Beecher's Handouts /
Assignments / Introduction
Orientation
Assignments #1 & #2
The first two assignments are about seeing.
This gives you time to learn about depth-of-field and shutter
speed before you have to use them.
Assignments #3 & #4
Then, you'll use depth-of-field and shutter speed in the next
two assignments to make your photography more creative.
Assignments #5 & #6
The following assignments are portraiture and interior photography.
Self-assignments
The final assignments are self-assignments.
If you develop the habit of giving yourself self-assignments
or projects, you'll retain what you learned in class.
You'll continue to grow as a photographer.
You may bring non-assignment photographs to class.
How to Bring Your Photographs
To Class
If you want to show prints, use the lab you normally use, or
find a lab.
Go to
Labs.
You can also transfer your photographs for class to a CD or DVD, memory card, or a USB flash drive, for display on the class
computer.
If you’re unfamiliar with transferring photographs from a folder
on your computer to one of the above media, go to
How to Bring Your Photographs to Class.
You can use your laptop to display your photographs.
However, the screen is hard for a class to see.
Five Photographs
Please edit your photographs down to about five.
Getting Started
If you don't see anything to photograph, take a photograph of
anything.
This will often get you going.
Take more than one photograph of the same scene.
Often, you make a change in the second or third photograph.
Doing a little "sketching" with your camera will improve your
photography.
About Creating
• Creativity is a combination of intellect, feelings, and intuition.
The latter includes previous experiences that have become built-in,
and are put to use while making photographs.
You'll move between the above modes.
• In the arts, learning often comes after creating.
In many other endeavors, one learns first, and then puts the
learning to work.
For example, if you read the section on light, you'll gain only
some sensitivity to light.
In contrast, doing the first assignment will teach you much more.
• Creativity can be unpleasant.
There's ambiguity and uncertainty in creativity.
There's confrontation.
One has to have the gumption to go out and take photographs,
even when:
1) You're not sure.
2) You don't really know how.
3) You don't know why.
Mistakes Are Good
Finally, and most importantly, please make mistakes.
That's how you learn best.
