The Least Seen Side of Mahopac

Holga Project

The Holga is a cheap, plastic camera that is produced in China.  It is the stepsister of the Diana Camera which was used extensively by photographers in the 1970’s . Poor quality control, a plastic lens and light leaks are the hallmarks of these cameras.

After the Crash, Manny Boccini 

Given their shortcomings, “toy cameras” can take some evocative imagery. The image is usually sharper in the center and quickly goes out of focus in the corners of the square image. Sometimes the corners are darker as well, creating a vignette effect. 

Saugerties Lighthouse

The gritty, semi-focused look is perfect for our next assignment, The "Less Seen" side of Mahopac. Look for the junk, old cars, run-down buildings etc. This isn't about the lake front homes and tidy shops, it's about the dark underbelly of Mahopac. Look for dumpsters, old pallets, loading docks. There is alot out there if you start to look!

Process:

Shooting a Holga is extremely easy, but you must follow these basic steps. I'll load it and tape it for light leaks. You will take 3 exposures and pass the camera on to the next person in your group. (4 people)

1.  Try to shoot in Bright Sunshine or Cloudy Bright situations.
2. Guess the focus distance and turn the focus ring to the appropriate icon.
3. 3. Set the aperture to the Sun (F11) or Partial Sun(F8) setting.
4.  Frame your image.
5. Hold the camera steady and press the shutter release. Do not shake, the shutter speed is only 1/60 of a second.
6. Your group will develop it's film. (I’ll load the 120mm film for you.)
7. Make an 8x8" enlargement. 
8. Dry mount your image.

Focus Ring estimated distances.

• Head and Shoulders: about 4-5 feet.
• 3 People holding hands: about 9 feet.
• 7 People: about 18 feet.
• Mountain: 30 feet to infinity.

Photoshop Custom Border

Photobooth Cutout

You probably have a memory of being photographed in a wooden cutout at a fair or maybe a historic site. Recently my little sister celebrated her 50th Birthday. She was born in 1967, so my older sister made this cutout of a VW bus for us to take celebration photos. Hey, this would be a cool project for my Photography class!

Some ideas

Cowboys
Mahopac Indian
Dancers
Astronauts
Horror Movie Creatures
Cartoon Character
Animals
With someone famous.

Procedure

1. Work in groups of two or three. You choose your partners. Choose wisely!
2. Outline image in pencil on a 30x40 inch piece of foam-core.
3. Cut out opening for face and exterior shape using an x-acto knife. Always cut away form your hands. Make sure you use a sharp blade!
4. Paint with acrylics.
5. You may decide to outline the edges with a super thick sharpie.
6. Photograph at least 5 different people using your "Cutout".  Post to your blog. Ask for permission before posting a subjects image. 

Digital Panning

Original

Panning Effect

Digital Infrared

Original

Infrared Effect

Digital Spot Color

Digital Solarization

Digital Solarization is as simple as pushing a couple of buttons (Filter/Stylize/Solarize). You may want to brighten your image (Image/Adjustment/Brightness-Contrast).

Therese

Bailey

Bailey Color

Digital Posterization

Posterization is a process where a full tonal image is reduced to  fewer values. Sometimes the image is black and white. These images have a strong graphic quality.

Assignment: Select an image from the camera roll on your smartphone. Use Photoshop to create 4 different posterized images.

Original

Posterize

Contrast

Levels

Curves

Three Part Portrait

This project is inspired by the work of photographer Adde Adesokan. Click on the link and look at the "triptych" portraits of this photographer. 

Assignment:

Your assignment is to create a Triptych Portrait of the individual of your choice. It's important that you include face, hands and feet in your image. The three parts should tell you something about the individual. You may want to include something (a prop) that helps you tell the subjects story. (ie. The baseball bat and cleats on my Son's image).

1. I used "Stich Pic", a free App, to combine my three images. You may use another App if you prefer. You don't have to break the image into three horizontal parts. Use your best judgement to make an interesting composition.
2. You may use different filters to change the image. I used an App called "Snapseed" to make Therese's image black and white and then increased the contrast.

Therese

Emilia

Manny IV

Letter Project

This is an observation project. We "Look" at the world around us but don't often "See" the interesting detail. This assignment will force you to see the everyday and mundane in a different light.

1. You may choose a word that represents a strong emotion like "love". You may use your own name, but the letters should be representative of who you are.
2. It is possible to construct letters out of objects if you desire. (Notice that the letters in the word create are made up of art materials). 
3. Using a digital camera, take photographs of the "letters" that make up your word. Each photo should be recognizable as a particular letter.
4. A cell phone camera is satisfactory if the resolution is high enough.
5. The images will need to be scaled in Photoshop. Determine size based on the number of letters in the word. (3x3 inches is typical) Make sure the "constrain proportion" button is selected when scaling.
6. Dry mount the letters on matte board. Place in the press for 20 seconds. (Longer will melt the image)

Due Date: 5/4/15

Reflections (Film)

Before starting this assignment, take a look on the world wide web for examples of photographs using reflections. This should jumpstart your imagination and give you inspiration for your own images.

Consider the many reflective surfaces availible to you:

• Store windows
• Sunglasses
• Lakes, ponds and even puddles.
• Mirrors

Don't limit yourself. Remenber reflection is something that we all do. How can you photograph someone being "reflective".

Make one 5x7 enlargement and dry mount it on matte board.

Paramount Theater, Peekskill, NY

World of Wings, Teaneck, NJ

Recreate a Famous Painting

Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earing

I'm always looking for new ideas for a photograph. Last year when searching the web for ideas, I came upon Two Bored Coworkers Recreate Famous Paintings Using Their Office Supplies. Wow, I'll have to try this in my Photography class! Like usual, I test the project first. I solicited the help of my favorite model to try my hand at recreating Vermeer's famous image.

Like the Bored Coworkers, I limited myself to my Iphone 5C and stuff that was around the house. T is wearing my revolutionary war farmer's smock. The blue scarf is a pillow case and the scarf came from her closet. The earring was a donation for her "Earrings for Encouragement" project. She hopes to give earrings to the many woman who finish their breast cancer treatments at Vassar Hospital.

I used a large china cabinet for for the background. The original was a green color, but has mellowed to look like a dark black. Lighting was a table lamp and a flexible desk lamp.

Some Art History

The Girl with the Pearl Earring is often classified as a Tronie. (Tronie is dutch for face.) A "Tronie" is a common portrait that shows an unusual facial expression. Typically, the head or bust if featured and the subject is wearing unusual or exotic clothing.

Process

• For this project we will work in teams of 2. You pick your partner.
• Your team will pick a painting out of a hat. If you want, you may trade images with another team.
• Using common everyday objects and clothing, try and recreate the famous painting.
• Think about the background...you could draw it.
• Lighting - notice the shadows in my image. I tried to closely match the original.
• Use the Focus and Exposure Lock on your camera.
• Take a lot of photos!

• Choose the best one and post it next to the original on your blog. There are a ton of Apps that will create a collage of images. I used Pic Stich to put my images together, but you can just post them to your blog.
• Your post should include information about the artist and painting. (not just names and dates) Include information about your models, location and props.

Good Luck,

Mr. B

Some Student Examples

Young Sick Bacchus, Caravaggio

Crouching Woman, Picasso

The Green Dancer, Dega

Copier Arts Assignment

Copier Arts are a new media that was created with the advent of Xerox machines and printers. Originally an artist would use copy machines to degrade and manipulate original artwork to create different effects. With the advent of scanners and photo manipulation software, copier art can be taken to a high level.

A scanner can take photographs of small three dimensional objects.



Even ugly art teachers.

We will create a Scannergram Self Portrait that incorporates a photo of ourselves, and 4 scanned ojects that reflect our persona. Additional photos and your name may be added. Here is my example. I was having a "bad" day.

Don't run with the scissors!

Post your "Scannergram" to your blog and write a brief description of your concept. Why did you choose particular objects? How do they represent you?

My example:

My self portrait is my attempt at self depreciating humor. You can't imagine the number of times I've warned kids to be careful with a scissor or x-acto knife. My family (my two kids) are the "glue" that keeps me together when I'm having a bad day. The "scissor" glasses represent how I see the world through the creation of art.

3-D Photography

3D Photography

Most of us have had the opportunity to watch a movie in 3D. Perhaps you had the opportunity to take a 3D thrill ride at Bush Gardens. Some people play 3D video games. Long before 3D movies, photographers made stereo pairs with special cameras with two lens. These "pairs" were viewed with a special Stereoscope. 

We will be making basic 3D images called "Anaglyphs". 

Anaglyph of Art Room

In order to view our images we must make 3D glasses. Here is an unusual example:

Mr. Boccini 3D Glasses.

Assignment


Using "chip board" and acrylic paint make a "custom" pair of Stereo Glasses.

• Be creative, anything from super hero's to cartoon characters make good glasses.
• Make sure to use the template so the spacing between the eyes is correct.
• Think about adding three dimensional elements. (ie. hair made of yarn)
• If you need something special, ask! You never know what kind of junk I have collected.
• The glasses may be attached to a dowel or be worn in the traditional manner. (stems over the ears)
• Consider working with other people to create a theme. (ie the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs.
• Shoot a stereo pair with the tripod and sliding mechanism.
• Use Photoshop to create your anaglyph.
• Blog a picture of you wearing your glasses.
• Blog your anaglyph.

Repetion in Photography

Repetition usually suggests boredom. Usually too much of a good thing isn't! In photography repeating objects can create wonderful patterns and textures.

• Fill your picture frame to the edge with objects. This will create the illusion of size and suggest there are many more of the object beyond the photographs edge. This is called a "Bleed".
• Any repeated objects should work. Consider the concept of "Gradation" where objects get smaller as they recede into space. 
• Try "Breaking a Pattern" by including one different object surrounded by the similar objects. This creates an area of "Emphasis"

If your haven't noticed, we are talking about some of the principles of design. Hopefully you still remember these concepts from your earlier Studio in Art experience.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT"

Shoot photographs that include the idea of "Repetition". Post your best 5 (Five) images to your blog. Caption your images like my examples below. 

Due Date: March 8th

Antique Shop, Newburyport MA

Bad Seed Cider Company, Highland NY

Innisfree Gardens, Millbrook NY

Lobster Buoys, Prince Edward Island 

Sand Patterns, Mavillette, NS 

Brown Stone Buildings, Hudson NY

Close-up Smartphone Photography

There are several ways to add macro capacity to your smartphone. Often, the native application is limited in it's ability to adjust exposure or get in close to an object. For the photo of the knife blades, I used an app called Camera+. It's macro feature allows you to get quite close to the image.  I used a headlamp as my light source. The image was edited using the "Ansel" filter.

The image below was created using the lens of a disposable camera. The lens fit comfortably between my OtterBox and Iphone 5c. (the lens can be taped on as well.) I placed the camera on a tripod and used the timer feature in Camera+ to limit camera shake. The composition is made up of some key rings, paperclips and a metal pencil sharpener.

This image was taken hand held. I rested the bottom of the camera on the table and used the headlamp (Any light source will work) to illuminate the dollar. I used the zoom to get even closer.

Your assignment is to create 5 different closeup images with your Smartphone.

Here is a photo of the rig I've built (3) to help you take your smartphone close-ups. Your phone sits on the top piece of Plexiglas and you position your camera lens over the disposable camera lens. The object you want to photograph sits on the bottom layer of Plexiglas.

The thickness of the plexiglass will cause some vignetting.

Use the zoom on your smartphone camera app to crop out the rough edges. Here is the same image "zoomed in". I used a backpacking headlamp to light the objects from below.

I switched to a red light for this image....

Make sure you bring items in to photograph!! I know you won't forget your phone. :)

There are a whole world of small objects just waiting for you to explore.

I used an app (free) called Snapseed to give this image it's rough look.

This is of the circuit board that was inside the disposable camera I "borrowed" the lens from.

In this image I placed the lens between my Otterbox and my camera. I used Snapseed to saturate the colors in the image.

I found that I eliminated the vignetting when I took my Otterbox off my Iphone. I placed a cheap ($1.00) LED light under the paper clips. I placed two sheets of blue tissue paper over the light to get the color in the background. (and diffuse the light). 

Experiment!! Have fun. 

I shot hundreds of images using these techniques.

Still adding images. This is addictive!