Photography I- Learning to Develop

Photography I students are learning to develop film. First students practiced reeling exposed film onto a film reel, then they practiced inside of a dark bag and putting it into a light tight tank. After two days of practicing they were assigned their first assignment using a camera.

Assignment #1:
Pattern
 To find and shoot patterns. Any series of lines creates a pattern.
 They are to look above their head, down at the ground, as well as straight ahead. They are to try to find subjects that are primarily patterns, not just ones that have some pattern in them. They are to have the pattern fill the frame of the photograph. They are to try to have nothing in the photograph except pattern.

They are also to consider some of the other qualities of line as well, such as direction or structure. See if they can add them into a photograph without losing sight of their primary goal. Using these other qualities to strengthen the pattern, not to detract from it. For example, they may use perspective so their pattern recedes into the distance, suggesting direction. Or finding a series of smaller patterns contained in a large one, creating structure.

Students are to use the Sunny 16 Rule right now until they get use to changing their aperture and shutter speed accordingly.

Below are pictures of students practicing reeling film and using dark bags. Also, shown below are Photography I students first roll of film developed successfully from their first assignment.

Successfully developed film from their first assignment on Pattern

All smiles as they practice reeling film with dark bags

All smiles as they practice reeling film with dark bags

Practicing reeling exposed film onto a film reel.

Art 8- STA Student Art Contest

Students have begun working on the Southern Teachers Agency 3rd Annual Student Art Contest. STA is looking for original two-dimensional artwork representing their school in any media from students in grades 8-12. STA will select twelve pictures for publication in the art calendar and on their web site. The calendar will be sent to hundreds of private & independent schools around the south, making this a wonderful opportunity to showcase students’ artistic talents.

The twelve winning student artists will receive five copies of the calendar and $50 in gift certificates for art supplies.

Below are pictures of students working on their school drawing of Saint James School.

Art 7- Finishing Still-life project

 Students started a still- life project, but had to stop to participate in the "Howli-day Card" contest. "Howli-day Card" designs have been turned in and we are back on track. Students took notes on a very well known American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe. The students are drawing different still-life objects each day and will put them together creating a 3D effect. Below are pictures of students drawing still -life objects and cutting them out. More pictures will be posted of the final projects as they finish.

Art 6- Form Galaxy

Students took notes on Shape and Form.

Shape is created when a line becomes connected and encloses space. It is the outline or outward appearance of something. Shapes are 2 Dimensional (2-D) which means there are 2 ways they can be measured. You can measure its HEIGHT and its WIDTH.

A Form is a shape that has become 3- Dimensional (3-D) Form has HEIGHT, WIDTH and DEPTH--which is the 3^rd dimension. Depth shows the thickness of the object. Forms are NOT flat like shapes are!

I walked them through a demonstration on how to draw various forms. Then we talked about what a light source is and what value is...

Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. Value makes objects appear more real because it imitates natural light. When showing value in a work of art, you will need a LIGHT SOURCE.

A light source is the place where the light is coming from, the darkest areas are always on the opposite side of the light.

After my demonstration the students had to come up with two different sketches in their notebooks of a form galaxy. Their galaxy must have  a sky and ground, various forms, a light source, and they must show value in the shading of their forms. 

Below are pictures of students working on their Form Galaxies.

Photography II-Invisible World & Photoshop Masks

Photography II students are learning more about masks in Photoshop.Their assignment was to take photographs of people in action or interacting with inanimate objects. They are to remove an inanimate object from their image, preferably one which a person/animal/another object is obviously interacting with, or remove a person or animal, preferably one interacting with a visible object. 

The rules of the assignment: They are to take any object or person in an image and make it invisible using photoshop. You should not see any indication or outline of the object/animal/person, except through its function/interaction with other objects and/or people in the image.

Below is a project that a student completed last week and pictures of students working on their project. I will post more as they finish...

Photography II- Fair Finals Delivered

This is an exciting time for the Photography II class. They have finished their photographs for the fair by mounting their printed 8x10's onto a 16x20 foam board. The 43rd Annual Alabama National Fair Exhibition of Amateur, Student, and Professional Photography will be displayed from October 7-16, 2011.  Judging will be held on October 2, 2011 at Capitol Filmworks located at 909 Forest Avenue. Judging will begin at 1:30 pm and continue until all print judging has been completed. Winners will be announced on the Fair Website. I am keeping my fingers crossed! Our students entered many great pieces!

Below are photography II students mounting their prints for the show.

Photography 1- Turning Negatives into Positives

Photography I students should have 6 pretty perfect negatives from their 15 to change into positives this week. After they have completed turning their 6 negatives into positives the students will crop and mount onto black mat board.

Below are negatives that have been changed into positives.

Photography 2- Rich Black and White Duotones and Hands

Photography II students have finished their Fair Exhibition photographs. They are off to be printed and students will mount them on foam board when their photographs come back.

Photography II students are now working on how to change color photographs into rich black and whites, plus adding a doutone to increase highlights and shadows.The students were to photograph hands in expressive postures or engaged in interesting activities.  Below are photographs of students working on their projects.

Art 8- Hatching Project Complete

The 8th grade students have completed their hatching projects inspired by Giorgio Morandi, one of the greatest 20th-century masters of still-life and landscape painting. Students drew looking at a still-life. Students had to duplicate a smaller section of their drawing onto a smaller sheet of drawing paper. Students will completed a 9×12 final still-life using red hatching ink and a 4×6 section of the final using black hatching ink. 


Students will begin working on the Southern Teachers Agency 3rd Annual Student Art Contest. STA is looking for original two-dimensional artwork representing their school in any media from students in grades 8-12. STA will select twelve pictures for publication in the art calendar and on their web site. The calendar will be sent to hundreds of private & independent schools around the south, making this a wonderful opportunity to showcase students’ artistic talents.

The twelve winning student artists will receive five copies of the calendar and $50 in gift certificates for art supplies.

Students will take notes today on perspective and we will review value.
Pictures below are a few completed hatching projects. :-)

Art 7- Continued "Howli-day" Card Contest

The 7th grade students are working on the Montgomery Humane Society’s “Howli-day” card. Students are creating 3 sketches in their sketch books. Students should be on their final this week. They will turn in their final to me on Friday, September 9. I will hand deliver their masterpieces to the Montgomery Humane Society on Friday, September 16, 2011. 

Art 6- Continued "Howli-day" Card Contest

The 6th grade students are working on the Montgomery Humane Society’s “Howli-day” card. Students are creating 3 sketches in their sketch books. Students should be on their final this week. They will turn in their final to me on Friday, September 9. I will hand deliver their masterpieces to the Montgomery Humane Society on Friday, September 16, 2011. Below are students working hard on their ideas.