Magazine Cover #1 Workday 1 & 2 & Instructions. Assigned 3/5, due 3/6 - Cover 1 = Minor, Cover 2 = MAJOR (last two grades of the 9 week cycle)

Portraits and Self-Portraits

Please process your TWO photos in Photoshop. You need to do levels and crop them vertically - below are the instructions to remind you. If you need help with Levels, please ask your neighbor, or scroll down to the Photoshop assignment below where you can find the direct instructions.

Photoshop:

To levels first - Command-L to get to it fast

Once you finish, make sure you SAVE-AS and rename your image. They should not be called IMG_####, the should be called portrait or self-portrait or something similar.

Crop your image in Photoshop - 8.5 inches x 11 inches at 300 resolution. To get those sub-menu choices you have to select the crop tool.

Always SAVE-AS the first time you touch an image and from then on you can just SAVE.

When you have cropped both images, and done levels and have them saved as .JPEG or .JPG or even .PNG, please post those on your Google Site on a new subpage called Portraits and Self-Portraits.

If you file is saving as a .PSD, you need to go to Layer in the Main Menu options at the top and find FLATTEN IMAGE. It is all the way at the bottom. Select Flatten Image and then you can save your photo as a .PNG file.

Once you have both image on your Google Site, PLEASE PULL THE CORNER AND MAKE IT BIGGER!!! 

You have about 15 minutes to complete these before we move onto InDesign, which I will be presenting on the screen just like I did Photoshop.

To get the image into InDesign - you need make an X-box to place the photo in. Once you have the box made - you can either command-D or you can go under >file to >place.

Use the text tool to create boxes that you can type into. Don't forget to play with colors, sizes and even fonts. Be creative

If you are comfortable using Photoshop to do text or other things, feel free. But remember to make your document 8.5 x 11 inches because you will have to import the completed image to InDesign. You may have to flatten your layers and make sure to save it as a .jpeg.

Magazine Covers

Your Magazine Cover MUST include the following:

You will need to complete the following:

A. Magazine name

Think carefully about the font you use

You may not use the name of a real magazine (except on accident) - so please get creative!!

B. A teaser / cover line (headline type description) for the main story.

You will need at least 3-5 other cover lines on your cover.

C. Pricing and date information and a bar code (appropriately sized!!)If you want to do some fun things with your image, like putting text over your photo or making a cut-out, here are some tutorials:

If you want to try to add a second or even third photo to duplicate a magazine cover you like, go for it.

You will be making TWO covers over the next couple of classes, and they will need to look different from each other. There are many ways to do that, but one way that will have to be completed is the following:

For one of your Magazine Covers, you must include one of the following, either create a text overlap or a cut-out. Below are some tutorials you can use. I know many of you are good at Photoshop already. As long as the effect is carried out, I don't care how you do it, and you use Photoshop.

It is very likely that you can find a tutorial on Youtube as well and you are welcome to do that on your phone or on the desktop. Just do a Google search for the thing you want to do.

TEXT OVERLAP TUTORIAL -- If you really want to make your magazine cover look professional, try making the subject in your photo overlap the title of your magazine. Below is a link to a good tutorial to teach you how to add layers in Photoshop to create this effect.

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/overlap-text/

CUT-OUT TUTORIAL - if you are interested in doing some sort of cut-out, you can visit this link for a tutorial. This will walk you through the process of completing a cut-out. Don't forget it still needs to be cropped at 8.5x11 inches.

https://skylum.com/how-to/how-to-cut-out-image-in-photoshop

https://www.creativelive.com/blog/remove-background-photoshop/

IMPORTANT: Always save cut-outs as PNG files. JPG does not support transparent backgrounds.

HOT TIP: Always save your original cut-out as a PSD file somewhere safe so you can re-edit your cut-out again later if needed.

Portrait and self-portrait turn-in instructions, catch-up day OR Extra Credit. Assigned 3/3, due 3/5 - MAJOR

1st 

Please upload you photos and run them through Photoshop. You need to do levels and crop them vertically - below are the instructions to remind you. If you need help with Levels, please ask your neighbor, or scroll down to the Photoshop assignment below where you can find the direct instructions. This is a MAJOR GRADE!!

Photoshop:

To levels first - Command-L to get to it fast

Once you finish, make sure you SAVE-AS and rename your image. They should not be called IMG_####, the should be called portrait or self-portrait or something similar.

Crop your image in Photoshop - 8.5 inches x 11 inches at 300 resolution. To get those sub-menu choices you have to select the crop tool.

Always SAVE-AS the first time you touch an image and from then on you can just SAVE.

When you have cropped both images, and done levels and have them saved as .JPEG or .JPG or even .PNG, please post those on your Google Site on a new subpage called Portraits and Self-Portraits.

If you file is saving as a .PSD, you need to go to Layer in the Main Menu options at the top and find FLATTEN IMAGE. It is all the way at the bottom. Select Flatten Image and then you can save your photo as a .PNG file.

Once you have both image on your Google Site, PLEASE PULL THE CORNER AND MAKE IT BIGGER!!! 

Now get the card back into the camera and get everything put away in the camera bag. I will collect cameras later this period. For those people that don't have photos, I can check you out a camera today, but on Thursday, we will start making magazine covers and you will need photos!!

2nd  

Today is a catch-up day. If you are missing work for me, you have today to get as much done as possible. This will be the only day for this kind of work before the end of the 3rd 9 weeks which is Friday, March 13. I have updated grades and you should be able to check your grades to determine what you are missing.

On Thursday, we will start making magazine covers and those will be the last two grades of the cycle. Your first magazine cover will be a Minor grade, the second will be the final MAJOR grade of the cycle.

If you are completely caught up and would like some extra credit, you can complete the task below and I will apply extra credit to the 3rd 9 weeks cycle in the best way I can to help your grade. That could be raising a major grade by as many as 10 points (I could spread this out as well), or raising your overall grade by 1-3 points.

EXTRA CREDIT - Free Write

Create a new google doc. Pick a prompt. Write. Make sure it is shared properly. I don't need to edit this one, so you can just make it so I can VIEW it. Make a new Google Site subpage called 3rd nine weeks extra credit and make your Google Doc a clickable link.

Here are the prompts - Pick ONE and write - let's say 400-500 words and complete the story.

Creative Writing Prompts

1. You’re digging in your garden and find a fist-sized nugget of gold.
2. Write about something ugly–war, fear, hate, or cruelty–but find the beauty (silver lining) in it.
3. The asteroid was hurtling straight for Earth…
4. A kid comes out of the bathroom with toilet paper dangling from his or her waistband.
5. Write about your early memories of faith, religion, or spirituality; yours or someone else’s.
6. There’s a guy sitting on a park bench reading a newspaper…
7. Write a poem about a first romantic experience or encounter.
8. He turned the key in the lock and opened the door. To his horror, he saw…
9. Silvery flakes drifted down, glittering in the bright light of the harvest moon. The blackbird swooped down…
10. The detective saw his opportunity. He grabbed the waitress’s arm and said…
11. There are three children sitting on a log near a stream. One of them looks up at the sky and says…
12. There is a magic talisman that allows its keeper to read minds. It falls into the hands of a young politician…
13. And you thought dragons didn’t exist…
14. Write about nature. Include the following words: hard drive, stapler, phone, car, billboard.
15. The doctor put his hand on her arm and said gently, “You or the baby will survive. Not both. I’m sorry.”
16. The nation is controlled by…
17. You walk into your house and it’s completely different–furniture, decor, all changed. And nobody’s home.
18. Write about one (or both) of your parents. Start with “I was born…”
19. The most beautiful smile I ever saw…
20. I believe that animals exist to…
21. A twinkling eye can mean many things. Start with a twinkle in someone’s eye and see where it takes you.
22. Good versus evil. Do they truly exist? Are there gray areas? Do good people do bad things?
23. Write about your body.
24. Have you ever been just about to drift off to sleep only to be roused because you spontaneously remembered an embarrassing moment from your past?

Africa and Abandoned Theme Parks. Assigned 2/26, due 3/3 - Minor (but make sure to do both parts!!)

Absence

I am sorry that I am not there today. I had something I had to deal with at home and I had to miss class. I will extend the deadline for the Portraits and Self-portraits one week. If you want to come by tomorrow (Friday) to get a camera, I will have plenty to check out, but I will make sure you have cameras for the March 7-8 weekend. If you have a camera to turn in - you can give it to the sub.

While I am out, I want to have you continue to look at great photos and explore some cool photography opportunities that some people really like. So please complete both parts of this assignment today. Africa and Abandoned theme parks. Some people only do Africa and they end up with a 50. Make sure to do both!!

Africa

Visit the following website. IF THIS WEBSITE DOESN'T WORK PLEASE DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR NICK BRANDT AND SEE HOW MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM YOU CAN ANSWER!

http://www.photographyoffice.com/blog/2014/5/on-this-earth-a-shadow-falls-across-the-ravaged-land-by-nick-brandt-photography

1. On your Google Site make a new subpage called Africa and post your reactions to what you read and what you saw. How about 3-4 sentences.

2. Do a google image search for Nick Brandt, find your favorite photo and post it on your blog.

3. Describe it and tell me why its your favorite.

4. What rules of photography are evident in the photos you selected, be sure to explain the rule to me?

Do a google/wikipedia search for Nick Brandt

5. What kind of camera and lens does he use and why is this important?

6. What is his reason for taking these photos?

7. What is his hope by taking these type of photos?

8. Find something he has to say about Africa, and post the quote on your blog. 

Now go to the following website:

https://create.adobe.com/2018/6/8/opening_eyes_nick_br.html

Answer the following questions:

9. What is Brandt's newest focus with his photography?

10. What was the process he did to create these new images?

11. What effect do you think his work might have?

12. How did these new images make you feel? Describe the emotions you felt as you scrolled through them.

Abandoned Theme Parks

Open a browser and go to Google and do a Google image search for the following locations:

Prypiat Amusement Park, Pyrpiat, Ukraine

Holy Land, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA

Gulliver’s Kingdom, Japan

Six Flags, New Orleans, USA

Land Of Oz, Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA

Spreepark, Berlin, Germany

Kpo Land, Okpo City, Geoje Island South Korea

Dunaújváros Vidám Park, Dunaújváros, Hungary

Joyland, Wichita, Kansas, USA

Akakanonuma Greenland, Hobara, Japan

and

http://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-21-creepiest-abandoned-amusement-parks-20140225-htmlstory.html

Make a new page on your Google Site called Abandoned Theme Parks and please complete the following:

1. Tell me which amusement park that you learned about today that you would like to visit and take your camera along and what about that park made you want to go there. Write at least a paragraph.

2. Post one photo from that park. You may use the photos from the link, or you can google an entirely new photo. I would prefer to see a photo of the park in disrepair and not a photo of it when it was still operating.

3. Think of at least FIVE other unusual places you think would be of interest to photographers. List them. For example: A cemetery

4. Use google or another search engine to research ONE of the five places you came up with and see if anyone has already started documenting that place. If you find that someone has already started - post at least one photo of their work. For example: do a Google Image search for cemetery photos and see if anyone has specialized in cemetery photography. I found this guy 

Cemetery Photographer

Here is a photo of his I liked:

5. Write a paragraph about why you think that it would be fun to document that location. Tell me what interests you about that place and what kind of photos you could expect to take there.

6. Tell me what it would take for you to go and take photos at your location. What would you need as far as equipment goes, travel plans, expenses you might encounter and what laws you would have to take into consideration to take photos at your spot.

Dispatch Issue #4. Assigned 2/20, due 2/24 (at the end of the period) - 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!!