I don't generally shoot with the idea of cropping in mind, though on some occasions I know I am going to have to if I want the shot. I've spent so long working with kids who can't seem to grasp this simple concept, I've come almost to expect it in a shot...my bad and it is what I want to spend the next year undoing.
For Slobodan, what have I been teaching? hmmmm, these are from students who've held a camera in their hands for less than 14 weeks. Only one had ever shot anything before this class...These are students who range in age from 15-18 with the majority in the 16-17 age group. Of the ones presented, only two are seniors. I think I do pretty well with them compositionally and exposure wise, given I rarely get them for more than 18 weeks. In the 18 weeks, they have to shoot film, digital and do alterative processes plus get a firm foundation in photographic history.
The hard part for these poor babies is they have to do a six image interpretation of a word I choose (every 4 1/2 weeks the word changes), compare and contrast their images with works of other known photographers (some old, some contemporary), learn to shoot and process in RAW and image edit in CS4. I have them for 7 hours per week, 18 weeks total, two of which are designated for AICE testing or AICE prepatory work.
What I really teach is how to extrapolate, synthesize and odd as it may be, to think and work a problem to a successful conclusion.
Some of the words in this set of works are; Curious, Time-Honored, Horizon, Transparent, Parallel, Direction, Film, Diversity, Clarity, Hallucenation, and Dead. The last two are from two advanced students.
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