The Composite Portrait Project – Project Who Am I Checklist

The Composite Portrait Project – “Who Am I”: This project explores the concept of identity and race in visual form. Students are required to photograph a subject to use as the main focal point of their project. Students will be able to use  Adobe programs, a scanner, and printer to enhance and restructure a final image that communicates a specific idea, individual style, as a composite graphic portrait. 

Students are required to;

• Photograph a minimum of twenty images
• Use Adobe Photoshop to manipulate/enhance the final image(s)
• Write a reflection/artist statement
  • Explain your process, theme, materials, influences, and overall understanding/purpose of your work using the language of art and photography. Please include an explanation of your work from a cultural, social, and historical perspective.

Original Photography:  Remember to take meter readings and set the camera accordingly, and set your WB to Flash when using strobe lights.

Part 1:  Save all work in a subfolder labeled, (your full name) Who Am I PdX (your period) within your Master folder on your desktop.

For example, Jane Doe Pd1 Who Am I

_____        1. Photograph subject in RAW with Gray Card.

_____        2. Use an 85-135mm lens setting.  

_____        3. Shoot a minimum of two to three images, (vertical), at least one image with the gray card.  

_____        4. Use full-frontal lighting, shadow behind subject, (Butterfly Lighting with gold fill from reflector).  Below is an example of Butterfly Lighting with a reflector fill.

_____        5. Subjects display a neutral face, eyes looking straight into the lens at eye level.

_____        6. Subjects must be in focus or you will be asked to reshoot.

_____        7. Color balance in camera RAW using the image with your gray card

_____        8. Save > Format, JPEG, 8, High

_____        9. Crop your image, 11X14 at 300 dpi, as demonstrated in class and viewed below.

_____        10. Retouch JPEG image in background layer copy. Duplicate the background layer before retouching, never work directly on your original layer. Always use multiple non-destructively layers.

_____        11. At this point you should have one multilayered photoshop file that contains a Background, Background Copy and a Channel Mixer layer. Email and share your image file via Gdocs with Ms. L.

Convert Image to Black and White, Tear and Scan parts 

Part 2:

_____        1. Create a Black & White version of your color image using the Channel Mixer (class DEMO).

_____        2. Print your image using the Epson2880, make sure your settings are correct, see email and class DEMO.

_____        3. Once your print is completed, tear it (using your hands), into smaller pieces, do not include any straight edges, break down the image into multiple parts – eyes, nose, lips, etc.

_____        4. Place the pieces face down onto the scanner, activate it, make sure the settings are correct, see email and class DEMO.

_____        5. Email and share your new image file with Ms. L.

_____        6. At this point you should have shared two images files, the original photograph (Part 1) and the multiple parts scan (Part 2).

Reassembling Image:  

Part 3:

_____       1. Image files should be shared with Ms. L for credit.  Files will be shared with classes so students have many choices for individual parts to use.

_____        2. You may retouch the scanned parts and increase the contrast, brightness or sharpen, etc. on non-destructive layers.

_____        3. Choose four various body parts from the shared scans, then use a Selection Tool to select the part, copy and paste, (Command + C (copy), Command + V (paste), into your original psd image file.

_____       4. Transform the selected image parts properly (hold down the Shift key and drag from corners ONLY).

_____        5. Lower the Opacity mode to help align your images properly, for example match the iris of an eye to iris in your image.

_____        6. Use a Layer mask to remove unwanted parts of scans (zoom in, use a hard edge, brush size extra small)

_____        7. Create Clipping Masks to improve/alter the individual layers. Retain the texture of the original tears (use a hard edge in your layer mask).

_____        8. Show your image to Ms. L when you feel that your image is complete for final approval.

_____        9. Once approved, Save As > Period.student.name.who am I.final.psd

 Written Summary:

Part 4: Artist Statement  (Understanding of Media)

_____        1. Written summary in Word, include your name, period and the date

_____        2. Describe your image using photographic compositional terms.  Include, if possible, shot details based on camera and lighting settings/set-up. Speak about the photography tools used to create your image.

_____        3. Your summary should include a personal reflection on the creation and experience making your final image.

Output:

Part 5:

_____        1. Final output; 11X14 @ 300 DPI Vertical

_____        2. Email / share PSD file vis GDocs

_____        3. Save As > student.name.who am I.FINAL.JPEG (save JPEG version)

_____        4. Save for Web and Devises > upload to image blog

_____        5. Subject email heading; Who Am I

Rubric:

BENCHMARKS: (Photography, Photoshop and Social Skills to be mastered.)

• _____ Photo: Uses the appropriate semi-automatic and manual camera settings for a given situation

• _____ Photo: Uses a Gray card to set proper exposure

• _____ Photo: Uses a Handheld meter

• _____ Photo: Sets up and shuts down a studio set

• _____ Photo: Sets up and uses Tungsten lighting

• _____ Photo:  Sets up and uses Strobe lighting

• _____ PS: Creating and using layer masks

• _____ PS: Retouching images using the PS retouching tools

• _____ PS: Cropping, resizing and using rulers and guides

• _____ PS: Work in Adobe Camera Raw

• _____ PS: Converting images to black and white

• _____ PS: Scanning images and preparing for output

• _____ PS: Preparing an image for printing

• _____ Social: Working independently in the photo studio

• _____ Social: Working independently on location

• _____ Social: Critiquing the work of professional, peers and one’s self

• _____ Social: Speaking with Subjects before, during and after a photo shoot

Common Core:

Key Ideas and Details

• RST.9-10.3. Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.

Craft and Structure

• RST.9-10.4. Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9–10 texts and topics.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

• RST.9-10.7. Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.