Can you believe it? It's our last class of the year! It has been a strange and crazy year, but has been good. I have learned a lot and I hope you feel the same. I wish that we could end the year with a big critique and a party, but in a distance learning environment that is not possible.
Remember that Friday, May 22nd is the last acceptable day for work to be turned in. Most of you have done a fantastic job at getting things in and caught up. The work, for the most part looks good and I have seen great progress this year. If you need any last minute assistance or have questions, please reach out and let me help. Also, if you have not yet returned your equipment, please do so ASAP! I sincerely hope that you have a great end to your year and that your summer break is fantastic! I hope to see you all again in the fall! Here we are, the last week of class. Can you believe it? It has come so fast, at least for me it has. It has certainly not been a normal year, but it has been good. I have seen great growth and progress, and that is what education is all about!
With just 2 class periods left, don't by any means think it is too late to get things done. Friday is the last acceptable date, so if you have missing work or your grade is not what you would like it to be, get on it today! Email or message me your questions and we can work together to get done what needs done. This morning, please check Power School and then make a plan for the week. Post your plan on Padlet, then get to work! Here are the Padlet links for each class: 1A: https://padlet.com/ /1A0823 1B: https://padlet.com/tmoffett/1bq1 2B: https://padlet.com/tmoffett/2bq1 4B: https://padlet.com/tmoffett/4bq1 MAKE SURE YOUR CAMERAS ARE TURNED IN ASAP! They were due last Wednesday. Make an appointment by emailing the office staff at [email protected] and then drop it off at the school. Class on Zoom today! We will discuss some of the characteristics of light and how paying attention to light will make all the difference in your photographs. A great scene in poor light generally makes a poor photograph, whereas an average looking scene with great light can make a fantastic image. As the great photographer Dewitt Jones would say, it is all about making the ordinary look extraordinary.
Learn to see. Learn to see light. Then learn to predict light and your photography will take another step forward. I think that learning to see light is more important than anything else in photography. If the light is exciting, I can overlook a few other small flaws because it really is all about light. Remember, all cameras must be returned by Wednesday! Please email the secretaries at [email protected] to schedule your drop off time. We will be looking at and discussing these two images in class.
“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” ~George Eastman”
For class today, I want you to first watch this short video on light. Kind of an interesting guy, but most of his points are on the money when he talks about and shows examples of the different qualities of light. Think about what he teaches and how it relates to our current project on light and how it can affect your photography. After watching the video, respond in an email to me with what you feel are the top three things that he taught about light. Then go out and make some pictures! Here is another great video on Quality of Light: We will have a short class meeting today on Zoom to go over the last few weeks of school and what the expectations are. There is a new project posted in Assignments called "Lighting Challenge." This project is designed to give you a workout with lighting. You have two weeks to complete this challenge. The intent in giving you two weeks is not to have you procrastinate, but to really explore the subject of light. If you remember, the word photography means drawing with light. Understanding light is paramount to consistently creating great photographs. The more you understand it, the better you will be as a photographer. So let's get started and have some fun!
If you choose not to take on this challenge, then I expect you to make up one of the 3rd quarter projects that is either missing or that you would like to improve on. We have three weeks total to finish up the year, so let's get moving and finish strong! All cameras must be turned in by May 13th. Please email the secretaries ahead of time at [email protected] to let them know when you will be at the school to return them. Project Due Today!!
One project, either the Response to Covid-19 or a third quarter replacement project should be turned in today. Remember when you create and share an album to turn in, only submit the correct number of pictures. I don't need to see everything that you shoot, just the edited final images. I am available today for questions as well. Please message/email me and if needed I can set up a Zoom call. For class today, I want you to photograph. Make pictures. Don't be lazy, just get out an do it!. Your project is due on Friday, so use today to shoot your pictures, and then on Thursday and Friday you can sort and develop them. If you have questions, I will be available during your class period, before and after school to answer them. All you have to do is message me and we can chat through the problem or I can set up a meeting on Zoom. Whichever is bet. Here is one little tip to help your photography improve. Look at the two pictures below. Can you tell what the difference is? Let me walk you through the process of creating this image. One evening I was out at Lake Lowell and came across this tree. I thought it to be an interesting composition, so I set my camera up and over the course of a few minutes made this first image. It isn't a bad photograph, but not totally what I was feeling. I then started observing the scene more closely. The light was a bit flat, as the overcast sky completely diffused the sunlight. I noticed, however a small break in the clouds right at the horizon. I knew that if I waited a few minutes for the sun to drop in the western sky, that the light would completely change. So I waited. Fourteen minutes. Then I took this picture. The two pictures don't even look the same. Learn to read the light, then be patient and wait for the light. That is what makes a great image. Patience is one of the most important attributes that a great photographer must develop. Oftentimes you only need to wait a minute, other times an hour or more. As you practice, you'll get better at reading the light and knowing, and even predicting when the light will change. It really is just a matter of practice.
Now go out and take some pictures! Your assignment for today is to get out and make some pictures! You should be working on either the Covid-19 Project or a missing assignment from Quarter 3. Either way, you need pictures. Remember, for the Covid-19 project, just carry your camera all the time and document the changes that you see as a result of the virus. People wearing masks, empty streets and parking lots, people shut in (you and your families) due to the stay at home order, etc. There is visual evidence all around us that life has been changed.
Many of you are still have not turned in the Patterns project. Please get that in ASAP! If you need assistance, please message me and I will walk you through the process. Remember that by completing as few as three of the distance learning project you can significantly increase your grade. I want you all to use today's class time to get out and photograph! A few of you still need to make photographs for the Color project. The rest should be working on Pattern. Both of these can be accomplished by taking a "Photo Walk" and looking for the pictures. Learn to be observant and really take in what you see. Take an almost meditative approach to your photography and you will find interesting and meaningful pictures everywhere.
I will be available during your class times to answer questions and problem solve. If you still haven't shared a collection or album from Lightroom, please do so today. There are tutorials available for you or you can message me and I can walk you through it. Don't procrastinate! The longer you wait the more pictures you miss! Class will begin with a short Zoom meeting to check in with everyone as to where we are, resolve any problems or struggles we may have encountered, as well as show you where to find the new Lightroom Tutorials. Also, the new project is posted in the Assignment section of the web site and we will discuss that as well. Be looking for the email with your invitation to the Zoom session.
Also, I have been very impressed with most of you. The work has been coming in. I know it has been a struggle at times getting things working right, but you have persevered and conquered! A few of you are still working on getting things going. Please don't procrastinate. We are well into the quarter and need to be working. If you need some extra assistance, stay on the zoom call until the end and I will entertain any questions that you may have. If needed, we can set up individual calls to get things ironed out. I look forward to seeing you all online! |
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Mr. Moffett Archives
May 2020
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