4/30-5/1: COMPLETING PHOTOMERGE AND ACTION SEQUENCE UNIT

Today you will edit all of your PHOTOMERGES & ACTION SEQUENCE pictures. You will turn in the following:

• Contact sheet titled PhotomergeCS:
• Due 4/30 & 5/1
• 5-6 Photomerges
• Be sure to photomerge your pictures FIRST, THEN UPLOAD THEM TO A CONTACT SHEET!!
• Highlight your best 1
• Worth 25 pts.
•  
•  Contact sheet titled ActionSeqCS:
• Due 4/30 & 5/1
• 2-3 Action Sequences
• Be sure to create a 'merged' Action Sequence in photoshop with your pictures FIRST, THEN UPLOAD THEM TO A CONTACT SHEET!!
• Highlight your best 1
• Worth 25 pts.
•  
•  PhotomergeBest:   (JPEG)
• Due 4/30 & 5/1
• Your SINGLE BEST Photomerge saved as max quality jpeg.
• Your merged image should also be edited and cleaned up. It should read a single image where everything is blended, with a strong composition and color.
• Be sure to FLATTEN before you save as a JPEG!
• Worth 100 pts.
•  
• ActionSeqBest:   (JPEG)
• Due 4/30 & 5/1
• Your SINGLE BEST Action Sequence saved as max quality jpeg.
• Your merged image should also be edited and cleaned up. It should read a single image where everything is blended, with a strong composition and color.
• Be sure to FLATTEN before you save as a JPEG!
• Worth 100 pts.
•  

 

4/28-4/29: PHOTOMERGE & ACTION SEQUENCE OFF-CAMPUS PHOTO SHOOT

Today you will go out to shoot more Photomerge and Action Sequence images. You need to be back 20 minutes before the end of class. When you return, PHOTOMERGE YOUR PICTURES,THURSDAY/FRIDAY YOU WILL UPLOAD ALL (INCLUDING YOUR HOMEWORK FROM BREAK) OF YOUR PHOTOMERGES AND ACTIONS SEQUENCES.

• Shoot 2-3 new, exciting & interesting PHOTOMERGES of different areas.
• 1-2 more ACTION SEQUENCE: at least 4-5 pictures each
•  
• PHOTOMERGE:
• Shoot 2-3 new, exciting & interesting PHOTOMERGES of different areas.
• Each photomerge should have at least 4 pictures.The do NOT have to be landscapes!
• Be sure that you take images that overlap 5-10% from your last image.
• One of your photomerges should be a more complicated photomerge where you have 2 rows & at least 3 columns (for a larger photomerge of 6 or more pictures)
•  
• ACTION SEQUENCE:
• 1-2 more ACTION SEQUENCE: at least 4-5 pictures each
• Be sure that your background is not distracting.
• Be sure that your action is spread out across your picture.

4/14 & 4/15: PHOTOMERGE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

One of your assignments over break is to take multiple landscape panorama style photomerges.  Take a picture and then move the camera slightly up or sideways to take another "connected" image. Basically you combine smaller pictures to make one larger picture.

Use a tripod if possible. Remember to manual adjust white balance or select something like "cloudy" or "sunny" on your camera.

Here is how you connect multiple pictures in Photoshop.

To set up a new Photomerge composition:
Do one of the following:
Choose File > Automate > Photomerge.
In the File Browser, select the images you want to use and then choose Automate > Photomerge from the File Browser menu bar
In the dialog box, choose an option from the Use pop-up menu:

• Files to generate the Photomerge composition using individual files.
• Folders to use all the images stored in a folder to create the Photomerge composition. The files in the folder appear in the dialog box.
• Open Files to use the image files you have open in Photoshop.

Click the Browse button to navigate to the source files or folder you want to use to create the Photomerge composition. Select Attempt to Automatically Arrange Source Images if you want Photoshop to try to line the images up in their proper order.
Then edit your picture as you need.

Here is a tutorial you can use to get you going.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrNI-gAuI5s

4/14 & 4/15: PHOTOMERGE & ACTION SEQUENCE HOMEWORK OVER BREAK

• Due Date: Th. 4/30 (per.4) & Fri. 5/1 (per.1)
• 
  
• Three successful and awesome looking landscape style Photomerges in three separate locations. 
• Each photomerge should have at least 4 pictures.
• One must be during golden hour.

• One intense Action Sequence of 3-5 shots
• You will take 30-40 pictures for it to work. If you are lucky or skillful, it may only take four to five.
• Be sure to shoot interesting activities, and use creative angles.
  
•   Please refer to previous blog posts for more detailed information on the assignments.

4/14 & 4/15: ACTION SEQUENCE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

The second part of your Spring Break homework is to create an action sequence. You need to get one really good action sequence during Spring Break. It may take you 30-40 pictures for it to work out or if you are lucky or skillful it may only take four or five pictures. You may want to take another set of pictures to be sure that one will turn out.You can do this two ways:

1. If your camera has continuous shutter you can take multiple pictures very quickly.
2. If your camera does not have continuous shutter you can have your subject repeat the action multiple times and take multiple shots.  

Please shoot DRAMATIC action.  Pick sports or activities that are interesting and action packed. Make sure your shot is taken from a creative angle and demonstrates intense action. Each sequence should have 3-5 shots.

When you’re creating a sequence photo make sure you get all the action you need. This can be done by choosing the action setting on a DSLR. Make sure you have a camera that able to do high shutter speeds. A DSRL that can shoot 3-5fps can get you great results. Then set the camera up in a sturdy location or on a sturdy tripod so movement between frames is limited. Below are some truly amazing examples of sequence photography. The trick is to hold the camera steady and have the action move through multiple frames/photos:

Ray Demski




 

Examples

YouTube Sequence Tutorial 


Text Tutorial for Sequence Assignment

If you have overlap, use a layer mask

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDRMX2-8n4&NR=1&feature=fvwp

step by step

• Open your multiple pictures into Adobe Bridge
• Tools>Photoshop>Load Files into Photoshop Layers 
• Select all of your layers
• Edit>Auto Align Layers
• create a new black layer mask on your top layer (alt + click on the layer mask icon in the layer palette)
• paint in white over your subject (sometimes lowering the opacity will help you see where to paint.
• flatten image
• add shadows as needed
• save

4/15 & 4/16: COMPLETING ACTION & LONG EXPOSURE UNIT

You will have most of class today to finish your Action and/or Long Exposure pictures and submit them. Please select your 12-20 best action photos. These pictures should show faces, be 95% in focus, fill the frame, and showcase interesting angles and composition.
Crop, adjust, and color correct all pictures as needed. Only keep what is essential to the picture. Recommendations for Editing.

• Edit four pictures into Grayscale.
• Edit two pictures using Selective Focus.
• Edit two picture using one-item kept in color.
• Edit the other 12 pictures in what ever manner you see fit.

For this unit, you are submitting 6 items:

• Contact sheets: Action1, Action2, & Action3 (or LongExposure)  
• Last contact sheet due by 4/14 & 4/15
• Highlight your best 3 on each
•   
• ActionLongExposeAdjusted:  (CONTACT SHEET)
• Worth 100 pts.
• Due 3/31 or 4/1
• 12-20 best adjusted images from ALL of your Action/Long Expose photos.
• 
  
• SCActionBest:   (JPEG)
• Worth 100 pts.
• Due 3/31 or 4/1
• Best Shorecrest Action Picture as a jpeg.
• This should be submitted for printing as a maximum quality jpeg
• 
  
• ActionBest OR LongExposureBest:   (JPEG)
• Worth 100 pts.
• Due 3/31 or 4/1
• Your SINGLE BEST Action or Long Exposure image
• Best Shorecrest Action Picture as a jpeg.
• This should be submitted for printing as a maximum quality jpeg
•  

4/9-4/10: ACTION OR LONG EXPOSURE PHOTO HOMEWORK

You have a choice to shoot another set of 24 pictures of ACTION, or LONG EXPOSURE. Remember, to get 24 good pictures you are likely to take 100 pictures! Below are details and tips from Geoff Vlcek.

• Homework due Tues. 4/14 (Per 4) & Wed. 4/15 (Per 1): ACTION SHOOT or LONG EXPOSURE: 
• 24 photo contact sheet labeled Action3 or Long Exposure
• Highlight your 3 best shots
• 
  
• Geoff Vlcek Tips:
• Long Exposure: 
• The following are tips, but you will need to experiment to get it right.
• Shutter speed of 8-12 seconds
• Aperture of F10 - F14
• ISO of 100-400
• Manual Focus (as the camera will have difficulty to Auto Focusing)
•  
• Sports Action:  
• Shoot with shutter speed of 1/500 or faster.

4/7-4/8: OFF-CAMPUS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT

Today you will take action photos of your choice. Be sure that you are taking interesting photos that show something moving! Consider activities like skateboarding, horseback riding, juggling, dancing, or someone spinning with a ribbon. It does not need to be a sport. For each shoot you will be turning in a contact sheet of 24 pictures. To get 24 good pictures you are likely to take 100 pictures! Be sure to be back 20 minutes before the end of class.

• Tues. 4/7 (Per 4) & Wed. 4/8 (Per 1): Off Campus ACTION SHOOT: 
• 24 photo contact sheet titled Action1 
• Highlight your 3 best shots

Be sure to shoot SOME pictures using each of the following:

• Manual Setting with an ISO of_________
• Shutter Priority
• Auto Focus
• Continuous Shutter
• Panning
• Use a fast shutter speed
• Get the face!

Panning Tips:

Take a picture of someone or something moving in an interesting fashion. Set your shutter to 1/15, 1/30, or 1/45. Basically slow the shutter down.

Move the camera at the same speed as your subject.

Take the picture.

The subject should be in focus and the background out of focus.

4/2-4/3: PANNING TECHNIQUE FOR ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

You may use the panning technique as described in class and in the Motorcross video. 

Go to the link below for more help with:
F-Stops and Shutter Speed Hints

3/31-4/1: METERING TIP

Now that you are more comfortable taking pictures in the manual mode, you may find that some pictures are not coming out even when you meter correctly. This is because camera meters an "average" or gray for a 0 meter reading. Here is a tip:

• Add light to light
• This means that when you have A LOT OF LIGHT you will want your meter to be on the + side of the exposure meter, meaning that you will be OPEN the aperture a full stop or so.
• Add dark to dark 
•  This means that when IT IS DARK you will want your meter to be on the - side of the exposure meter, meaning that you will CLOSE the aperture a full stop or so.

4/2-4/3: ACTION PHOTO ASSIGNMENTS

You will shoot action photos at two locations over the next ten days. One of these photo shoots must take place at a Shorecrest related event or sport. For example, you could take pictures of the Hip Hop, Football, Soccer, or Flag teams. I recommend that you speak to the coach/advisor letting them know that you will be taking pictures.
Let me know if you want to shoot on the sideline during a game or match. The other location can be a place of your choice.Skateboarding, horseback riding, and dancing are all acceptable activities. For each shoot you will be turning in a contact sheet of 24 pictures. To get 24 good pictures you are likely to take 100 pictures!

• Tues. 4/7 (Per 4) & Wed. 4/8 (Per 1): Off Campus ACTION SHOOT: 
• 24 photo contact sheet labeled Action1 
• Highlight your 3 best shots
• 
  
• Homework due Th. 4/9 (Per4) & Fri. 4/10 (Per 1): Shorecrest Event/Sport ACTION SHOOT:
• 24 photo contact sheet labeled Action2
• Highlight your 3 best shots
•  
•  Th. 4/9 (Per4) & Fri. 4/10 (Per 1): Visiting photographer, Geoff Vlcek

4/2 & 4/3: ACTION PHOTO TIPS

Read and take notes (graded) on the following links with Action Photo Tips:

• http://www.photographymonthly.com/Tips-and-Techniques/Action/Top-10-tips-for-shooting-sport
• http://www.olympusamerica.com/crm/oneoffpages/crm_actionshots_tennis.asp
• http://improvephotography.com/736/10-tips-for-capturing-action-packed-moments/