Welcome to our Photo-Journaling class! This week we are focusing on GREAT LIGHT and PEOPLE photography.
In this class we will NOT be taking snapshots! Taking a snapshot means you pick up the camera and shoot what’s in front of you without any thought to lighting, composition, story telling etc. Instead, these assignments will require you to plan, they will require you to be intentional and they will require you to develop your artists eye.
For example you may have to choose a specific time to take your photos, you may have to ask others to photograph you or for you to photograph them and maybe you’ll ask them to wear certain clothes or go to a specific place to take the photo. You will be very intentional! I will know if you did it half heartedly and put little thought into CREATING something vs capturing what is conveneient.
Here is an example of a snapshot from a pioneer event (notice how I just asked them to turn around and smile, that’s it)
There is nothing wrong with that photo! It brings me joy and it captured a moment in time BUT for this class I want to show you how a little effort can allow you to create something more intentionally. Here is a photo that I created by simply asking them to walk across the street from the puppet theater they were standing in and to instead have them stand in front a pioneer house:
Neither photo was bad (especially because both had good light which is VERY important). One simply is a snapshot of what they were doing and the other is a portrait that tells the story of the past, of carefully created period clothing and of honoring our Utah forbears.
That’s what we are going for with this assignment, a rich creation that tells a story rather than a quickly captured moment in time. (side note: if you get good at photography you’ll find that you can easily take captured moments in time and have them look like magical art and it’s because you will have developed an eye for composition and light that will transform the ordinary into something extraordinary)
Ok, final example of snapshot vs being intentional, first up a snapshot of playing with big bubbles:
And being intentional with composition to create something more interesting:
Ok, got it? I think we are clear on what it means to be intentional 🙂
In order to start taking better photographs you must learn about light. Good lighting is going to be the key to all we do in this class. To learn the basics of good lighting I want you to watch the following three slides by logging into www.marciephoto.com. You will click on this link to create your own unique username and password. Please note that I am giving you free access to a course that I would normally charge money for so you are not allowed to share your username and login with anyone else 🙂
The three slides to watch are:
All About Light and Photography
Finding Good Light Outdoors
Finding Good Light Indoors
(Ignore the homework assignment at the end of the lesson, that does not apply to you)
Once you have watched these videos and feel you have a good grasp on finding good light I want you to plan for these three photos you will be taking this week:
PHOTO 1: A Self Portrait (NOT a selfie) For this self portrait you will either need to use a timer on your phone/camera OR you can ask someone to take the photo for you. If you do ask someone to take the photo then please know that it is your job to determine the location, posing, lighting etc, not the job of the person taking the photo of you 🙂 This picture should capture YOU right now in your life. Wear your favorite outfit, style your hair. Do you want to have props in the photo that represent who you are right now? Could the location help tell a story of who you are right now? Be as creative as you want! Here are some examples of self portraits — notice that you don’t HAVE to look at the camera, you could be doing something. Feel free to be creative!
Any of these images are an example of what I’m looking for; they show good light, they show being intentional about the background, they show something unqiue about Marilee or they help tell a story about Marilee. They can be a simple portrait like the one on the left or something that took a lot more effort like the photo on the right.
In these next two examples one works and one doesn’t fit all the requirements of the assignment. In the first photo the background, the clothing, the prop — it’s all intentional and tells a self portrait story. In the second photo we have good light (yay!) and it tells a story (yay!) but it’s basically a snapshot because the background is distracting and Shaylie would not choose to be in a baggy hoodie for a self portrait, that was just what she was wearing that day.
PHOTO 2: A Portrait of your parents. Tell your parents where to stand, how to pose and but most importantly intentionally set up a photo that demonstrates good light. No special storytelling details needed like in your first photo but go for it if you would like to!
PHOTO 3: Finally a portrait of your siblings or your sibling closest in age to you or the sibling you share a room with or choose only your girl siblings/boy siblings whatever. I’m leaving this one open because I know some of you have a lot of siblings and some are very young and I know how hard it is to capture babies and toddlers! So chose one or two siblings if you want, that’s ok 🙂 Same rules apply, tell them where to stand, how to stand, choose the light and be intentional.
FINALLY, write three short journal entries. These should be typed and kept in a folder on your google drive. Do not lose these! Make a plan for keeping them organized and in one spot for the entire school year. Please don’t write anything too personal that you would feel uncomfortable sharing with others (save that for your private journal) because I would like to see your finished project eventually! Each journal entry should be at least 275 words and no more than 325 words. Here are your three prompts:
JOURNAL 1: Self Portrait Journal Prompt
Who are you right now? Describe yourself, the different roles you have, what gets you excited, what are your likes and dislikes, how old are you, where do you live. What do you appreciate about yourself? What are your talents and interests? Tell us about the photo. What made you choose that outfit, prop, location, hairstyle etc. Describe why the elements of your self portrait tell a story about you.
JOURNAL 2: Parents Journal Prompt
Who are your parents? What are some facts about them? What do you admire about them? What lesson have they really taught you? What do you appreciate about them? What traits have you inherited from each parent? What do you know about their love story? What makes your parents unique?
JOURNAL 3: Siblings Journal Prompt
Tell me about this sibling. Describe them and describe your relationship with them. What do you admire about this sibling? What do you enjoy doing together? What is a favorite memory you share with them? What do you like about having siblings? Anything you don’t like? Describe the sibling dynamic in your family.
IN SUMMARY:
You will only be allowed to attend class after watching the slideshows, completing all three photo assignments, all three journal entries AND you have emailed me your self portrait before 5 p.m. on Wednesday! These photos will be shared in class and I will be talking about how they demonstrated good light 🙂
Have fun with it! I’m your biggest fan so I will bring all the hype for our photo sharing session, if you’ve taken my photography class before you know it’s not scary, it will be a party!
