intro

Welcome to the blog site for Stan Strembicki's Digital Photo I class. Class assignments and notes for the semester will be posted here as well as student work.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Ben's Decisive Moment

Jeanette Decisive Moment

Melody's decisive moment

Meagan's Decisive Moment

Miki's Decisive Moment(s) at Mardi Gras!


Caitlin's Decisive Moments



Decisive moment

Jen Locke's Third Assignment


Kelly's Third Assignment

Street Photography Sara

Mariam's Decisive Moment and Environmental Portrait

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Environmental Portrait Assignment #4

“The subject must be thought of in terms of the 20th century, of houses he lives in and places he works, in terms of the kind of light the windows in these places let through and by which we see him every day.”


                                                        "Willie The Lion Smith"  by Arnold Newman 1960

 Simply put, an environmental portrait is a portrait of a person that includes enough of the environment around that person to provide context that helps the viewer understand more about the defining characteristics of the subject.  One of the keys to a successful environmental portrait is that the portion of the scene included in the frame should be "representative" of the environment or context you want the viewer to associate with the subject.  The relative importance of the subject to the environment is also important in defining an "environmental portrait."  The subject should be the most prominent element in the scene, with the surrounding elements providing strong supporting context.  If you are too close to your subject to include enough of the environment, then the image simply becomes a normal portrait.  On the other hand, if the subject is so small in the frame that other elements become more prominent, or viewers cannot discern the defining characteristics of the subject, then the image would be better classified as something other than an environmental portrait.

"Baker" August Sander

Shoot a minimum of 50 images/frames. You can shoot this assignment at a number of locations and even on different days. The subject must be part of the process and may include others, no candid photos of random people you have not met however! No animals or no humans under the age of 14 year as primary subject matter.

Submit one print, any size for in class critique on MARCH 1.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Rori Assignment 2: Motion/Focus




Sorry this post is late! But here are my two favorite photo's from the last assignment.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Assignment #3 Street photography & the decisive moment

You must milk the cow a great deal, to get enough milk, to make a little bit of cheese”
Henri Cartier-Bresson



There come certain moments in our lives when any number of forces (both those we can control and those we can’t) merge together.  Everything comes together as if fate had planned it that way.  To simplify this in a phrase; being in the right place at the right time.

The French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson describes this sensation in his work as being “The Decisive Moment”.  A point in time and space when those forces (people, buildings, autos, animals, shapes, forms, weather etc.) arrange themselves in front of his camera to present a complete statement, both visually and emotionally.  Everything is revealed with perfect clarity.

But this is a very quick and fleeting moment.  The power created by all these forces dissolves as quickly as it arises.  Cartier-Bresson sees it as his responsibility as a photographer to be aware of such moments and to photograph them at precisely “the decisive moment”.

Your assignment, shoot at least 50 photos of these decisive moments you find in your world.  These are best found outdoors and in situations where there are lost of people around.  Use ISO 400 speed setting and try to use higher shutter speeds if your subjects are moving, around 250-500 of a second.

Carry your camera in the ready mode, that is pre-focused and the exposure controls adjusted for the lighting situation you are in.  Try concentrating on the three basic elements (time, space, and objects in space, like people).  Observe their interaction.  You skill will increase with practice and timing is everything.

Turn in a minimum of one print that best presents the idea of the decisive moment. The print may be of any size.

For more information, check out the works of Cartier-Bresson in the art and architecture library and the works of Elliot Erwitt and Gray Winnogrand two other photographers who deal with these elements.

The in class crit for this assignment is FEBRUARY 23!



Thursday, February 2, 2012

Amanda's Movement image

I had a harder time with this one. I think partly because it was inside at night so there was not adequate light. Hence the noise. This image was taken with an ISO of 1600, F3.3 and shutter speed 1/20. I found the faster the shutter speed, the better you could see the pedals, crank and spokes of the rear wheel while they were in motion. However most of the images with a faster shutter speed were too dark/underexposed.

Amanda's Focus image

This was taken with an ISO 100, F3.5, shutter speed 1/1250.

Meagan's 1st Assignment




Melody- motion & focus


Casey Friedman's photo assignment numba two


christmas lights in dorm/ grass at forest park yerrr

Sara Focus

Ben Levinsky Assignment 2


Jeanette's Second Assignment


Kelly's Second Assignment


Miki's Assignment #2 Motion and Focus


Meagan's Assignment #2