Multimedia Fest Poster 2 + Questions

Why is it good?

This poster is more complex. It provides a different viewing experience as we are using more advanced techniques. It is a lot easier to look at and the font is more spaced out. 

Why is it better than the last one?

We are now more advanced in our techniques. We have googled how to make our poster better and use more of the resources (tools in Photoshop). Additionally, more time on this poster made us realize what the best position of the text is. The last one was more rushed and more of a random combination of text and images thrown together. 

What did you do to create it?

We tried to make a different background with the gradient. We used the info and positioned the text carefully to make it aesthetically pleasing. Then, we tried to make the title information sideways to give a different effect. Then, with the photos, we blurred the edges using a feather radius to make it go into the background. Then, we used the pinch effect to make it seem as though the photos were coming out of the laptop. We used arrows and lines to connect these to draw it in to the laptop screen.

Movie Monday - The Photo League

Ordinary Miracles - The Photo League

1. What was The Photo League's credo?
   Social change can be achieved through documentary photography and an emotional connection to the subject.
2. What organization did The Photo League separate from?
   The original organization was called the Film and Photo League. A group called Frontier Films split off from the group and the original group was renamed the Photo League.
3. What was the workshop?
   The workshop was an in depth study and look into New York's recreation group. 
4. Who taught "the workshop?"
   Sid Grossman taught the workshops.
5. If you were to devote one year of your life to one project, what project is worth your time and energy?
   I would devote one year of my life to improving access to a proper education for younger girls in a country that lacks the proper resources to do so.
6. What was The Harlem Document?
   It was a collection of Siskind's photos that documented the lifestyles of the people of Harlem- from street scenes to a view of their houses.
7. Who started The Harlem Document?
   Aaron Siskind started the Harlem Document.
8. A photographer discusses a photograph where "the children looked like they came out of a __________ painting. Who was the painter?
   Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
9. Why did the photograph mentioned in #8 look like it was by the painter?
   The scene was illuminated by the sun similar to the lighting in the painter's paintings.
10. Who was Lewis Hine? (name two significant contributions)
    He was a member of the Photo League. He was a pioneering social photographer- he basically invented the type of photography the Photo League members used. He first followed immigrants from Ellis Island to NY and recorded their conditions. He also photographed the expansion of the steel construction industry by showcasing the positive skill and dedication of the American worker. He was the official photographer of the Empire State Building.
11. Who was Weegee?
    He was the weirdest member of the Photo League. He specialized in photographing murder and mayhem. He used to be a dark room technician.
12. How did The League change when The Nazis took power?
    When the Nazi's took power, there was an influx of gifted refugee photographer from other countries. 
13. How did The League change during WWII?
    Females started to run the Photo League more during WWII. Most males were enlisted in the armed forces and even focused on war photography. 
14. How did Siskind change after WWII?
    After WWII, he started to look for meaning in the inanimate forms he saw around him. He could have been looking for some sense of calmness in his art in the chaos of the war
15. What was the Evening post? it was a magazine that published twice a month, then changed to publish once then twice a week.
16. Who was Barbara Morgan? What did she photograph?
    She was an early member of the Photo League that is known for photographing dancers. 
17. What eventually undermined the Photo League?
    FBI informants testified that the Photo League was a front organization for the Communist Party during Red Scare.
18. What was the "Growing Menace" mentioned in the film?
    Fascism was the Growing Menance.
19. Who agreed to serve as President when The League was under investigation?
    Harry Truman was serving as president. 
20. What happened to the league?
    The League disbanded due to the accusations of communism.

Multimedia Festival Poster

Linkin Park Concert Poster

Period 3 - Semester Final

1. What is your favorite photo from this Lens slideshow? Provide three reasons that it is your favorite.
   My favorite photo is photo number 7 of the synchronized swimming routine. I like how the swimsuits match in color with the water, so the whole photo is predominately blue, with hints of white. I also believe that this shot was framed very well with the lead swimmers closer to the top, the secondary swimmer behind, and the water as a thick border around them. Finally, I like the sense of motion and underwater depth that this conveys with the white water near the swimmers' legs and their blurred bodies. Overall, this combination of factors that make this photo excellent is what makes it my favorite.
    
2. Which photo is the best from the slideshow? Provide three reasons.
   I believe that photo number 6 of the car in the desert is the best photo. My first reason is that the framing draws your attention directly to the subject of the photo, the car. There are no unnecessary objects in view. Secondly, I believe the color theme is very strong- there are only three main shades of sky blue, the car's blue, and the yellow of the desert. Finally, I believe the blurred motion brings a sense of emotion and excitement to the photo. It is easy to tell that they are driving to something, like the desert speedweek.I believe the simplicity and clarity of this photo makes it the best; the other photos do not convey so much with so little.
   
3. What is your best work this semester? Include the blog link. Give three reasons why this is your best work. If you had more time, how would you do to improve the project.
   I believe my album recreation is my best work of the semester. This photo is the culmination of what I have been working on improving this semester. The square framing of this photo gives any viewer a direct target to look at. Additionally, having it in black and white takes away any distractions and brings out the depths and shadows of this photo. Finally, I believe the posing of the model gives the viewer different ways to interpret her expression- what is she looking at? how is she feeling? If I had more time, I would change her body language as the singer was looking more into the camera. Additionally, I would research to see if more shadows could be brought out to make the photo more dramatic in black and white.
   
4. You chose three rules of composition. What are your three rules?
   
   1. Perspective: take photos from a different POV than what people see normally to create interest
   http://digital-photography-school.com/using-depth-of-field-and-perspective-for-better-composition/
   2. Reflection: use mirrors and natural reflectors (sources of water) to bring symmetry to the photo
   http://photoinf.com/General/John_Harvey/Learn_Composition.htm
   3. Texture: find different backgrounds to make the subject stand out more, or find backgrounds with interesting patters to become the main part of the photo
   http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/3372/18-composition-rules-for-photos-that-shine/
   
5. Select one of your own photos that illustrates your ability to apply at least two of the three rules. Insert the photo into the post and label the picture. Clearly include the two rules of composition that you are using.
   The two rules of composition that I am using are texture and perspective. This photo shows a different viewpoint of the tree, looking up this way truly helps a viewer understand the magnitude of its size. The trunk of the tree provides an interesting mottled texture that also carries over into the branches, nothing is smooth. The leaves high up also look more needle-like than the regular leaves. 

   

   Tallest Tree
   

6. I have three rules of composition. I have explained one already. What is my first rule?
   Your first rule is to get closer to the subject of choice. It is better to make the subject very comfortable while talking to them, and take their photo at a close range to get a natural shot. A lack of comfort can make the shot awkward, or even ruin it. Conversing personally makes the subject more loose and more likely to give you a more open, more emotional photo.
   
7. What are the benefits of working in groups? Provide a list with five benefits.
   - Each person brings a different perspective on how to approach a problem
   - There is bound to be at least one other person in the group that understands the direction.
   - Working in groups makes activities more enjoyable and relaxed.
   - Every person is creative in their own ways and can come up with fresh ideas.
   - With groups, you are able to accomplish more together than anyone would alone without help.
   
8. What are the difficulties of working in groups? List five difficulties.
   - Every person has a different style of working.
   - Not every person in the group contributes the same amount of work.
   - Some members of the group may not listen and you are forced to explain directions to them.
   - Each person may place importance and priority on different topics.
   - There are many different ideas on what way is the best way to complete a task.
   
9. What is your favorite work product produced by another person in this class? Provide the link to their work.
   Priyanka's photo number 4 is my favorite work product produced by another person. I really like the way she edited the photo to have good contrast and be in black and white.

A little history

10. You studied a master photographer and reproduced his or her work. Who was the photographer? What did the photographer contribute to the field of photographer? List one significant contribution.
My photographer was Clarence H. White that photographed a lot of portraits of woman and children. He opened the Clarence H. White School of Photography, which was the first educational institute to teach photography as an art form to students. He inspired his students to have their own photographic style and interpretation when approaching any photographs.

11. What is Dorothea Lange's most popular photo? (Does the photo have a name?) Where was the photo taken? When? What agency employed Dorothea when she took the photo?
Her most famous photo is "Migrant Mother" of a tired-looking mother with her two children.The photo was taken in Nipomo, California in a community of migrant farm laborers. The photo was taken in March 1936. Dorothea Lange was employed by the Resettlement Administration.  

12. Who was the creator/founder of Life Magazine? When did the (photojournalism) magazine begin publishing?
Life Magazine was founded by John Ames Mitchell and Andrew Miller. It first began publishing on January 4, 1883.

13. Robert Capa was a founding member of what organization? What year did the organization start?Capa was a founding member of Magnum Photos in Paris. The organization started in 1947.

14. Robert Capa took the photo known as "Falling Soldier." When and where did he take the photo?
The photo Falling Soldier was taken by Robert Capa on Septer 5, 1936. He took it on the battlegrounds of the Spanish Civil War in Spain.

Album Cover Recreation

Album Cover Being Recreated: Patti Smith - Horses

Inspired by a Master- Clarence H. White

Photo 1:

 Before

After 

Editing: convert to black and white, change hue to yellow/orange, increase saturation, increase exposure, change green primary lower to a more yellow, reduced sharpness

Photo 2:

 Before

 After 

Editing: change to greyscale, decrease the temperature, contrast increase, increase the greens, decrease the oranges, increased the balance, added yellow highlights, added yellowish shadows

Photo 3:

 Before

After 

Editing: change to greyscale, increase the purples, add yellow highlights, increase the contrast, decrease the whites, decrease the blacks, increase the greens

Photo 4

 Before

After 

Editing: change to greyscale, decrease contrast, decrease shadows, sharpen clarity, increased red primary, increase yellows, increase oranges, change shadow hues to red, increase saturation of red

Photo 5

 Before

After 

Editing: increase red primary hue, increase contrast, decrease shadows, decrease clarity, decrease sharpening

About the Photographer:

Clarence H. White lived from 1871 to 1925. He grew up in rural Ohio but then later moved to New York City in order to pursue photography more and meet with other of similar interests. Due to his job, he photographed at dawn and during dusk. Most of his subjects were women and children, and he liked to capture them in the private moments, with not much of a focus on their surroundings. Most of his photos have a sort of red-ish or brown tinge due to the material he used. He was unique because of his focus on just capturing people straightforwardly. His photos are very simple but intriguing. 

My View:

I chose this photographer because I liked the simplicity of his style. He just straightforwardly and purely captures people in very natural lighting. He inspired me to learn how to work more on my portrait styles. As the project progressed, I became more interested in softer lines and how to frame the subject matter in interesting ways.