Focus Stacking Introduction

Overview: Focus stacking requires precision and technical skill, but it can have a big pay off if you can follow the steps.

Directions: Read the articles below regarding the steps to successfully complete a "Focus Stacked" photo.

http://digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-focus-stacking/

One note, we do not have a focusing screen to do the careful manual focusing. That means that you will have to use a VERY DELICATE TOUCH to refocus your camera so you can pull this off.

Also read the following article, especially the part about breaking the focus into three different areas:

• Near Focus
• Middle Focus
• Far Focus

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/focus-stacking.htm

HOMEWORK: Find a small and highly detailed object that you can bring to class that either I can lock-up for you or you can leave in your backpack so you will have it ready for the Focus Stacking and Black Acrylic shoots.

Extreme Focus Stacking:
http://www.vox.com/2016/5/3/11577338/microsculpture-levon-biss


Step-by-Step Directions on Focus Stacking in Photoshop:

1. Find your set of images to combine.
2. Open one of the images in Photoshop.
3. Add additional blank layers for each of the images you are going to combine together. You must select the layer and then you can drag and drop the photo into Photoshop from the folder with your images.
4. After all of your images are in separate layers, they must be "Rastereized" so they are not "Smart Objects." To do this, click on "Layers" on the top Menu bar and then click on "Rasterize" and then "All Layers."
5. Then select all of the layers by holding the shift key while you click on the layers. You must then align all of the layers. To do this, click on "Edit" on the top Menu bar, and then click on "Auto Align Layers." Then select the "Collage" option.
6. With all of your layers selected, you must blend the images. To do this, click on "Edit" on the top Menu bar and then click on "Auto Blend Layers." Then select the "Stacked" option.
7. Watch the magic happen and then crop out unwanted empty portions of the image.
8. Save the image as a JPG and post the final version to your blog in a post titled "Focus Stacking."

Stations Shoot Directions

Overview: We will begin to do our station shoot today. It is a chance for you to do some experimental photography that requires certain materials to produce. It will test your skill as a photographer to pull off these shots.

Directions: Open the Google doc at the link below and begin reading the directions for the various stations. Select the type of photography you want to begin with and set up your station.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzSlR5ZHJMT0FJc28/edit?usp=sharing

You may use tables and I will help you find other materials.

You must complete all 6 stations by the end of the six weeks.

Posting: You should post your best shot from each station on your blog in a post titled "Stations Shoot" by the end of the six weeks.

You may also include your best of these photos into your Folio HD portfolio.

Stations Shoot Examples: 

Either Wednesday or Friday we will be doing an in-class 4 station shoot. Just to give you a little teaser of what we will be doing. Here are some examples of what we will be experimenting:

Water drops

Black Acrylic Glass

Spinning lights

Bubbles

Focus Stacking

Major Event/Portrait Shoot

Overview: As a professional Commercial Photographer, one of your major sources of income will likely be event and portrait photography. Let's review some of the types of events and portraits that we can do on campus and begin figuring out what you will do as a project.

Upcoming Events:
Military Ball
Spring Show
Prom (Photo Booth with Ms. Alaniz. She needs on-site photographers and people to process green screen photos at school after the event.)
5K is scheduled for May 21

Possibilities:
Athletics banquets (baseball, softball, etc.)
Fine Arts banquets (band, theater, Diamonds, etc.)
Other club banquets
Seniors wanting senior portraits

Directions: 

Step 1: Begin contacting groups on campus that need an event photographed.

Step 2: Interview the client and ask them what they need.

What time is the event?
Where is the event?
What kinds of photos do they want?
Do they need anything special?
Make clear to the client that you will not be providing prints on-site.

Step 3: Make a price list of the client.
Make a price list for the client. Use the InDesign Files on Trello to make a discount and a regular price list for the client.

Preparation Assignment: 

On your student blog, make a new blog post and provide the following information:

1. What is the most likely scenario for what you will do for your Event/Portrait photography assignment.

2. Who is the primary contact?

3. When is the event?

4. Where is the event?

5. What kinds of photos do they want?

Portfolio Project for First Year Students

Overview: For your final exam, you will submit your updated online portfolio that will demonstrate your best work that you have done this year.

See the link below to preview the criteria that I will use to evaluate your your online portfolio.

For First Year Students

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzOThST0pZQWJJb1k/edit?usp=sharing


Directions: Beging reviewing your best photos on your Lightroom catalog and start marking the photos you want to add to your Folio HD account.

Photojournalism Preview

Overview: Most of you are familiar by now with what photojournalism is. However, you might not realize how it is also a form of commercial photography. Photojournalists not only work at newspapers and magazines. They also get paid as freelancers to cover events. All types of companies hire photojournalists for trade publications and corporate communications.

Directions: Check out the links below and answer the following questions.

Check out the work of Photojournalists here:
http://photojournalismlinks.com

John Moore Photojournalism
http://www.reportagebygettyimages.com/john-moore/

1. Find three photos that you find especially powerful.

2. Explain what kind of planning and research the photographer had to ask to get the photos they took?

Read the article at the following link:

Shooting like a photojournalist
http://digital-photography-school.com/shooting-like-a-photojournalist-part-2

3. Under the section on "Planning," what does the writer suggest doing to capture emotional images?

4. Under the section on "Composition," what does the writer suggest doing to help you "pick a face out of the crowd?"


Read the article at the following link:

Photo Essay Tips
http://digital-photography-school.com/5-photo-essay-tips

5. What is a photo essay?

6. Summarize the 5 tips the writer provides.

Need Inspiration? Check out the photo essays here:
https://nppa.org/page/photo-journal

Planning Ahead:

What event will you photograph?

Try check out the calendar section of the Austin Chronicle here: http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/

or

http://www.austinmonthly.com/AM/Calendar/

or

Do512Family
http://do512family.com

Look for upcoming events anywhere and everywhere.


Provide the 5 Ws and H for your event:

Who:
What:
When:
Where:
Why (why will the event happen?):

How (how will the event happen?):

Landscape Major Projet

Formal Landscape Assignment:

Produce 8 landscape images that emphasize lighting to convey a sense of place, scale and mood. Although you may include people and man-made structures in your photos, do not allow these elements to become the main subjects of your photographs.

Or…

Formal Cityscape Assignment:

Produce 8 cityscape images that emphasize lighting to convey a sense of place, scale and mood. The images might also include natural objects (rivers, hills) but these elements should not dominate as the subject of the photographs.

Submit:
Eight photos should be added to your blog and must have the exposure metadata (shutter speed, f/stop) listed.

Link to Full Assignment Description:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzTTgtVWNiTlRSUGM/view?usp=sharing

5k Race Photography Example Review and Assignment

Overview: It's time to review what good race photography

Examples:

http://capstonephoto.com/race_directorsv3.htm

http://jackmccoyphotography.com/southboston2016

http://swimbikerunphoto.zenfolio.com/crystal_run_5k_fridays_1_2011


Assignment: On your blog post a two race "money" shots (photos people would spend money to purchase).

One photo should be horizontal and one photo should be vertical.

Requirements for photo: Photos should:

• show subject's face
• include full body if vertical and feet when horizontal if possible.
• freeze motion
• blur out background as much as possible.
• well lit with our strange shadows.