Digital Focus-Assignments

Assignments and Course Responsibilities Photo II – Section 2 – Digital Imaging Focus
Assignments return to syllabus Szucs Home	Assign #1: Team: You will team up with another classmate using the Mavica digital cameras. Given a series of words to work with as a starting point, the two of you will collaborate on a series of 10 images that are inspired by those words. You will each be responsible for 5 image, however you may integrate them together as much as you like. You must make the images, organize them into a series and present them on-line to the class. You will be evaluated on the creative use of words, quality of the compositions, competency with camera, collaborative effort and organization of images. These images should be presented as a photoshop web page - pay attention to organization.	Due week 3 Photoshop web page
	Assign #2: Color: Create 10 images that use color as a compositional tool to create a narrative for the viewer. Consider how color is used in the composition, the relationship between different colors and their meanings in relationship to what the narrative is conveying. Use photoshop tools to control color. May incorporate B&W and traditional imagery. Images should be presented in web format, pay attention to sequence, however the narrative does not need to be linear. Avoid linear narratives that function like a list.	Due week 5 Photoshop or Dreamweaver web page
	Assign #3: Montage & Metaphor: use Photoshop montage techniques to create a series of 6 images that layer imagery to create meaning or formal relationships. Consider how content can be suggested by the use of symbolic and pop-culture imagery without losing a photographic sensibility within the works. Use issues of space, lighting and atmosphere to keep a sense of realism and feel free to experiment with color and with the shape and size of your images. Try to allow yourself to break away from the typical 35mm rectangle of the photographic image. You may use both digital, traditional and appropriated imagery, although what is created must be original.	Due week 10 Dreamweaver web page - min 4 pages, index plus image pages
	Assign #4: Fantasy spaces: create a series of "landscape" images that create new or optimal worlds that still convey a sense of realism. Allow yourself to break out of the traditional format. These images will be presented in print format - 3 will be made into B&W digital negatives and then made into traditional prints; 3 will be color prints on the surface of your choosing. In doing this, explore the relationship between the different forms of presentation and how color changes how the image is conveyed. You may use work that you made for assignment #3 as a jumping off point.	Due week 12 3 B&W digital negatives and traditional prints 3 digital color prints
Final Project	Each student will present a final project consisting of an on-line web project, a CD-Rom project and a index of hardcopy images. Obviously some individuals will already have more experience in the digital realm than others, therefore, you will be expected to work up to the technical level that we demo in class. WHAT you do with what you have learned and the level to which you follow through on your ideas and exploration will be the starting point for your evaluation. The work will ultimately be evaluated for its creativity of composition, content and technique. It is expected that you glean from your semester work a subject matter that you focus on exclusively for your final, however, the specifics of your own final project will evolve through individual meetings. I encourage you to begin to think of your final asap, and to communicate regarding your ideas with me via email. Two groups will be chosen by lottery to determine your position showing work in the final crits during week 15. Finishing techniques are important here - consider how your work is presented - paper on which it is printed, whether a book, sculpture, straight prints.... also consider how your work is presented on-line. The web presentation should support the work, acting as a gallery presentation; it should not get in the way, so think of how your work will most effectively be presented.	Presentations: by lottery Website: 3 pages, using 20 images - minimum (5 from each individual project) CD-Rom: may be version of website, higher grade on that aspect, however if original presentation Hard copy: a index of 8 images - presentation is open: may use digital prints, traditional prints, create a book, sculptural presentation, etc.
Review of Artist Lectures	You will be expected to review a lecture from the Art & Design lecture series. Reviews will be submitted to WebX and should be approximately 500 words. The review should be written as though for publication - in other words, for a professional reader and you would benefit by consulting art journals and magazines for guidance. In addition to writing a review, you must respond/comment on at least two other reviews. As WebX times out, it might be a good idea to write your initial review in a word processing program and cut and paste it into webX.	Review due: week 8 Response to reviews due week 13 6pm deadline both!
Classroom participation	You will be expected to participate in class by being in class, being vocal during discussions and being active in presenting work and criticizing work. It is expected that everyone talk at least once about each person's work during crits and has at leasts one thing to contribute regarding readings or what ever subject matter is being presented. A strong discussion is comprised of varied viewpoints and tolerance for eachother's opinions. A useful crit will investigate both the strength's and weaknesses of an individual's work. Again, you will be evaluated on the quality of your participation.
Attendance	Attendance is considered as an aspect of class participation. You will be expected to be in class and on time every day. An exception to this are certain open lab days. Please check in prior to missing a lab day to ensure there is no demo rescheduled for that day. Keep in mind that you are only guaranteed lab time and contact time during class lab time and that being in lab during class time will reflect on your participation.
Grades	A quality work represents the highest level of technical and creative acheivement. Students striving for an A will demonstrate exceptional commitment to the assignments, Final project and class participation. They will work beyond the assignment expectations. A higher level of commitment and working beyond assignment expectations, along with completing all the assignments and participation as well as creative effort tends to be B quality work. Completing all assignment work on time, competently and in good order and an average level of class participation will result in a C. Incomplete, late, uncreative assignments, consistent lateness, a low level of participation or attendance may result in a D grade. Incomplete work, missed assignments, consistent lateness or absences, incomplete final will result in a failing grade. I suggest that if you feel you are in this territory, you take the responsibility to come to me to discuss the matter as soon as you are able. Students working on individual projects will have the responsibility of bringing their work in for evaluation on "in progress" days, but are also expected to set up individual meetiings on a regular basis. The more I see your work and that you are working, the better you will do in the course. Those studens who leave their work to the end, or do not demonstrate their explorations won't fare as well. I higher level of participation will be expected from the group.