Assignment #1 -Documentary Style

Intermediate Photography
Assignment #1 - Documentary Style

Please hand in this sheet together with your prints packed in an archival clear sleeve with museum board backing. Your archival print must be 11 x 14 inches or larger. If working digitally, include a CD with unflattened adjustment layers, and contact sheets of your RAW files. If working with traditional fiber-base black and white, include contact sheets. If working hybrid (scanned negatives or transparencies), include a small 4 x 6 contact sheet provided by a commercial lab, or your original transparencies in plastic sheets. If any of the above elements are missing the assignment will be marked "incomplete."

Assignment Description:
Portray "America" in three or more images.

Related Reading Assignment:
A Backward Glance At Documentary by Beaumont Newhall

Assignment Objective:
This assignment is an introduction to the documentary genre of photography. We will make an effort to translate our experience of America in all its diversity into pictures. We should come to understand the persuasiveness and potential to both reveal and distort the facts within this classic approach to photographic realism. In the documentary style technique should be seen as a transparent support for the information carried by the images rather than being obvious and contrived. In other words, craft the images well, but let technique be relatively invisible.

Suggestions:
Avoid visual clichés. Photograph subject matter that is "loaded". Feel free to make photographs that might be seen as controversial. Before beginning to photograph compile an exhaustive list of all the things that strike you as distinctly American phenomena. Use the list as a starting point that might lead to other possibilities. Take a lot of pictures.

Evaluation Criteria:
Craftsmanship - Sharpness
Exposure (full shadow and highlight detail)
Contrast (a solid black, a bright white, and a full range of gray values)
Value (appropriate lightness / darkness)
Needs dodging and/or burning
Cleanness (no dust, water spots, scratches)
Mounting (clean and straight edges parallel to board, well adhered, no heat damage)
Print damage

Aesthetic / Conceptual refinement (accomplishes assignment description and meets objective)

Grade ___________

Student Name_______________________________

Teacher Comments:

Intermediate Photography Assignment #1 - Documentary Style Please hand in this sheet together with your prints packed in an archival clear sleeve with museum board backing. Your archival print must be 11 x 14 inches or larger. If working digitally, include a CD with unflattened adjustment layers, and contact sheets of your RAW files. If working with traditional fiber-base black and white, include contact sheets. If working hybrid (scanned negatives or transparencies), include a small 4 x 6 contact sheet provided by a commercial lab, or your original transparencies in plastic sheets. If any of the above elements are missing the assignment will be marked "incomplete." Assignment Description: Portray "America" in three or more images. Related Reading Assignment: A Backward Glance At Documentary by Beaumont Newhall Assignment Objective: This assignment is an introduction to the documentary genre of photography. We will make an effort to translate our experience of America in all its diversity into pictures. We should come to understand the persuasiveness and potential to both reveal and distort the facts within this classic approach to photographic realism. In the documentary style technique should be seen as a transparent support for the information carried by the images rather than being obvious and contrived. In other words, craft the images well, but let technique be relatively invisible. Suggestions: Avoid visual clichés. Photograph subject matter that is "loaded". Feel free to make photographs that might be seen as controversial. Before beginning to photograph compile an exhaustive list of all the things that strike you as distinctly American phenomena. Use the list as a starting point that might lead to other possibilities. Take a lot of pictures. Evaluation Criteria: Craftsmanship - Sharpness Exposure (full shadow and highlight detail) Contrast (a solid black, a bright white, and a full range of gray values) Value (appropriate lightness / darkness) Needs dodging and/or burning Cleanness (no dust, water spots, scratches) Mounting (clean and straight edges parallel to board, well adhered, no heat damage) Print damage Aesthetic / Conceptual refinement (accomplishes assignment description and meets objective) Grade ___________ Student Name_______________________________ Teacher Comments:
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