This was part two of our Maker project, Constructing Creative Communication! In the last couple of weeks, I was focused on taking photos like Herzog. Herzog was born in Germany in 1930, but immigrated to Vancouver in 1953. His specialty was colour photos and street photography. Here you can see more of Fred Herzog’s photos here.
The first goal was composing composition. To build on this skill, we learned how to adjust focus and exposure, consider the rule of thirds, backgrounds and foregrounds. The assignment for this goal was to hand in a photo from one of the activities that we did. The activities were photo walk, photograph something familiar, and create a personified picture. I chose to hand in one of the photos that I took on my photo walk.
Our second goal was called adjusting angles. We learned how to use photo booth and the timer, experiment with basic camera angles, use preset filters in the camera and photos app, and play with lighting. I learned that there are 4 basic camera angles. The birds eye, worms eye, close up, and the long shot. The birds eye is from above at a subject below. The worms eye is below to above, the close up is, well, close up, and the long shot is from far away. We had to shoot self portraits, make a portrait, and create a silhouette portrait. Our assignment was to choose a photo of us when we were younger, then use our skills to take that same photo now!
Goal number three was manufacturing mood. We moved on to advanced camera angles (eye level, high level, extreme close up, extreme long shot, medium shot, and canted perspective), we tried panorama, we used scale and contrast, and we learned to apply filters on some apps that we have, Pixelmator photo, and Snapseed. Our assignment was to make a photo of a word that we chose out of a hat. My word was dignified and this was my photo.
Skill four was creating collages. We learned how to use basic keynote with photos, yes advanced keynote with photos, and create storyboards with our images. First, we had to pictorialize our name, then we had to create a personalized collage. Also, we built an about me page here.
Skill 5 was molding movement. We made a Gif! I made two. The first one was a one that I made for fun, and the second one was the one that I handed in. They were supposed to be about a mood, and I chose annoyance for the second one.
This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed taking photos, and I enjoyed both parts of this project. Now, the big question. “How might I use technology to create and communicate?” Well, being in Herzog and Carr has affected how I think about things. Before when I was taking a photo, I might want the target in the middle, but now I know that its more effective for them or it to be in a third.