Here's your final (Photoshop portion)!. You should be able to do all in Bridge/Camera Raw except #6.

When you're done, upload them to Flickr! (8 total images)

You can use Google search for help but not classmates or Andy!

1. Fix the following images (basic correction including color balance, straighten, exposure, crop if needed.... )

ICubs

Protester 1

Protester 2

2. Fix skin tone color....

Skin tone

3. Fix Red Eye..... (do your best, might not be perfect)

Red Eye

4. Fix blemish under right eye...

Blemish

5. Fix the dirty sensor spot....

Sensor dirt

6. Fix exposure, saturation, contrast AND do selective color so only the purple onion in the middle is in color and the rest is black and white:

Selective color onions

Tuesday

Last week of class coming up! Tuesday we'll look to do a last lesson, then lab time -- or if you want to shoot some of your Five Senses shots in the studio, you can do that as well.
Also be sure to finalize photos for printing.

Thursday -- Last class.... look at portfolios. Have a "practical" final. Open book/Internet. :)

For tonight.....

Lawnmower

Grass

Drag each to the desktop. Open the Lawnmower first in Photoshop...............

'Final' photo assignment: Five Senses. Due our last day, July 26.

Note that these shots really need to be the 'technically' best they can be. Shouldn't be poorly focused, under/over-exposed, it should have good color balance, contrast, etc.

Ok... here's the alternate assignment instead of I-Cubs tonight.
A chance to rest your camera ;-) (unless you need to catch up on past assignments, then definitely work on that)

Your goal is to search YouTube for interesting photography tutorial videos. (You can use the search terms "photography tutorials," "photography techniques," or anything else you can think of).
Find three different interesting lessons/videos, watch them, and report what you learn in class on Thursday!

There's lots of great, informative stuff on YouTube, so good luck!

Pixel Bender plugin... (it's free). It lets you do some fun stuff including oil paint effect:

Tomorrow....

Well, the weather looks to be very HOT tomorrow..... anyone that doesn't want to brave the heat, I won't blame you... I will post an alternate assignment here that you can do at home. (If you'd rather go to the digital lab and get caught up with Photoshop work, you can do that too)

But since it doesn't look like it's getting any cooler any time soon, I will be there for anyone that wants to go.

Thursday night we'll be back at DMACC and we'll have some class and then some good time to edit.

So stay tuned for the alternate assignment.

I-Cubs info....

We're meeting at the I-Cubs game Tuesday (7/17) instead of regular class... here is the info... email/call me if you have questions!

I-Cubs & Shooting Sports

Parking:

• I-Cubs lot (pay)

• Lot across from Science Center (across West MLK)

Meet:

• Outside Gate C at 6:15-6:30pm

• If you get there late, pick up your media pass at desk inside Gate C

Media dugout:

• Stay low/behind the metal bars

• Watch out for foul balls

• Enter/exit between innings

Locations to try:

• 3rd base side dugout good for: players sliding into 2nd base, right-handed pitchers, left-handed batters, shortstop making a play, players sliding into 3rd base or home

• 1st base side dugout good for: plays at 1st base, 2nd basemen throwing to 1st base during a double play, left-handed pitchers and right-handed batters

• In the stands by 1st base good for: 2nd baseman turning double plays

• Behind home plate good for: view of pitcher and capitol

Camera:

• File: JPG Large (Fine)

• Exposure mode: Aperture priority (set f-stop to lowest number)

• Long lens is a must (over 100mm.... up to 200mm or 300mm recommended)

• Try to get shutter speed to at least 1/500 (increase ISO if needed)

• Continuous shooting mode

• Continuous focus vs single-shot focus... depends on situation

• "Pre-set" focus in manual mode (Andy will explain......)

Other tips:

• Stay safe! Watch out for foul balls.

• The media pass will let you go anywhere. 

• Don't block the view of people in their seats.

• When runner gets on first, look for action at 2nd base. Pre-set focus for 2nd base.

• Knowing the game really helps. Does the pitcher tend to strike people out or get a lot of ground balls to the shortstop? 

• Shooting isn't done when the play is done. Get the reaction and emotion of the players.

Shot checklist!

• Batter in action

• Pitcher in action

• Player sliding into base

• Infielder throwing the ball

• Fans having a good time

Sunny 16 rule mentioned in class.

File for tonight's in-class Photoshop practice. Once it is done loading, drag it to your desktop to save.

When you are done it will look something like this:

This makes learning Photoshop a game: LevelUp for Photoshop. (download, double click, and follow the instructions)

Update

I have the assignments for next week posted...

ALSO, we won't have anything due on July 17th, instead we will go shoot an I-Cubs game if the weather cooperates. I'm working on getting media passes for everyone so we can get in free.

I'll post more info about parking, etc. when we get a little closer.

Andy

I'm going to demonstrate this fun effect tonight. Try it!

"Trombone" shot practice assignment:

Exposure mode: Shutter priority

ISO: 100

Handheld or tripod

Aim for a slow exposure, like 1/2 to 1 second. The camera will set the aperture automatically.

While the camera is taking the photo, zoom in or out. Try centering your main subject before you begin.

If the aperture blinks at you, it means the shot will end up over-exposed. Some over-exposure might be fine, but if it is too bright, you'll need to bring the shutter speed down. 

Try your own (we'll try in class tonight) and post to Flickr.

Virtual volume / Blurred motion style examples

Here

Here

Here

Here

HDR

Here's tonight's handout on how to make an HDR photo.

Hi folks.. we'll meet as usual tonight but maybe get out early.

If you plan to shoot fireworks this week, here are some settings that you can try:

Shutter: .8" (more or less... that's point eight seconds, not eight seconds)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 200

If your shutter speed is too long, you won't get the nice burst effect.

Andy's selective color and vintage instructions.

A tutorial on shooting waterfalls. Ties into my suggestions about using a neutral density filter.

Tuesday July 3

Hi folks.. I know class this week overlaps with the fireworks downtown... let me know your thoughts on this.. we could either do a short class or have a field trip down there (meet downtown for anyone interested) or if no one cares we could just have normal class.

Thanks

Andy

Final Project: Photo book or Portfolio

The purpose of this project is to gain experience with an online printing service, examine the differences between your photographs on an LCD screen and a printed page, and practice editing and arranging your work into a cohesive printed presentation.

You have a choice between ordering a photo book or simply making a portfolio of your best photos, 8"x10" size.

 Step 1: Identify photos from past assignments you'd like to include in the book. Obviously, it should be your best work. Select a good variety of shots to show off your range of photographic skills. 

For the book, choose at least 20 photos.

For the portfolio, choose your top 12.

Step 2: Re-edit any photos that need work (exposure, color balance, etc.). If the photo is blurry or you're not happy with it, you may need to re-shoot. Don't include any photos that aren't technically well done (focus, exposure, color balance, etc.).

Note: Be sure to double check the exposure of your image. If it's slightly too dark, it will be even more dark on a printed page.

Step 3: Organize all your chosen photos into a single folder so they are easy to find. Save them as JPG files.

Step 4: 

For a photo book: Find a photo service online that offers books. There are many links on our class website. I would recommend a book roughly 8"x10" in size (some are 8"x11").

For a portfolio: Pick up a black portfolio book like this one that fits 8x10" prints. You can find them at photo, hobby, and art stores. 

Print your 12 photos either from home (if you have a good photo printer), from a local business like Wal-Mart/Target/Walgreens, or from an online service like Snapfish, Shutterfly, Smugmug, or MPix (or any other service). 

Step 5: Follow the directions on the website to create your book. Make sure you order with enough time to get here before our last class, July 31st.

This website is pretty ugly but it talks a little about fixing skin tone, as we talked about in class.

Here's another explanation.

Here's a page talking about filters (Skylight = UV).

Soon I'll post something on our final portfolio/photo book so you can start thinking about it.

Quick update

Hi folks... hope you had a good weekend. Mid-term coming up Tuesday, but I think we'll have some fun with it as we were discussing in class (although not everyone was there). So check out the study guide and come prepared, but it might not be a typical test. :) Don't worry, it should be fun... and a good way to learn.

 ALSO I want to ask people to please email and let me know if there are days coming up that you know you will be gone. For example I know a few people will be gone around July 4... please let me know again via email so I can plan. Thanks.. Andy

File for practice selections found here.

Here's a video that will give you a few ideas using the quick select tool:

Here is the study guide for the mid-term on Tuesday (6/26) next week. I'd set aside an hour and work through some of the concepts. I have page numbers for most of them. 

Seven deadly sins examples.......

Greed

Greed

Greed

Gluttony

Wrath

Lust

Lust

Sloth

Sloth

Pride

Pride

Envy

Envy

Feedback

Check your DMACC email for feedback on your photos!

File for practicing sharpening found here

You can click on the above link, then once you see the image finish downloading on the page, you can drag it to your desktop to save it.
From Bridge, navigate to the file, select it, then you'll want to click on the little "Aperture" icon to get it into Camera Raw. Double clicking will (most likely) only open it in regular Photoshop.

Examples of upcoming assignments:

Song Title

Silhouette

Silhouette

Silhouette

Painting with Light

Painting with Light

Painting with Light

Unusual Composition

Reminder... no class 6/7 and 6/12 ... we'll have at least 90 minutes for editing when we come back on 6/14 but the computer lab will be open the days we don't have class if you want to edit.
Thanks!

Sorry it took a while but here is the link to download the slides from lecture 1.

If it says it can't scan for viruses, click download anyway and it should work.

Colors assignment

Sorry for the confusion.. at one point in the colors assignment sheet it said 4 photos but it should be 6 total.

Andy

Ok... digital camera sensor sizes.

This link talks a bit about what I mentioned briefly in class on Tuesday when we were talking about lenses.

The idea is that different digital cameras have different size sensors... and the same lens will look different when attached to two different sensor sizes.

I think everyone in class has an APS-C size sensor, which is a little smaller than a 35mm size sensor. There are pros and cons to this.

This is pretty cool... SLR camera simulator.

Here are some tips on studio lighting.

Here's a nice little video explaining aperture, shutter, and ISO......

Thanks for the good class tonight... THANK YOU for bearing with me with the technical difficulties and trying to get everyone on the same page.
Chapter 1&2 next week, shooting assignments are on the right hand side, and bring questions, if any!!

Notes on gear/equipment

As far as storing your photos and taking them with you... you don't need a HUGE hard drive for this particular class, but, say, if you want something that you could also back up your home photos, something like this:

Hard Drive

Would be good. 500 GB Is way more than enough for this class... and would probably be plenty to back up your home computer.

My recommendation is always have 3 copies of your family photos. Preferably one copy off-site.

For class, 2 copies (one on the computer, one on the hard drive/USB drive) is good.

A cheaper option is something like this:

USB Drive

A USB drive, that you can get 16 or 32 or 64 GB. You might not be able to get EVERY photo onto something like this, but just the ones you think are the best. The storage isn't as large as the hard drive.

You can find them at Best Buy or Wal-Mart, I imagine. Brand shouldn't really matter.

I also mentioned Drop Box as a back-up option. Note that you only get about 2 GB for free (unless they increased it recently).

This is the flash adapter... you don't need one but they are very handy if you are in the photo program so you don't have to borrow mine or Curt's. :)

Also, here is a link to a map to H.B. Leiserowitz in downtown Des Moines, just F.Y.I.

What else did I say I would link to?

Edit: Tripods!

Something like

This

or

This would be solid options. Again, if you spend $30 on a tripod from Best Buy, it's not going to be a pleasant experience. We might have some at DMACC people can borrow as well.

WELCOME

Welcome Summer 2012 ART 186 students!

It's fun to see what people in class have done already (if anything.. I know a lot of people are just beginning with photography) so if you have an online presence for your photographs, (website, Flickr, etc) feel free to post a link in the comments!