Assignment 1: Shooting, Editing and Planning
Assignment Overview
When working on a comprehensive portfolio
project, it is important to be able to identify specific areas that
need improvement. On the basis of previous feedback and goals, you
should start to work on any remaining goals and areas of weakness with
regards to your portfolio, résumé, and written statement.
In addition to shooting, this assignment will ask you to utilize the prioritized list created during Week 2.
Using this list, you will set goals and create a working plan to meet
these goals during upcoming weeks. You will be utilizing the weekly
journal document to outline your goals and answer specific questions
related to the progress of your portfolio.
You will also research professional portfolio binders.
Associate Degree Final Portfolio Standards
The final portfolio must demonstrate
the skills that are the key components of your program of study,
demonstrate your personal brand and style, and be targeted towards a
specific market audience, whether this be a future employer or potential
client.
In order to demonstrate acquired skills, the content of the portfolio must:
- Prove technical ability that meets industry standards (lighting, exposure, depth of field)
- Images demonstrate the ability to convey a concept beyond image content
through the use of appropriate techniques (the image should tell a story of sorts; the viewer should be able to tell the "meaning" behind the image)
- All photographs must reflect an individual voice and be directed towards a
market audience (Consider who you want to sell your work to)
- Cohesive theme within a genre with appropriate variety and depth of
exploration
(Ensure that there is a sense of diversity in your protfolio in terms of
male vs. female models, different models, different products,
locations, etc.)
- Demonstrate command of shaping light using a minimum of three
strobes (2-3 images in the portfolio should clearly show the use of 3 strobe lights)
- Must show command of working with the human form in at least three
images
- Quantity of images – 15 – 20 minimum (includes website and print; the same images that you print should be the same images on your website)
- Professional quality 11 x 14 inch prints (minimum) (This refers to your print images only!
The images that you submit to your website will remain the standard 3:2
aspect ratio. The images you print however, will have to be cropped to
a different aspect ratio so you can print an 11x14.)
A print portfolio of
archival quality prints presented in a professional quality portfolio
binder in addition to supplemental materials:
Résumé
Website
Postcard design
All Portfolio standards must be met in order to successfully complete the portfolio class (any exceptions to these standards require departmental approval)
Assignment Description
In W2: Assignment 1, you
assessed your final project and indicated the areas of your portfolio
that were the most in need of improvement. Focusing on the needed
improvements to your portfolio, résumé, and statement, revise and turn
in all three documents once again. Pay close attention to the feedback that you have received from the instructor prior to revising these documents.
Assignment Step-by-Step Instructions
Part 1:
- Take a moment to read, evaluate, and update the gaps and goals you identified during W2: Assignment 1.
- Perform targeted improvements to your portfolio, statement, and résumé based on the feedback you received from W1A1.
- Use the following guide to understand the expectations for this assignment. This assignment consists of the following parts:
- Portfolio:
- Review the Final
Portfolio for the Associate Degree Requirements (above) and take note
of where you need to make improvements moving forward.
- Review the feedback that you received for W1A1 on your portfolio; consider the following:
- Were you asked to focus on one sub-genre of photography?
- Were you asked to focus more on a commercial sub-genre of photography vs. fine art?
- Were you asked to make edits to some of your images?
- Were you asked to remove specific photos?
- Shooting:
- Formulate a plan to complete the project according to the description and objectives that you previously identified. (Choose
a new subject to photograph for this assignment and ensure that your
subject fits the chosen sub-genre of photography that you've been
working on thus far; do not change sub-genres.)
- Choose
a two light set up: key + fill. Add a background light to either a
paper/muslin backdrop or at a location. Be creative with your lighting;
decide if your subject requires soft light or hard light.
- As a reminder in regards to lighting & use of light meter: At this point, all of you have been asked to use your handheld light meter for the rest of the term when shooting new work for your chosen sub-genre. Take a new photograph of your light meter at the location where you are shooting your W3A3. Include this photograph in your contact sheet. 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.
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".
- When
you have set up your 2 lights for this assignment, 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:
-
- Shoot and present a minimum of thirty new images that address your prioritized list of improvements from W2: Assignment 1.
- 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.
- If you adjust your lighting scheme, be sure to photograph another wide-angle image to reflect the change.
- Select 3 images
that could be added to your portfolio and edit these images, taking
them through the full postproduction workflow and turning them in as
final prints.
- When
working on revising your portfolio, think about image strength, gaps and
weaknesses, post editing revisions, and order and flow.
- 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.
- Revise, edit, and redraft your résumé based on the feedback you received.
- Pay attention
to the organization, format, and design, in addition to updating the
résumé to accurately reflect your skills and experience.
- Double
check that your resume is written in the MLA format; an example has
been posted in the "Questions for the Profssor section".
- Revise and edit
your written statement based on the feedback you received. Use
Microsoft Word’s Track Changes tool. Please visit the Webliography for instructions on using the Track Changes tool.
- Focus on improving clarity, phrasing, and language in order to create a more effective statement.
- Perform
additional research that can be used to enhance and broaden the scope of
the statement. Read the statements of professional photographers and
take note of the type of information they include in their statements.
- Refer
to the post in the Questions for the Professor section on how to write
an Artist Statement; ensure that your statement covers the basic four
topics int his order: Identity, Style, Directions, and Strengths.
- Submit your work based on the following specifications:
- Contact Sheet & Top Images:
- Generate contact sheets for your thirty
images with no more than 9 images per page with metadata (Resolution:
300ppi, Quality: 85%, Profile: sRGB).
- Be sure to follow directions noted within the post in our Questions for the Professor section titled "How to Create a PDF".
- Include complete metadata: frame number, shoot date, ISO, exposure and focal length
- Label your contact sheet as: "PHOA209_W3_A1_Lastname_firstinitial_contact.PDF"
- 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_W3A1_Raw and Edits".
- Resolution: 300ppi
- Quality: 85%
- Profile: sRGB
- Résumé: Save your completed résumé as PHOA209_W3_A1_lastname_firstinitial_résumé.pdf.
- Artist Statement: Save your revised statement as PHOA209_W3_A1_lastname_firstinitial_statement.pdf.
- Portfolio: Updated Version of your Portfolio Based on Feedback from W1A1
- Statement of Improvement for Week: Write a brief bullet point statement (150 words) in the discussion thread - separate from your artist statement
- indicating some of the key areas you focused on improving. Describe
the method and approach you adopted for making those improvements.
Part 2: Journal Entry
- Take
a moment to read, evaluate, and update the gaps and goals you
identified in your Priority List. Consider the feedback you received
from your instructor and peers. As you come up with your goals, think
about how your work is unique or what you need to do emphasize its
uniqueness. For example, if we put everyone’s work on the wall and had
to put nametags on each person’s work, how would we know whose work is
yours? Also consider what improvements are needed in future weeks based
on this week’s shoot.
- Click here to download the journal self-evaluation document and read each required section. Your
journal should be focused and specific (not broad and blanketed) with a
clear concept and intention, and address both technical and conceptual
aspects that are measurable.
- Check out the video below to learn how to fill out this Weekly Journal Document properly; a few differences have been pointed out between your journal from Week 2 to Week 3. Please note: there is a required length for this journal noted in the video:
Students
are encouraged to double check his/her spelling, grammar, punctuation
and sentence structure prior to submitting work. Students are also
encouraged to use Grammarly.com in order to double check work.
- There are two sections:
- Weekly
Outline and Goals - Clearly indicate what you will be shooting next
week, what you intend to achieve and be sure to address concept.
- Journal
Entry - What will you be addressing next week, be specific - address
conceptual aspects. Be sure that you focus primarily on the new images
that you will create this week and be sure to include specific shoot
ideas.
- Include
visual examples to support any written ideas. Describe the examples you
submit and how they inspire your direction. Cite the sources of your
examples in MLA format. Save these examples along with your weekly
journal document as one cohesive PDF file titled PHOA209_W3_A1_lastname_firstinitial_weekly_journal.pdf.
- Be
prepared to make adjustments to your plans and continue a discussion
with your instructor about what you have covered in your journal this
week.
Part 3: Portfolio Binder Research
Remember in Week 11, you will create a final presentation of your final portfolio in the required professional portfolio format.
- Review
course material requirements and research 3 products that would meet
course specifications for a portfolio presentation binder. Include a
screenshot of each product’s webpage along with a link to the product.
Write a review of the 3 products and your recommendation with references
cited in MLA format.
- If
you already have an appropriate portfolio binder, take a photo of the
exterior and interior of it with a ruler next to it. Write a brief
statement on why your binder meets the professional standards.
- Post your Part 1 statement directly to the discussion thread.
- Combine the contact sheet, résumé, statement, journal and portfolio binder research into a zip file labeled PHOA209_W3_A1_lastname_firstinitial.zip and post the it directly to the Discussion Area by Week 3, 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.)
- By Week 4, Day 1,
review and comment on the posts of at least two of your peers. When
critiquing your peers' work, remember to give at least two suggestions
on how they might improve their work. In addition, point out the aspects
of their work that were the most successful.
| Assignment 1 Grading Criteria |
Maximum Points
|
| Part 1:
|
|
Revised the project and used
program required equipment to create a minimum of thirty new images
based on the areas identified in W2: Assignment 1.
Submitted a contact sheet of minimum thirty images and edited three
final image selections. Complete metadata was included in contact sheet.
Images meet portfolio standards. Included full-page lighting set up
shot(s). |
50
|
| Executed targeted improvements to the résumé, statement, and portfolio as per the guidelines specified in Step 1. |
35
|
| Completed a brief written description that addresses the approach to revising the final project material. |
5
|
| Part 2:
|
| Completed
the Weekly Outline and Goals section by answering all questions and
identifying clear specific goals that address measurable technical and
conceptual aspects. |
10
|
| Completed the Journal Entry section by identifying appropriate goals and gaps.
Focused primarily on new images included specific shoot ideas
|
10
|
| Included visual examples to support written ideas. Described why the examples were chosen. |
5
|
| Part 3:
|
| Located
a vendor of professional photography portfolios, reviewed the qualities
of three products that meet course requirements, and made a
recommendation to peers using MLA format for citation of references. Or,
posted photos of an appropriate binder already obtained along with a
brief description of why it meets the standards. |
10
|
| Offered
specific and substantive feedback to the projects that were submitted
by at least two peers, providing at least two suggestions for
improvement. |
5
|
| Total: |
130
|
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 