Looking for assignment for a newbie!

[bowen.deanna]

Hi I am new to all of this and was looking a forum or site where I can do assignment to help me learn different ways to use my camera to get some nice photos. You know like the ones where they tell you to do this and that then people give you advice on what you do wrong or ways to improve it. Am I making sense? Thanks in advance.

 

[camerateur]

I get what you mean.., maybe some other people here will have suggestions but in case you would like, you could give YOURSELF a task, you can post your pictures (as well as the description of the task you have given yourself) here for a critique and I'm sure a lot of people will then give you advice on what you did right or what you can do differently.
just make sure you post in the appropriate forum. for example:black and white photos, post for CC in Black and White Gallery.
hope that helps!

 

[camerateur]

Hi I am new to all of this and was looking a forum or site where I can do assignment to help me learn different ways to use my camera to get some nice photos. You know like the ones where they tell you to do this and that then people give you advice on what you do wrong or ways to improve it. Am I making sense? Thanks in advance.

also this sub-forum might be worth looking into! i haven't yet participated in it myself, but it looks interesting.
Photo Assignments & Technical Challenges

as for an entirely different website or forum for "assignments", I don't know. can't wait to see what others suggest though, because it sounds like a fun concept.

 

[bowen.deanna]

Hi I am new to all of this and was looking a forum or site where I can do assignment to help me learn different ways to use my camera to get some nice photos. You know like the ones where they tell you to do this and that then people give you advice on what you do wrong or ways to improve it. Am I making sense? Thanks in advance.

also this sub-forum might be worth looking into! i haven't yet participated in it myself, but it looks interesting.
Photo Assignments & Technical Challenges

as for an entirely different website or forum for "assignments", I don't know. can't wait to see what others suggest though, because it sounds like a fun concept.

Thanks for the site. I will check it out.

 

[LizardKing]

Here you have a few I got from this very same forum

#1
1. make a photo that ask a question that hasnt been asked before
2. make a photo 20 years into the future
3. make a photo which makes the ugly beautiful
4. make a photo of the world the way you want it to be
5. make a photo of something never seen before
6. make a photo that reflects a fear
7. make a photo that makes the familiar unfamiliar
8. make a photo that takes you to a place you have never been before

#2

Viewpoint - look up at subject to imply respect, look down to diminish subject: "worms eye view", "birds eye view", skewed angle
Rule of Thirds - keep subject out of the center of the picture, strongest point of interest is 1/3 of the way into the pictures, don't divide the picture in half with the horizon line
Rule of Odds - frame subject with even number of elements on each side
Simplification - eliminate distracting information, keep focus on subject, have a clear center of interest, use narrow depth of field isolates subject, get close to subjext
Symmetry - balance arrangement, equal visual weight on each side of image
Repetition - use an element over and over again within the picture to create movement, pattern or texture
Color - create an emotional impact, warm colors suggest aggressive and advance, cool colors suggest calm and recede, monochromatic
Framing - look for the picture within the picture
Leading Lines - create a visual path into the picture with lines, mover the viewers eye around the photograph, imply action with direction of line, imply emotion with type of line
Lighting - use light to your advantage, time of day produces different color of light, use flat light, dynamic light, high key light, low key light


ASSIGNMENT
Create 1 image that illustrates each of the principles (there are 10)
Pick a minimum of 5 strategies to explore in-depth and take an additional 5 pictures using that principle


This assignment will result in at least 35 images. Out of the 10 pictures, that illustrate each of the principles, post your 3 best/favorite.


#3
Pick 3 songs, develop 3 concepts for each song and photograph 4 pics per concept.


#4
30 Day Photography Challenge
Day 1: Self-portrait
Day 2: what you wore today
Day 3: clouds
Day 4: something green
Day 5: from a high angle
Day 6: from a low angle
Day 7: fruit
Day 8: a bad habit
Day 9: someone you love
Day 10: childhood memory
Day 11: something blue
Day 12: sunset
Day 13: yourself with 13 things
Day 14: eyes
Day 15: silhouette
Day 16: long exposure
Day 17: technology
Day 18: your shoes
Day 19: something orange
Day 20: bokeh
Day 21: faceless self-portrait
Day 22: hands
Day 23: sunflare
Day 24: animal
Day 25: something pink
Day 26: close-up
Day 27: from a distance
Day 28: flowers
Day 29: black and white
Day 30: self portrait




#5 (this one is actually taken from a book I read)

The most fundamental overhaul of design theory in the 20th century took place in Germany in the 1920s and its focus was the Bauhaus. Founded in 1919 in Dessau, this school of art, design, and architecture was a major influence because of its experimental, questioning approach to the principles of design. Johannes Itten ran the Basic Course at the Bauhaus. His theory of composition was rooted in one simple concept: contrasts. Contrast between light and dark (chiaroscuro), between shapes, colors, and even sensations, was the basis for composing an image. One of the first exercises that Itten set the Bauhaus students was to discover and illustrate the different possibilities of contrast. These included, among many others, large/small, long/short, smooth/rough, transparent/opaque, and so on. These were intended as art exercises, but they translate very comfortably into photography. Itten’s intention was “to awaken a vital feeling for the subject through a personal observation,”
and his exercise was a vehicle for plunging in and exploring the nature of design. Here is an adaptation of his exercises for photography.


The project is in two parts. The first is rather easier—producing pairs of photographs that contrast with each other. The easiest way to do this is to make a selection from pictures you’ve already taken, choosing those that best show a certain contrast. More demanding but more valuable is to go out and look for images that illustrate a preplanned type of contrast—executing shots to order. The second part of the project is to combine the two poles of the contrast in one photograph, an exercise that calls for a bit more imagination. There are no restrictions to the kind of contrast, and it can be to do with form (bright/dark, blurred/sharp) or with any aspect of content. For example, it could be contrast in a concept, such as continuous/intermittent, or something non-visual, like loud/quiet. The list in the box below is from Itten’s original Bauhaus exercise.


A passionate educator, Itten wanted his students to approach these contrasts from three directions; “they had to experience them with their senses, objectivize them intellectually, and realize
them synthetically.” That is, each student had first to try to get a feeling for each contrast without immediately thinking of it as an image, then list the ways of putting this sensation across, and finally
make a picture. For example, for “much/little,” one first impression might be of a large group of things with one of them standing out because it is in some way different. On the other hand, it could be
treated as a group of things with an identical object standing a little apart, and so isolated. These are just two approaches out of several alternatives.

Nothing new with these assignments, but if you're a beginner like me, you'll find these very useful and have material for a while

 

[StandingBear1983]

I didn't know photography was a job , get out there and shoot man, if possible have your camera at all times and things will happend naturally, not all this regimented planned BS, it has a certain purpose but give me a break....is this a job?!, are we in the army?! that we have to have "assignments"? - FREEDOM from regimentation, that's what I say, or is it only me that wants to be truly free?

 

[bowen.deanna]

I didn't know photography was a job , get out there and shoot man, if possible have your camera at all times and things will happend naturally, not all this regimented planned BS, it has a certain purpose but give me a break....is this a job?!, are we in the army?! that we have to have "assignments"? - FREEDOM from regimentation, that's what I say, or is it only me that wants to be truly free?

i didnt say it was a job...I am new to photography and want to learn exposure, aperture, shutter speed, white balance and all that a newbie needs to know before they can start shooting some really nice clear photos. So I was just looking for some "assignments" that would help me do this. Believe me I DONT need a job. I am full time working single mom with a very active child so NOT looking for a job. Just trying to get some advice or help from what I thought was a nice place for that. Thank you!

 

[bowen.deanna]

Here you have a few I got from this very same forum

#1
1. make a photo that ask a question that hasnt been asked before
2. make a photo 20 years into the future
3. make a photo which makes the ugly beautiful
4. make a photo of the world the way you want it to be
5. make a photo of something never seen before
6. make a photo that reflects a fear
7. make a photo that makes the familiar unfamiliar
8. make a photo that takes you to a place you have never been before

#2

Viewpoint - look up at subject to imply respect, look down to diminish subject: "worms eye view", "birds eye view", skewed angle
Rule of Thirds - keep subject out of the center of the picture, strongest point of interest is 1/3 of the way into the pictures, don't divide the picture in half with the horizon line
Rule of Odds - frame subject with even number of elements on each side
Simplification - eliminate distracting information, keep focus on subject, have a clear center of interest, use narrow depth of field isolates subject, get close to subjext
Symmetry - balance arrangement, equal visual weight on each side of image
Repetition - use an element over and over again within the picture to create movement, pattern or texture
Color - create an emotional impact, warm colors suggest aggressive and advance, cool colors suggest calm and recede, monochromatic
Framing - look for the picture within the picture
Leading Lines - create a visual path into the picture with lines, mover the viewers eye around the photograph, imply action with direction of line, imply emotion with type of line
Lighting - use light to your advantage, time of day produces different color of light, use flat light, dynamic light, high key light, low key light


ASSIGNMENT
Create 1 image that illustrates each of the principles (there are 10)
Pick a minimum of 5 strategies to explore in-depth and take an additional 5 pictures using that principle


This assignment will result in at least 35 images. Out of the 10 pictures, that illustrate each of the principles, post your 3 best/favorite.


#3
Pick 3 songs, develop 3 concepts for each song and photograph 4 pics per concept.


#4
30 Day Photography Challenge
Day 1: Self-portrait
Day 2: what you wore today
Day 3: clouds
Day 4: something green
Day 5: from a high angle
Day 6: from a low angle
Day 7: fruit
Day 8: a bad habit
Day 9: someone you love
Day 10: childhood memory
Day 11: something blue
Day 12: sunset
Day 13: yourself with 13 things
Day 14: eyes
Day 15: silhouette
Day 16: long exposure
Day 17: technology
Day 18: your shoes
Day 19: something orange
Day 20: bokeh
Day 21: faceless self-portrait
Day 22: hands
Day 23: sunflare
Day 24: animal
Day 25: something pink
Day 26: close-up
Day 27: from a distance
Day 28: flowers
Day 29: black and white
Day 30: self portrait




#5 (this one is actually taken from a book I read)

The most fundamental overhaul of design theory in the 20th century took place in Germany in the 1920s and its focus was the Bauhaus. Founded in 1919 in Dessau, this school of art, design, and architecture was a major influence because of its experimental, questioning approach to the principles of design. Johannes Itten ran the Basic Course at the Bauhaus. His theory of composition was rooted in one simple concept: contrasts. Contrast between light and dark (chiaroscuro), between shapes, colors, and even sensations, was the basis for composing an image. One of the first exercises that Itten set the Bauhaus students was to discover and illustrate the different possibilities of contrast. These included, among many others, large/small, long/short, smooth/rough, transparent/opaque, and so on. These were intended as art exercises, but they translate very comfortably into photography. Itten’s intention was “to awaken a vital feeling for the subject through a personal observation,”
and his exercise was a vehicle for plunging in and exploring the nature of design. Here is an adaptation of his exercises for photography.


The project is in two parts. The first is rather easier—producing pairs of photographs that contrast with each other. The easiest way to do this is to make a selection from pictures you’ve already taken, choosing those that best show a certain contrast. More demanding but more valuable is to go out and look for images that illustrate a preplanned type of contrast—executing shots to order. The second part of the project is to combine the two poles of the contrast in one photograph, an exercise that calls for a bit more imagination. There are no restrictions to the kind of contrast, and it can be to do with form (bright/dark, blurred/sharp) or with any aspect of content. For example, it could be contrast in a concept, such as continuous/intermittent, or something non-visual, like loud/quiet. The list in the box below is from Itten’s original Bauhaus exercise.


A passionate educator, Itten wanted his students to approach these contrasts from three directions; “they had to experience them with their senses, objectivize them intellectually, and realize
them synthetically.” That is, each student had first to try to get a feeling for each contrast without immediately thinking of it as an image, then list the ways of putting this sensation across, and finally
make a picture. For example, for “much/little,” one first impression might be of a large group of things with one of them standing out because it is in some way different. On the other hand, it could be
treated as a group of things with an identical object standing a little apart, and so isolated. These are just two approaches out of several alternatives.

Nothing new with these assignments, but if you're a beginner like me, you'll find these very useful and have material for a while

THANK YOU!!! for all the great information. I have printed it off and going to start working on some it and hope that is will be very helpful to me. Truely appreciated!

 

[Ernicus]

get out there and shoot man, if possible have your camera at all times and things will happend naturally,

I love this part of your post. Oftentimes, my best pictures are those that I shot when I felt the urge to shoot something I came across. I always have my camera on me, or in my car. I don't feel right without it. I am guilty of setting up shots and trying to force a picture, as many of us are...to which I generally use for practice, but as I said...usually my best is from something that just was vs. made.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

...and things will happend naturally,

Yeah, because that's how people learn? I wonder how many years it would take the OP to "discover" the RoT's, and understand how it works and why it works?

Best way to learn is to learn a concept, then apply it. But then again, maybe the educational system has been wrong from it's inception.

 

[StandingBear1983]

Of course one needs to learn the basics, but you can learn the basics and still apply it in whatever way you want. I didn't know you had the goal of learning the basics and thats how you wanted to learn...anyhow, do whatever suits you the best.

 

[ChristianGrattan]

Hi I am new to all of this and was looking a forum or site where I can do assignment to help me learn different ways to use my camera to get some nice photos. You know like the ones where they tell you to do this and that then people give you advice on what you do wrong or ways to improve it. Am I making sense? Thanks in advance.

What is your skill level?

Do you know the basics of exposure and how to read the histogram?

 

[bowen.deanna]

Hi I am new to all of this and was looking a forum or site where I can do assignment to help me learn different ways to use my camera to get some nice photos. You know like the ones where they tell you to do this and that then people give you advice on what you do wrong or ways to improve it. Am I making sense? Thanks in advance.

What is your skill level?

Do you know the basics of exposure and how to read the histogram?

No I know none of the above. I have printed off and have been reading alot of information that I have been finding online but to say I know it No I don't. That is what I am hoping to get help with. Up until recently I was just a point and shoot gal.

 

[LizardKing]

I'd get a book to learn all the basics about exposure! There some good books recommended in this forum, try using the search function. There's been several posts talking about that. I've liked 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson and 'Perfect Exposure' by Jim Zuckerman... But there are others, of course.

Once you've got that covered, and believe me, you'll end up reading them more than once; get one focusing on composition and design elements to work a little bit the concepts. Again, here you have tons of great books to choose. I've read 'Learning to See Creatively' from Bryan Peterson as well, and 'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman. Both great books.

Practice is very important and it's what will eventually get the concepts in your head... but you need to do some -at least- basic reading.

 

[chuasam]

See if you can do this Wonderland- Gallery - Kirsty Mitchell Photography
kthanksbye