Dispatch Issue #4. Assigned 2/20, due 2/24 - Minor

 The Dispatch Issue #4

Today we are going to spend the entire period reading the 4th issue of the Dispatch. I will make copies available to you. You will need your own copy. You are welcome to take it home if you would like. Create a new subpage on your Google Site called Dispatch Issue #4. Now complete the following assignment.

Please read one story from each of the following SIX sections:

1. News (page 1 or 2, 3)

2. Features (pages 4 or 5)

3. Entertainment (page 12) or Reviews (page 13) or the Photo Essay (pg 6 or 16)

4. Sports (page 10 or 11)

5. Commentary (page 14 or 15)

6. And you must read either the In-Depth story on pages 8-9 (Bulldog Nation) or page 7 (Students stand against ICE)

As you read the stories I want you to answer the following questions for EACH story on your Google Site on a new subpage called Dispatch Issue #4:

1. Write a two sentence summary of the story.

2. Answer the following questions for each story:

Who was quoted in the story?

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

Did the lead paragraph make you want to keep reading?

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

3. Now make a new text box on the same subpage (Dispatch Issue #4) and answer the following questions:

Which story made you want to learn more about the topic?

Which story was the best written?

Which story had the best quotes (overall)?

Which story was the most boring of the ones you read?

Which one was the hardest to follow (meaning maybe wasn't written as well)?

4. Then I want you to do a couple of things with the photography. In a new text box, answer the following questions:

A. What is your favorite photo in the entire paper?
A1. Why is this your favorite?

B. What is your least favorite photo in the entire paper?
B1. Why is this your least favorite?

C. If you were a photographer on staff, which event/photo assignment would you have liked to do for this issue? You will need to look through the entire paper and see the topics covered and decide which one you think would have been fun.

D. Overall, how would you rate the photography in this issue (1-10 scale, 1 being terrible, 10 being the best set of photos you have ever seen)? What were the strong points and weak points of the images as a whole?

5. LAST TASK - The newspaper staff just completed a brainstorm activity for the fifth issue of the year which will come out in early April. I consider my Journalism 1 students part of staff, so I want to hear from you. Please list 3 to 5 story ideas you think would be interesting to read about in the school newspaper. Try to think of things that impact students, or has some sort of local connection. If you propose an idea for something broader than that, please give me some sort of story "angle" that could be "localized" to Bowie. Every story in the school newspaper should have some sort of impact on students at the school.

WRKxFMLY. Assigned 2/12, due TBA - Multiple grades

WRKxFMLY

Today you will have the privilege to hear from Mr. David Winter about the WRKxFMLY project we are going to work on. Here is his presentation:

WRKxFMLY presentation

There will be multiple sessions with Mr. Winter and we will dedicate class time to writing captions, looking at your photos and evaluating them. There will be multiple grades taken s you work on this project. So make sure you are taking this seriously, because not only can you win REAL MONEY and get certificates to use on your resume/college applications, there are grades going into the grade book.

You will have cameras in your possession for the Portraits and Self-Portraits assignment, so you can certainly take photos for this project using those cameras, but remember, you can also use your cell phones for these photos. You will need to get your photos from your cell phone to your SCHOOL GOOGLE DRIVE. That means you will need to get the Drive App on your phone to move them from your phone to your Google Drive. You CANNOT get your phones out in my class ever, so this will have to be done AT HOME. If you need help with this, please let me know.

Grades for this project:

Mind Map - Minor

WRKxFMLY check point 1 - Minor

WRKx FMLY check point 2 - Minor

WRKxFMLY Final Submission - MAJOR

To see some of the winners from last semester in my Digital Media Class, click the link below:

25-26 DM Winners

Portraits and Self-portrait preview and Magazine Cover preview. Assigned 2/10, due 2/12 - Minor

Portraits and Self-Portraits Preview

As we get ready to take photos soon on our new assignment, self-portrait and portrait photography. I thought you might want to look at some ideas and get something more than just looking at some photos. With that in mind - go take a look at these FOUR websites.

http://digital-photography-school.com/10-ways-to-take-stunning-portraits

and

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

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/portrait-photography-tips/

http://shutterbug.com/refreshercourse/portrait_tips/197/

After looking at these, find what you think are the best 2 or 3 tips and copy and paste them into a new post on your Google Site (I don’t need 2-3 tips from each site, but 2-3 total, but please look at all four sites) on a new subpage called Portraits and Self-portraits.

When you go out to shoot these types of photos, there are three main types of portraits, the environmental portrait, a self-portrait and a casual portrait. Lets go find some examples of these types of images.

Google image search “Environmental portrait” and pick out 2 that you really like, screen shot them and post them on your Google Site. Tell me what you liked about the photo and why you picked it.

Google image search “photography self portrait” and pick out 2 that you really like, screen shot them and post them on your Google Site. Tell me what you liked about the photo and why you picked it.

Google image search “casual portrait” and pick out 2 that you really like, screen shot them and post them on your Google Site. Tell me what you liked about the photo and why you picked it.

Please write a paragraph telling me your plan for your portrait assignment. Answer the following questions: who will you shoot, where will you shoot, and what will you do to make the shot successful.

Be specific on all three answers. When I read it I should know who and where you will take the photos and I should know exactly what your plan is to make sure you get a quality photo.  Think about composition when you are planning these. I really want your self-portrait to be a more than just a selfie. I want to see insight into you. Who are you? What defines you? How can you give me a little insight into what makes you tick or something that you get up to do every day? What is your passion? These thoughts should come out in your work.

Magazine Cover Preview

Please complete this assignment on ONE Google Site Subpage called Magazine Cover Preview.

Part 1 - Magazine tips

After you shoot your portrait and self-portrait, you will use them as the central element of a mock magazine cover design that will occupy a page of an InDesign document.

To get this process started, you need to learn a little about magazine cover design.

Go to the link below:

https://blog.flipsnack.com/how-to-design-professional-magazine-covers/

 On your google site tell me 5 things you should be thinking about when you design your magazine cover.

Part 2 - Best magazine covers 2018

Next, go here and look at some great designs:

https://www.canva.com/learn/magazine-cover-design/

Look at and read about ALL 50 designs. Make a new post titled : "Best Covers"

Some of these magazines do not have portraits on the cover. But many do. 

Pick your 3 favorite covers with a PORTRAIT on it and share them with me on your Google Site.

Copy and paste the description under the cover on the website.

Write a 75-125 word critique of the portrait on the cover.

Mention what is communicated about the people in the portrait and how this is communicated.

You may consider composition, lighting, exposure etc.

Part 3 - Magazines Part II

You also need to know a little more information about the types of magazine covers that have been used through the years. Here are the most common types:

Cover types

1. Image Based
2. Illustration Based
3. Type Based
4. Concept Based

Here is the description and some examples of these types of magazine covers:

On your Google Site, write a short (50-150 word) explanation of what the main attributes of each of the four types are. Use your own words, and DO NOT copy and paste.

Finally, answer this question: what is the relationship between words and photos on magazine covers and why is this important?

Portraits and Self-Portraits - PHOTO CONTRACT

Beginning next Friday, Feb. 20th, if you have your Photo Contract turned in, you will be able to take camera equipment from me to take your portraits and self-portraits. Eventually you will turn in TWO photos. One that should be a portrait and the other should be a self-portrait. We will go over multiple things before you take cameras out to shoot, including how to use a tripod and the timer in the camera.

Here is a link to the contract so you can print it at home. Your parents must sign this. I am giving you a hard copy today, they can sign it, scan it and send it back to me electronically, or you can bring it to me.

Equipment Contract

Please remember: I really want your self-portrait to be a more than just a selfie. I want to see insight into you. Who are you? What defines you? How can you give me a little insight into what makes you tick or something that you get up to do every day? What is your passion? These thoughts should come out in your work. I do not want you to include your pet (s) in these photos.

For the portrait, you may not take photos of animals, they must be people. You should also make sure your portrait is either a single person or a very small group of people (no more than 2-3-4).

You MUST shoot these vertically, which means turning the camera sideways. We will be using them to make Magazine Covers. And all magazines are vertical in orientation. You will be looking at magazine covers next week to get ideas on how you will make your portraits and self-portraits into magazine covers.

Photo Manipulation and Ethics. Posted 2/5, due 2/6 (at the end of class) - MAJOR

  Soon we will start using Photoshop to adjust and edit photos, but before we do that, it is very important that you understand what changing photos means and how that impacts the image, as well as the audience.

I think it is important to understand what happens when you alter a photo. If you eventually join newspaper and/or yearbook there are "rules" about changing photos. 

Here we will look at what has been published around the world and the impact of changing photos.

There is a time and a place to change photos. Let's start that discussion here:

1. Read the following story about examples of photo manipulations.

https://ethicsinediting.wordpress.com

PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THE VIDEO CALLED DOVE EVOLUTION AT THE TOP, WE WILL WATCH IT LATER AS PART OF ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT!!

Here is the website in image form so you can do this assignment:

On your Google Site create a new subpage called Photo Manipulation and Ethics and answer the following questions.

A. What are some of the main points you read about in the website above regarding manipulating images?

B. What is the philosophy of newspapers like the Washington Post and the New York Times regarding image manipulation?

C. What do you think are acceptable things you could do to an image and not cross the line unto an unethical manipulation?

D. Post the manipulation from the photos you looked at above in the reading (this means get that image by either downloading it OR taking a screenshot and post it on your site) that you think was the most unethical, and explain why you think it was the most unethical. If you do not know what the word ethic or unethical means, look them up on the internet. It is very important you know what those two words mean. Please write at least 2-3 sentences explaining why you think it is so bad. You will most likely have to take a screen shot to get this image. Command-shift-4 gets you the cursor you need to take a screen shot. Make sure that screen shot ends up in your Google Drive.

E. Post the manipulation, which means the photo that you read about above, that you consider the least unethical, and explain why you think it is not as bad as others. Please write at least 2-3 sentences explaining why you think this one is not so bad.

YOU MUST WRITE ENOUGH TO SATISFY ME ON THIS ASSIGNMENT. I WILL BE GRADING ALL OF THESE FULLY, NOT SKIM READING AND CERTAINLY NOT JUST FOR COMPLETION. YOU MUST ANSWER THESE ONES CORRECTLY AND IN DEPTH FOR A GOOD GRADE!!

Photoshop Basics. Posted 2/3 - No grade

This is a quick tutorial on how to edit photos in Photoshop in case you missed the presentation in class or were not here today. If you need help to do these steps, please ask and I will help you. Missing this presentation makes the process harder, so ask me if you need help and you still need to get this done ASAP so you know what to do. 

If you are not in class today, I have created step-by-step instructions for what we will be doing in class, but it will be best if you come to a FIT or to tutoring before school (anytime), or after school (by appointment ONLY), to get additional support. You will not be able to do this without access to Photoshop. I will go over how you can access it at home, IF you have the appropriate computer to do so.

Color

Color changes take a little longer and can be much more evident to the eye.

1. Open the photo in Photoshop (there are multiple ways to do this, use whichever way you remember)

2. The first thing we want to do every time is to SAVE AS and rename your photo and save it in the correct folder. For right now that folder is your folder on the  desktop.

3. Go to – Image>Adjustments>Levels

A box should pop up on your screen. In that box is a drop down box that has RGB in it. Use the drop down box and go to >BLUE

Move the black and white slider tools (the hershey kisses) and move them as needed to be underneath the mountain.

go to >GREEN
repeat

go to >RED
repeat

go to >RGB

On this step you move ONLY the middle one which is brown (do not move the black or white slider) just slightly where the photo appears a little lighter than perfect.

Now - here are some new instructions - I will show you this quickly today, but I wanted to give you the instructions here as well.

4. The final step, go to >Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen

You should only do this one time

5. Crop and make sure you have the correct resolution as requested.

6. To change the photo to black and white go to: Image>Mode>Grayscale

When the pop up appears asking if you want to discard the color information, hit yes or okay. 

7. Save and close the file - MAKE SURE IT IS A .JPEG OR .PNG, not a .PSD file. I will show you how to correct this.

Prompt Shoot #1. Assigned 1/29, due 2/3 at the end of class - MAJOR

Here is your next assignment: Prompt Shoot #1

Here is how the prompt shoots work - you will each have your own camera and about 30 minutes to go out and shoot images. You will get quick instructions with the camera again, and then when you return, you need to make time to move all of the photos off of the SD card and into a folder on your desktop called Prompt Shoot #1. I think you should have time to move SELECT images from your desktop to your Google Drive before class is over. You will NOT need to finish this assignment until next class. Next class you will make a new Google Site subpage and post your images with a reflection portion.

In the prompt shoot, I will give you a few key words that should guide your shooting that day. You can interpret the words any way you want, but you should make it clear which photo goes with which word when you turn them in.

For example, I might give you an emotion like Angry - you might shoot something that makes you angry, you might find a color that you associate with angry (like red or purple) and shoot that, or you might find someone who is actually angry and shoot them as they talk. You can ask your classmates to work with you, but be careful the photos aren't too "posed" or made up.

A couple of words of advice from me - be careful shooting through glass - those usually don't turn out too well. Also, be careful with big, huge wide shoots with lots of stuff going on, it is hard to pick details out and to show off some of these prompts. And finally, make sure you are watching your backgrounds for people - I know at school its hard, but be looking so it is very clear who your subject is.

You will, generally, be graded on the following:

Focus - is the picture in focus? If not, you will lose points

Subject - is the subject clear? Are there distracting elements in your photo?

Interest - how interesting is the subject

Uniqueness - is it something new, something I haven't seen before, were you creative?

Most people get a 90+ on this assignment unless they don't turn in the required amount of photos, or they really mess up the focus and subject portion. The rest are minor deductions. Remember getting a 95+ means you are doing something very right AND there are very few people who get all four perfect, so don't expect a 100.

Don't forget that you are thinking about composition, MANUAL SETTINGS AND the prompts themselves. Today, you have the added layer of making sure your photos are EXPOSED PROPERLY. And then you can start thinking about depth of field and/or stopping action.

Take lots of photos and don't erase them on the camera. Don't go into Live View Mode. You can review photos by pushing the play button on your camera.

A good starting place today if you are going to shoot outside in the courtyard, since it is sunny; ISO 400, Aperture f8-f16, shutter speed around 1/350 or so. If you are going to shoot in the academic building, you will need to make more adjustments; ISO 800-1600, Aperture 4.5 or 5, shutter speed might be as low as 1/80 (so be careful trying to stop motion). But make sure you use the LIGHT METER. If you need help, come back to the classroom. If you can't get your photos to come out - COME BACK TO THE ROOM.

Here are your prompts today:

Metal

Bowie

Square

Gate

Sim Cam. Assigned 1/23, due 1/23 (in-class only) - Minor

Please go to this website and wait for instructions.

https://camerasim.com

Please do not set anything and do not take any photos until I direct you to do so!!

I will be handing out a guided response paper that you will turn in at the end of class for a grade.