Project #11: Self Portrait Collage (Mosaic Yourself)

Self Portrait Collage

1. Check out your camera. See if there is a portrait setting. If there is, use it! Otherwise, you may want to use your macro setting.
2. You can hold the camera in front of your face, or use the self timer. Experiment using the flash and turning the flash off.
3. Take about 15 pictures of yourself (Either just your face, or your whole body).
4. Upload these photos to Photoshop Express.
5. Crop each photo so that you only see 1 feature in each picture.For example, you will have a “nose picture” and an “eye brow picture”.
6. You can decide to make all your pictures black and white, all different colors (like a Warhol), or whatever you want.
7. In order to print, if one of the printer-computers is open, you can save to your gmail photo page, or to your J drive and print from those computers, after you log out, then log back in. Use another program, like LVIEWPRO to open your photos and print this time. We will demonstrate in class.
8. You can use the paper cutter to cut your pictures, or scissors.
9. Use the heavy construction paper and glue (I suggest the rubber cement) to create a collage.

Project #10 Pattern/Mosaic

How to Print. The 3 Steps to printing.
2. Finish paper art in LunaPic save it to your Gmail Photo Album (Save to Picasa) then print.
3. Work on Patterns/Mosaic Project and discuss mosiacs.


This is an example of a picture "Mosaic". You can make yours in any shape you want. Also, you can use markers to decorate it! You do not have to use black for a background.

Project #9 Patterns-Mosaic

Patterns-Mosaic Hunt

We are going to be working on a mosaic photo project. A mosaic is a picture or decoration made of small, usually colored pieces of inlaid stone, glass, etc. Instead of using stone or glass, we are going to use our photographs. Here is a list of photos I want you to “collect” (take). After you take these photos, we are going to print them (maybe even more than once). Then, we are going to cut the pictures into small shapes and glue the pieces into a mosaic design. These projects will be matted (put in paper frames). I suggest using the macro setting for your photos. I want these pictures to be mostly abstract (unrecognizable as an object). For example, if I ask you to find white, I would like to see something like a close up of the star on the flag. Feel free to take this assignment home to gather photos.You are not required to find ALL these things! This is just to help you get some ideas.

__ Stripes

__ Cords

__ An Outlet

__ Something pink

__ A piece of metal

__ Wheel

__ Wood grain

__ dots

__ Squiggly Line

__ An Eye

__ Something moving

__ A light

__ Pattern

__ Something Yellow

__ A Grid

__ A Fingernail

__ Clock

__ Words

__ Something Red

__ The first letter of your name

__ Your favorite color

__ An eraser

__ Circle

__ A Shadow

__ Something soft

__ A tiny object

__ A piece of jewelry

__ Something pointy

__ A reflection

__ Something lime-green

Project #8 Introduction to LunaPic

1. Go to lunapic.com/editor. When Lunapic opens save it to your FAVORITES folder.
2. Upload your background (the picture you took of your paper art) by clicking browse and look for your photo that you saved in your folder. (You have to save your picture to a folder because you can't upload directly from Photoshop Express)
   
3. Click on your picture and hit open.
4. Click upload now.
5. By clicking on the small orange pictures on the left of the screen, you can edit your photo.
6. Click on the button that looks like a pencil. This is the draw tool.
7. After clicking on the draw tool, you will see the word “draw” at the top of your screen and under it, you see three options.First, you can choose the tool, for example free hand pencil or a rectangle. Secondly, you can choose color. Lastly, the pen size. The larger the number, the thicker the pen size.
8. If you make marks that you don’t like, hit clear. If you are happy with your edits, click apply. If you don’t hit apply and choose a different tool, you will lose your changes.
9. If you want to go back to the original image, at the bottom of the screen is Undo. Undo stores your original image, and other images as your work. Click on any image in Undo to go back and retrieve the image before your edits were applied.
10. Experiment with the different editing tools in Luna Pic. Remember nothing is permanent, making mistakes is how we learn, and fun is what we do in the summer. IF you loose your image...don't worry go get another one.Save your image tothe photo section of your Gmail account. Print an enlarged (full page) image of your paper art lunapic design.

Paper Art and Lunapic

1. Look at examples of paper art on the overhead and discuss ideas.

2. Work on our paper art illustrations.

3. Photograph our work and upload--or scan artwork in using the printers.

4. Edit our work on lunapic.com/editor (Specific directions will be given on the next post).

Friday Salon: Learning to Look

Today we will catch up on our projects, emails to me....kristin.leclercq@gmail.com, and most importantly practice using our Elements of Art vocabulary when we share our Favorite Albums from Photoshop.  The art I have seen is fantastic.

This is our Friday Salon, a chance to look at our work, and support each other's efforts.

We also have a job! We have been asked to photograph 6th graders to help their teacher and the class create  Avatars to use in math.  We will take portraits of the students and print them in black and white.  

Project #7 Macro and Outside the Room

Outside Adventure
No matter what kind of photo you are shooting-portrait, still life, landscape, etc.-be sure to explore a different point of view.

Often, these viewpoints show a subject’s beauty that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.


Take a look at your camera. Your camera probably has a macro-setting. This means that your camera is able to take very sharp, close-up photos. To put your camera on the macro setting, find a button that looks like a flower (This button might be in different places depending on your camera. It’s probably under “settings” in the shooting mode). Select the flower button so that it is shown on the screen. Double click the image to enlarge it so you can really see the feature.
By putting the “flower” setting on, you will be using the macro feature.

Find an object outside that you think might make an interesting picture. Take your time exploring different angles. Get close; get really close; move far away; crouch or lie beneath your subject; tower above it; hold the camera straight and leave; tilt it at a crazy angle; stand next to, walk around or run with your subject. Usually macro works best around 4 inches from the object.
Take at least 5 pictures of the same object, all 5 at different angles.
Repeat this method to several different objects both inside and outside the room.
Start a new album called macro.
Upload your photos to your album in photoshop. Later we will guess what is in the picture.

Project #6 Pop Color

Pop Color

Use pictures you have already taken, or take pictures of the still life. Upload these into Photoshop Express into a new folder titled “Pop Color”.
After uploading, double-click on a photo to edit it. Click on the “Pop Color” icon.
On the bottom of the screen, you will see the words, “Select a pop color:” Here, you are choosing which color in your photo your want to pop or change. For example, if in my picture there was someone with a blue sweatshirt, I could choose the blue box to let the program know that I want to change the color of the sweatshirt.
Now, several options appear. Go ahead and experiment. Remember, you can always undo by hitting the “reset all” button or by clicking the orange arrow.
By moving your cursor over the picture (it looks like an eye-dropper), you can select other things in your picture to change. For example, if I decide I want the background to pop instead of the sweatshirt, I click my curser on the background. Save the photo for later work in your new album.

Project #5 Reflective Surfaces/No Flash

Reflective Surfaces/No Flash

1. Before you take any pictures, have a look at your camera. The upside down arrow represents the flash. When we have our cameras on the auto setting, we are letting the camera decide when we should use a flash. Usually, a flash is used when there isn’t enough light in the room.
2. Your upside down arrow will either be on a button on the back of your camera, or in the settings. If you can’t find it let me know. Try turning your flash off. You can most likely do this by selecting the picture of an arrow crossed out with a circle around it.
3. Usually a flash gives us clearer pictures, because it captures a quick moment. Not using a flash might give you “ghost images” or squiggly lines. Therefore, when you take a picture without a flash you will probably want to set your camera down (I have provided boxes for this). Lock your arms to your body and become the tripod. It is not a bad idea to set your timer too!
4. Look at the reflective surfaces I have laid out on the table. Come up with some interesting ways to shoot objects or self portraits using these items.
5. Take about 5-10 pictures. Upload your favorite 3 and edit them if you like.Please email me one at kristin.leclercq@gmail.com.

Project #4 Still Life/ Cropping

Still Life/Cropping
Examples can be found at http://dpsummer09.photoshop.com

In art, the word crop means to cut-off edges. By adjusting the amount of space between the main object of your photo and the background, you can change the feeling of a picture. We are going to crop some photos using Photoshop Express.

1. On the materials table I have created a “still life”, or a group of random objects.
   

2. Before you start taking pictures, think about some interesting angles.For example, maybe you want to stand on a chair to look down on the still life, stand far away, or turn your camera sideways.

3. Go ahead and start snapping pictures. I recommend 10-15 photos.

4. Hopefully, your camera plugged into the computer successfully.Upload your still life shots into Photoshop Express.

1. Sign in to Photoshop Express.
2. Go to “My Photos”
3. Click on the button that says “Upload Photos (In the top left).
4. A “select file(s)” screen will pop up. You should be able to find your photos in the “My Documents Folder”. If have not been saved here, try clicking on “My Computer”, on the left side. Here you may find a folder connecting directly to your camera, so you might see something that says, “Removable Disk D”, or “Secure Storage Device”. Hopefully, one of these buttons will lead you to your pictures.
   
5. Highlight the files you want to upload and click open.
6. This will take you to the uploading screen on Photoshop Express.
7. On the left of this screen you will see three options. Click so the white dot is on, “Upload to New Album”. Then, name the album “Still Life”.

5. Now we are going to crop our images in interesting ways!

6. Double click on a picture you would like to crop (This will take you to an editing program).

7. On the left side of the screen, you will see a crop/rotate button. Click on this.

8. Now you will see that little squares have appeared in the corners of your pictures. By holding the mouse down and moving the squares, you can crop your image.
9. Try cropping in a few different ways. You can undo a crop by hitting the orange arrow in the upper right of the screen.
10. When you have cropped a picture the way you like it, click save in the lower right. Continue to practice cropping on at least 5 of your pictures. Pick your favorite one and please email me the picture (just like we did for selfies).

11. You may print one of your cropped pictures (ask me when you are ready).

12. When you have finished this project, look in the folder box for extension activities.

Project#3 Digital Effects

Once you have captured an image you are happy with, consider taking the image into new visual territory through digital enhancements. These effects could be applied to strengthen or alter the existing mood of an image and create a more artful look.

1. Choose either a selfie or upload a picture you have taken of someone else to use for a digital effect experiment.
   
2. In Photoshop Express, choose a picture from your library and double click on it (or hit the button on the bottom of the screen "edit photo".
   
3. This will take you to the editing area. Here, you can make adjustments by choosing from many different options: crop/rotate, sharpen, soft focus, pop color, hue, black/white, tint, sketch, and distort.
   
4. While you do your editing, if you are happy with your change hit the green check mark in the upper right. If you are unhappy, hit the orange undo arrow. For final changes, hit save in the lower right.
   
5. After you have altered at least 3 photos, please chose your favorite and email it to me. You can do this by highlighting your picture in the library and hitting the email photo button in the lower toolbar. Enter my email: kristin.leclercq@gmail.com
   

Project #2

Using the Timer- Masking Identity

All digital cameras have a setting that lets you set a timer. When a timer is set, a picture is taken a few seconds after the shoot button is pressed. The timer setting is great for taking pictures of something that you (the photographer) want to be in. Another reason for using the timer is that it is good for taking pictures of something really close up or without a flash. If you are not holding the camera, the picture can focus more clearly! This is what the timer button looks like.

1. Brainstorm some ways of capturing pictures of yourself that mask your identity. Think of different ways of using props, graphic elements (editing), hands, etc.
2. Look at some examples on my Photoshop Express gallery. You can do this by going to http://dpsummer09.photoshop.com
3. Turn on your camera and look for a button that looks like the button above.
   
4. Push this button and choose to use a 10 second timer (or something around that).
   
5. Set your camera down and shoot.
   
6. After you have taken several photos with at least three different types of identity masking, upload your photos. If you forgot how to do this, refer to project #1 instructions.

Uploading and Sending Photos

Uploading and Sending your Photos

After I teach you different ways to get your photos from your camera to the computer, we are going to be uploading our pictures to Photoshop Express.

1. Log in to Photoshop Express. Click on “My Photos”.
2. Find the button that says, “Upload Photos” (it’s in the upper left corner with a green plus sign).
3. Clicking on this brings you to a “Select File(s)” window. Hopefully you have made your photos easy to find by saving them to the desktop or in a labeled folder. Find the pictures you would like to upload and either click on one and hit open, or to select more than one, hold down shift and click on several files and hit open.
4. A grey “upload photos” screen will appear. In the left you will see three options upload to Library, upload to new album, or upload to an existing album. You are going to click in the circle next to “Upload to a new album”. Then, you are going to type “Selfie” in to the box.
5. Hit the blue/green upload button. When your pictures are finished uploading, a “done” button will appear. Click on this and it will take you to your new “Selfie” album. Once your pictures are here, you can edit them (we will get into that later).
6. There are two ways to email a picture using Photoshop Express. a. Highlight a picture by clicking once on it. There will be a blue line around the edges. Click on the words, “Email Photo”, on the lower section of the screen. A box will show up asking you to put in an email address. You are going to type in my email kristin.leclercq@gmail.com. b.The second way to email is to put your curser over the lower portion of your photo. A grey box will show up and say “Photo Options”. Click on the white down arrow and go to “E-mail Photo”. Type in my email and click send.
7. I am asking you to send one of your selfies to me so that I know that you understand how to upload and send photos. When you are finished, you can work on an enrichment activity, found on my blog and on the materials table.

Project #1 "Selfies"

Project #1 “Selfie” A “selfie” is one of those images that is taken by aiming the camera at yourself. The guesswork that goes into taking selfies often results in photographic surprises. With a little practice it’s possible to hold your picture-taking hand and arm in such a way that it’s almost impossible to tell that the image is taken by you! Of course, it’s perfectly fine to have your arm showing in the photo, too. A selfie might make you smile, squint, laugh, pout, etc. Try to capture those facial expressions by taking at least 6 shots. Also, you can experiment using mirrors, windows, and other reflective surfaces. To look at more examples of my selfies, go to http://dpsummer09.photoshop.com

Approved Games for Breaks

If you finish a daily activity, you can visit some of these websites for an art-based game.

http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/monalisa-js.htm
http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/vangogh-sc.htm
http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/monalisa-warp.htm
http://www.eduweb.com/pintura/
http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/
http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/collagemachine.htm
http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/collagemachine2.htm
http://www.fireworkspop.com/colortest.htm
http://vn247.net/flash/Color-and-Me.swf
http://www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html
http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/

“Getting Started”

Digital Photography

1. Start by going on Internet Explorer. Even if you already have an email address, we are going to create another one to use for this class.
2. Go to: www.gmail.com and click on “Sign up for Gmail”.
3. Go ahead and fill out the information in the boxes. Continue by clicking the button, “I accept. Create my account.”
4. After you have set up your new email account, go to https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html
5. Click the “Join Now” button in the upper right.
6. Create your Photoshop express ID. I recommend un-checking the box that starts, “I would like to receive communications…” Check the box, “By providing your information…” (You are NOT required to enter your birthday)
7. Now, Photoshop will ask you to check your email and confirm that you want to join. Go ahead and do that. You should have an email in your new gmail account from Photoshop with a link. Click on that link and will bring you to your new Photoshop account.
8. If you get done with this before the rest the end of class, explore Photoshop Express. You can check the Digital Photography blog to get started on Project #1.

Class Description and Expectations

Digital Photography

Teacher: Mrs. Leclercq
kristin.leclercq@gmail.com

This summer we will be exploring many different aspects of digital photography including; picture composition, uploads/attachments, alteration, printing, artistic concept development, gaming and matting. We will also be looking at the photography of many influential artists.

Classroom Rules:
1.Respect others, materials, the room, and yourself.
2.Print only when asked to do so.
3.Hands on your own computers only.
4.Read directions before asking questions.
5.Internet is used ONLY for photography and project related purposes. Surfing the web without permission will not be tolerated and will result in lose of computer privileges for the day.

Things you need to know:
1.If you need to go to the bathroom…go! Just remember to sign-out on the “Bathroom Sign-out Sheet” so Mrs. Leclercq knows where you are (please, one at a time).

2.You are responsible for your own camera, cord, etc. Do not lend anything to anyone else, unless you are okay with someone else losing it. Please bring your equipment home after class every day.

3.If you have a flash drive or blank CDs at home you may use them in class. Make sure you put your first and last name on them.

4.If you are using a classroom re-writable cd, please be sure to return it to the materials basket.

5.You will each have a folder in the class folder box to leave items such as; projects, assignments, rough drafts, etc.

6.Please bring your camera (and cord if you have one) to class everyday. We will try to upload pictures using cords and connecting to our Dell computers. If we find that this does not work for your camera, you can upload them at home into Photoshop Express, or onto a disc or flash drive.

7.I will be keeping a Digital Photography blog. This will be updated almost daily and will have assignments, instructions, ideas, extension activities, hints, etc. Questions, comments, and ideas can be posted in response to my blogs. Lastly, please don’t hesitate to email me with any thoughts at kristin.leclercq@gmail.com