As part of this course you will also be asked to shoot an average of 6 photos each week. These portraits will be stored using Flickr's web-based photo sharing program (http://www.flickr.com//). The program is free for those storing under 100 MB of photos per month (about 50 photos per month using a 7 mgp camera). The reason that we want to use this program is that Flickr users can send their photos to groups, which allows for comments by other photo buffs.
Ideally, the photos you take should work in harmony with your creative writing. They should also be visually interesting and well composed.
Your photos will be graded on the following scale:
1 - snapshots. A snapshot is a photo that is taken without any thought to composition, lighting, or subject matter. Snapshots are boring and therefore frowned upon.
2-3 - photos which are competently shot, visually interesting, and which would therefore be worthy additions to your completed Blurb book.
4-5 - photos which have been photoshopped to make them more interesting or photo/text combinations created using Photoshop or photos which are outstanding in composition, lighting, and subject matter or photos which visually daring, exciting provocative. When I encounter photos of this type, I will generally advise you to submit them to a flick group (see below). Any photos of yours which are requested by a flick group moderator will automatically be awarded at least 3 points.
Photos which have been requested by the instructor for inclusion in one of the program's Flickr groups will receive an extra point. If you receieve such a request, it basically means that you have taken a photo which I regard as worthy of being shared with other serious photographers.
Since you will be taking a maximum of 60 photos, you can receive a maximum of 300 points for your photos (out of total of 1000 points for the course). This number does not count the extra point you may receive if you are requested to join a Flickr group.
Setting Up Your Flickr Account
It's a snap to set up a Flickr account. Just go to http://www.flickr.com/ and follow the instructions. You should probably upload one decent photo of yourself to use as a profile pic. That's all you have to do. During class, I'll be showing you how to get the most out of you account and how to connect with other college students like yourself who are passionate about photography.
Joining Our Flickr Groups
Once you have set up a Flickr account the only other thing you need to do is to join our program Flickr groups. These groups are arranged according to theme and correspond to photo projects you will be doing in class. Although I moderate these groups, the photos in them are from young amature photographers from all over the world. I'm hoping that you will receive inspiration from seeing what kind of interesting photography is being done by people just like you.
To join these groups, simply open up another tab in your browser, type in http://www.flickr.com/, and log into your account. Once you've done that come back to this page, click on the links below and click on the link that says "Join This Group."
Things, Things, and More Things
Arms Length
The Reflective Self
The Unvarnished Self
Portraiture: The Essence of Self
Bits and Pieces: Macro Self-Portraiture
The Street Where You Live
In My Room
Capturing Relationships: Friends and Family
Artful Romance
Raw Emotion
Capturing Your Shadow
Capturing Your Inner Freak
What's the Message?
Capturing Your Inner Child
Angelic: Capturing Your Transcendent Self
Ain't Life a Beach!
Urban Exlporations
