Mr Ballew's Digital Photography 1

Capturing Different Qualities of Light

2010-01-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

This week you will exercise your ability to regulate the proper amount of light you capture in your photographs.
This will be the last assignment that you have this week, and it's optional. Yes, you heard me right. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. However, if you are missing any assignments, this would be an easy opportunity to make it up..

Your mission is to go out an take 3 photos of places, objects, or people at a specific time of the day.
You will then take the identical photo at a much different time of day.
You must take into account the amount of light that you are regulating into your camera using the correct F/Stop number for your aperture.
The criteria for success is to make sure that your photos are properly exposed, without being over, or under exposed.

While I'm Away This Week

2010-01-10T18:56:00.001-08:00

You are to be working on your CPE project while I am away this week.

Vote for My Friend Peter Darchuk

2010-01-08T08:06:00.001-08:00

I have been friends with Peter Darchuk since High School. Peter and I began 'The Danny Nutter Show', a public access variety show in Seattle, for 2 years. He has since moved on to L.A. to begin his film career and is currently enrolled in the Ultimate Filmmaker Competition.

I would appreciate you voting on this after we watch it this morning, and please send it on to any friends or family to have them vote on it as well.

Click HERE to watch and vote.

Your CPE Project and the Rest of the Semester

2010-01-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

I hope it was an enjoyable break for all of you!
We will have a couple of photography assignments remaining for the rest of the break, while you simultaneously work on your CPE project.
This week we will be focusing on the following components of your CPE project:

1. Creating templates for your DVD artwork, which includes the Front, Inside, Spine, and Back artwork.

2. Creating an iMovie Project in the 'Previous Version' of iMovie software. This will include learning all about the 'Ken Burns Effect' if you choose to use this for your CPE movie.

3. Exporting your CPE movie to iDVD.

Your CPE project is due by the last day of the semester on January 29th.

IMPORTANT! YOUR C.P.E. MUST BE TURNED IN WITH YOUR COVER, INSIDE COVER, AND BACK COVER CUT, AND INSERTED INTO YOUR JEWEL CASE. PROJECTS UNCUT AND WITHOUT A JEWEL CASE CAN ONLY RECEIVE A MAXIMUM OF 75%. REMEMBER TO WORK ON YOUR COVER EARLY SO YOU CAN PRINT IT OUT AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE LAST MINUTE RUSH TO PRINT.

For this project you will be turning your photos into a video using iMovie. You can use the Ken Burns effect to navigate around individual photos or use your photos as stills, it's up to you.
You will give this project a face and name of your very own choosing and use it on the album cover, that will have a cohesive design with the text and imagery used on the inside of your cover. The end result will be a nicely packaged DVD that you will burn using iDVD.
What will your project be about?
Will you keep it, or give it to someone else as a gift?
Either way it should be something of meaning that you or someone you know can look back on when they're old and remind you about the little things that make up life in the year 2009/2010.

Here are the Requirements:

1. The C.P.E. DVD must be a minimum of 6 minutes long with the title of your project and your name at the beginning of the video.
2. The C.P.E. DVD must have an audio track of at least 1 or more songs of your choosing. (I find that it's always best to find music that fits the mood or theme of the photos you're presenting, but that is not a requirement for the C.P.E.)
3. The C.P.E. DVD must have a cover that you design in Photoshop CS3. The project template will be 9.50 in Wide x 4.75 Height with a resolution of 300. Use your 'Ruler Guide' to mark the center of your project. This is where you will fold your project to make the Cover and the Inside Cover. Both will have a cohesive look them that will add to the overall look of the C.P.E.
4. The Back art is 5.85 inches Wide X 4.75 inches High. You will place a ruler guides at 0.240 inches across and at 5.600 inches across to mark where your spine artwork will be located. You will include your name and the name of your project on both of these spines.
5. The C.P.E. will then be burned onto a DVD using iDVD.
The C.P.E. is dueby the last day of the semester and must be cut and inserted into a jewel case to receive full credit.
NOTE: Some of you might want to start out by designing your cover art and print it early so you don't get stuck on the final rush to print (which as you very well know takes a long, long, long, long, long, long time.) Think about it.
Without cover art the most you can get on this project is a 75%.
Don't wait on this project! Get out and take some great photos, Rock the C.P.E., and most importantly, have fun!

Ah, Reflections

2009-12-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

Your next assignment is to go out and take 20 photos of the 'One Thing' via any type of reflection.
That's it.
Have fun!

Life as You Know It

2009-11-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

What do you want to remember about this time in your life when you're old and gray?

You are to take 30 photos that you will hopefully want to include in your C.P.E.

Utilize at least one rule of composition in each of these photos. This assignment is due by the beginning of class on Friday, December 4th.

Line/Texture/Pattern

2009-11-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

Texture - Lines - Cactus Photo

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Guggenheim Museum Frank Loyd Wright was a master of line and pattern in the buildings he designed. One of the most famous is the Solomon Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Take a virtual view of the museum and compose your own photograph using the lines and patterns he drew into this building.

Assignment: Capture 20 images that explore line, texture and pattern in the world around you.
5 out of these 20 photos MUST use Line, Texture, AND Pattern, all in one.
5 out of the 20 photos MUST also use extreme 'hard lighting' using a single light source to accentuate the detail in the texture.

Criteria for Success: Your work should show experimentation with composition, macro camera settings, using hard lighting to accentuate texture and pattern, using of depth of field to limit and expand focus, use Photoshop tools when appropriate.

Eye Candy! - We're looking at images that will catch your eye. You'll find examples of lines, patterns and texture in everyday places. Use them to create strong images with lots of contrast.

Lines Photo 1

In this photograph the window frame literally frames the image of the patterns on the roof. Using one object to frame another is a great way to add depth to your photos. Experiment with a frame that adds contrast in terms of light or texture when compared with your subject.

Lines second photo

This photograph used the macro function of the camera to capture the texture of an everyday object, tire tread. The image was enhanced with more contrast and the sharpen filter. You'll find lots of examples of lines, patterns and texture on cars. The macro setting on your camera will let you focus on objects only inches away.

Texture contrast

In these images from Mark Moody's website, we see the macro used on the crab's eyes. There is contrast in color as well. Notice how the angle of the shot creates an impression of size. This photo would not have the same impact if it didn't use hard lighting.

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Implied Lines

This photograph uses objects in a line. You'll have to scout around for these images but keep your photographic mind's eye open and you'll find them!

The 3 Exposure Assignments

2009-11-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

Make sure that you have the following turned into my 'Classes' folder by the end of class on Friday, November 20th:

1. 15 Slow Shutter Speed Photos on a contact sheet '_shutterspeed'

2. 3, 360 degree scenic Photomerges '_merge1', '_merge2', '_merge3', etc.

3. 3, Action Photomerges '_actionmerge1', '_actionmerge2', '_actionmerge3'

Out for Today, Friday the 13th (Scary!)

2009-11-12T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone.
I re-injured my back and I'm out again today.
"Doh!"

Someone please tell your substitute to call me so I can explain to him how to download the movie that you'll be watching today. My # is 206-351-6688.

I've been trying to call my room and no one is picking up.

Thank you!
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO CHECK OUT THE CAMERA EQUIPMENT WHILE I'M OUT SICK!!!
I AM GIVING YOU AN EXTENSION ON ALL 3 'EXPOSURE' ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE OF THIS.
THEY WILL NOW BE DUE NEXT FRIDAY, NOV. 20TH.
Since I'm not here, I'm going to have your substitute show you a film.
I will make a 5 question EXTRA CREDIT quiz for you to take on Monday that covers material in the movie.
Enjoy the movie! When it's finished, you can do what you like for the rest of the class period.
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO GO OUT AND SHOOT TODAY!!!
IF YOU HAVE A CAMERA THAT YOU ARE RETURNING, GIVE IT TO THE SUBSTITUTE.
Have a great weekend people!
Ciao!

Naming Conventions for the 3 Assignments Due Wednesday, 11/4

2009-11-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

Make sure that you have the following turned into my 'Classes' folder by the end of class on Wednesday:

1. 20 Self Image Photos on a contact sheet '_selfimage'

2. Photographer Essay/Photoshop document '_photographer1'

3. Photographer Emulation Assignment '_photographer2'

The Photographer Emulation Assignment

2009-10-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

This week you are going to go out and take photos that emulate the style of the photographer who you chose at the beginning for the week.
Was your photographer a landscape, portrait, studio, documentary, or abstract style?
You will turn in 6 great examples of photos that utilize the same style that your chosen photographer used in their photos. Try and take more than 6, just so you have 6 SOLID examples that represent your photographer's style.
TRY to capture this same style in your photos by using the same subject matter, along with color, black and white, or Photoshop'd imagery.
Use the same rules of composition that your photographer used in any of the 6 photos that you chose from the previous assignment.

When you've finished taking photos that emulate your photographer, you will be writing another half a page essay that will discuss the experience you had copying the photographer's work.

Include the following in your essay:
1. How hard was it to recreate these photographs?
2. Where did you take your photos?
3. What were the biggest challenges you faced in the recreation process?
4. What style or styles were you emulating? Landscape? Portrait? Studio? Abstract? Sports? Other?
5. What rules of composition applied in all of your photos?
6. How close did you come to successfully recreating the photographer's work?
7. What did you learn about your photographer in this assignment?

Once you've finished this essay, you will create another 8x11 Photoshop document with a Resolution of 300, RGB color, and a Background of White. This will be just like your previous Photoshop assignment, except with your recreation photos.

You will design this document much like you designed your first Photographer's document.
You will create a title at the top of the document that will read "(Your name) Recreating (Your photographer's name)"
Add your 6 best photos that you took, onto this document and arrange them with the text from your essay.
Create a background color or color gradient to your document that is sampled from one of your photos.
When complete, you will Flatten the Image and save it as a JPEG.
Your naming convention is "_recreation".
Make sure to save this assignment as a JPEG (.jpg)
This assignment in due at the end of class on Wednesday.

Photographer Research Project

2009-10-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

Today you will be doing some research online.
You are to search the web for 'photographers'.
I want you to find a photographer on the internet who's work you find appealing to your visual senses and write a half page essay on your photographer and their photos.
In this essay you must include what rules of composition are being used in the photographer's work and what type of moods or emotions their work evokes in you. Are they a Landscape, Portrait, Documentary, Studio, Sports,or Abstract Photographer? Describe what you see in this Photographer's work. Are there any similarities or consistencies in this Photographer's work? What are they? Why is this photography appealing to you?
You will then save at least 6 samples of this photographer's work in a folder called 'Photographer' that you will create on your desktop.
You must save at least 6 examples of their work in this folder that you will later integrate into a Photoshop document with the your essay.
Make sure you take the time to find a photographer who's work you admire and are interested in.
Good luck!

The Self Image Assignment

2009-10-23T07:35:00.000-07:00

This assignment will require you to go take 20 separate photos that include your image in each photo. It can be a part of your person, your shadow, your reflection or your whole person. If I were you I would take many more than 20 photos for this assignment so you can have plenty to choose from.

You can use any rule of composition you like for this assignment but at least ONE rule of composition MUST apply in each of the 20 photos. I am looking for SOLID examples that will be graded much more meticulously.

You will create a contact contact sheet that is 8x11 inches, 4 Columns/5 Rows, and you will name this contact sheet using the naming convention, plus "_selfimage". Finally, you MUST convert the contact sheet into a "JPEG" under the "Format" option when you save the project.

This assignment is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday.

Andy Goldsworthy Emulation Assignment

2009-10-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

You've seen the documentary about Andy Goldsworthy and have hopefully been inspired by his work.
Go out into nature and rearrange or manipulate it in the style of Andy Goldsworthy. Take multiple photos from different angles. You'll be turning in your best photo of each nature scene that you've manipulated.
For this assignment you'll need to manipulate 10 different scenes in nature. You'll be turning in your 1 best photo for each scene you've made.
These 10 photos are due next Wednesday, October 14th.

Here are some examples done by Heather Ellis from 1st period Digital Photography.

Still Out, Here's What To Do Today, 10/5

2009-10-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

My apologies to you all for my consistent absences over the past week. I have been suffering from a severe pinched nerve in my lower back that has ended up being quite debilitating. My hope is that an acupuncture appointment today will alleviate the pain enough for me to come in the following days.
So, after talking to your fine substitute, it appears as though most of you finished the 'Chapter 2 Skills Review' assignment from last week. Good Job!
This is when I regret to inform you, however, that when I told you that last week's tutorial would be your last, it was, indeed, a lie. I accept full responsibility for your aggravation regarding this matter. My bad. Again, I didn't think I would be out this long, so this is what I have to resort to while I'm out.
On-the-other-hand, your Photoshop skills will only improve in my absence, and that can't be such a bad thing.
Here's what you'll be doing today:
1. Do everything that you did last Friday, accept this time you'll be doing it for Chapter 3, regarding 'Selections', which is an excellent skill to acquire and master for Photoshop.
2. This means that you'll have to go to my Staff Folder and download the Chapter 3 folder from my 'Public' folder. This will have the files that you need for doing the orange columns in Chapter 3 and the 'Skills Review' on page 3-25.
Both the Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 'Skills Reviews' will be what I'm grading next Monday. We do not have class on Friday. Wednesday I'm going to get you guys out to shoot because you will have earned it by then, so work hard today and play later.
I hope to see all of you fine Photography students very soon!
Good luck!

Still Out, Here's What To Do Today, 10/2

2009-10-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

While I'm out today, you'll be working with Photoshop using the "Adobe Photoshop CS3 Revealed" tutorial book, located on the top shelf behind my desk.
Each of you will use this book today.
You will be going through 'Chapter 2' today. Start at the beginning of the Chapter and read through it, following along on your computer with the instructions in the Orange Columns on the left and the right of the pages for practicing the methods discussed in the book.
When you get to the end of Chapter 2, go to Page 2-23 and follow the instructions under "Skills Review".
THIS IS THE ONLY TUTORIAL YOU WILL DO ALL SEMESTER, I PROMISE!
You will need to grab the files that go along with the instructions in Chapter 2. To do this, follow these instructions:

1. Go to 'Go' at the top of your Desktop and 'Connect to Server'
2. Type in 'staff'
3. Click on as 'Guest'
4. Go to 'Marty Ballew' folder
5. Go to my 'Public' folder
6. Drag the 'Revealed-Chapter 02' folder to your Desktop
7. Use the files in this folder when asked to in Chapter 2

The Skills Review will be due at the beginning of class on Wednesday.
We will be working of fun assignments that will get you photographing again when I return.
Good luck!

The "Combo" Assignment

2009-09-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

That's right.
You're going to go out and take 30 photos of whichever combination of any assignment that we've done thus far.
Any of the 6 Rules of Composition, 5 Angles, or the Color Wheel Assignment.
This is being assigned to you because of the glorious weather that persists during this, the first official week of Fall.
Create an Album in iPhoto and label it "30 Photos".
These photos cannot be anything that you've photographed up to this point. They must all be taken by the beginning of class on Monday, when I'll be checking off this assignment.
I have ways of finding out when you've taken your photos, so don't try and pull a fast one on me by turning in photos that were taken prior to today's date. I'll know.
"Muw-ha-ha-ha!" Manically chuckles Mr Ballew.
You will be organizing these 30 Photos into a Contact Sheet in Photoshop CS3 first thing on Monday.
So, do it!
Do it now!

Putting the Color Wheel to Work

2009-09-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today you're going to demonstrate your mastery of the Color Wheel by showcasing it in your photography.
If you haven't read the reading assignment from Monday, you'll have to do that before you go out to shoot in today's beautiful weather.
Today you'll be going out and photographing examples of PRIMARY, SECONDARY, and TERTIARY Colors.
Your task at hand is to find 5 examples of each color category. This means that you could take 5 photos of objects that are blue. However, YOU CANNOT PHOTOGRAPH ONE OBJECT/SUBJECT MORE THAN ONCE. (EXAMPLE - YOU CANNOT TAKE PHOTOS WITH THE BLUE SKY IN THE BACKGROUND AND USE THAT FOR EACH EXAMPLE OF PRIMARY COLOR.)
You'll then find and photograph 5 objects/subjects that have color schemes based on ANALOGOUS COLOR and 5 objects/subjects that have COMPLIMENTARY COLOR.
When you're done, create Albums in iPhoto for PRIMARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY, ANALOGOUS, and COMPLIMENTARY colors.
Drag the appropriate photos into the corresponding Albums.
These photos will be used in your very first Photoshop assignment on Friday, so make sure that you have all of these photos taken by then.

Ah, The Color Wheel and Andrew Goldsworthy

2009-09-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

Today's reading assignment you will read the following article: www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html
Once you have completed this reading assignment, go to www.google.com and look up "Andrew Goldsworthy". Read about him and look up images of his work.
Think about how his work relates to the Color Wheel Reading assignment you just embarked on.
We'll be talking about this in the very near future.

The 6 Rules of Composition

2009-09-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

Please click on the link to this website and read through ALL of the 'Guidelines for Beginning Photographic Composition.'
You will use these guidelines to critique your classmate's photos.
This material will also be included on your next test.

http://asp.photo.free.fr/Composition/photoProgramCompMainClass

Once you have finished reading this assignment, I want you to look online and find one famous photographer. This can be a photographer you are already aware of, or you can merely do a Google Search for 'Famous Photographers' under 'Image Search'.
I will be going around the room and asking random students what you have found.

Welcome Digital Photography Students

2006-01-31T11:25:00.000-08:00

I am happy to welcome you to Digital Photography 1.
During the course of this semester, it is my intention to expand your knowledge of photographic composition, hone your digital camera skills, and enhance your digital images using iPhoto and Photoshop CS. This website is designed to help keep you informed on all projects, assigned readings, and updates on class discussions over the course of the semester. Whenever you have any questions regarding Digital Photography 1 assignments or topics, you can first look on this website for details. If your questions remain unanswered, feel free to email me at marty.ballew@shorelineschools.org.

Please return all materials that require a Parental/Guardian signature, and the $20 Lab Fee to me as soon as possible. Students will not have access to cameras and camera equipment until the Lab Fee, Academic Plan and Out of Class Permission forms are signed and returned.