FINAL PROJECT/SERIES

•8 digital images, a series
(the series should be worked on over a period of time, not from just one shoot)
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/lensculture-editors-13-favorite-conceptual-photography-series-from-2014  to get you thinking

A photographic series is a group of photographs that are taken with the intention of being presented as a cohesive set. The photographs in a series are typically related to one another in some way, whether it be through a common theme, location, or subject matter, to tell a story, or convey a message.

You will work one idea for many weeks, maybe even years. The idea will be conceptually/subject based, defined by your interests. These interests will fuel research. The research will fuel the image-making process. You will evaluate the images as you create. You will strive to make additional images that grow the idea, not repeat what you have made. The idea can grow or change as you create your series. The series can break into sub-series. Be open to where the work goes without letting the journey slow you down. Start making today!

Technical Skills:
Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, Focus, Composition, Concept, Research.

Objective:
You will use your photographic skills to show the viewer the importance of your concept. All photographs must be technically proficient.
-To demonstrate the skills acquired during the past 15 weeks.
-To demonstrate proper exposure.
-To demonstrate compositional skills.
-To show a cohesive body of work.
(A series of images held together by subject, style, color, content, etc.)
Only work photographed by YOU and shot this semester will be accepted for the final project.
You may not use images turned in for other projects or classes.
(You do not have to use every skill learned this semester. Use the appropriate skill for what you are trying to say with your images)

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Conceptual Goals:
- Where has the idea come from and where do you hope to take it?
- What work has influenced you?
- Has the idea come from a certain tradition or genre?
- What photographers or artists have influenced you, your work?
- Is this related to your project?
- What question or issue do you wish to explore?
- Is there a problem you want to investigate?
- Why should it be important to the viewer?
- How does the idea link to broader fields such as sociology, anthropology, economics, cultural geography, psychology? You may also make links to the humanities such as literature, poetry, history, philosophy, music, art.
- What related readings and research do you plan to do?
- From what other sources will you gather information?
-Creativity, what are your passions?

Contextual Strategy:
- If your work relies on the cooperation of others, you should explore how you are going to obtain this cooperation, and have a backup plan if this fails.
- Who is your audience? How do you expect them to respond to the work?
- If you are shooting out of town over one weekend, what happens if you do not get the number of images you need? What is your backup plan?
- Create a timeline with finish dates for each stage of the project.

Technical Goals:
- Camera, format, lens?
- Black and white, color, alternative process, traditional darkroom prints, pigment prints?
Digital techniques, darkroom techniques?
- Quantity and Dimensions of Artwork to be Produced:
- How many pieces will you create per week?
- When will you start making proof prints/work prints? This is crucial for sequencing the work.
- When should you start working on final prints, matting and framing work, or putting the book together?

Final Presentation: - If you wanted to move past the computer file. Not required for this class.
- Prints, size, paper?
- Mats, size, thickness, color (white)?
- Bleed mount? On what substrate?
- Book: Print on demand or handmade?
- Website?
- Mixed media presentation?
- Presentation Box: Purchased or handmade?
• Order samples of mat board, book paper, printing paper, anything you can think of in advance. These samples may alter your final presentation.

The Budget:
Cost to make this series?
- Include materials, travel, anything that has a cost. Don’t forget about your time.

This is also the starting point for writing your artist statement.

What is your timeline to get this project done?

-Start with a concept.
What do you want to say as a photographer/artist. What do you want you viewer to feel, experience? Think about how to emphasizes the idea or concept behind the image how will you use the techniques and elements learned this semester, such as composition, lighting, and post-processing, to bring your concept to life. Explore the use of symbolism, metaphor, to convey your ideas within the imagery.

-Make good exposures in camera.
-Compose the work in camera. You can crop to refine your vision, but cropping pixels limits the size you might want to print down the road so use as much of that sensor as you can, get in close, fill the frame. remember the rules of composition. have fun making your images.

A video to inspire you:
Getting started thinking about your final portfolio  http://goo.gl/SGqQeb

Turn in on Canvas:
•8 JPG images. Native size from your capture device (camera).
•All work must be properly exposed.
•All work must show strong compositional elements.
•All images must be edited in LRM  - Photoshop if you have the skills.
•Cloning or healing if needed.
•Use a profile, color or black and white. Use a preset if desired.
•Submit a Lightroom URL for the project.
•Title your series in the LR Album
•Title the images in your LR Album
•Place the images in the order you would liked them viewed in the LR Album
•In Share and Invite, turn on Anyone Can View.
•In the Link Settings, turn on, Show Metadata - Show Location - Allow JPG Downloads.
•All images must have metadata included.

Submit a Word file through Canvas along with your Lightroom URL. Do not submit this in the comments.
•List the images by title. You can include the images in your word document - But the images must be submitted in a Lightroom Album
•For each image discuss shooting techniques, thoughts from the shoots, your research to get to the final project and any conceptual ideas in the series.
•For each image describe how you edited the image - Apps used - Goal for editing each image - If the image was cropped and why.
•The title of your series. Your series could be untitled but tell me why it is untitled.
•An artist statement. The concept of your series, why is it a series? What holds the images together?
•What photographic category your work falls into?
•What camera and lens did you use for each image? 
•How many images did you shoot to get your final 8?
•How many shoots did you work for the final project
•Include your name, class, and time at the top of the Word Document.

Photographic Category:
These are a few, your work may fit into more than one category!
•Fine Art •Conceptual •Abstract •Surreal •Constructed
•Portraiture •People •Fashion
•Journalism •Documentary •Street Photography
•Architecture
•Landscape •Nature •Wildlife •Pet
•Still Life, Studio, Tabletop, Food, Product, etc
•Wedding
•Sports •Action •Aerial •Underwater
•Night
•Macro •Close-up
•Commercial
 

Great books to get you thinking:
Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to Understanding Images [Paperback]
--Terry Barrett
http://www.amazon.com/Criticizing-Photographs-Introduction-Understanding-Images/dp/0767411862

The Elements of Photography: Understanding and Creating Sophisticated Images [Paperback]
Angela Faris Belt (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Photography-Understanding-Creating-Sophisticated/dp/0240809424/ref=pd_sim_b_26

Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art [Paperback]
John Szarkowski
http://www.amazon.com/Looking-Photographs-Pictures-Collection-Museum/dp/0870705156/ref=pd_sim_b_92

Why People Photograph [Paperback]
Robert Adams
http://www.amazon.com/Why-People-Photograph-Robert-Adams/dp/0893816035/ref=pd_sim_b_2

It is best to turn in the work early. The system can glitch with potentially 40,000 students turning in work all at once.
No late projects will be accepted. Canvas will lock submissions at 11:59PM the day the Project is DUE.