Final Project - Photo Essay

Assignment Requirements:

• First pick a broad theme. For example, you might pick Macro, Wildlife, Democracy, or Responsibility. You will shoot photographs centered on this central theme. This may include camera experimentation like shutter speeds, HDR, aperture adjustments, or photomerges.

• Use what you've learned about photographic composition, lighting, color, lines, texture and use your camera to make an artistic statement. Each individual photo will be graded accordingly. It is imperative you showcase your ability to shoot many angles of shots with many levels of camera composition (Review composition elements and types of shots if necessary).

• Your photographs should make both a visual and emotional/political/critical/intellectual statement. Your photo essay should contain at least 9 photographs. Below each picture you will also describe the composition elements used on each photo, what you did to adjust the picture, the photo settings used, why you picked this picture, and where you took the picture.

• Your photo essay should be something unique, new, and your own view of your selected theme.

A one-page reflection is also required. In this paper you need describe what you learned during your project. What did you learn about your subject, Photoshop, and photography in general. What was easy and difficult about your project? What would you do differently if you did it again? Finally, how far along do you think you have come as a photographer this semester?

• You can shoot B & W, Color, or both. It’s your artistic choice.

• You may digitally alter your photos as necessary in Photoshop, but remember they need to remain as photographs, not modern art pieces.

• Your pictures should be printed out either 3*5 or 4*6, two to three pictures per page (contact sheet) with the exception of one photo that will be printed at 8.5 *11.

• Projects should be turned in in a presentable fashion (poster board, photo album, framed, etc) with the written reflection attached. Look at examples at the front of the room.