Self Assignments

Purpose: To increase awareness of things in our everyday world and to get begin seeing photographs.

Assignment: Walk around your home, inside or outside, and take pictures. Remember that daylight color film exposed indoors may exhibit a color shift.

Materials: One roll of film and processing. A camera.

Time: A couple of hours.

Critique: Does the subject dominate the photograph?

Would it be obvious to a stranger what the photograph is a photograph of? Ask someone, to find out. The answer may surprise you.

Check the composition.

• Are there distracting shapes, colors, or "trees growing out of peoples heads?"

• Is the foreground cluttered, how about the background? How is the technical quality of the photo?

• Is the subject sharply focused? Is the exposure good? Is there detail in the dark and the light areas? Are the dark areas totally black or the light areas total white? If so, was this the photograph was designed do be or is it an accident?

Self Assignment 2 - The Portrait

Purpose: To improve your ability to photograph people, specifically, to take a portrait.

Assignment: With the aid of a friend you will make a portrait. Your friend will be the subject. The friend need not be human, you can photograph a pet. Should you work with an animal something to eat is highly recommended, especially if the pet is a dog. They will do almost anything for a cookie.

Photographing pets is a excellent way to use up any out of date color film that might be hanging around because any color shift will be far less obvious in an animal shot than in a picture of a person. Also, pictures of pets make absolutely gifts.

If you work inside with daylight color film remember that you may that the indoor lighting may cause a color shift. You are dealing with skin tones here so be careful.

Materials: One roll of film and processing. A camera.

Time: One hour shooting time, this does not include your set up time.

Critique: Does the model like the photo?

Are the skin tones well rendered?

Are there any distracting elements in the photo?

Is the background cluttered?

Do you like the photo?

Does the subject like the photo? Here photographing pets is a real plus because doggie, kitty, piggy, or horsie will absolutely love it. For a cookie.

Notes: Always focus on your subjects eyes.

Sheer curtains make an excellent diffuser.

An open book can be used as a reflector to fill facial shadows.

Background, this is very important. You do not want distracting or competing material in the photo.

Give serious consideration to the available light. Is it harsh or soft, will you have control or must you work with what you get?

Look closely at the subject, before the picture is taken, are there distracting shadows or bright spots on the face?

Have the camera loaded, flash ready with fresh batteries. Ditto, if you will be working with a chair or stool. Everything wants to be close to hand so that the shoot goes smoothly.

Never hesitate to talk to and joke around with the subject. Caution: Be absolutely sure that the jokes do not insult. Stay with bland subjects and silly jokes.





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Self Assignment 3 - Outdoor Photography

Purpose: To develop spontaneous reaction to a scene and to have some fun.

Assignment: Walk around a city, park, rural lane, or the main street of your town. The idea is to get outside and take pictures. The thrust here is to be ready for anything. Photograph people, cityscapes, be ready for anything from traffic accidents, to dog fights.

CAUTION: As this assignment takes you into public areas always be aware of where you are and anyone who is aware of you. Remember that camera is an expensive and saleable item.

Take pictures with the idea of being open anuthing. The few seconds between seeing the picture and taking the picture are significant often spelling the difference between a great picture and no picture.

If you return with pictures in and not in the camera that is a valuable lesson.

Look for:

• Peoples expressions

• Reflections in buildings

• Humorous signs

• Cityscapes, some streets are lovely others are ugly, both make excellent subject matter.

Materials: Film and processing. A camera.

Time: Several hours to half a day.

Notes: This assignment is very open, it is designed to be. Exercise your imagination. The human mind is the single most valuable photoraphic assessory in the. Use it.

Look up. Look down. If you see a group, investigate, what are they looking at? Find out. Be inquisitive. Photograph from unusual angles.