Project: Joiners

Assignment | Project Due & Critique 2.6 | First Shoot Due 1.23

In the Photographer’s Eye, Szarkowsky points out that paintings are made and photographs taken.  For early photographers this raised a new issue of creativity as to how a mechanical process could make meaningful images that revealed a point of view.  Szarkowsky argued that because photography did not have the old artistic tradition, the answer was not to be found in the work of those who followed the old artistic traditions.  David Hockney makes single images from different photographs – calling them Joiners – and is in effect both taking and making with photography.  Create your own Joiner using Adobe Photoshop.

• Take several dozen cropped photos of a single subject / environment. 
  • Start with a wide angle shot of the entire scene before each set of photos you take.  This helps to mark the beginning and end of each set, and to remind yourself later where all the pieces of your joiner puzzle will go.
  • Try to shoot in some type of order to keep track of where you’ve already shot within the scene.   For example, in rows, left to right.
  • Do NOT use a wide angle lens – use at least 50mm or longer.  
  • Anticipate shooting for the assignment more than once.  You will probably find out what works best for assembly after your first shoot, or get a better idea that you’d like to try.  Be creative and don’t settle!
• Import these photos into one composition and arrange them to make a Joiner.  See the Joiner Tutorial for complete information.
• Turn in one print and one final PSD file to Assignments > Carrie > Advanced > Joiners.  

Goals

• To both “take” a photo and use it to “make” a new composition.
• To review working with layers and adjustment layers.
• To learn about placing Smart Objects with Camera Raw settings.
• To create a dynamic composition considering the elements of composition at your disposal, as well as the unique nature of Joiners.

Requirements

All photography must be new and shot for this class.  

Grading Considerations

• Are your photographs in separate layers?
• Have you composited them creatively to create a single image?
• Have you used any adjustments, and if so, are they successful?
• Have you creatively tackled the Joiner medium considering your subject matter, lighting and composition?

Joiners Project Materials:

• 2 – joiners lecture
• Joiners Assignment Sheet & Tutorial