- Let's look, ASSIGNMENT #7; ALBUM COVER; using Flash
- Review National Geographic essays
- SOUNDSLIDES
- PAPER due today 10/24/11
- FLASH ASSIGNMENT due 10/24/11
- LIVE EVENT due 11/7/11
- EXAM: November 28th -no make-ups.
- FINAL PROJECT: Written proposal due next class 11/7/11
- Look at some Soundslides.
- History of Photojournalism; FSA (see photographers bios or the Blog)
This is the blog for Thomas E. Franklin's Photojournalism class, Ramapo College (COMM 329).
10/24/11
Fall 2011 Week 7
ASSIGNMENT #08 CITY OR TOWN (part 1of3)
ASSIGNMENT #08 CITY OR TOWN
(Due /7/11) -Photo essay on a selected place
PART 1.
READING:
History of Photojournalism; (see photographers bios or the Blog)
1. FSA
2. WEEGEE
3. LIFE MAGAZINE
PART 2
Log onto the National; Geographic website; "Places of a Lifetime."
Study some of the photo essays.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/places-of-a-lifetime.html
PART 3
Subject written proposal for Final Project. Create word doc, 2-3 short paragraphs outlining your project and what you will photograph, Slug: yourlastname_proposal.doc
PART 4
SHOOTING ASSIGNMENT
Select an interesting town, place, or neighborhood, and shoot a photo essay in the manner of a National Geographic photo essay, see the "places of a lifetime."
Be sure you select a location you can go back to the next (3) weeks, as this is a multiple-week assignment. Be sure you select a location that is visual and interesting. Explore the place, and produce a diverse set of images.
Research the town, learn what the town is known for, shoot photos relative to the town. Shoot photos at various times of the day and night. Use all the techniques and strategies we've discussed in class. Focus on the people, not just the places.
use your flash if necessary.
*FOR NEXT WEEK, students must submit:
1. Select (10-15) best photos.
2. Caption photos.
3. SLUG PHOTO AS FOLLOWS:
Last name_townname_01.jpg, Last name_townname_02.jpg
EXAMPLE: franklin_ hoboken.jpg
4. Place images in the “drop folder.”
10/23/11
Fall 2011 -FINAL PROJECT
FINAL PROJECT
Photo essay Soundslide (DUE 12/19/11) -no exceptions.
25pts
I. FINAL PROJECT
The Final Project is a 8-week project that requires each student to spend significant time with a chosen subject, to produce a well-crafted, in-depth photo essay in the form of a Soundslide. The Final Project is in lieu of a Final Exam, and should be treated as such.
The subject of this project should be an interesting issue, topic, or thing.
Each student must find and select a subject that is multidimensional and is interesting to others, and worthy of an in-depth photo essay.
- This subject will be selected by the student, with careful thought to subject selection.
- Subject should be visual, must have various aspects of interest, must have good audio possibilities.
- Subject must be accessible to you.
- This subject should not be family or schoolmate. No pets either.
- Each student must submit a well-written, thoroughly planned proposal of 250 words (3-4 paragraphs). The proposal must be an examined, well-planned, and strongly supported idea.
- The Final Project is NOT a single event or photo shoot. The essay should tell the story of the subject in multiple aspects. Each student must develop their essay on a week-to-week basis, and bring photos in each week for critique.
- Each student will be graded on progression.
- The final essay will consist of 20-30 images, with audio, in a finished Soundslide.
II. GRADING
Each final project will be graded as follows:
1. (3pts) SUBJECT SELECTION & WRITTEN PROPOSAL (due November 7th)
- submittal of written proposal due November 7th
- suitability of subject for photo essay.
- degree of difficulty.
2. (7pts) WEEKLY PROGRESSION
Work should be completed as follows:
- #1 Proposal Due (November 7th)
- #2 Photos due (November 28th)
- #3 Photos due, Audio edited (Dec 5)
- #4 Soundslide roughly constructed (Dec 12th Audio, Photos, titles, opening, closing
- #5 Project due (Dec 19th)
3. (3pts) AUDIO
- selection of types audio used.
- appropriateness of audio; music/natural sound/narration.
- overall use of audio.
4. (5pts) PHOTOGRAPHY
- overall quality of images; how well were the principles learned in this course used.
- quality of the editing; relativity of images selected, lack of repetition.
- variety of images; vertical, establishing shots, details, etc.
- preparation of images; cropping, toning, color, white balance, etc.
- caption completeness.
5. (7pts) FINISHED PRODUCT
- quality of the Soundslide presentation; titles, colors, opening, closing, ID's, etc.
- Sequencing of images.
- how well criteria was met, instructions followed.
- Length of Soundslide presentation; should be 2-3 minutes long.
- Strength of finished product; effectiveness as a story-telling piece
III. WHAT’S DUE
- Rename the "publish to web folder" lastname_soundslide.
- Submit this folder to the DROP. Do NOT submit the entire soundslide project.
- Be sure you've tested your soundslide before you submit (play the INDEX file).
¨You will not receive credit for any projects that do not play.
- Be sure each image has a caption.
- Make sure all the info fields in Soundslides are filled in; Headline, caption, etc.
- Give credit to any music you use.
- Be sure to start with opening title slide. If necessary include a brief explanatory text page.
- Check for typos and usage errors.
- KEEP SOUNDLSIDE PRESENTATION UNDER 3 MINUTES.
- Please follow instructions carefully.
10/17/11
Fall 2011 WEEK 6
photo by STEPHANIE deRUITER
TODAY'S AGENDA
- Photos of the Week; MSNBC
- Let's look, ASSIGNMENT #5; Light
- Lesson; LIGHT part II; Flash Use
- ASSIGNMENT #07: Album cover
- History of Photojournalism; Jacob Riis & Lewis Hine
- Photo essay; Eye of the Storm; Times-Picayune - NOLA.com
- EXAM: November 28th -no
- make-ups.
- FINAL PROJECT: subjects?
- Look at some Soundslides.
FLASH ASSIGNMENT due 10/24/11
LIVE EVENT due 10/31/11
EXAM: 11/28/11
photo by THOMAS E. FRANKLIN / The Record
LOCATION LIGHTING. Was a camera flash used in this photo, in mid-day sun?
RYAN ADAMS -New York, New York.
What compositional techniques are used in this music video?
10/16/11
ASSIGNMENT #07 FLASH USE/ALBUM COVER
ASSIGNMENT #07 FLASH USE/ALBUM COVER
(Due 10/24/11)
Flash Usage (2 parts) Rock Star
PART 1.
READING:
National Geographic Ultimate Field Guide
Read pages 25, 95-103, 103-117
Guide to Photojournalism
By Brian Horton
Read pages 79-101“Features and Portraits; Seeing the World Around Us.”
Visual Journalism
By Christopher R. Harris & Paul Martin Lester
Read pages 63-86“Technical Considerations.”
PART 2
History of Photojournalism; FSA (see photographers bios or the Blog)
PART 3
SHOOTING ASSIGNMENT (2) PARTS
Find a musician(s) to photograph, or an actor(s) to play a musician, and make an album/CD cover shots USING YOUR FLASH both indoors and outdoors. Also, add album title/artist text using Adobe photoshop. Plan your text placement before composing your images. Save image as Photoshop document
PART A
Photograph your musician indoors using a camera flash.
Be creative, and make personality driven images, highlighted by excellent lighting. Make well-composed and expressive photos of a person using your flash. Must be taken indoors.
***You will be graded on your creativity and use of flash.***
-Flash use should be executed perfectly.
-Set proper white balance setting be sure to have correct white balance usage.
-Use bounce flash whenever possible.
-AVOID: red eye, shadows behind heads, and other forms of sloppy flash use.
Keep in mind some of the elements of good composition, avoiding; cluttered and distracting backgrounds, objects appearing behind heads, dead space, etc. Fill the frame, making interesting, personality-filled photos, that have impact.
Composition, positioning, background, lighting, and lens selection should all be taken into consideration.
-consider the various flash techniques, such as: bounce flash, fill-flash, diffused flash.
PART B
Photograph your musician outdoors using a camera flash. This should be a different set-up than the indoor images.
Can be taken during daytime, night-time, or twilight.
Be creative, and make personality driven images. Make well-composed and expressive photos of a person using your flash. Must be taken indoors.
***You will be graded on your creativity and use of flash.***
-Flash use should be executed perfectly.
-Set proper white balance setting, be sure to have correct white balance usage.
-Use bounce flash whenever possible.
-AVOID: red eye, shadows behind heads, and other forms of sloppy flash use.
Keep in mind some of the elements of good composition, avoiding; cluttered and distracting backgrounds, objects appearing behind heads, dead space, etc. Fill the frame, making interesting, personality-filled photos, that have impact.
Composition, positioning, background, lighting, and lens selection should all be taken into consideration.
-consider the various flash techniques, such as: bounce flash, fill-flash, diffused flash.
*Study methods discussed in class and in reading material.
*Students must complete:
1. Select (1) best photo for each part.
2. Add text: album title and artist name
3. Save image as Photoshop document, NOT JPG.
4. SLUG PHOTO AS FOLLOWS:
Last name_flash.jpg
EXAMPLE: franklin_ flash01.psd
franklin_ flash02.psd
5. Place images in the “drop folder.”
10/10/11
Fall 2011 WEEK 5
1. Photos of the week, MSNBC
2. Let's look, ASSIGNMENT #4,Composition
3. History of Photojournalism:Mathew Brady
4. Lesson; Covering a live assignment
5. Lesson; LIGHT part I
6. ASSIGNMENT #5; Lighting
7. ASSIGNMENT #6; Covering a Live Event
8. Photo essay; Eye of the Storm;Times-Picayune - NOLA.com
9. Final Project; be prepared to discuss (3) potential ideas for Final Project photo essay.
10/9/11
Fall '11 ASSIGNMENT #06 Live Event
ASSIGNMENT #06
(Due Monday 10/31/11 (three weeks)
Live Event (Multiple Pictures)
PART 1
READING:
Guide to Photojournalism
By Brian Horton
Read pages 54-77
“News: Sensitivity, Thinking, Instinct and Curiosity”
Read pages 131-152
“Lessons; Horst Faas, J.Pat Carter, Alan Diaz”
PART 2
HISTORY OF PHOTOJOURNALISM
Please read the following DOC’s:
- DOROTHEA LANGE
- FSA PHOTOGRAPHERS
- JACOB RIIS & LEWIS HINE
PART 3
Come up with a short list of subjects for consideration for your final project. Be ready to discuss in class.
PART 4
Cover a Live Event / Multiple Pictures
Select a scheduled public event and photograph all aspects of the event in the form of a photo essay. Be sure to shoot various scenes, including overalls and details, and illustrate what the event is about. Get photos of all the important people and subject matter.
Select a carefully chosen event to shoot, thus you have two weeks to plan.
Suggestions; news event, parade, protest, performance, etc.
Do not shoot a sporting event, a press conference, fair, etc. Check newspaper, campus fliers, and magazine listings for a schedule of events in your area.
Select an event that will be visual, not something static like someone standing at a podium talking. Think of some of the work reviewed in class. Your event selection is key, give it some thought and planning.
Be prepared to use your flash if necessary. Keep in mind some of the elements of good composition, avoiding; cluttered and distracting backgrounds, objects appearing behind heads, dead space, etc. Fill the frame, making interesting photographs that have impact. Composition, positioning, background, and lens selection should all be taken into consideration. Photos as a collection should illustrate what the event is about. Make the photos relevant, avoid repetition.
- Select (5-8) different images must be submitted.
- Be sure to include people in at least (4) photos.
- Include (1) over-all, scene setter.
- Include (1) detail or close up. Can be of a person. Make it relevant.
- Do not select repetitive photos.
- CAPTION: be sure to get subject’s names and brief description of what they are doing,; who, what, when, where, why. Missing names will hurt your grade.
- SLUG PHOTO AS FOLLOWS:
Last name_live event1.jpg Last name_ live event2.jpg
EXAMPLE: franklin_ live event1.jpg
franklin_ live event2.jpg
- Place images in the “drop folder.”
Fall '11 ASSIGNMENT #05 Light
(Due 10/17/11) Light
PART 1
History of Photojournalism; Jacob Riis & Lewis Hine
PART 2
READING:
National Geographic Field Guide
Read pages 103-117
Guide to Photojournalism
By Brian Horton
Read pages 79-101“Features and Portraits; Seeing the World Around Us.”
Visual Journalism
By Christopher R. Harris & Paul Martin Lester
Read pages 63-86“Technical Considerations.”
PART 3
Light
Lighting MUST be the key element in these photos.
DO NOT USE A FLASH!
Photo 1: A documentary photo of some aspect of college life with strong sense of ARTIFICIAL light:
1. Make well-composed and expressive photo using one of the lighting techniques discussed in class. Photo should have exceptionally strong quality of light.
2. Lighting technique should be very obvious.
3. This must be a documentary-style photo, do not manipulate the image in Photoshop.
4. Do NOT USE A CAMERA FLASH!!!!!!!!!
5. Lighting must be from an artificial light, such as a lamp or bulb. Can be indoors or outdoors, day or night.
6. Keep in mind some of the elements of good composition, avoiding; cluttered and distracting backgrounds, objects appearing behind heads, dead space, etc. Fill the frame, making interesting photos that have impact.
7. Composition, perspective, background, and lens selection should all be taken into consideration. Consider the various lighting techniques discussed in class; directional light, soft light, window light, back light, etc.
Photo 2: A documentary photo of some aspect of college life with strong sense of NATURAL light:
1. Make well-composed and expressive photo using one of the lighting techniques discussed in class. Photo should have exceptionally strong quality of light.
2. Lighting technique should be very obvious.
3. This must be a documentary-style photo, do not manipulate the image in Photoshop.
4. Do NOT USE A CAMERA FLASH!!!!!!!!!
5. Lighting must be natural; sun, or cloudy day. Can be indoors or outdoors.
6. Keep in mind some of the elements of good composition, avoiding; cluttered and distracting backgrounds, objects appearing behind heads, dead space, etc. Fill the frame, making interesting photos that have impact.
7. Composition, perspective, background, and lens selection should all be taken into consideration. Consider the various lighting techniques discussed in class; directional light, soft light, window light, back light, etc.
Review examples showed in class and Power Point Presentation.
*Students must complete:
1. Select best photo from each part, submit (2) photos.
2. SLUG PHOTO AS FOLLOWS:
Last name_natural.jpg
Last name_artificial.jpg
EXAMPLE:
franklin_natural.jpg
franklin_artificial.jpg
3. Be sure to caption photos.
4. Submit to drop folder
10/3/11
FALL '11 WEEK 4
1.Photos of the week; MSNBC
2. Let's look, ASSIGNMENT #3, SELECTIVE FOCUS
3. Lesson; Composition
4. ASSIGNMENT #4, Composition
5. ASSIGNMENT, Photojournalist Paper
6. Paper -Alternate Assignment
6. Photo essay; “"Bound to El Norte: Immigrant Stowaways on the Freight Trains of Mexico," by Don Bartletti
By now, we should be well aware of the technical considerations that determine a photograph, such as aperture, shutter speed, lens selection, and camera types. You should also be familiar with the categories of the "Visual language."
So, what can your determine in looking at these three iconic images?
Eddie Adams won the Pulitzer Prize for for his picture of a Viet Cong lieutenant being executed at close range on a Saigon street by a South Vietnamese general.
Jerome Delay's iconic image from Iraq, as hundreds of Iraqis storm the Abu Ghraib jail Oct. 20, 2002 following the announcement by President Saddam Hussein that most of Iraq's prisoners would be freed. Tens of thousands of prisoners were greeted by their relatives and friends upon their release.
Misc.
Be sure to review the Powerpoint Presentations, they contain material not always covered in class, due to time restriction.
10/2/11
FALL '11 Assignment #4 Composition
ASSIGNMENT #04
(Due 10/10/11)
Composition
PART 1
READING:
National Geographic Ultimate Field Guide
Read pages 82-95, 160-165
Guide to Photojournalism
By Brian Horton
Read pages 79-101“Features and Portraits; Seeing the World Around Us.”
PART 2
HISTORY OF PHOTOJOURNALISM
(1) Mathew Brady (see Photographer’s Bio’s)
PART 3
Composition (2) photos
PHOTO 1:
Make an environmental portrait of a person using “Rule of Thirds.
Subject: Make well-composed, expressive environmental portraits of a person in their place of work environment. Photo should give insight into what the person does. The environment should be obvious and explanatory. Make photos of subject in different positions, locations, with special emphasis on positioning.
Keep in mind:
YOU ARE IN CONTROL, this is a passive assignment.
There should be obvious foreground & background.
PHOTO 2:
Make well-composed action photos of a person at work in their place of work environment using one of these compositional techniques: Framing, Leading Lines, Juxtaposition, or Silhouette.
This should be a Graphic Photograph. One that is visual and emphasizes the relationship between the lines, shapes and forms produces an aesthetically pleasing visual presentation.
Graphic elements are as important as the story-telling content with this assignment.
Keep in mind:
This is NOT a passive assignment, this is an active photo, and should be documentary.
*Students must complete:
1. Select (1) best photo of each. (2) total.
2. Follow “Basic Photoshop”, use outline provided if needed.
3. Type complete caption in FILE INFO field in Photoshop, see instructions.
****CAPTION MUST STATE WHICH TECHNIQUE YOU ARE USING!
4.SLUG PHOTO AS FOLLOWS:
Last name_ composition1.jpg, Last name_ composition2.jpg
5. Place image in the “drop folder”
(remember to save a copy for yourself to you folder)