Week of 12/9

Looking ahead, we continue with Illustrator. Your posters for the upcoming concert have been noticed by teachers and students alike. I have received many compliments on them on your behalf. Kudos to each of you for your creativity and willingness to explore a new program! You will continue work on your personal logo, and will save it for repeated use. After the logo is finished, you will be creating a candy wrapper - a project that will require your understanding of swatches, patterns, and color groupings (color harmony.) Should be lots of fun!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it...

The tabloid is in progress. I will keep you posted on it. Any news stories or information you want to include (Fake Horoscopes, anyone?) should be uploaded to the class Google account.

Katy and Sophia are working on the presentation for January 10. Make sure they have your photo choices. Also make sure you have written what you or another student will say about your essay.
Finally, remember to print your ten favorite images. I will be posting them in the hallways with a paragraph that you write about your experience.

In the meantime, we are moving on to Illustrator. You have already seen how fun it is! I will continue to add tools/tips during class. You are working on creating a publicity poster for the upcoming school concert.

Happy Thanksgiving - Please know how grateful I am to have such an incredibly engaged, kind, respectful group of students.

Week of 11/18

I hope we were able to get everything uploaded to the Google Drive account. From there, you can create the presentation you will give to the Middle School on January 10. In class on Monday we will discuss how to make sure everyone is represented, and assigned responsibilities. By the end of class on Tuesday, your presentation should be nearly complete.  On Wednesday, you will begin learning about Illustrator via tutorials. I will tell you about your first assignment on Friday. In the meantime, simply create an image of your choosing using the tools you learn about in the tutorial. I will put links to the videos up AFTER you see them in class.

I will be working on the layout of the tabloid on my home computer. We do not have the software needed to create it here at school. The software is called InDesign, and is another Adobe product.

Learn about Adobe InDesign, the industry-standard publishing application for print publications, interactive PDF documents, digital magazines, and EPUBs. Click Here

Hey Mavericks Users ----

Follow the link for important fixes.  Mavericks

11/4 - 11/8

I have to admit...that was one of the BEST field trips in my entire 13+ years at Davis! You all took such incredible photos that I don't even have the right superlatives to describe them! They are nothing short of amazing, impressive, unbelievable. As a group we will figure out the best way to create a slideshow to share with the rest of the school community. I will likely ask some of you to speak about this unit, and the trip, at some point in the future - possibly during Kabbalat Shabbat, possibly to the Kindergartners who support the zoo as their mitzvah project. I'll keep you posted. After you complete choosing, loading and enhancing your images, we need to finish up the tabloid. Then...bring on Illustrator!

Week of 10/28

HOORAY! Our big field trip that you proposed is here. On Monday in class, we will set aside the projects and develop the plan for the zoo photography. We will have 3 adults, so will be able to split up into groups. On Wednesday and Friday, focus on getting those hoax images and stories finished so we can move on to Illustrator!

Also, I will be planning a day soon when we will be working on uploading all the images you have created in class to EduClipper. I will be working with the gentleman who created the site to learn how to make it work the way we want it to. Stay tuned!

Week of 10/21

The photomosaics turned out beautifully! So impressive, and worth the time it took to make the process operate the way we wanted it to. Turn your attention now to the last Photoshop project - creating three news stories about Davis that we can print in a tabloid. You write the story and create the image. Here is a link to a "newspaper" in which the stories are totally fabricated. Sadly, many people believe the nonsense in these tabloids! The Globe

Remember to bring in permission forms for the ZooAtlanta trip!

Week of 10/14

Please remember to have your parents sign your permission form for the trip to ZooAtlanta on 10/29.
When you have completed the Filters project, move ahead to the Photomosaic. You need to download the photos from my camera onto your computer first. I, Judah, or Katy will guide you through the next steps of the process.

Following the Photomosaic, begin planning your three tabloid stories. Consider the image you will create BEFORE writing the story. Have fun with this!

Week of 10/7 - 10/11

WOW! Now that you understand how to use Photoshop, you are all blazing through the tools at lightning speed! The next project is a quick one, then we embark on a class project.

Filters and effects! Photoshop has made it easy to change the basic style of a standard photograph. Take a headshot (shoulder height to the top of your head) using the computer. Then create a "poster" of yourself using a minimum of four different effects or filters. THINK about the choices you are making when you decide which effect or filter you decide on, as I then want you to write a paragraph explaining how the overall image represents the many sides of your personality.

Once that image is completed, I will be presenting a lesson on hoaxes, and we will create a class tabloid (think National Enquirer)! This should be tons of fun!

We also need to get back to experimenting with uploading all your fabulous work to the web.
Have a great weekend!

Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe Screen Print

Week of 9/31 - 10/4

You have completed several Photoshop projects, and are getting the hang of how the tools work. Once you have completed your Photo Rearrangement project (using a gradient,) you will create a photomosaic using Davis Academy images. I am uncertain how long this will take, so we will find out together!

We need to evaluate Educlipper.net, and also examine Foliofor.me as online portfolios. As you complete your mosaic, I will ask you to create a Foliofor.me account and upload your projects. Please let me know your thoughts on Educlipper. What's hard about it? What's confusing? What do you wish it would do?

I have noticed that although you are all entered as being "in the class" on Educlipper, I cannot see your work, and you cannot upload to the class site. Seems a bit pointless, but maybe I'm missing something.

Week of 9/23

HOORAY!!! The Field Trip is on! I'll keep you posted as we get a firm date. It will be the last week in October, rain or shine.

Those of you finishing up the Wanted Posters will move on to the Photo Rearrangement project which I will explain in detail on Monday. You will need to use a gradient and a filter (which I have not yet shown you) to do this. If your Wanted Poster is not finished, keep working on it.

We also will be looking at some other portfolio sites, as Educlipper may or may not make us happy. I may ask some of you to try a different site so we can compare what works best for you.

You are such a fun group to teach - you are quick learners, willing to have fun and try new things. Keep up the fabulous efforts! You make me look forward to Block 2 every day!

Week of 9/16 SUKKOT

You all have intuitively begun to understand the power of Photoshop. "How do I...?" is a refrain that means you are ready for more complexity. You got it! Once your Wanted Poster is complete, you will be tasked with a project that combines what you have learned thus far - layers, selecting, copying, pasting, changing colors - with new knowledge - gradients and filters. You will also need to combine your knowledge of composition with these concepts to create an image called Photo Rearrangement. You will combine two seemingly contrasting photographs into a patterned mosaic. One layer must demonstrate gradient use, another layer must demonstrate filter use.

You will also be creating your own Portfolio on educlipper.net. I will show you the program in class, and you will begin uploading your class products to this site. If you want to take a look at this program before next week, follow this link: educlipper.  If you choose to create your school account before I discuss it in class, PLEASE use your school id and password.

Day 1: If you have not printed out your Mutated Animal, please do so.
            Use a photo of a faculty member to create your Wanted Poster.

Day 2: I will explain educlipper at the beginning of class. When you finish your Wanted Poster, begin customizing your portfolio and uploading your projects (Prezi, biography, Mutated Animal, Wanted Poster) to the site.

Day 3: How to create gradients and use filters. Introduction of Photo Rearrangement project.

Plan B...

One of the wonderful things about a project based class is the ability to change directions if a wonderful idea presents itself. I will be moving the Wanted Posters to occur after you complete an "official" version of a Mutated Animal. The images you have been creating while practicing using layers and tools have been quite...interesting. Let's make an encyclopedia of these hilarious creatures. We'll upload the images into a slideshow for the blog.

I also want each of you to send me the link to your Prezi so we can post these online for all to review. DON'T FORGET TO PRINT OUT YOUR BIOGRAPHY! I want these by Friday, please.

Week of 9/9

Due to illnesses we are fitting in the presentations when we can. Once everyone is back, we'll decide when the test will be. In the meantime, we will begin learning about Photoshop, as several of you may be interested in using it for your series of ten images in the style of the artist you studied.

Look to the right and you will see two videos that we will watch in class. Feel free to watch any others that interest you - both Adobe TV and Lynda.com have many excellent tutorials. Lynda.com has free videos - no need to sign up and pay for watching. I cannot guarantee the tutorials on YouTube. I know that Adobe TV is a valid source.

Let's have some fun!!

Day 1: Presentations (at least one...Judah or Miles?)
            Understanding layers

Day 2: Presentations (at least one)
            Text, colors
            Introduction of  first project - Wanted Posters

Day 3: Wanted Posters Continued

Day 4: Wanted Posters Continued

Next week, and then...

We will continue presenting the Famous Photographers until everyone has had a chance to teach us.  As a class, we'll decide when the test on these masters will occur. In the meantime, we'll discuss refining your idea for the 10 images in the style of the artist you studied, but will also be moving ahead to Photoshop, which some of you might actually need to use for the 10 images! I am placing a link to Adobe.TV on the side of the blog. I'll be teaching you in class, but we won't cover everything, so feel free to watch vids that interest you.

While the 8th graders were on their retreat, the 7th graders took photos demonstrating the absence of the Class of 2014 and their instructors. Look for these to be hanging in the hallway soon!

8/26 - 8/30

Research and development for your Famous Photographers Project continues. As I mentioned in class, I would much rather have a quality project that takes a little longer, than a quickly completed slideshow with no substance.

You will be teaching the students WHY your photographer is famous, the SUBJECT of the photos, a little bit of biographical information, and HOW to recognize this artist's work. I will be providing a template for note taking during the presentations. TAKE NOTES! You WILL have a test on which you must identify photographs by the artist who took them, the date of which will depend on when we finish presenting. We'll agree on a date together as a class.

Once all presentations are completed, we'll talk about how to develop a series of images based on what you learned from this photographer. You will become a photojournalist!

Composition, moving into famous photographers

Week of 8/19

The lesson on composition principles had a dramatic effect on the portraits of objects, You all did an outstanding job setting up the shot and editing the image for the strongest composition. Finish your descriptive paragraph on Monday, then we move into studying the Masters.

Tuesday - Friday

You will receive instructions for a 3-part project that will teach you what makes a photographer "great."

Part 1: Write a brief essay giving us biographical information on your assigned photographer.
Part 2: Create a presentation using your favorite software (Prezi, PowerPoint, Keynote,etc.) that includes a minimum of 10 images attributed to this photographer.
Part 3: You will create your own images in the style of the photographer you have studied, learning what impacts the viewer.

This project may take longer than three days to prepare. We may need to continue into the following week. Stay tuned!

Composition

We had fun making sun prints using paper coated with cyan. This method was used by scientists to classify botanical forms, prior to photography. Today we reviewed concepts of composition in photography. The link to the website we reviewed is here: digital tips . Next the students had to create a portrait of an object using the information just learned. The images will be posted soon!

Week of 8/12-8/16

Digital Studio is a blast! Just ask our returning 8th graders who have completed the first course, and will be working on more advanced independent projects this year. We begin the understanding of the history of computer imaging by taking a look at how it all began - photography born out of the Industrial Revolution.

IN CLASS
Day 1: Acceptable technology usage
            Syllabus (of course...)
            Where and why did photography originate?

            ADVANCED STUDENTS
            Create a blog for yourself that you will be using throughout the year. You may use Weebly,
            Edublogs, Blogger, or any other blog platform that I approve.

Day 2: Create a nature print using specially-coated papers.
            Capture an image, load to a computer, and enlarge to see pixellation.
      
             ADV: The power of photojournalism, how an image tells a story.

Day 3:  Vocabulary of photography and composition

              ADV:  Portrait of an object, composition

Day 4: Camera "Scavenger Hunt" - understanding how to use a digital camera.

              ADV: Series of 10 related images that produce a storyline


                      

MAC LAB IS BACK!

Hooray! I am thrilled to be teaching Digital Studio again. This is a fabulous elective that combines graphic design, photography, and Mac computers.If you are returning to Digital Studio for a second year, your curriculum will be different and more challenging. (Do I hear cheering?) The class will meet in the Mac Lab, located across from the Media Center.I'll explain about bringing your own equipment on the first day of class. Looking forward to seeing you there!