Assignment 1: Shooting Assignment
Assignment Overview
Before you begin shooting,
it is important to have a plan. Remember that it is easier to "hit a
target" if you can see it. By clarifying your goals and formulating a
plan, you can best tackle the gaps and weaknesses identified in the
previous assignment.
After you have evaluated
your current portfolio, identified the gaps and weak areas, and come up
with a plan to tackle these issues, you should be ready to start
shooting with the same intent. For this assignment, you will also begin
your shoot based on the proposal that you have just created.
Assignment Description
This is a two-part assignment.
For Part 1 of this
assignment, you will establish a plan to create new images for improving
your portfolio, address weaknesses that have been identified in your
portfolio, and refine the scope of your work to address your desired
market segment in a better way.
Based on your self-assessment in W1: Assignment 2 and
the feedback you have received from the instructor and fellow students
on your portfolio, you will formulate a plan for new images that will
address the weaknesses and gaps that have been identified in your
portfolio.
Begin by synthesizing your
own thoughts on the feedback that you may have received about your
portfolio. Pay special attention to feedback that was repeated multiple
times as well as that which was strongly articulated. You
will use a document supplied (below) to generate a prioritized list of
weaknesses and gaps that you feel you need to address. Based on that list, you will propose ideas for photographs that will address those specific weaknesses.
For Part 2 of this assignment, you will select one of the photographic ideas that you proposed in Part 1
of this assignment. Select a photographic idea that addresses a
weakness that is listed as number one on your priority list. Remember
that this session will move quickly and that you will want to address
issues that are high on your priority list early on to ensure that you
are able to tackle them on time. Plan and execute the project according
to the conceptual and technical objectives that you have identified.
Assignment Step-by-Step Instructions
Part 1:
- Click here to download and complete the priority list document.
- Check out the video below to learn how to fill out this Priority List properly. Ensure that each
of your "Propose: A & B" sections meet a 50 word mark. There are
six different "Propose" sections in this document; you'll be writing a
total of 300 words between each of these sections.
- Using the Word Document supplied in "Step 1", generate
a list of at least three of the most important areas that can be
improved upon in your portfolio, which was submitted in W1: Assignment 1.
These should be indicated as a brief phrase or sentence. Make sure that
this list is prioritized with number one being the most important.
- For each of the three areas indicated in the priority list document, propose at least two specific ideas for new photographs that will address the weaknesses that you have indicated. Your ideas should be detailed, describing the conceptual and technical approach you will take for each image by keeping in mind the following:
- Be sure that the "Area of Improvement" section of your document functions as a thesis statement that summarizes the approach you would take.
- Be sure that each description succinctly addresses the technical and conceptual goals you would achieve with each image within the "Details" section.
- Briefly
describe your ideal "new" photo idea that you will work towards in the
"Propose" section: the first idea listed in section "A" and the second
in section "B".
- Save this priority list as PHOA209_W2_A1_lastname_firstinitial_priority_list.pdf.
Part 2:
- Select one of the strongest ideas that you proposed in Part 1
of this assignment. Again, remember that this should not only be a
strong idea but should also address an important issue that you have
listed high on your priority list.
- Formulate a plan to complete the project according to the description and objectives you identified. Organize
all of the gear you will need for this photo shoot, contact any
necessary subjects, arrange for location and lighting, etc.
- Be aware of your chosen sub-genre of photography.
If you are a "studio photographer focusing on child photography",
ensure that your new model is a child. If you're a location
photographer, photographing "fashion", ensure that your new model is
wearing an outfit that is unique and noteworthy. If you're a "sports
photographer", ensure that your photo shoot is taken of a new sport in
action or a portrait of a new athlete.
- Starting with this assignment, you will photograph this chosen sub-genre throughout the rest of the class.
- This
is where you begin to think about your "target market". In other words,
the people who you will market yourself to; who is interested in
purchasing your work or hiring you as a photographer?
- Regardless
of what sub-genre you are photographing, all students are required to
use his/her handheld light meter to ensure a strong sense of exposure.
Set your camera to Manual; choose your ISO based off of the lighting
conditions you'll be shooting under; choose a shutter speed and allow
the handheld light meter to generate a suggested aperture reading. You
will take a photograph of your handheld light meter in use and include
it in your contact sheet similar to the example below:
Please
note: If instructor is not able to read the information on the screen
of your handheld light meter, you will not receive points for using it.
- For
further instructions on how to use your handheld light meter properly,
please refer to the post in the Questions for the Professor section
titled, "Handheld Light Meter: How to Show Each Contact Sheet & How to Use".
- Decide what type of lighting you need to create a successful shoot.
- If
you're working in the studio, will you need a 2 light set up (a key
light + a fill light)? Or will you need a 3 light set up (a key, fill,
and a hair light or a background light)?
- If you're shooting on location, will you need a scrim to avoid unwanted shadows? Or will you need a reflector?
- Natural light is always wonderful to shoot in - particularly during the Golden Hours. But, let's be realistic,
with a fast paced class and busy work and family schedules - sometimes
the option to shoot during the "Golden Hours" with perfect weather
conditions is not always an option. So - we have to improvise with our
lighting gear!
- When
you have decided on your lighting scheme for this assignment, set up
your gear. Take a wide-angle image of your gear. Ensure that all of
the gear you are using is clearly displayed in the image. If you're
photographing a human model or an inanimate object, ensure that your
photo is clearly showing where your lights were in relation to the
subject. Please see the examples below:
Note: Future assignments will require
students to use specific lighting gear. This assignment gives students a
choice regarding lighting. Students are encouraged to be creative and
to "show off" their lighting skills for the first shooting assignment of
the course. This is an opportunity for students to show what they've
learned at AIPOD thus far.
- Shoot and present at least
thirty images that explore the proposed idea, ensuring that the
conceptual and technical objectives of the project are met.
- You may choose to shoot more than 30 although, please be sure to narrow down all of your images so that you're only submitting 30.
- Generate 9-image per page contact sheets with complete metadata for your thirty images as per the following specifications:
- Resolution: 300ppi
- Quality: 85%
- Profile: sRGB
- Include complete metadata: frame number, shoot date, ISO, exposure and focal length.
- Include the image of your handheld light meter in your contact sheet along with your wide-angle lighting scheme photograph.
- Follow the "How to Create a Contact Sheet for PHOA209" Guidelines when making your contact sheet; details are noted in the "Questions for the Professor" section.
- Export your contact sheet as a PDF and label it as "PHOA209_W2_A1_Last Name_First Initial.PDF.
- Select the three strongest images from the group and perform any necessary post-production adjustments.
- Students
are encouraged to keep his/her edits simple. Try to avoid having your
photographs look as though they were put through an "Instagram Filter".
Try to avoid adding heavy vignettes (dark and light). Edit your image
to be marketable in the commercial field of photography.
- Refer
to the "Editing Guidelines" noted in the Course Home section in the
post titled "Welcome: Guidelines for Succeeding in Class" for further
details.
- Place the three edited images and the same three "non-edited" photos into a contact sheet; 1 image per page - creating a 6 page contact sheet; save as a PDF at 300pp; titled "PHOA209_Last Name_First Name_W2A1_Raw and Edits".
- Resolution: 300ppi
- Quality: 85%
- Profile: sRGB
Final Submission
- Combine your contact sheet and priority list document into one zip file labeled PHOA209_W2_A2_lastname_firstinitial.zip to the Discussion Area by Week 2, Day 7.
- Note: This assignment is due on the last day of the week. The due date has been set to help ensure that all students have ample time to complete the work successfully. Please avoid submitting your assignment after this due date, which would then be "outside the week it was given", as it may not be accepted.
(Please refer to the Late Work Guidelines in the posted titled "Welcome: Guidelines for Succeeding in Class" within the Course Home section for details.
- Comments on the posts of peers are not required, but is encouraged.
| Assignment 1 Grading Criteria |
Maximum Points
|
| Part 1: Priority List |
| Posted
the priority list document and identified at least three areas of
improvement in the existing portfolio based on instructor and peer
feedback and the Portfolio Standards. |
10
|
| Generated
and described at least six specific concepts for photographs (at least
two ideas for each area of improvement) that address the weaknesses
identified. Ideas detail conceptual and technical approach/goals for
each photo. |
20
|
| Part 2: New Images |
|
| Presented
thirty strong images created using program required equipment that
addressed the conceptual and technical objectives that were identified
in Part 1. Included complete metadata. |
30
|
| Selected
three images suitable for inclusion that meet qualitative criteria to
be included in the final portfolio (according to the criteria listed in
the lectures and self-evaluation document) and successfully performed
any necessary postproduction adjustments. Included full-page lighting
set up shot(s). |
50
|
| Total: |
110
|
Point values show lower limit of grade bracket, with the exception of "F":
| A |
B |
C |
D |
F |
| 101 |
90 |
79 |
66 |
65 |
For
assistance with any problems you may have when completing this
assignment—OR—to offer your assistance to classmates, please use the Problems and Solutions Discussion area located through the left side navigation link.
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Respond link to post responses and materials that pertain to this assignment. Use the 