Assignment 2: Place + Experience + Landscape

Due 9/13

Determine a location that you wish to explore through photography; this place must include a landscape. With a DSLR, shoot a series of no less than 100 photographs that relay the experience of being in this place.  From the original 100, choose 10 photographs that you find best relay the place, its history and what is unique about its experience. Post the final 10 photographs to your blog with a statement detailing why you chose the location and what you wanted to relay through the series.

Student Examples:
Zane Willard
Joshua Campbell
Kehri Behles
Jack Dean


What to think about when shooting Landscape Photography

• What is it that entices you about the location?
• Have you ever been a tourist, or been to a place that really took your breath away?  If so, did you ever take a picture to try and capture the grandeur, later looked at it and felt that the image you took didn't do the feeling and location justice?  Why does that happen?  With our eyes, we can see, interpret and choose what details we want to pay attention to and what we don't.  A lens can't do that automatically.  We're also taking a 3D space and flattening it to a 2D image.  The challenge will be to focus and control the lens so that it captures the splendor of what your eyes see.  This can be a matter of finding the right angle and composition.
• What statement are you trying to make about the location.
• Is there something about the place that you're trying to communicate?  Is the location old and feels as if it's from a different world?  Is it crumbling, abandoned and falling apart?  Is it covered in pollution?  Is it covered in flora that is replenishing the bee population?  What can help when choosing your landscape is writing down what theme or statement you want the photos to take, and keep that in mind when taking your shots.
• Thinking in Adjectives
• What is the character of the place?  What words would you describe if explaining the location to a friend?  How can your photos push those feelings?  For example, if you're shooting a light house and the word you want to convey is 'lonely', then if you frame the light house so that it takes up your entire shot on a sunny day, it might hurt not convey the message you intend.  What lighting, time of day and composition might make the same subject feel very different.  

If you're struggling to think about what you want to say about a place, maybe do some research on the location and see what other people have to say about it.  If you agree, you can use that information as your starting point.  If you don't agree with their assessments, then you can use your photos and blogs to make a counter-argument.

Don't worry if not every picture comes out well.  There's a reason why the assignment is to start with 100 photos.  Most of them are going to be crap.  That's okay!  That's normal in photography.  Try different settings, different angles, try the same angles with several different settings.  If you can find 10 decently good photos to use for your blog out of the 100+, you'll be well off.

Artists for Reference
Casper David Fredrich
Ansel Adams
Hiroshige
An-My Le
Josef Struth - Paradise Series
Florian Maier Aichen
Jeff Wall - Flooded Grave
Jason Lazarus - Standing at the Grave of Emmet
Reference from the NY Times
Photographer as Witness

 

Assignment 1: Blog

Create a Blog for This Class (Due 9/6)

Create your own blog for this class, using Blogger.  You will be using the blog to upload all animations, along with concept art and Artist Statements.  Send me an email with your blog link.

The Blog will count towards participation., but it will be referenced while grading your future projects.  I will also need a copy of each of your assignments/projects on the student server, but the absence of each project on the blog will affect the grade of that assignment and project.

You are allowed to use Tumblr, or a different blog format if needed, but your class blog cannot be shared with another class or anything outside of the classroom.  It becomes awkward when grading, and I download the blogs at the end of the semester to submit your work to the University of Tampa.  With outside work attached, it becomes convoluted and confusing.

Feel free to have fun with the designs and layout, but just make sure that your blogs are easily accessible and easy to navigate.

Some of your projects may be too large to fit on Blogger.  In those cases, you may use an alternate source - YouTube, Vimeo - and provide a link to those videos on your blog.



How to create a blog using Blogger:

1. Go to www.blogger.com

2. Create a New Account.

a. If you already have an account on there, then skip this step.

b. Blogger will provide instructions on how to make a new account.

3. Once your account is created, start a new blog. Give it any kind of fun title so long as it’s something that’s still obviously yours.

4. Make one post, saying who you are, what you do and what you expect to learn from this class. You’re welcome to just write it normally, or if you want to add silly answers or take a fun approach to it (treat it like an interview, talk in third person, etc.) you’re welcome to. 

5. You are welcome to use templates, or change the colors/layout of your blog to anything so long as it’s readable and I can see the posts.  

6. Submit the link to your blog to me via email, at dcorrigan@ut.edu.

You will be graded on these factors:

- You have a new blog specifically for this class (whether it’s under a new account or a pre-existing account)

- You have at least one post.

- Your post has some text on it that talks about you.

- You have at least one image on it.  It can be a picture of anything, so long as it's appropriate to the blog and the post.

- Aesthetics, such as using a template, adding pictures, finding an appropriate font and color scheme.  Any extra bells and whistles.

This blog will be treated as your own artistic journal. Make sure to post all future assignments and projects on the blog along with an artistic statement. Creating the blog is your first assignment, and maintenance of this blog will count towards 5% of your grade. 

Lynda.com Subscription through Hillsborough County Public Library

For this class you are required to have a subscription to Lynda.com.  The subscription is free with a Hillsborough County Library Card, which can be obtained by going to the John Germany Library on Ashley Street across the Cass Avenue bridge in downtown Tampa.

Location: http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/locations/jfg/
 
Get a Card online: http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/account/getacard.html
 
Login through the Lynda.com portal here: https://www.lynda.com/portal/sip?org=hcplc.org

You will need to take your student ID and one piece of mail that has been sent to you at your Tampa (campus) address to prove your residency. Once you have the card, please login on Lynda.com with your library card number and pin.