Project 1 – Group “Hot Light” Assignment
See schedule for due date

For this assignment you will work in groups to practice and demonstrate your competency of different lighting techniques using hot lights. 

Each person in the group should bring a couple items to contribute to a still life set-up (you are encouraged to discuss the possiblities of what to bring).  As a group, arrange a scene to photograph (do this somewhat quickly to allow yourselves ample time to light and photograph).  As a group you will photograph the same set-up for every shot- DO NOT CHANGE IT ONCE YOU START (including the background).  Your camera should also remain in the same spot/angle.   Altering nothing but the lighting you (as a group) are expected create, and hand in, an image for each of the steps below. 

-  Use light to accentuate texture
-  Use light to soften the scene
-  Use gels to alter the color
-  A lighting ratio of 1:1
-  A lighting ratio of 2:1 (one stop difference)
-  A lighting ratio of 8:1 (three stops difference)
-  A white background
-  A grey background
-  A black background

No prints are necessary.  You will place the appropriate image in its designated spot in the .psd file I will provide you with.  Bring that completed digital file for critique.  If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to me.

 

Project 2 – Strike a Pose: Group Portrait Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is:
- To allow you to gain experience lighting people and taking studio portraits.
- To allow you to gain experience communicating with, and giving directions to the individuals who are assisting you with the lighting.
- To be reminded what it’s like to be in front of the camera so you will be mindful of your subjects when you are behind the camera.
- To get you thinking about how pose, light, composition all play into the meaning of an image.

The parameters :
- Find a perfect pose that best describes you. Put some thought into this: why does this pose describe me? What does this pose describe? How does this pose describe that?
- No props are allowed and only a neutral background may be used.
- You are to convey to your group what the lighting should look like for your pose and assist them in achieving that lighting for your portrait. Think about how the light should look and how it relates to your “perfect pose”.
- The image should be composed in a way that lends itself to the concept of the image (pose, light, and composition should all be in harmony)
- You will be responsible for handing in the image of you. Keep post-production editing to a minimum.
- No prints are needed, as you will hand in digital files and we will project images for critique.
- Be prepared to evaluate the direction given for the images you assist on.
- Be prepared to talk about the image of you.
See schedule for due date

 

Project 3 – "Hot Lights"
See schedule for due date

For this assignment you will be working with “hot lights” to artificially light your subject matter. You are given some leeway as to what you choose to shoot and the looks you want to accomplish- so please experiment, be creative and take risks. Your only parameters are:

2 tabletop scenes
1 large object (something larger than you)
1 room or scene
2 of anything you want

A minimum of 6 final images to project are due for critique, along with printed contact sheets and lighting diagrams for each final image.

In your images and contact sheets I expect to see a variety of looks, techniques, and setups. In other words I want to see evidence of your practicing and experimenting.

Don’t get so caught up with the lighting that you fail to think about things like framing, color, angle of view, etc in relation to your subject matter. Think about all the choices you make (especially in regards to lighting) and how that facilitates the content of your images. Be prepared to talk about those choices and why those choices were made. If you have any questions, or concerns, please talk to me.

 

Group Strobe Light Assignment
See schedule for due date

For this assignment you will work in groups to practice and demonstrate your competency of different lighting techniques. 

You will use all three of our strobe light kits to complete the assignment.  You will alter nothing but the lighting to obtain the expected results.  You will hand in (as a group) one image for each of the following:

Using the Alien B light for on location:
-  Use light to accentuate texture of something
-  2 On location portraits (different subject and lighting per image the background must be there)

Using the 2400 Power Pack:
Use the same set up for each image:
-  A lighting ratio of 1:1
-  A lighting ratio of 2:1 (one stop difference)
-  A lighting ratio of 8:1 (three stops difference)

Using the Travel Lights:
Using the same set-up and by only altering the light make images with:
-  A white background
-  A grey background
-  A black background

No prints are necessary.  You will place the appropriate image in its designated spot in the .psd file I will provide you with.  Bring that completed digital file for critique.  If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to me.

 

Class Production Assignment
See schedule for due date

As a class we are going to work on one large-scale ambitious narrative tableau.  You are to come up with an idea or concept for a photo-shoot that incorporates the use of many lights.  You should have it as well planned out as possible (location scout, know how many subject would be needed, have sketches, etc).  You will present your proposal to the class.  Everyone will vote, anonymously, for the one they like the best.  The winning proposal will be planned and executed by the entire class with the individual who conceived the idea being the “director”.

Things to keep in mind:
We will be working on this during lab time so the location needs to be on, or very near to, campus.  (exceptions could be made)

Keep it realistic (things like exploding cars will be hard to pull off)

Your peers will either be in the picture or helping create the picture or both. (you could have lots of people in the shot)

It can be a composite of multiple images- it doesn’t all have to happen in one take.

 

Strobe Light Assignment
See schedule for due date

For this assignment you will be working with strobe lights to artificially light your subject matter.  You are given some leeway as to what you choose to shoot and the looks you want to accomplish- so please experiment, be creative and take risks.  Your only parameters are:

2- Portraits (Challenge yourself… no Sears, Photogenics, etc)
1- Shoot something “ugly” and make it “beautiful”
1- room or scene
2- of anything you want to do

A minimum of 6 final images are due for critique, along with all your printed contact sheets. 

In your contact sheets I expect to see a variety of looks, techniques, and setups.  In other words I want to see evidence of your practicing and experimenting.

Be creative with your lighting.  Anyone can point light at something- you are photographers your practice revolves around light and you should be masters of it.  Think about how you can use light to enhance, or transform your images not simply make them visible. 

Don’t get so caught up with the lighting that you fail to think about things like framing, color, angle of view, etc in relation to your subject matter.  Think about all the choices you make (especially in regards to lighting) and how that facilitates the content of your images. Be prepared to talk about those choices and why those choices were made.  If you have any questions, or concerns, please talk to me.

 

"Lighting Commentary"
See schedule for due date

For this assignment you will bring in a clip (or still) from a movie to present to the class. You will present how and why they lit the scene the way they did. As you share the clip you will talk about why (or why not) the lighting is successful, what it conveys, how it is helping to inform the viewer, etc.

Know where your clip is located so we don’t waste a bunch of time queuing up the footage.

 

Light as Meaning
See schedule for due date

The purpose of this assignment is to get you thinking how light can change, create, or suggest meaning in pictures. You will make photographs using only the subject matter that has been provided to you by me (It will be in a box in the studio). You are to take that given subject matter and through styling and lighting you are to create a minimum of six different images that convey a word, or phrase, from the list below. You must do a minimum of six different words/phrases (you are welcome to do multiple pictures per word, but only one will count to your six image requirement). Be prepared to talk about what, why, and how you did what you did to make the images convey what they do. You have to complete the assignment in our studio. You can use whatever kind of lighting you need. We will project the images for critique- so no prints are necessary.

   Desire
   Imprisoned
   The Tyrant
   Coward
   The Longest Winter
   At the First Breath of Wind
   Joy
   Sorrow
   Distress
   Death
   Delusion Mountain
   Life
   Tension
   Ocean of Noise
   Waiting on a Ghost
   Awoke
   Afterthought
   Forget
   The Televangelist
   A Walk to the Sun
   Jealousy
   Hope There’s Someone

File Prep:
Save your images so they are around 10x12 inches at 72 dpi.
Name the files like this- yourfirstname01.jpg, yourfirstname02, etc.

Make a slide-list to turn in that says the file name and the word or phrase.
Slide-list example:
Josh01.jpg – Distress
Josh02.jpg – Afterthought

 

The Directed Tableau
See schedule for due date

For this assignment you are to construct a small series of ambitious tableau photographs.  You will take a directorial approach to image making where you will command and construct the scene paying attention to every detail.

You are encouraged to work with other people on this project (those people do not have to be in this class but they can be).  You are expected to communicate with your subjects, and your crew, to dictate your expectations.  However, this process is a collaborative one and you should embrace that effort (without compromising your vision).

You must use artificial lighting for each image (natural lighting can be used but only in combination with artificial lighting).  Pay particular attention to your lighting and how it can inform, transform, enhance, convey, etc. 

A minimum of three final images (of different setups/scenes) are due for critique.  In addition to final images, bring all contact sheets, with you to critique.  Be prepared to talk about your work and the decisions you made.