Categories of Photographs for Basic Portfolio

last updated 21 Jan 2001 at 6:30 pm

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Basic Porfolio Due at 8:30 am Friday, January 24th. Remember we'll be at Riverbanks Zoo on Thursday. Arrange your schedules and allow for processing time so that you will not be late on this very important assignment!

On Friday, January 24th, arrive to class no later than 8:30 am and place your labeled slides into the carousels according to categories listed below.

NICE SHOT!! a new category

Make a photograph that clearly (obvious, unmistakably, undisputably) illustrates each of the following objects or ideas.

These photographs should demonstrate your mastery of the concepts of photography which include, but are not limited to selective focus, balance, contrast, use of color, proper exposure, perspective, etc.

Each slide must be labeled with the photographer's name, category, shutter speed, aperture, and the lens employed, if known. If exposure information (shutter speed & aperture) were not recorded, write "exposure unrecorded" on the slide. Do not make up exposure information. Falsified information will be treated as academic dishonesty and will be prosecuted according to the College Handbook.

Mandatory Images
Optional Photographs
  1. oxymoron or paradox
  2. vibrant color(s) (requires knowing the properties of your film)
  3. texture (to select appropriate lighting to reveal texture)
  4. same scene under different light (at least two photographs, possibly different times of day, with/without flash, day/night, etc.)
  5. abstraction of a common object (to view an object from a new perspective)
  6. piece of driftwood provided (to compare your interpretation of a subject to that of your classmates)
  7. black/low key (to prove an understanding of the zone system)
  8. white/high key (to prove an understanding of the zone system)
  9. movement (careful use of shutter speed)
  10. selective focus (careful use of aperture, depth of focus)
  11. a pose from someone you don't know (to force you to interact with a stranger)
  12. a portrait of a person you know well, including an appropriate prop (may be on slide film or a print made from professional portrait film)
  13. architectural (to consider problems with convergent lines, angles, obstacles, etc.)
  14. exposure of longer than 1 second (to encounter camera stability and light metering problems and reciprocity failure)
  15. an emotion: love, anger, hatred, regret, remorse, sadness, pity, shame, etc.(to stimulate creativity and careful thinking so that you can write with light)
  1. intimate/tender
  2. dangerous
  3. soft
  4. delicate or rough
  5. shadow
  6. details/close-up
  7. distortion
  8. a mystery/puzzle
  9. athletic
  10. bizzare
  11. sensual/erotic
  12. luxurious

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