PHT 125 CRITIQUE: "Shopkeepers"

Shopkeepers proved to be a lesson in working with people who are not models, who do not understand that a photograph can be more than a snapshot and, in some cases, are very reluctant subjects.
However, many assignments in photography involve photographing people who are not comfortable nor skilled before the camera.  In wedding and portrait photography the subjects are likely to be unpracticed; there is the executive in commercial photography who will grant you five minutes; in photojournalism and editorial work those you are sent to photograph are not in the spotlight because of their posing skills.
In doing this assignment some of the naivete of the novice photographer was lost. And, as usual, in spite of their lack of experience and the reluctance of the subjects, some students managed portraits of their shopkeeper that are quite revealing.

                                                                  Charissa Kennedy

                                                                         Kelsey Somers

Key is everything

This is one of the more favoured student portrait assignments of the term. They are all gaining more confidence in their lighting and starting to develope their own shooting style. In this instance students get to show off their skills creating a "low-key" portrait. Creative was wide open for their own interpretation. The only criteria were: darker tones, higher ratios and a crisper light source. It is always interesting to view the range of interpretations for this assignment.

Two is better than one

So our second years are well on their way this term learning the basics of Portraiture. Every two weeks they are assigned a new topic based on materials presented and demonstrated in class. Most recently they completed their "Couples" assignment. The assignment had to be captured using natural light only - no supplement with artificial light. They were quite pleased with this as it meant there was no hauling of lighting gear and having to worry about the technical aspects of combing artificial with ambient light - wahoo!

Architecturally Speaking and Multiculturism Critiques

As many of you know our 1^st Years participate in a course called PHT 125 Critique. Each week they have to submit images that prescribe to a predetermined theme. It pushes them to creatively capture an image that they feel supports the theme. Interpretation of course is two-fold; student and the instructor marking. The marking instructor(s) provides feedback the week after submission. I am pleased to say that the classes are active and lively with dialogue from both sides. The last two weeks “Architecturally Speaking” and “Multiculturism” have been marked and critiqued – enjoy!

Architecturally Speaking

Multiculturism

THE CHASE

“…to follow in pursuit with the hope of attracting, gaining, winning…”

That’s exactly what our first year students did with this weeks critique topic, THE CHASE.

Some of the students’ images attracted critic’s praises; others hopefully gained valuable photographic lessons from the critique.  The following students’ images, just plain won me over. 

Critique - Water

We all have different interests.  Different strengths.  Different ideas.

Critique class plays to the individuality and creative imagination of each of the students.

Each student is going to have topics which they are going to struggle with, and those that they excel at. The water topic is one that is open to a lot of interpretation.  A lot of experimentation.

There were a lot of fruit/vegetables being splashed into water, water droplets, calm and relaxing water scenes, and a few outliers.

The following images are the top 3 from the class.  Overall this was one of the best submissions in my opinion.