Headshots and Self Portraits Submission

Directions:

Step 1: 
Process your photos in Lightroom:
Make sure your photos have been properly exposed. Use the Develop features to their maximum ability. Crop the head shots using an appropriate 4 x 6 aspect ratio.

Post your THREE headshots of yourself or THREE self portraits to your student blog. Later you can use one of these photos as your bio picture for your Contact page of your FolioHD account and Snapwire account.

Step 2: Write a brief reflection about EACH of the following portraits with the following prompts. Write your reflections under each image.

• Subject: Does the subject look interesting/captivating? Why? Provide evidence from image.
• Content: Does the subject convey emotion or a story?
• Light: Does the image have a range of light and dark values. Are the shadows in appropriate places (not the face or at least the entire face.)?
• Composition: Does the composition include more than one rule of composition. Which ones? Provide evidence from the image.

Rubric for Portraits:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzMWZmRWZYUXZJQUU/view?usp=sharing

Online Portfolio (Second or Third Year Students) FINAL EXAM PROJECT

Overview: It's time to update your online portfolio at Folio HD.

Directions: Follow these steps.

Step 1: Watch the quick tutorial video on FolioHD. Also, check the Tips and Tricks page to optimize your account.

• Watch how you can set your dominant image.
• Also notice how you can set up separate galleries for different types of photos.

Step 2 (10 points): Format your Website with the following feature.

• You should select THREE favorite images you have taken during the first semester as your Dominant for your home page. To do this, you just double click on the thumbnail version of your photo in one of the galleries. 

Step 3 (50 Points): Next, you should set up separate galleries for the following types of photos:

• Composition (10 Photos)
• Independent Projects (10 Photos)
• Other (10 other photos you are proud of. You can come up with the name for this gallery)

Must include watermarks on all photos. 
Must have THREE separate Galleries (one for each category). 
Must have a title and a description for each photo.

Step 4 (20 Points): Make sure you have written a biography about your self in the "About You" section under the Settings tab. Cover the following topics in your bio. Each of these should be a paragraph long.

• Where you are from (such as city, state, school)
• Experience as a photographer (class, hobby, etc.
• Intrest area as a photographer
• Goals for your future

Step 5 (10 Points): Upload your Self Portrait. The self portrait should show you as a professional. Your style, use of composition and knowledge of exposure technique should be evident in the photo.

Online Portfolio (First Year Students) FINAL EXAM PROJECT

Overview: Now that you have your FolioHD account set up, let's optimize it.

Directions: Follow these steps. See my Folio as an example here: http://daviddoerr.foliohd.com/

Step 1: Watch the quick tutorial video on FolioHD. Also, check the Tips and Tricks page to optimize your account.

• Watch how you can set your dominant image.
• Also notice how you can set up separate galleries for different types of photos.

Step 2 (10 points): Format your Website with the following feature.

• You should select your THREE favorite image you have taken during the first semester as your Dominant for your home page. To do this, you just double click on the thumbnail version of your photo in one of the galleries. 

Step 3 (50 Points): Next, you should set up separate galleries for the following types of photos:

• Composition (FIVE Photos)
• Motion (THREE Photos)
• Macro Photography (THREE photos)
• Other (THREE other photos you are proud of. You can come up with the name for this gallery)

Must include watermarks on all photos. 
Must have FOUR separate Galleries (one for each category). 
Must have a title and a description for each photo.

Step 4 (15 Points): Make sure you have written a biography about your self in the "About You" section under the Settings tab. Cover the following topics in your bio. Each of these should be a paragraph long.

• Where you are from (such as city, state, school)
• Experience as a photographer (class, hobby, etc.)
• Intrest area as a photographer
• Goals for your future

Step 5 (15 Points): Upload your Self Portrait. The self portrait should show you as a professional. Your style, use of composition and knowledge of exposure technique should be evident in the photo.

Using Wireless Sync and Remotes

Overview: Modern photography often incorporates flash and radio technology to sync various devices together. Today you will learn to use a sync device to fire a camera remotely and to fire a flash wirelessly.

Directions: Watch the video introducing the features of the Plus X Pocket Wizard and then answer the questions below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUflA6ER1ro

http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/plusx/

1. How many PocketWizards do you need to fire a flash remotely?

2. How does a PocketWizard transmit a signal?

3. How many channels are available on a PlusX transmitter?

4. How can you tell if a signal has been sent or received?

5. What do you need to remotely trigger your camera to take a photo?

To learn more about the light kit we are using, go here: http://www.fjwestcott.com/strobelite.

Headshots or Self Portrait Plan

Overview: For your Bio photo, you have two options: a standard headshot or a self portrait. Read the directions below to decide on what option is best for you. You will take THREE headshots of yourself or THREE self portraits to your student blog. Later you can use one of these photos as your bio picture for your Contact page of your FolioHD account and Snapwire account.

Option 1: 

Headshot overview: A headshot is a photographic technique where the focus of the photograph is a person’s face. Sounds simple, but there is actually a lot to consider:

• Eyes (catch lights)
• Angles
• Light
• Hair
• Lens Selection

To help you prepare for taking headshots read the tutorials below and watch the associated videos. If you can't watch the videos, let Mr. Doerr know so he can assist you.

Resources: 

Fill Light and Key Light
http://www.portraitlighting.net/fill_lightingb.htm

Simple Seamless Headshots on a white backdrop
http://digital-photography-school.com/step-by-step-how-to-do-a-head-shot-on-a-white-background/

How to take perfect headshots:
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/

Tips for Professional head shots using one flash
http://digital-photography-school.com/3-steps-to-professional-looking-headshots-using-one-flash/

One photographer's setup for Headshots
http://vimeo.com/71545445

Another Photographer's light setup for headshots
http://www.slrlounge.com/slrlounge-peter-hurley-lighting-tutorial-setup/

Headshots with a single light
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-a-perfect-head-shot-with-a-single-light/

Lens Selection and Distortion
http://gizmodo.com/5857279/this-is-how-lenses-beautify-or-uglify-your-pretty-face

Creating "catch lights"
http://digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/

Directions:
If you decide to do a headshot, do the following:

1. Make a blog post titled "Headshot plan." The plan should include the following information:
1. How many light sources are you going to use (including any reflectors)? Be specific.
2. Will you use constant lights or strobes (flashes) or both?
3. How many PocketWizards will you need?
4. How are you going to create a "catch light?"
5. What lens will you use? Why? Be specific. 
2. Post an example of what you want your finished headshot to look like.

Option 2: 

Self portrait Overview: A self portrait is a photo of the photographer that expresses the personality and style of the photographer.

Step 2: Review the links below to get some ideas on how to take your own self portrait.

http://www.atpi.org/selfportrait/

http://jfotography.net/tutorials-take-self-portraits.php

http://digital-photography-school.com/self-portrait-photography-tips

Or try searching on the Digital Photography School website or on Google for "Self Portrait tutorial/example."

You may have another student help you with your self portrait, but you are responsible for achieving the look you are wanting. Your helper may only help you with logistics of taking the photo. You should have the final say on the finished product.

You may use the studio lights and backdrop if you want to recruit an advanced commercial photography student to help you set up your shot. However, I will not be able to teach you how to do this at this time.

Directions:
If you decide to do a self portrait, do the following:

1. Make a blog post titled "Self Portrait plan." The plan should include the following information:
1. How many light sources are you going to use (including any reflectors)? Be specific.
2. Will you use constant lights or strobes (flashes) or both?
3. How many PocketWizards will you need?
4. What props will you use? Why? Be specific.
5. What background will you use? Why? Be specific.
6. What lens will you use? Why? Be specific. 
2. Post an example of what you want your finished self portrait to look like.

Submission:
You will post THREE headshots of yourself or THREE self portraits to your student blog. Later you can use one of these photos as your bio picture for your Contact page of your FolioHD account and Snapwire account.

Rubric for Portraits:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzMWZmRWZYUXZJQUU/view?usp=sharing

Professional Selfportraits

Overview: You will need to have a portrait of yourself that you can use as a bio picture for your contact page of your FolioHD Web site. This photo should communicate something about who you are as person and your style as a photographer.

Directions:

Step 1: Review the contact pages for the following photographers. Review the image of the photographer and read the bio statement to see what they had to say about themselves as a photographer.

http://www.lalox.com/contact

http://jonruby.foliohd.com/contact


Step 2: Review the links below to get some ideas on how to take your own self portrait. You will turn in 3 self portraits. One of which you will use as your bio picture for your Contact page of your FolioHD account. You will process this image in Lightroom and export it as a JPEG that you will then upload to your FolioHD account.

http://lightinspired.net/self-portraits-tutorial-tuesday/

http://jfotography.net/tutorials-take-self-portraits.php

http://digital-photography-school.com/self-portrait-photography-tips

Or try searching on the Digital Photography School website or on Google for "Self Portrait tutorial/example."

You may have another student help you with your self portrait, but you are responsible for achieving the look you are wanting. Your helper may only help you with logistics of taking the photo. You should have the final say on the finished product.

You may use the studio lights and backdrop if you want to recruits an advanced commercial photography student to help you set up your shot. However, I will not be able to teach you how to do this at this time.

SMART Plans for Advanced Students

ADVANCED STUDENTS: 

Please begin work on your SMART Plans. They will be due on Tuesday.

The link to the form is here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Gfv1m2AiFUtiQ8W_A1E-8VGFxZy2Ay6MmHDN-wbyJO8/viewform

To see previous SMART plans, click the following link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gvDwPrf8ANhw3oQ_Thw89bVUKi1AYoyUl0ec5kWXwq8/edit?usp=sharing