Because this work is optional, you may pick and choose which bits you do!
Going for gold!
To achieve the highest marks in photography, you have to demonstrate a wide range of ideas and techniques as well as a good standard of skill with the camera and on photoshop. These tasks will help you to do that.
Combining the styles of Saroff and Boyd
All students will be asked to do ONE photoshoot to combine the first two artists. To go for gold, do two, three or four! As many as you wish!
Take 20+ photos for each photoshoot you try, from different angles, in different lighting, with different backgrounds etc. Then upload into a gallery at the bottom of your page with a brief explanation as the title. Then if you are able to edit one or two photos, then please do!
1*Take photos of nature or food through large ice cubes (fill a plastic box of water then freeze, and run under warm water to loosen and get it out for the photoshoot!)
2*Arrange food in ice trays instead of nature. This could be whole foods or slices. Thin slices of oranges or strawberries could look great!
3*Repeat the first photoshoot with the glasses, but this time put ice cubes inside to distort the food behind even further.
4*Repeat the first photoshoot, but this time put nature behind glasses instead of food. Find some flowers or plants with interesting shapes or colours to make great photos. Remember to move them around throughout the photoshoot for a good variety of photos.
5*Freeze food or nature in ice cubes then photograph an arrangement of them.
Creative Distortion Techniques
Next, this project is called ‘Distortion’ and with this in mind, you could try different ways of distorting objects. Do some research for some ideas – I’m happy for you to get creative!
A few examples for now that you could try (I'll add to it later!)
6* Photograph people with clingfilm/sweet wrappers over the lens
7* Take photos of people in a wet/steamy mirror
8* Take photos of objects through a glass (put your camera inside!)
9* Take photos of objects in water - make the water ripple to distort it
10* Add food colouring to the water (as above!)
11* Take photos through magnifying glass
12* Take photos of the reflection in a spoon or other shiny surfaces (just make sure they are in focus)
Shutter Speed
This is quite advanced and only possible if you have a camera (DSLR) where you can control the shutter speed.
Watch the videos on this page on how slow shutter speed works: https://photographylife.com/what-is-shutter-speed-in-photography
Next, take photos of MOVING objects/people in order to blur them.
The main things you need to know in order for this to work:
- You need to keep the camera still - use a tripod or put it on a shelf - dont hold it as you take the photo
- " means seconds on a DSLR camera. Use 4" or 8" or longer for the most effective pictures
- As the camera is taking a photo for 4 or 8 seconds, it will let in lots of light, so you need to take the photos in a fairly dark room, but with a light source on the thing you are taking a photo of. Get someone to help you hold a torch!
- You will not get a great photo straight away! You need to persevere and take lots of photos, trying lots of slightly different things. Trial and error is key!
Take a set of 20+ photos and upload them all - even the ones that dont work as they show the process and the way you will have improved.
All students will be asked to do ONE photoshoot to combine the first two artists. To go for gold, do two, three or four! As many as you wish!
Take 20+ photos for each photoshoot you try, from different angles, in different lighting, with different backgrounds etc. Then upload into a gallery at the bottom of your page with a brief explanation as the title. Then if you are able to edit one or two photos, then please do!
1*Take photos of nature or food through large ice cubes (fill a plastic box of water then freeze, and run under warm water to loosen and get it out for the photoshoot!)
2*Arrange food in ice trays instead of nature. This could be whole foods or slices. Thin slices of oranges or strawberries could look great!
3*Repeat the first photoshoot with the glasses, but this time put ice cubes inside to distort the food behind even further.
4*Repeat the first photoshoot, but this time put nature behind glasses instead of food. Find some flowers or plants with interesting shapes or colours to make great photos. Remember to move them around throughout the photoshoot for a good variety of photos.
5*Freeze food or nature in ice cubes then photograph an arrangement of them.
Creative Distortion Techniques
Next, this project is called ‘Distortion’ and with this in mind, you could try different ways of distorting objects. Do some research for some ideas – I’m happy for you to get creative!
A few examples for now that you could try (I'll add to it later!)
6* Photograph people with clingfilm/sweet wrappers over the lens
7* Take photos of people in a wet/steamy mirror
8* Take photos of objects through a glass (put your camera inside!)
9* Take photos of objects in water - make the water ripple to distort it
10* Add food colouring to the water (as above!)
11* Take photos through magnifying glass
12* Take photos of the reflection in a spoon or other shiny surfaces (just make sure they are in focus)
Shutter Speed
This is quite advanced and only possible if you have a camera (DSLR) where you can control the shutter speed.
Watch the videos on this page on how slow shutter speed works: https://photographylife.com/what-is-shutter-speed-in-photography
Next, take photos of MOVING objects/people in order to blur them.
The main things you need to know in order for this to work:
- You need to keep the camera still - use a tripod or put it on a shelf - dont hold it as you take the photo
- " means seconds on a DSLR camera. Use 4" or 8" or longer for the most effective pictures
- As the camera is taking a photo for 4 or 8 seconds, it will let in lots of light, so you need to take the photos in a fairly dark room, but with a light source on the thing you are taking a photo of. Get someone to help you hold a torch!
- You will not get a great photo straight away! You need to persevere and take lots of photos, trying lots of slightly different things. Trial and error is key!
Take a set of 20+ photos and upload them all - even the ones that dont work as they show the process and the way you will have improved.