Bring things to the final: at the least, paper and a pencil; a laptop & jump drive, max. Prepare whatever notes you wish, from which to work on your concentration commentary. Here are some examples:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_questions/200762.html
…or for 123 years and counting, anyway.
Here is our course description, virtually verbatim from the course catalogue:
“Creative camerawork with light-sensitive emulsions is at the core of this semester-long course. Students become familiar with the process and aesthetic considerations of the medium, beginning with basic technical instruction and problem-solving methods for black-and-white film photography. Camera operation, film processing, printmaking and presentation are the main areas of concentration. (Students must provide their own film cameras.) Student essays and reviews deal with contemporary issues as well as the history of the medium, in addition to work in the darkroom. In successive semesters, students investigate the concept of fine print, experiment with a variety of materials, and employ more extensive manipulation of images. Evaluation is based on effort and progress; continuing study assumes mastery of tools, materials and processes. The lab fee is $60.00; there are additional expenses for film, papers and field trips.”
Necessary gear? See https://photodevoto.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/choice-camera-choices-for-class/
…to a degree.
Don’t be alarmed as you read through this: it’s not worded colloquially, nor is it necessarily as some of the test questions will be phrased; instead, each item alludes to (not all) topics.
What is the distinction between “composition” and the “effective placement of objects within the frame”?
What affects the impact that a negative’s grain has on the look of a print, from choosing where and when (and what) to shoot to working in the darkroom?
What are the important details of film developer use?
How important is a sense of finesse when developing film?
Oddly, fixing film has its variables. (Actually, maybe it’s not so odd, partly because we work in a shared facility in a public school.)
That which should not be a variable is the assurance of darkness in a darkroom. How is that under our control?
How might we manipulate the enlarger to produce effective results?
The issue of test strips is huge in terms of time, cost, and efficacy. Think all about test strips.
How much control/leeway does one have in processing a piece of photo paper?
Plan ahead for a blunted essay: what’s your dream project in a photography class in huge school? What are the logistics and the aesthetics of such a project? How purely photographic is it–or is it dependent upon another context (literary, commercial, vernacular)?
Another mini-essay might concern itself with the apparent start/stop nature of the work flow of our process.
Any of the following projects may be your final project for this semester, whether you did the project already and want to improve, or weren’t assigned a particular project and want to do it anyway.(1)
3 Amigos: Set up a still life using three carefully-selected objects; rearrange for each shot to create new relationships; make/use a frame in the shot to increase awareness of the available space.
Altered Landscape: Do something, introduce something to change an otherwise “found” scene.
Long, Long, Long: 1/4, 1/2, full seconds; the lengthier exposure times may or may not be apparent at first glance.
Minimum Depth-of-Field Cityscapes: Use pretty much wide open apertures in order to direct the viewer’s attention.
Regarding Snow: Anything but Hallmark or facebook-first-snowfall-shot-from-the-front-door.
http://www.photoeye.com/BookteaseLight/bookteaselight.cfm?catalog=zd188
Simple Portraits: Use the entire frame; the sitter collaborates.(2)
Three (or more) Light Sources: Fill in all shadows, to greater or lesser degrees.
Did I miss anything?
Footnotes:
1. We’re in the Guinness Book now, for using the word “project” the most number of times in a single sentence.
2. I know we did Simple Portraits in two successive incarnations, but it counts as one for our purposes now.
Electronic Communications/Social Networks
“Barrington Community Unit School District 220 recognizes that electronic communication may be a useful tool for employee/student/parent communication about instructional matters. In order to assure that electronic communications between employees and currently enrolled Barrington 220 students are appropriate and consistent within the goals and policies of the school district, and to protect the welfare of both employees and students, this policy applies to online communication with both students and parents. This policy does not apply to communication with alumni of the Barrington 220 School District.
“Employees may communicate with currently enrolled Barrington 220 students only about school-related matters and only through district-approved or district-hosted electronic accounts and applications, such as district e-mail addresses and the official district website within the “barrington220.org” domain. A district employee who wishes to utilize any technology (e.g. cell phones, including texting) for electronic communication other than those listed above to communicate with current Barrington 220 students should notify his/her building principal and obtain written or electronic consent from the student’s parent(s) before utilizing the technology.
“The school district recognizes that employees may maintain personal blogs or websites, and/or contribute posts to the blogs or websites or web pages of others and/or participate in social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn. If so, employees may not use personal (as opposed to district-hosted) sites to communicate with currently enrolled Barrington 220 students via these means. Additionally, if linking from their classroom website to online resources outside the “barrington220.org” domain, employees should be careful to evaluate the instructional appropriateness of the content and images for use by students.
“Finally, employees who maintain personal blogs or websites, and/or contribute posts to the blogs or websites or web pages of others and/or participate in social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn must abide at all times with all legal requirements, including compliance with student privacy laws. Employees may not, under any circumstances:
Disclose student record information including student work, photographs of students, names of students or any other personally identifiable information about students;
Engage in any communication or activity which violates the district’s anti-harassment policies; (7:180-Students-Preventing Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment), (5:20-Personnel – Workplace Harassment);
Engage in any communication or activity which violates the district’s Internet Acceptable Use policy;
Make or post discriminatory, confidential, threatening, libelous, disparaging, obscene or slanderous comments about the district, its employees, students or parents. Employees are personally liable for their own commentary.
“Violations of this policy are subject to disciplinary review, up to and including termination.”
The e-mail which broadcast the policy said, in part: “Although the policy is effective immediately, we know it will take some time to fully implement. Because we are aware some teachers, team coaches, and extracurricular club sponsors have systems in place for communicating electronically with students, appropriate communication through those vehicles may continue while we develop procedures and forms necessary to fully implement the policy. Examples of appropriate communication would be messages to alert team or club members of a canceled activity or a change in schedule as well as classroom websites created by teachers to provide students with assignment information and other learning resources.
“The new policy addresses electronic communication between staff and students, including use of cell phones (for texting or making calls), social networks (such as Facebook) and private websites, to protect both staff and students by clarifying appropriate boundaries for interaction outside the normal school day.
“Soon, we will communicate this information to parents, particularly at the high school and middle schools, to make them aware there will be a transition period and we expect to fully implement the policy at the beginning of the second semester.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding while we develop the procedures to implement this policy. In the interim, please use your judgment and discretion in the use of electronic communication vehicles such as texting, e-mail and websites as necessary to meet the needs of your students. The procedures and forms to secure parent permission and for communication between staff and students will be shared with you as soon as they are finalized, probably by the end of the first semester. At that point we will fully implement this policy.”
Good news: I met with the Communications Director of the district, we reviewed posts I thought might be questionable, and this blog passes muster. However, I was compelled remove current students from the f/book news feed, in order to prevent myself from clicking on “like” reflexively. Folks, if you’re currently enrolled, please do not send me messages via that format; rather, use the district e-mail address (jdionesotes@barrington220.org), however inconvenient it may seem. Thanks.
“Are you ready for the next phase in your artistic career? By applying to the YoungArts program you are eligible for:
We are the only organization that encourages and recognizes artistic excellence in the literary, visual and performing arts, including dance, cinematic arts, jazz, music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing.
This year, the YoungArts staff will be holding a conference call on October 7 to answer pre-submitted questions about the the application process. To reserve a spot on this call, and to submit questions, please email conferencecall@youngarts.org with the subject line “Application Conference Call.” If you have immediate questions, please call YoungArts at 800.970.ARTS and the programs team will assist you.
Key Dates and Fees:
March 15-June 30, 2010: Early Registration fees apply / $25
July 1-October 15, 2010: Regular Registration fees apply / $35
October 15, 2010: Online Application closes (9 p.m. EST)
October 30, 2010: Audition/Portfolio Materials due (5 p.m. EST)”
Follow the link on the right, under Resources.
Your portfolio should include at least 10-20 examples of your best and most recent work (usually completed within the last year). It is very important that you conduct research about the schools you are most interested in, and find out what is required within the portfolio.
Personal work and/or work outside the classroom assignments can strengthen the overall portfolio; this demonstrates personal motivation. You should assume complete ownership for the ideas and visual information in each piece. You should also try to use assignments and technical exercises as vehicles to express your own personal ideas, viewpoints, emotions, stylistic approaches and individual ways of working.
Here are suggestions regarding work that could be included in your portfolio.
Breadth: art based on life, objects and general surroundings (when working observationally, you should try to address personal concerns).
Portraiture. A common source for observational work is the self-portrait.
Objects (Still Life). You might locate items that hold some meaning or are visually interesting to use in the work.
The Figure is one of the most traditional subjects utilized throughout the history of art. Working with the human body as subject matter can add a better understanding of formal structure. You can sometimes use the body as a reference point for your ideas.
Landscape, working with both exteriors and interiors to explore depth and spatial relationships.
Personal Work / Thematic Concentration: work based on imagination, personal interests and ideas, and exploration into selected subjects.
The Sketchbook is one of your most important tools as an artist. A sketchbook is your diary/journal. It is not uncommon for a student to include some of their strongest from a sketchbook in an admissions portfolio.
Choice of Medium: some portfolios have a medium concentration (such as photography, graphic design, or digital animation) to emphasize one’s own personal interests.
The Series, or “Body of Work.” Working in a theme or in a series can help you find personal focus, add a sense of cohesiveness, and identify strengths or possible future topics.
Portfolio Context and Arrangement
Think about the portfolio as a written essay: each piece placed in your portfolio is a like sentence in that essay.
Or, think about the portfolio as a musical composition. This can be especially helpful if your work tends to be more expressive or abstract. Try to identify relationships through rhythm, pattern, tone, and color.
Or, think about your portfolio as a solo professional exhibition. Imagine how to arrange the “body” of work for display. What is the first piece you would like the viewer to see? What is the last? Do not just put all the best work in the beginning, or at the end; try to balance your entire portfolio. Attempt to start off strong and end strong.
Just because a school requires a maximum amount or 20 pieces doesn’t mean you might also consider the minimum amount of 10-15 pieces. You do not want to put in “filler” work – work that is unfinished, work that is older than two years, or work that does not relate to the bulk of your portfolio. Including work that you do not feel strongly about can sometimes weaken the overall presentation. You want to make the best impact that you can.
Summer School Fo-Do, one of the best imaginable experiences in huge school, will run from 7:20 to 12:00, June 14-July 1.
Some of you have expressed an interest in picking up work; please e-mail Yours Truly at least one day in advance in order to facilitate matters, and to make sure we’ll even be there. Work pick-up time will be noon on days when it’s feasible.
If you’d like to use the lab on a particular day, likewise get in touch ahead of time to be certain there’s room.
If we’re engrossed in some sort of media presentation, please do not mar our mood by doing anything with the door.
Creative Camerawork 
