Too bad the photographer, David Raygoza isn't taking my class. He would get an 'A' for sure!

Click the image to make it larger. Notice the .jpg artifacting and the detail that is lost by enlarging the image from such a small pat of the image.

Wow!

Watch this!  This is way cool! 


Lightness Illusion - The top video clips of the week are here

Assignment # 2 1/2 - Before / After

Take your mostest favoriteist photograph from Assignment 2, and retouch it.  Make it beautiful!  Make it sing!  Post the before and the after to your blog and tell me why you are in love with Lightroom and the controls it offers.

Next...print the before and print the after and turn them in with your names on the back.

Due...Friday, October 9th.

Assignment #3 - Monochromatic

Yay, we're now at #3!  It's going to be cool, and so I'm basically going to just give you examples. 

You are going to shoot scenes that are monochromatic.  Mono = one.  Chroma = color.  Monochromatic = Onecolor.

Pick a color, any color.  Try to find objects that are all that same color.  A place to start is your closet.  Find two or three pairs of jeans, find some sweet light in your house, maybe next to a large bay window, arrange the jeans and take a bunch of shots where the jeans fill the entire frame.  THAT is monochromatic...as long as all of the jeans were various shades of blue.  Now do you get what I'm looking for?

I want you to shoot at least 3 different colors for this assignment.  When you are shooting your images DON'T JUST SHOOT ONE FRAME!  Shoot lots of frames of each color.  LOTS!


Y-Block
12 on the blog
6 prints

Z-Block
10 on the blog
5 prints


All must be retouched and made PERFECT.

You must have some images due next Tuesday October 6th.
Prints due the following Friday, October 16th.

Quite a Project

Here is a pretty neat photography project done in Detroit.  Start thinking about what you're going to do...that's right...each of you will do an extended project before the term is over.  It might not be on this grand of a scale, but it will be something that you spend some time on. 

CLICK HERE to see the essay on Time.com.

Sunsets

I hate sunsets...except when they're really cool.  The sunset tonight was really cool.

This shot was made by stitching six images together.  This is looking east from my front doorstep.  That is my dad's old red truck.  It is for sale.  Anyone wanna buy it?

Be sure to click on the image so you can see it larger.

Assignment #2 - Numbers

Assignment number two.  It's really your first real REAL assignment.  Kick some tail.

Here are the requirements:

You will make 100 images. No more...no less.
You will make your first frame contain the number zero (0).
Your second frame will contain the number one (1).
Your third frame will contain the number two (2).
Can you guess what your fourth frame will contain? Yep, a number three (3).

Rinse and repeat.

You will end up with 100 images, starting with number 0, ending with 99.

Remember, no deleting, no re-shooting numbers, if you make a mistake on the exposure, go on to your next number. Fix your exposure for the next number before shooting (duh).

DO NOT TAKE THIS ASSIGNMENT LITERALLY. Be creative in how you represent the numbers you will shoot. Bonus points if you photograph them in braille. Extra bonus points if you can photograph 99 Bigfoots (Bigfeet?) for the final exposure. DO NOT have your parents drive you all over town. DO NOT go walking up and down the street looking for addresses that work. You can shoot this assignment within the comfort of your own home. There are easily 100 sequential numbers in your house.

Also, you need to be aware of controlling your WHITE BALANCE. Most of you know how to do this now. If you do not have a good understanding of how to control it, come see me and we will go over it again. Get your white balance correct in the camera. Remember, no post-production...NO PHOTOSHOP.

DUE DATES:

C Block: Tuesday, September 22nd images are due to be shot AND uploaded.  Prints are due the following Friday, October 2nd.
C Block requirements:  8 prints, 12 on the blog.  Make them perfect in the camera.  I will NOT allow you do to ANY POST-PROCESSING FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.  Print the most unique ones.

Z Block: Tuesday, September 22nd images are due to be shot AND uploaded.  Prints are due the following Friday, October 2nd.
Z Block requirements:  5 prints, 10 on the blog.  Make them perfect in the camera.  I will NOT allow you do to ANY POST-PROCESSING FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.  Print the most unique ones.

Quote for the day:

"Photoshop is a crutch for those who are too lazy to get it right in the camera."
I said this, it is my quote. If you quote me, attribute me. If you don't quote me I will be sad.

Good luck!

Guess who shot this?

Yep, yours truly shot this about 3 years ago in Moab for one of my clients.  They have had it in their library for a while and are just now finding a use for it.  I think it's pretty sweet.  They are shipping me the product to photograph very soon...sometime this week, and I don't even know exactly what it is.  I'll share with you in class how the shoot goes.  I can't post any images to the blog until the images are released from the client...top secret and all.

Shooting - Camera Setup

Here's how I want you to have your cameras set up:

Shooting on Manual, ALWAYS.
Shooting in color, ALWAYS.
Shooting w/out flash, ALWAYS.
Shooting on 80 ISO, ALWAYS.
Shooting on Superfine JPG, ALWAYS. (when we talk about RAW, you shoot in RAW...)
Shooting on Large JPG, ALWAYS.
Using your brain, ALWAYS.

Always be shooting more images by class. Bring cameras to class and we'll go over some other cool stuff.

Here's an example of cool stuff...

Camera Van!

Wanna see something cool?

Check this out.

Panoramic Photography of the Station Fire in California.

We can learn how to do this if you keep up a good pace this term. It is very VERY cool stuff.

Color...or B&W?

DSM-1

This is what I was up to yesterday. Needless to say it is quite a sight when 3.6 million foot pounds of thrust get started. The ground was shaking and I was 1.8 miles from the motor. I was yelling at the top of my lungs and I could barely hear myself. It was very cool.

Assignment #1 - Scavenger Hunt

Ok gang, this first assignment is designed to get you used to using your camera, understand it's functions and really, most importantly, to have some fun.

I want you to follow these instructions for this assignment. Following instructions with exactness is crucial to many of the things we will do in photo. It is a very process-intense thing to do all of this right, so pay attention and you'll do fine.

1. Take your camera and set it on 'P'.

2. Try and find the following objects to photograph: tree, bird, dog, car, cat, platypus, friend, mom, dad, sky, floor, hand, something red, something green, something scary, something funny.

3. Try to mix it up with your shots. Get close, get closer, get REALLY close. Let the camera focus before you take the picture.

4. Get at least 30-50 shots of whatever it is you have found. It is NOT important that these images are perfect works of art. These images are PRACTICE! These images will give us some files that we can work with next week to teach you how to upload your images to the server, how to set up your blogs, etc... Something to work with is better than nothing to work with, so be sure you get something in your camera.

5. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR CAMERA TO CLASS ON MONDAY! This is really important...if you don't have your images to class then the assignment is LATE and your grade will suffer. Not only that, but if you don't have your images with you then you won't be able to follow along with me as I do my demo on Monday.

6. Open your instruction manual read it and play with the various settings on the camera. Learn it's controls as much as you can. You don't have to understand everything, just the basics for now. We will go over in class in a very detailed manner everything you will need to know. For now just the basics are good. This will be the only assignment you ever shoot on 'P'. The rest of the shooting will be on 'M'. If you are really ambitious you can set your camera on 'M' and mess around with it.

7. If you are REALLY ambitious, start over from the beginning and re-photograph what you shot at first. You might be surprised at what you learned and how much better the images turn out.

Syllabus - Fall 2009

CLASS X PHOTOGRAPHY
C & Z BLOCK

“If it makes you laugh,
if it makes you cry,
if it rips out your heart,
that's a good picture.”

- Eddie Adams

Fall Term & First-half of Winter Term, 2009
Mr. Slade
Office: Photography Studio
Phone: 801-816-2924
E-mail: michaelslade@waterfordschool.org

Course Description:

I want to start by saying what this class is NOT. This is NOT a Photoshop class. It is not a digital retouching class. It is not a class designed to turn you into a technician. You will not open Photoshop, look at Photoshop or even use Photoshop. We might talk about Photoshop, but no guarantees. Oh wait...actually for Class X we will use Photoshop. My mistake. We will use PS for doing the panoramas, but that is it.

Now, what this class IS.

This is a course about many things, but first and foremost it is a class about communication. The main tools we will be using to realize and execute our vision and communicate our message are the digital camera, computer and printer. These are tools that you will be around your entire life, so it will pay great rewards to learn how to use these tools early and properly.

Your visual experience will be greatly enhanced if you learn to use them correctly to make sure the messages and stories you wish to tell are accurate. We will be issuing each of you a digital camera for the creation of your images, and each of you will be creating a blog so you will have a portal through which you can display your images.

We will use small point-and-shoot digital cameras, the computer using a program called Adobe Lightroom, and our wide-format inkjet printers. We will talk about light, composition, color, texture, angle of view and mostly taking photographs that tell a story. The biggest change from last year to this year is that we will be working in COLOR! We will have lectures about color, you will be expected to start seeing how colors convey different meaning and how you can alter your message based on the use of color. You will also have the chance to do a panoramic assignment like the one that was done last year by the Sophomores.

You will learn compositional techniques that will help you make strong images. You will learn how to tell stories with your images. You will learn how to edit. Most important, you will learn how to make things right in the camera, to get a good exposure and crop well before you work with the image in the computer. We are in the business of refining photographs, not rescuing them. I will not let you be lazy, so don't even try. You will also need to learn how to take your time and not be in a hurry. That is probably the biggest problem you will encounter during the learning of this new way of working.
There are two ways you will turn in your work to me. You will turn in prints that you make on the inkjet printer, and you will also turn in a larger selection of work via your blog. Your blog will become your location to show the world what you find interesting and what stories you want to tell. It will be the place where you will tell me what worked, what didn't work and what you will do differently. The prints, the images on the blog and your written commentary will comprise a completed assignment, and all components will need to be completed for you to get a good grade.

Additionally we will be spending a lot of time in class lecturing about the history of photography and different photographers who have been revolutionary and contributed in major ways to the art. You will be required to study various photographers throughout the term, write about them and what you learned on your blog, and at the end of the term you will create a presentation and give it to the class about someone you studied that you found particularly interesting.

Class Timeframe:

Due to the unfortunate scheduling requirements placed on myself and Mr. Patteson, the limited blocks offered and the increased number of students taking photo this year (up 50%), we are forced to change how Class IX and Class X are handled this year.

We are dividing those two classes, and Class XI into two halves. Instead of having three separate terms, you will instead have essentially a term and a half with each instructor. Half-way through Winter Term you will switch instructors and take the remainder of the curriculum (darkroom side), from Mr. Patteson. We are still working on an exact date for the change to occur, but it will be approximately two weeks after we return from Winter Break. This will be a little confusing, but we expect few problems. Your grade for Winter Term will be 50% from the work you did during my coursework, and 50% from the work you will do for Mr. Patteson. We will discuss this further in class and let you and your parents know of any changes that need to happen.

Policies:

Student Expectations: Students in this class are expected to -

• Respect each other and the equipment
• Come to class prepared and on time
• Work diligently and efficiently
• Be open to new ways of “seeing” and solving creative challenges

Attendance and Uniforms: It is important to be in class on time and in uniform at all scheduled class meetings in order to keep up with the pace of the class. You will be responsible for all information given in class. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to find out what content was covered and what assignments were made. Your final grade will be lowered by one point for each three tardies accumulated during the term. Uniform policies will be posted on the wall and it will be the standard by which uniform compliance...or non-compliance will be judged. I will not debate uniform violations. You will be referred to Mr. Alexander if there continue to be problems.

Class Participation: Participation is particularly important in this class. You must come to class prepared to share ideas, to share your blog, to discuss your work, and to ask questions! If the initial idea for an assignment was good but the execution did not produce the desired results, I will take that into consideration during grading only as long as you can fully articulate your intent. This can only be done during class discussions. The more energy, effort and attention you put into this class the more you will get out of it.

Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty is defined to include, but is not limited to, cheating; copying another’s work; lying; dishonesty in or inappropriate collaboration on homework papers or examinations; submitting work done for one course to another course; deliberate falsification of data; interference with other students’ work; and copyright violations. Plagiarism, a particular form of academic dishonesty, occurs when a student intentionally or unintentionally uses someone else’s words, ideas, or data, without proper acknowledgement. Students are responsible for knowing the conventions of documentation and acknowledgment of sources required in academic discourse. The Waterford School Handbook states “cases of academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism will be referred to the School Dean. Violations are treated seriously, with particular attention paid to repeat offenders. In all cases, students receive zero credit for work that violates the school code of honesty. In addition, disciplinary action can include suspension or expulsion”.

Digital Lab Use: The Digital Lab will be open for student use from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM to 3:10 PM on Friday. Students will be able to use the facilities during lunch and after school. Students working outside of class must allow enough time to complete the process on which they have been working during that time. Students in class will have priority over those students working during their free time. The Digital Lab will close on the last class day of the term and will not reopen until the first day of the following term. The lab WILL NOT be open during final exam periods.

Cameras: Students will each be issued a digital camera provided by the Waterford School. If you wish to use your own digital camera you may do so provided that it can do the following: shoot in manual mode, controlling both the aperture and shutter speed and control the focus. If you have a camera you would like to use you need to bring it to class and I will tell you if it will work or not. The camera provided by the school is a good solid tool and you will be expected to take care of it well. To replace this camera due to loss, theft or damage, will cost the student $250.00 This will be charged to your account. The condition of the camera will be noted upon check out and upon return.

Supplies: Students will be given the following photographic supplies at the beginning of each term:

• 1 2gb SD memory card
• 1 binder for hand-outs and notes
• 1 spiral notebook
• 1 100-sheet box of Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper

I would like each student to provide 10-20 sheets of legal paper for your 3-ring binder. You will be able to write additional notes to place with hand-outs.

It is each student’s responsibility to take care of the supplies and cameras that will be handed out. Lockers will be provided but students must supply their own locks. Students must come prepared to every class with notebook, paper, writing instruments and anything else required for the class. If you lose any supplies you will need to buy replacements.

Put Your Name on Everything and Keep Track of It!

Grading Criteria

Assignments 40%
Blog 25%
Notebook 15%
Final Project 20%

Evaluation: In evaluating assignments and the final project, the product of your ongoing creative work, I look for three key elements:

1. Technical Competence – learning the basics of the various tools we use and applying them consistently during the term will allow you to achieve technical competence. Technical competence is critical with the camera, and very important with the computer. If you cannot achieve technical competence with the camera you will not be able to rescue those images with the computer. You cant make a good image from poor negatives...but you can make a poor print from good negatives.

2. Visual Aspects - the composition of your photographs improve when you study the work of other photographers, work consistently and frequently, and critically evaluate the results of your own work. From time to time I will ask you, at random, to tell us about the photographers you have been looking at. In order for you to increase your English vocabulary, you have to read. In order for you to increase your Photographic vocabulary, you need to look at and study different photographers and their work. This is different than just 'looking at pictures'.

3. Content - the willingness to ask yourself to do difficult work, and asking difficult questions within your work, will make meaningful content possible. A major part of content is the ability to communicate. You need to communicate your message to your viewer. When you do not communicate you do not succeed as an image maker. You will learn techniques on how to communicate in your images. Do you notice how often I am repeating the word 'communicate'? It is that important.

The following offers some of the criteria used in determining grades:

A - means outstanding work exceeding the requirements in both quantity and quality. A clear and complete understanding of techniques and processes is evidenced. Significant participation in critiques has occurred. Finished and fully developed work is innovative and well presented. I do not give out many A's. If you get one, you should pat yourself on the back. If you do not get one, don't cry. An A-minus is a GOOD grade from me...not the best, but pretty dang good.
B - means good work beyond the requirements. Good participation in critiques and understanding of techniques and processes is evidenced. Individual approach has formed.
C - means average work. Requirements are met and projects are completed on time. Adequate participation in critiques and understanding of techniques and processes is evidenced.
D - means poor work. Requirements are barely met, understanding of techniques and processes lacking. Skill level low.
F - means unacceptable work. Requirements are not met and there is little understanding of techniques or processes. It is not my job to fail you. It IS my job to help you succeed. If you do not, then you have had to try very hard to fail.

All required work must be turned in on time, or your grade will be lowered by one letter. Assignments turned in more than two weeks late will not be accepted. An assignment that is turned in on time may be redone once at any time for a higher grade. Final projects, notebooks and presentations will not be accepted after the class in which they are due. No exceptions will be made. If you have any questions at any time during the term about how these criteria relate to your photographic work, be sure to ask me!

Assignments: All assignments are DUE at the BEGINNING of class on the date specified on the syllabus. All assignments will be evaluated for technical competence, visual elements and how fully you realize each assignment. In order to be considered complete, an assignment must include any images that were made for the assignment and your commentary. BOTH parts need to be in place for the assignment to be considered complete. Properly labeling your blog is critical for me to be able to find which blog post is which assignment. If I cannot find your assignment blog post because you didn't label it completely is not my fault. All images must be made off campus. Students photographing an assignment on campus will have 1 point taken off that grade. Your project and presentation on your chosen photographer will be considered one of your assignments.

Blog: This is the way that I will communicate with you, give assignment descriptions, requirements and due-dates. This is also the way that you will turn in your assignments and show me your research about other photographers and photography. Your blog is the main way I see what you are learning and how you are executing it. Pay attention to your blog. Do it completely and with accuracy. We will go over this extensively during class.

Be sure that you keep up on any changes to the schedule on the blog. Check the class blog EVERY DAY...especially if you have been absent. There will also be a schedule of due-dates for each assignment included on the blog. The blog address for Grade IX will be:

http://waterfordphoto2012.blogspot.com/

PLEASE share this address with your parents. I want them to be able to see what you are doing in class and what the expectations are for each assignment. The blog is the main method of communication other than in-class discussion and instruction.

Notebook: The notebook allows me to see that you are actually taking notes. There is no textbook for this class and you...YOU are expected to take notes on all prodedures and processes we will cover in class. I will not let you take notes on your blog. You will need to take notes in your notebook and I will ask for your notebooks to be turned in periodically to check that you are actually doing this. Once I go over a procedure that I have asked you to take notes on, you will be expected to be able to follow procedure based on your notes. You must bring this notebook to every class.

Final Project: Final projects will be an extended piece of work that has some continuity. The scope and number of images is TBD, but you should be looking for ideas during the term that you can expound into a larger statement that you can explore further.


HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS:

USE YOUR BRAIN – it is your most valuable tool. EVERYTHING boils down to using your brain wisely.

Be prepared. Always have your notebook and any necessary supplies for class. Pay close attention to the schedule to see what will be expected of you each day.

Work efficiently. These are very short class periods for working in the lab. In order to get your work done you will need to get started very promptly and minimize distractions while working. This is VERY important. I will take off 1% of your final grade for each time I find students wasting time on Facebook, MySpace or any other site that does not relate to work being done in class. We need to start on time, and we will. If students are not ready to start on time, they will miss parts of the lecture and grades will suffer.

Manage your time. You all have many other classes and activities that demand your time. And this particular class has quite a few deadlines, overlapping assignments, etc. It requires dedicated attention on your part to manage these demands.

Be engaged in class. See the description for the Effort and Participation segment of your grade.
Produce (not vegetables...). The only way to get better at anything is to practice – to actually do it.

Push yourself. Stretch your boundaries. Make your head hurt...but remember to enjoy the process. If you can't enjoy photography you will have a much more difficult time succeeding in this class.

Tell a strong story. Photography is about communicating, sharing information, telling stories. If your images do not communicate, then you as an image maker have not succeeded. You will know if you listen in class, what a strong story is, the components of strong story telling, and how to execute them in your own photography.

Are you ready?

You better be!

Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July!

A Small-Town 4th from Michael Slade on Vimeo.

Your Photography Should Be Fun

Your photography should be fun. If it's not you're doing something wrong.



Zel With Rosey Boa, 11x14 Paper Negative, 2009



Zel With Rosey Boa, 11x14 Paper Negative - Inverted, 2009

For Meghan