Paper is in!

Photo Credit: August Williams

Just a heads up: The paper order has finally came in and we are now fully stocked!

Week 16: FINAL PORTFOLIOS

Allison V. Smith

We are getting close to the end! It's hard to believe that 15 weeks have gone by already. On Wednesday, April 30, we will have our IDM EXHIBITION. This will take place from 2-4 pm on the second floor of the Rayburn Student Center. All IDM classes will be in attendance and will have their work laid out to share. Please stop by for a bit if you are able to. Remember, that you will receive 2 Bonus Points for your FINAL PROJECT if you attend. I will be there, so just check in with me. 

And this will also be your last chance to ask for help. So please, if you need anything, please ASK. I will be in the print lab after the exhibition and will be able to help you with printing or matting.

Friday May 2, your Final Portfolio is due. In order to receive full credit, you will need to turn in a series of 10-15, color correct 8”x10” or larger professionally matted photographs on 11x14,” 16”x20,” or larger white mat board. The project images must also be posted to your blog by 11:59 pm. All blog posts should also be up to date. 

A reminder that May 2 will also be our final class meeting.

See you Wednesday / Friday!
-Kristina

Call for Entry

Frisco Discovery Center - 8004 N. Dallas Pkwy

 Keep Looking Up - Juried Photography Show - May 5-31

"Keep looking up, 'cause that's where it all is" - Kidd Kraddick

This photography show is for images of things that are "up", though not limited to skyscapes or skyscrapers. What or who is upwardly mobile? What motivates people to keep their chins up? What does one see when one looks up? Whether spiritual or banal, photography can shift a person's perspective. Show Frisco your best shots!

Click HERE for the call for art, entry form, and release

Open to all photographers, ages 15 and up. $30 entry fee for the show, ($18 for students). Up to 5 entries of original work accepted per artist.

Email images of your entries by April 25th to Paige Prater, Director of Marketing and Exhibits: pprater@friscoarts.org 

Jurors: Gerry Burns, Kelly DeLay, and Irby Pace

Deadline to Enter: April 25

Entry Fee: $30 ($18 for students)

Drop-off Date: 1-3PM, May 4

Pickup Date: 1-3PM, June 1

Reception/Panel Discussion: 7-9PM, Wed, May 7, in the Frisco Art Gallery

Questions? Call 972-668-5180 or email pprater@friscoarts.org

Late Addendums

The date for the Intro to Digital Media Exhibition / End of the Year Photo Show has been decided. It will take place on Wednesday, April 30 from 2-4 pm in the Rayburn Student Center.

Also: The Check-Out lab in the Journalism building will close for the semester at 2 pm on Friday, May 2nd. Please have ALL equipment turned in no later than 10 am that day. Students with materials unaccounted for may receive a hold on their account. 

Friday April 18: Presentation Techniques

Today in class we had our Show & Tell for the Final Project. After that, we learned how to measure the golden mean and use the mat cutter, and how to mat and mount your prints for the Final Critique.

We also went over the bonus assignment, GIFS!

For those of you that were not in class today: please look over the previous blog posts to get yourself caught up. A reminder that your Show and Tell progress images should be posted to your blog or emailed to me by 11:59 pm today, in order to be counted. 


ASSIGNMENT FOR THE WEEK:

• Work on shooting and processing your images for the Final Project. Next week, we will have Open Lab / Work Time the entire class to get ready for the Final. I will be available help with processing, printing, or matting.
• The following week is MAY 2. When it is due.
• Lab time is for your benefit. Make sure to utilize it effectively. 

OH. MY.GIF

BONUS Assignment: Worth up to 10 points, put towards your lowest grade. Due May 1st.

• Part 1: Find two GIFS, that appear to be looping continuously. (Right click GIF> Save Image As. Insert as you would a normal image. The GIF format is supported by blogger.) 
• Part 2: Create two GIFS, that appear to be looping continuously.
• You will need to shoot at least two videos, under 30 seconds each. 
• Follow instructions under the "How To" section
• Tip: GIFS loop continuously. Meaning they run from beginning to end and then go back to the beginning. And Repeat. Forever.
• To make it appear seamless, you will need to have similar looking beginning and end frames
• Due MAY 1st, at 11:59 pm. 
• Please label the GIFS. So that I can tell which ones you FOUND and which ones you MADE.

Class Demo GIF from a video installation on view at the DMA.

Seamless GIF Examples posted below.

 

 

http://magnass.tumblr.com/post/80446849632/wonder-woman-can-somebody-put-patriarchy-on

Historical and Contemporary Trends:

http://hyperallergic.com/57585/gif-typologies-and-the-heritage-of-the-moving-image/

http://hyperallergic.com/82945/history-meets-the-strangest-animated-gifs/

http://hyperallergic.com/89732/paper-orchard-gifs-through-collage/

http://seamlessgifs.tumblr.com/

***** http://hyperallergic.com/103919/old-master-paintings-animated/ *****

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/24/motion-photography-prize_n_5201131.html?utm_hp_ref=arts

For Fun: http://hyperallergic.com/64988/emoji-art-history/

How to make a video GIF: 

** http://www.mediacollege.com/adobe/photoshop/animation/video.html

http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/22/4009842/deal-with-it-the-art-and-science-of-creating-gifs

Professional Presentation Techniques: Mat Cutting 101

Mat Cutting Resources:

Below are instructions from my Photo I handout for positioning a print for mounting using the "golden mean" method. Basically, this method helps determine the lower-right corner at which to dry mount the print or cut a window. I think this produces a placement that some refer to as the "optical center." If you're going to cut a window, use the size of the image only instead of the size of the entire print as shown in the diagram.

MEASURING THE GOLDEN MEAN

According to the golden mean, a print is always mounted centered on the sides and slightly higher than center from top to bottom.

1. Lay print on mount board in upper left corner.
2. Line A-B is a measurement of one-half the distance between the print and the lower edge of the mount board.
3. Line C-D is a measurement of one-half the distance between the print and the lower edge of the mount board.
4. Point E is the lower-left corner where the edge of the print meets the mount board.
5. Point F is the intersection of lines E-D and A-B, and is then the position of the lower-right corner of the print when placed and mounted on the mount board.
6. A T-square is necessary to accomplish this mounting procedure with minimum time and maximum ease. A mechanical pencil is also nice, and dustless eraser to remove any marks from mat. Markings for dry mounting print are made on the front of the mad board; markings for cutting windows in overmats are made on the back of board.

How to Measure and Cut a Mat

How to use the Logan 750 Simplex Mat Cutter 

(This is the one most commonly used)

How to use the Logan 650 Framer's Edge Mat Cutter 

‪(This is the one on the back table. It may or may not be working properly. ‬

An order has been placed for a new piece.)‬

                                                       How to use Fletcher Terry 3100 Wall Cutter: Mat, Mount, and Foam Board Demo Video

MORE RESOURCES:

• http://www.reframingphotography.com/content/mounting-matting-and-framing
• This page is very thorough and goes through practically everything you ever wanted to know about mounting, matting, and framing a photograph.

• http://www.fineart-photography.com/mat.html
• Joe Miller has a site that talks briefly about window matting and placement. But the real gem, is that he has a FREE DOWNLOADABLE EXCEL PROGRAM THAT WILL CALCULATE YOUR MAT BORDER MEASUREMENTS FOR YOU.

• Anyway. Look it up. And when you open the file, it's the 4th tab on the bottom under "Mat Borders."

• http://www.phimatrix.com/matte-frame-golden-ratio/
• This does the same thing as the above link. Only differently. 
• Same end result, different ways to go about it. Just like in Photoshop. And driving. And life... (All about options here)

But what SIZE do my boards need to be?

• General gallery presentation sizes, according to standard frame sizes: 

                                      (ie: if you would like to pop one of these bad boys in a frame when you're done)

IMAGE SIZE                           BOARD SIZE

•        smaller than 8x10"                             11x14"
•        8x10" – 11x14"                                    16x20"
•        11x14" – 16x20"                                   20x24"
•        16x20" – 20x24"                                   24x36" – 30x40"
•        over 30" in any direction                     do not worry about matting

If you are printing a non-standard size, such as a panorama or diptych, or a really large photograph and are unsure of what size you need, please email me or ask for the opinion of the lab monitor. 

Remember: 

• Each student is allotted 10 full sheets (32x40") of white mat board and 10 full sheets of foam core. Mat board is to be used for the front, to cut your window. The foam core is to be used for the backs of your hinged mats. 
• **** If you are printing on the smaller scale, and you do not anticipate going over 10 full sheets of mat board, you can use the mat board for your backs as well. It is up to your discretion, and how much you think you will need. ***

*** Oh, and make sure you get your cards punched! This helps us keep track of inventory. How much we have left, how much we went through, and how much to allocate for next semester.***