Photography
Class Assignments

Pinhole Camera Door Knobs     Barns      Photogram  Photographs of Choice     Photographs of Choice 2nd Roll Litho   Paper Negatives     Texture Print    Repetition

Vignetting   Multiple Image Sabattier Effect Dodging Burning in Portraiture      Photo Essay  Night Photography Final Photograph  People on the Job Journal Abstract (Essay)

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Door Knobs               Return to the top of this page

    Taking pictures of door knobs will give each student the opportunity to learn how to use a 35mm camera

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Become familiar with a 35mm camera.
2. Begin to understand some of the basic rules of photography
3. Be prepared to use their creative talents to produce two or more different photographs of door knobs.

Supplies:

• 35mm camera
• One roll of black & white film
• 5x7 inch photographic paper
• Film processing chemistry
• Print processing chemistry
• One 9x12 inch clasp envelope

Procedure:

1. Take pictures of several different types of door knobs.  Be sure to use as small of an aperture as possible
2. Use the camera in manual mode
3. Shoot at f11 to f16 if you are able, to insure a large depth of field
4. If your shutter speed is below 1/60 of a second, you need to use a tripod

Evaluation:

1. Letter your name, near the edge of each photograph
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form
3. Fill in the technical information on the evaluation form
4. Obtain and label a 9x12 inch clasp envelope in the upper right corner: line 1 - Your Name; line 2 - Course Title; line 3 - Name of Assignment; and line 4 - Date Assignment will be turned in.
5. Place the two door knobs and the evaluation form in the envelope
6. Give the completed assignment to your instructor

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Barns                         Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of the assignment, students will:

1. Have a better understanding about camera operations
2. Be prepared to use their creative talents and produce well composed photographs.

Supplies:

• 1 roll of 35mm black & white film
• 5x7 inch photographic paper
• Film processing chemistry
• Print processing chemistry

Procedure:

1. Shoot 1 roll of film of various barns and surroundings using your creativity
2. Develop the roll of film
3. Make a contact sheet of negatives
4. Pick the best two photographs and make a 5x7 inch print of each

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form

Photograms                         Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Be prepared to use their creative talents and produce a photogram
2. Be able to explain and demonstrate a different use of photographic paper

Supplies:

• Several opaque and semiopaque objects, such as keys, coins, paper clips and jewelry.
• 5x7 inch photographic paper
• Print processing chemistry
• One 9x12 inch clasp envelope

Information:
    Photograms are made without a film negative.  They are photographic prints made by using opaque and semiopaque objects to block light from reaching the light-sensitive paper during exposure.  Some very interesting photograms can be made by the creative photographer.

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form.

Photographs of Your Choice             Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Have a full understanding about camera operations
2. Be prepared to use your creative talents and produce well composed photographs.

Supplies:

• 1 roll of 35mm black & white film
• 5x7 inch photographic paper
• Film processing chemistry
• Print processing chemistry

Procedure:

1. Shoot 1 roll of film of subject matter that is of interest to you, using your creativity.
2. Develop your film
3. Make a contact sheet of your negatives.
4. Pick your best two photographs and make a 5x7 inch print of each.

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form
3. Place your finished work in a 9x12 clasp envelope and give it to your instructor

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Paper Negative                 Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Be prepared to use their creative talents and produce a paper negative
2. Be able to explain and demonstrate how to create a paper negative

Supplies:

• Black & White paper positive that is high in contrast
• 5x7 inch photographic paper
• Print processing chemistry
• One 9x12 inch clasp envelope

Information:
    A paper negative, made by contact printing from an enlarged paper print.  The contact print may be made by placing a sheet of glass over the print and the sheet of paper to be exposed.

Procedure:

1. Setup up the enlarger for a 5x7 inch enlargement
2. Place an unexposed piece of photographic on the enlarger base emulsion side up within the 5x7 enlargement
3. Place your paper positive on top of your unexposed photographic paper, emulsion to emulsion.
4. Expose for 7 seconds at f/3.5
5. Process you new exposure using the Print processing chemistry

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form
3. Place your finished work in a 9x12 clasp envelope and give it to your instructor

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Litho Prints                       Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Be prepared to use their creative talents and produce a Litho Print
2. Be able to explain and demonstrate how to create a Litho Print

Supplies:

• Litho 4x5 inch sheet film
• Litho film developer
• One 9x12 inch clasp envelope

Information:
    Litho film is used to eliminate all gray tones and produce just blacks and whites for graphic rather than realistic effects.

Procedure:

1.     Select a negative that has been exposed properly.
2.     Place this negative in the enlarger an make an enlargement of 2 1/4 x 1 5/8 inches.
3.     Place the litho film on the enlarger base, be sure the lighter side is facing up.
4.     Expose the litho film for 2 seconds at f/11
5.     Develop the exposed litho film in the prepared litho developer for 90 seconds.
6.     Place in the stop bath for 1 second and in the fixer for 3-5 minutes.
7.     Wash for about 5 minutes.
8.     Make a negative print using the litho positive

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form
3. Place your finished work in a 9x12 clasp envelope and give it to your instructor

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Texture Prints                            Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Be prepared to use their creative talents and produce a Texture Print
2. Be able to explain and demonstrate how to create a Texture Print

Supplies:

• A handmade texture screen
• 5x7 inch photographic paper
• Print processing chemistry
• One 9x12 inch clasp envelope

Information:
    There are many ways to add texture to photographic prints.  You can use a textured paper stock, but the variety of textured printing papers are limited, so most photographers use texture screens.  These are transparent films or plates printed or created with a fine pattern.  Screens are sandwiched with the negative for projection by the enlarger, or they are placed over the printing paper during exposure.   Besides screens, a variety of other items can be used to produce texture patterns:   cloth, plastic wire screens, lens cleaning tissue, glass, netting--almost anything, as long as the material is translucent.

Procedure:

1.     Select a negative that has been exposed properly.
2.     Place this negative in the enlarger.
3.     Place a sheet of unexposed photographic paper on the enlarger base.
4.     Place your texture screen on top of this paper.
5.     Expose the enlargement for the normal amount of time.
6.     Process your print

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form
3. Place your finished work in a 9x12 clasp envelope and give it to your instructor

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Vignetting                 Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
    Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Be prepared to use their creative talents and produce a Vignetted Print
2. Be able to explain and demonstrate how to create a Vignetted Print

Supplies:

• A handmade Vignette
• 5x7 inch photographic paper
• Print processing chemistry
• One 9x12 inch clasp envelope

Information:     The vignetting effect is produced by allowing the central part of the paper to be exposed normally, while 'holding back' the edges and corners so they gradually merge into whiteness.  This is done by holding a card in which is cut a suitably - shaped hole - usually round or oval - about half way between the enlarging lens and the image on the paper.  To make the transition soft, do not use too small a lens aperture, and keep the mask moving during the printing exposure.

Procedure:

1.     Select a negative that has been exposed properly.
2.     Place this negative in the enlarger.
3.     Place a sheet of unexposed photographic paper on the enlarger base.
4.     Place your vignette mask between the enlarger lens and the photographic paper, align using a safe filter.
5.     Expose your print making sure you move the mask slightly.
6.     Expose the enlargement for the normal amount of time.
7.     Process your print

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form
3. Place your finished work in a 9x12 clasp envelope and give it to your instructor

Final Photograph     Return to the top of this page

Objectives:    State Goals 25.A.5   26.B.5
 Upon completion of this assignment, students will:

1. Be prepared to use their creative talents and produce a photograph of high quality.
2. Be able to explain and demonstrate all the skills needed to produce a high quality photograph.

Supplies:

• A 35mm Camera and B&W film.
• 8x10 inch photographic paper
• Film Processing chemistry
• Print processing chemistry

Procedure:

1. Take several pictures of subjects you find, and what you think others will find interesting and exciting.
2. Process your film
3. Make a contact sheet of your pictures.
4. Select the best picture and make a 3 ½ by 5 inch print.
5. Show this print to your instructor.
6. If your instructor approves of the print quality move to the next step.
7. Make a final 8x10 inch print.
8. Fill out the evaluation sheet and give it to your instructor along with the final print.

Evaluation:

1. Fill out exposure information and attach them to the back of your finished photographs
2. Self-evaluate yourself directly on the assignment evaluation form

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