“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” – ANSEL ADAMS

Image by Vivian Maier, Self-Portrait, Undated

Image by Jonathan Saunders

The Self Portrait Project: The Self Portrait Project is designed to allows each student to experiment with the creation of images that communicate a specific idea(s) related to their identity and individual expressive style. Students will be able to use a device, either a cell phone or a digital camera, to create an image or a series of images that represents themselves. Students may use free Adobe Photoshop programs, or a compatible program, to edit their work for presentation. 

Tips: Choose a topic you feel excited and passionate about.

Please review these articles for reference and ideas: Inspirational Articles for Portraits During The 2020 Pandemic

Time Frame Estimate: 2-4 weeks

Students will be required to;

• Create. Conceptualize, research, and develop an artistic idea based on their imagination and life experiences,
  • Organize and develop a complete body artistic work,
    • Each student must complete a minimum of twenty photographic images. Unedited original images must be shared via Google Class Drive.
• Produce. Select the images that best interpret their artistic ideas.
  • Develop and refine the images using a free editing program Adobe Photoshop Express or Photopea.com
  • Present a unified series of images that conveys meaning and tells a story.
    • • How to Title Your Work of Art
      • On the importance of naming images
      • Creating titles for images
• Respond. Write a reflective artist statement that analyzes and interprets meaning in the project.
  • Identify and evaluate essential media components, such as the elements of art / principles of design, the language of photography, and compositional terms, as they relate to the project,
    • 25 Tips for Perfect Photography Composition
    • 25 Technical Photography Terms Every Beginner Must Know
    • 25 Common Photography Terms All Beginners Need to Know
• Connect. Name your project. Explain your creative process, materials, cite influences, personal experiences, and overall purpose of your work.
  • Speak about your work from a cultural, social, and historical perspective / context. Use reference materials to support your thesis.
• Photo Project Rubric

Video Support: You may need to Login to Adobe for Access to the Tutorials

• Adobe Photoshop Download & Support Link
• Using Photoshop Express / Adobe Photoshop Express Tutorial, Intro, and Features

Interesting articles, images and projects on self-portraiture:

• The Varieties of Self-Portait Experiences
• Me, Myself and the Photographic Eye
• Seeing Yourself as Others Do
• The Self-Portait Project
• 8 Tips Every Beginning Portrait Photographer Should Know
• 15 Top Tips on How to Master Portrait Photography
• HOW (AND WHY) TO SHOOT IN RAW ON SMARTPHONES IN 2020
• 8 Best Smartphone Camera Apps For Shooting RAW Photo Format
• Guide to shoot in RAW with mobile

Examples of other photographers who have focused on self-portraiture;

• Cindy Sherman
  • ArtSpace Article, The Dark Side of Cindy Sherman
• Jonathan Saunders
• Vivian Maier
• Gordon Stettinius
• Video link to the “20 Minute Self-Portrait Shoot Out”

Link to Photo Project Rubric – based on New York State Learning Standards for the Arts

Advanced	Accomplished	Proficient	Incomplete
-Exceeded all requirements.	-Met all or most requirements.	-Met some requirements.	-Did not meet requirements.

Extra – Extra Credit: 

• Feeling ambitious! Create a 5-minute video using Screencast-o-matic and then share it on Vimeo. Include your final image(s), in the order, you wish viewers to see them, with a detailed description of each.  You may read your artist statement aloud, speak slowly and clearly.