Session One Homework Assignments

Homework Assignment - Finding Your Style
Collect images from magazines, on the internet, newspapers and even photos you have. Choose images hat speak to you and grab your attention. Now that you have your stack of images lay them all out. Grab a pad of post it notes and a pen and answer the following questions about the images you have collected:

1. Do you have an emotional connection (good or bad) with the photo?
2. Does it relate anything about the human condition or our common experiences?
3. Does the photo say more to you than who, what, when, where?

If you answered yes to 2 or more of these questions then you are looking at an Interpretive image.

Now that you can identify if they are mostly Documentation Style or Interpretation Style, look at them again and ask yourself these questions:

1. Are they more formal or casual?
2. Are they Black & White or color?
3. Do they show relationships?
4. Do they show the big picture or the minute details?
5. Can you identify what you love about them?

Answering all of these questions will help you define your own style and help you develop your critical eye. A Critical eye is a photographers most important tool. This is something that might not be natural to all of us but can be developed. You might want to save all of the images you collected for this exercise with their post its attached in a 3 ring binder for further reference. Add to your binder when you find an image that speaks to you.


Homework Assignment - Scavenger Hunt
Below are 20 words that you will use for your homework this week. You are to use these words and turn them in to photographs. Have them all printed at the lab of your choice in 4x6 format. You may choose matt/luster or glossy prints - it is your choice. Or you might want to mix it up a bit and print some in each. Label the backs of your prints with your name and the word that is depicted in your photo. Be sure to bring these prints with you to class next Saturday (the 12th).
Most of the 20 words are a “feeling”, either an emotional feeling or a tactile feeling. You have total creative freedom to interpret these words the way you want to. Try to think outside the box a little, and try to capture some part of your heart or soul in these pictures. But the most important thing is to have fun and not second guess yourself. There is no right or wrong here.

Beginnings

Cold

Discover
Evening

Family

Food
Grow

Innocence

Life
Love

Morning

Old
Riches

Sadness

Safe
Soft

Time

Tough
Wet

Words

Simply look with perceptive eyes at the world about you, and trust to your own reactions and convictions. Ask yourself: "Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream? Can I visualize a print - my own personal statement of what I feel and want to convey - from the subject before me?

- Ansel Adams