Below are a few videos from linda.com that are really good info about different areas of the profession of photography and may help you with your final. Your final can be anything you want, its about image quality not subject. You will need 10 to 15 images for your final, (remember quality over quantity). 15 C images = a C, 10 A images = an A.

You may of course watch all of these but at least choose one to watch from begging to end.


Shooting a Photo Essay: An Artist a Work

Douglas Kirkland on Photography: Photographing kids and Families
Mr. Kirkland, has many videos on the profession. He is famous for his portraits of famous people, everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Leonardo DiCaprio. Search his name and you may find other subjects that interest you more.

Insights on Photo Journalism

Insights on Product Photography

Photographing Jewelry

Class Today

Today we will not be meeting in the studio. The videos below will review and explore in a little more depth some of the topics we have been discussing in class. 

Be sure that you have a set of bracketed images for class on thursday. 

Foundations of Photography: Exposure

Chapters

8. Metering Modes
9. Exposure Compensation
10. Dynamic Range

Lightroom II has RETURNED!

Yes, it sounds like some fictitious 1950s drive-in SciFi movie, but IT'S TRUE!

As this is such late notification I don't expect you all to be able to attained. I will be here to help get you started on it, but thursday we will have our regular class.

Can't wait to see you all together again! 

Monday Post on Wednsday

Update:
I have a meeting at 2:00. If you need to see me about something please get in touch  before then. I also have classes so either let me know when, or be prepared to wait until I get to a break with the class.

_______________________________

Sorry guys, I couldn't post anything because I didn't know anything. Still don't actually. I do know we do not have Lightroom in the labs yet. If you have been keeping in touch you would know that we are using Photoshop as a temporary fix.

That being said, I expect to start seeing some work on the blogs. Soon. Before next tuesdays class meeting.

Now about tonight. I will be there if you need help with anything. We will have to work in my office room 221. The door does not stay open. You have to knock, and knock loud enough that I can hear you. If I don't hear from you and/or no one shows up by 7:00 I will be leaving.

We will not be meeting thursday, I have a doctors appointment. If you need help with something I will probably be able to meet with you earlier in the day, do let me know so I can make time for you. I have classes and a few meetings. If you need to see me I will be there until 2–3:00. If I don't hear from you before then I will assume your good to go.


BLOG POST IMAGES
The images are to be 72ppi and 800 pixels on the longest edge, and posted before 6:30 Sep. 17, 2013 (not 1014).

Black and White

If you have your pintrest account set up you can click here to see a set of black and white images. These images are not chosen for sgubjectmater, but rather as example of good well developed images. You should notice that most have the a full range from absolute black to white with out loosing detail at either end of the spectrum. For now this is our goal, to produce images with this full range of tone.

The best way to develop your eye for good exposure is to look at well exposed images. So, look at these at your leisure, and come back and look at them again. I will add to the collection periodically.

Thursdays Class (yes, tonight)

Ok, so what's up for tonight? (Tonight is optional)

Well it will be another slow one as we are still waiting on our software. I wish I could do something about this but we are simply stuck until the get us up and running.

First I do NOT want to discourage anyone from coming in. However, some of you have already done what we will be doing tonight. If you have, and feel your time would be better spent shooting, please do so.

Also if you have Lightroom or Aperture, or some other raw developing software and wish to work there on your pictures, feel free.

TONIGHT, I will be showing you the basics of how to develop your images using Photoshop Raw. This is not the software we will be using for most of our classes but it will give you a chance for you to see your pictures.

Attendance Tonight is NOT Required
There are similarities between Photoshop and Lightroom, but they are very different, both in what they do and how they do it. I do not want to confuse anyone. In addition to this we are likely going to be getting the CS Cloud in the studios which is 1.5 versions ahead of what we have right now. All I can do is apologize for this, there is just nothing that we can do about it.

If you are not comfortable switching between different software, the Macintosh Operating system, or just new to computers in general, you may want to spend your time taking pictures rather than learning this version of Photoshop, I completely understand. Do not be concerned that this will effect your standing in the class in any way.

Do try to shoot me an email telling me how you are getting along with your camera and any question you may have.


Exercise:
Those of you who are going to opt out of tonight I would like you to start caring a small notebook with you while you shoot. Note the ISO, F-stop, Shutter Speed, and try to note the frame (file name). You may have already figured out that the camera already keeps track of this. So you may be asking why should I do that? The answer is, to help you remember and develop an eye for what settings fit what situation. You should try to do this through out the class.

Monday post on Sunday

As some of you may already know, one of our studios are up and running, the other SHOULD be up sometime next week... They NOT ONLY got us up and running they left us with a few surprises. 

In a Nutshell:

1. The login is your UNM ID and PW, as you would login to your MyUNM.
2. We now have Adobe CS5, and CS 3 has been removed.
3. The computers will delete EVERYTHING each night.

What this means to us:

Upgrade CS 5: This sounds like a good thing, and it is... but a bit of a mixed bag. 

• CS5 is 2 versions newer than we expected to have this semester. 
• The Adobe Cloud, is essentially CS6, two versions ahead of what we had in the machines. This will make it much easier than it would have been to work between home and the school. 
• All of your instructors have had no warning about this upgrade, so all of our plans and materials are for cs3. This is going to take some time to get revised so have patient with your instructors.

You need storage: 

• You can no longer save ANYTHING to the schools computer (for now). If you leave anything it will be automatically deleted before the next morning. You will need a storage device, or online storage subscription. You already have one with your Google account, its called Google ‘Drive’ it is located in the links at the top of your mail page. Drop Box is another very good site to use.

No Class Meeting / Yes Class Work

Sorry for the late notice, it has been on and off and on and now officially off. No class.

Good News though! We have one lab running AND Updated software. BUT not Lightroom.

I will add to this post soon, just want you to know we can not meet tonight.

Class Tonight

WE ARE GETTING CLOSE!
Baring any unseen issues we will be meeting tonight! 

We have slight problem however. It seem that our crackerjack IT team has once again came through for us! We without computers for another week! Isn't that AWESOME!

______________________________________

Additional:  Our biggest enemy is going space crazy through loneliness. The only thing that helps me maintain my slender grip on reality is the friendship I share with my collection of singing potatoes.

- Holly, RED DWARF Series II Episode 5, "Queeg"

_______________________________________

So what will we do?
We will be going over the class details and revised schedule, answering any questions you may have and hmmm... what was that other thing? Oh! This is a photography class isn't it? You need cameras. Yes, we will be checking out cameras too.

This problem illustrates 2 issues:

Issue 1: 
Normally this week, we would be going over the developing software Adobe Lightroom. Again thanks to today's amazing technology centric (dependent) world we don't have to let that slow us down. I have added new Lynda.com videos to keep us on course.

Remember, you ONLY NEED to watch the specific videos that are bookmarked. Not the full class, and not even the full chapter unless all the chapters are marked. Those are the ones that we will be working with in class and you will need to know for our current projects, or assignments.

(Read below to decide which video to watch) Click HERE (Watch before next tuesday's class, not today's.)

Suggestions for watching these tutorials.

• Take Notes
• Don't try to watch them all in one sitting, or even one day.
• Watch them once, just following along and taking notes, watch a second time with the software or camera in hand.
• Don't listent to the radio, or watch tv, or do anything else while you are watching them.

Issue 2:
As you may have guessed our problems in the studio computers are not slight. You are probably also correct if you think that they are not gong to get a whole lot better as the semester progresses. This solution may not work for everyone, but hopefully it will work for enough of us that we can comfortably get through the semester.

If you read the syllabus, you will have seen that the Adobe Creative Cloud is in the required materials list. This only applies if you have a computer that is able to support the software. (You will need to find that out through the Adobe website or call them. They are fast and very helpful so don't hesitate to call with questions. There is a link in the link section over there. >>>>>>>>

Ah, for the video question. When you get to our classes Lynda page you will see that there are Lightroom 2, and a Lightroom 5, course links. We only have Lightroom 2 on the computers. If you will be using the class computers you will want to watch the Lightroom 2. If you plan to use just your home computer or both your home computer and the class computers with creative cloud you will want Lightroom 5. Lightroom 2 and 5 are enough alike that you shouldn't have much problems applying what you learn to both.

See ya soon!

Weekly Post

Good morning everyone.
Hope you had a great first week of classes, and an even better weekend! I am going to try to add a weekly entry to the class blog this semester. This will be to recap the previous week, and/or to give an overview of what is going on in the upcoming week, and to communicate other issues effecting the class. Don't expect that it will be the same post for each class. Don't read Page Layout and expect that you know what going on with Photo.

Emails
I have received gmails from most of you, if you have not sent me an email, or if you have sent an email and not received a response from me please send another ASAP (double check the the spelling of the email to be sure you have it correct). This is not a difficult class, but there is a lot of projects and you do not want to get behind. Send it to adelhardt.ddm@gmail.com

Blogs
We will be setting up our blogs this week. If you have time it might be a good idea to get a head start on this.  We will not be spending any class time on this. If you have problems setting it up, please email or if you can see that I am on bring me up on chat.

A few notes:

• When you send an email be sure to include your name and Class as a subject. (There is no way for me to know who 'CoolYazzieDude@gmail.com' is, or what class they are in). 
• Remember, you can't combine blogs, you need a different blog for each class. 

ADDITIONAL: 

ALL of the DDM course conflicts have been resolved.
If you continue to have issues with registration or financial aid, contact me ASAP!

• Page Layout II can be taken 2x 
• 293 Photo can be taken multiple times,
• Independent Study can be taken for 1cr, 3x. (We are still waiting for registration to change the credit hour, should be done early this week)

Studio is Still Down

Just a reminding, we we will not be meeting tonight as our class room is not working yet.

If you have watched the videos, and got your blogs up, and would like to get on with things a bit, you can go set up a Pinterest account. If you already have one just make a Board for this class and start collecting images. Read the 'Standing Assignments' page, over there. >>>>>

If you are new to Pinterest, it is... well I'm not exactly how to describe it. Its like a google image search and it gives you the ability to save all the images you like. Its a social and digital version of what artist have been doing for hundreds or even thousands of years, we call it a morgue (ya weird name). Pinterest lets you collect art work or images. It is easy to use and will make more sense after you get your login.

Notes about how to and what to collect:

• As stated above you should have a board just for this class. Pinterest can be very addictive, so make a board for your self, and one for the class. There is no limit to boards you can make as many as you want. 
• About the images. As we will mainly be working in black and white, all of the images for this class are to be black and white. You will want to search for black and white photography specifically or you will spend a lot of time looking at images that you can't use for the class. 
• What are we looking for? For now just look for images you like (we will be eliminating that word from our vocabulary soon, so live it up while you can). We are looking at these images to get an eye for what black and white photography should look like. For now just start collecting and have some fun with it.

There is no rush on this, I just don't want you to get board. Have a great weekend, and I will see you all  next week.

I have received most but not all of your availability yet, but right now it looks like Wednesday is working the best for everyone. Please send that ASAP if you haven't already.

Hello Everyone!

Welcome and/or Welcome Back!

In case you don't know me, my name is Chad Adelhardt. I am the Professor for this class, and the coordinator for the DDM.

I am very sorry for all the problems we are having this week, but it is out of my hands. I am stranded in Abq. with a very sick truck, and the studio/lab computers are all down with no known schedule for repair.

Aside from the obvious we also have some scheduling problems. Photo I and II are connected and need to overlap. So in addition to the below email assignment I need you to send me what times you are available from 5–9:00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. 

Even with all of this, we shall not be defeated! SOOOO....

On to the class:
To start with, if you have not had DDM Photo I, before you are in it now. Regardless of which one you actually signed up for, you need the info from Photo I before you move on to II. While previous darkroom photography classes will help you, and in my opinion essential to a good education of a photographer it is not the same.

Your Syllabus, schedule, and most of the class info is over there >>>> in the 'Pages' section. Those of you taking the class for a second time there are a few minor changes so you might want to read up on that, particularly in the standing assignments section.

A brief note for those in Photo I:
As you may have guessed from the name this is an intro photography course. We will be learning to use the dslr (digital single lens reflex camera). If you don't know what that is click here. If you have a dslr or think you have a dslr bring it in and lets see if it will work for the class. If you don't we have cameras that you can check out for the semester.

Don't be intimidated by that those pictures. It looks a lot more complicated to use than it is.  Well at least the basics, which is what this class is about. We will be taking it one step at a time, and one function at at time. Aside from a few of those buttons and the view screen in the back, it is really no different than the ones we have been using for almost 100 years now.

For everyone:
We have a few easy assignments to get started so that we can get the class going.

1. Gmail account: Yes specifically gmail. we will be using Google for a lot more than just email. Just set it up, send me an email from it with Photo I or II in the subject, and your name in the body (also the times your available as stated above). This is the easies 100 points you could ask for.

2. Watch some videos: as a UNM student you have free access to lynda.com. You will need to sign in with your UNM id the same one you use for getting on myUNM. The below link will take you to the videos for this class. Right now there are 2 in the list, you only need to watch the chapters hat have a little red book mark symbol next to them.

• Click here for the Videos to watch

ADDITIONAL: There is a new link called 'General Tutorials' in the 'Links' section over there >>>>
Check it out. It has some general how to videos that are useful to all DDM classes

DDM Potluck n Movie Day

Just a reminder. Tomorrow is our end of the semester Potluck and Movie Day. If you can bring something GREAT we will be glad to eat it. If your just to busy with finals to think about it just stop by and have a snack, relax and watch a movie too if you have time. It should start around noon and go till around 5 (latter if you guys want).

Studio Day

The studio will be open. (If for some reason the door is locked go to the Applied Tech Office CH 167 505-863-7615)

I will not be in the studio today, but I will be online available for chat or email if anyone needs help. If anyone needs to see me, I will be in tomorrow afternoon.

Don't forget about Tomorrow's potluck n movie day. Bring food if you can, if not just stop by and have a bite.

Portfolios will be collected Thursday during normal class time.

Studio Day

Open Studio today.

The Studio/Lab will be open today, (if not go to the Applied Tech office downstairs CH 167, they will open it). You can use today's class to work in the studio, shoot, or work at home (or where ever you like). MAKE SURE YOU DO THE FOLLOWING

IMPORTANT:

• TODAY BEFORE CLASS: Vegetable Assignment POSTED, Crit online BEFORE THURSDAY

• BEFORE THURSDAY: ASSIGNMENT MINERAL

1. FIRST, Look up the definition 
2. SECOND use the camera to communicate the concept.

Final and Blogs

Time to start planing your final. Don't put this off, if you start now you should have no problem. Late work will not be accepted. This is a chance to improve any work that you have done during the semester, and at least get some credit for assignments you may have missed. (No, it does not count for missing a critique, but it you will get credit for them in your portfolio).

Your final consists of:

• 10 New images, 5 of them matted prints
• Portfolio 

Final: 10 NEW Images. The images may NOT have been used as assignment or project. The final 10 images should showcase what you have learned both technically and aesthetically in the class.

Matted Prints: A minimum of five (max 10) of your best pieces and best printing. ONLY two, can be chosen from previous assignments or projects. The rest from your 10 final images.  If done well, extra points may be considered for printing and matting all 10 of your final images.

Framing: Framing the prints is optional. Framing is expensive and not required, and no additional points will be given for frames. You will be graded on image quality, and mat production. If you are interested in framing, please talk to me before you purchase them. There are a lot of different kinds of frames and many of them will not work for photography.

Portfolio: Digital portfolio, consisting of 3 parts.

1. Final 10 images (10 images not used for projects or assignments)
2. Projects
3. Assignments

How do you start: 

• Plan and start shooting and/or selecting your final 10 images. Remember, these images can not be images used for projects or assignments. They can be shot anytime during the semester as long as they were not graded as another project or assignment.
• Organizing your images. Divide them into collection/collection sets, labeled as final, projects, and assignments, in Lightroom. Check the 'Techie Stuff, for links to help you out on this. >>>
• Look closely at each of your projects and assignments. Be very critical of your self, and improve them with what you have learned since you turned them in. Project and assignment images can be replaced with new images, provided you turned in the assignment when it was due it will replace the image that you originally submitted. If images are replaced you should indicate that in your portfolio.
• Buy white matboard and foam core. You can pick this up at one of the local frame shops or at a arts supply, or craft store. (It a good idea to get archival boards but not required.)

Prints and Portfolio are to be turned Tuesday of finals week, during our regular meeting time. Late work will not be accepted.


Just a reminder, because some of you seem to have forgotten. Your 'Blog Projects' count for almost half of your grade.  At this point you should ALL have about 11 images posted as 'Blog Projects'.  They are graded on both quantity and QUALITY. Don't put this off till the last min. They MUST be in posted AND in your final portfolio, these are 2 different grades.

Still Sick

Sorry everyone, I am still down with this thing. 

We will be posting and critiquing the work online again. The work should be posted anytime between now and class time tomorrow. You have until next Tuesday to crit each others work.

Just an FYI: Even though we are posting and critiquing our work on line you are welcome to print your images for your self.


For a little extra info you may want to watch this video 
Chapter 4, Shutter Speed Fundamentals: Foundations of Photography: Exposure

Good News & Bad News

The Good News: We are very close to having our full A.A. and A.F.A. Degrees approved and do away with the A.A.S. that causes us so many problems.

The Bad News: I have no help in getting it all put together and the revisions need to be in this Friday. Sooo... to get it done I have to cancel all my classes this week.

Assignments:

The Aperture Crit... We should not put it off any longer so we will do it on line. By Thursday at the end of class it should be posted on your blog. Photo II you all do the same with whatever images your working on. If you can post it today great, I understand the lab is open. If you need to get in Thursday let me know, I will make arraignments so that the it will be open for you (if I do not hear from anyone I will assume that you don't need it.

You will all have until next tuesday to comment on each others work. Yes, you will need to comment on everyones. So after Thursday click the links in the student blog section and comment away.

Next Assignment: I will post the new assignment so you can get started on it next class. Again, if you can work at home you will not need to come in.

 If you do not have internet access at home, and the Studio is locked the Library has computers or the open P.C. lab at the other end of the building is available. They do not have our software installed but it you just need to upload work they will do. (If you have a computer I would go to one of the coffee shops uptown. (The one on Coal I understand is under new management and is pretty cool again.)

If you need anything email or chat with me anytime.

Video Assignment

We will not be meeting today, instead we will be watching a video on seeing pictures around us on lynda.com.
Log in to linda first, over there>>>>

I can not guarantee that the studio will be open so you can do this on your own time, before Thursday's class.

Douglas Kirkland on Photography: A Photographer's Eye


ISO EXERCISE:
Like the Apertur Exercise  take a series of photos of the same subject same lighting but here we want to move the ISO up with each image. (Make sure that you adjust your exposure each time)

Also: Yes, the crit will be Thursday. 

Artist Lecture

There will be an artist lecture, this Tuesday evening by Nancy Fleming.  Nancy is a Roswell based artist who uses found objects from thrift stores to create her colorful and energetic installations. The Lecture will be at 6 pm in the Calvin Hall Auditorium 248-B.  There will be a reception for the artist in the Ingham Chapman Gallery immediately following the lecture.  All are welcome to attend and light refreshments will be served.  See you then.  John Zimmerman

Extra Credit to those who attend so be sure to sign in and tell me.

Aperture: Assignment and Exercise

First watch the video tutorial on Aperture (Make sure you have auto-play chapter on).  Ben Long, Foundations of Photography: Chapter 5

• If you have problems search Lynda for the title and instructor.
• Take your time, this is short but packed with info. Take notes, watch more than once.

Exercise:
Lets Start with the exercise... We want to see how aperture effects focus and see exactly how deep your DOF is at each f-stop. 

Like Ben, did in the video with the 3 cameras on the table, we want to experiment aperture. We want to take it a step further though, and see what each f-stop does. You can use cameras, dominoes, figurines, blocks, even sandpaper, anything you want. What ever you chose as a subject make sure they are small or have a clear texture. I suggest you use a ruler it has texture and you can clearly see where the objects come in and out of focus.

If you are using make sure you have at least 6 or 8 of them, the place them in a row away from your camera, you may need to stagger them so that you can see them all when the camera is in front of them. If you are using a ruler of long textured object you will need to make sure that the camera is placed at an angle that allows you to see the length (about 35 to 25 degree angle). Experiment with a few shots to see how everything fists in the frame. It is best to use a tripod, bean bag, or at least prop or lean your hand and camera on something stable. Its important to shoot from the same or as close as possible to the same spot. Even the slightest movement will move your DOF.

Start with your lowest f-stop your lens will allow f5.x, focus on the middle subject, or middle of the subject, (check your lens; 50 - 55mm). 'CLICK' move to the next, 'CLICK', etc until you reach the max, or you smallest. Open them in Lightroom, or any image editor/viewer and see how the adjustments effect your images.

One more thing, make sure your exposure is set correctly for each shot. Remember the 'Exposure Triangle' if you adjust one thing the others are effected, so with each adjustment of the aperture, you shutter speed will also need to be adjusted as well.

Assignment:
2 images illustrating your skill with shallow and deep DOF (Depth of Field)

• This assignment can also be called 'Getting Closer', because to really get a feel for how DOF works you need to start close. When shooting distance like landscapes, to many variable get in the way. So keep close to your subject.
• Avoid people or animals, things that move, this also creates variables we don't want to deal with at this time. Adjusting for changing light and focus will only distract us from learning how to control aperture.
• Always remember our one constant goal in all of our assignments, a 'Well Exposed Image' continuous tone, no burnt or blown areas, and full black to white.

 After Spring Break March19th

New rates for Adobe Cloud. You get the full Adobe Suit now for $19.00 a month, I believe Lightroom is included. If your interested them to make sure.

Printer open 1:30

The printer will be open around 1:30 for all photo classes.  I understand that many of you work, have other classes, and things to take care of so if you can't print before class we will have a little time during class to print. If possible try to print before class.

Our crit today will start at 4:00. (If you print before you don't need to be there until 4 (not 4:05(not 4:08) (not 4:15)))) 4:00.

GAG email

gag.ddm@gamil.com

New Page Added

A new page has been added to here our blog site called, 'Class Supplemental'. Its right under Techie Stuff. This page will give you links that will pertain directly to lectures, projects or assignments. There is a slide show for our lines and curves assignment.

We will look at these during class but they are there for you to refer to anytime.

Meeting Update:
First GAG Meeting for Spring Semester:
This Wednesday, Feb 13th at 2 pm
DDM Class Studio/Lab

This should be a GREAT year for GAG! There are a lot of events coming up in our area and a lot for us to do. We also now have over $2000 in our account to do them.
 
Who MUST ATTEND...
Anyone expecting to get a degree in DDM are required to attend this and all meetings and participate in activities... the only exception is if you have a class or work at the time of the meeting or activity. (Work = a paid employee and scheduled to work at that time.) You can NOT miss classes for GAG meetings or activities (except field trips).  If you miss a meeting or event you are required to communicate with the officers, committees, or other members to find what happened at the meetings and how you can participate in any activities if they are planed.


WHO IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND...
If you are in Intro to Graphic Design (DDM 101) or Intro to Mac (DDM 110), or if you are just taking DDM classes as electives like Photography or video, your are welcome, and encouraged to attend and be a member of GAG but it is not required.


What is GAG?
GAG stands for Graphic Arts Group. Currently we are loosely affiliated with AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Design,  (click here for student member ship page, membership not required at this time). This is one of the issues that we will be discussing at future meetings. Basically, our group is about helping us learn more about the field of graphic arts (graphic design, photography, illustration, animation, video, etc.), help us as students to participate in and travel to events related to our field, and get to know each other and begin to developed a professional network for our selves to help us once we have graduated.


We need Officers: (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.). Ideally officers students who are in or have taken at least Page Layout I.

Added incentive for being an officer... 
Positive - You will receive extra credit at the end of the semester in any of my classes.
Positive -  I can promise you that this is a GREAT opportunity to add strengthen your resume, and will help you get a job after you graduate. 
Negitive - We will loose all that money that you have all worked so hard to get if we don't have officers by the end of the meeting.

Note: If you are interested in being an officer but can not attended the meeting contact; Michelle (michelle.eriacho@gmail.com), or Rylen (jackrabbit1492@gmail.com).

Missing Jump Drive

Yesterday, something unfortunate happened. Someone lost a jump drive, there are flyers posted around the Studio about it. Everyone check through your bags and see if you didn't pick it up by mistake and return it to the person who lost it or to Robin, Art, or me as soon as possible. The person had a LOT of work on it.

Theft

While we do not know if what happened yesterday was an accident or theft, this is a good time to talk about theft before it becomes a problem. Theft is rare in the DDM but it does happen. We are a close group of friends and we trust each other. After a while for some of us it starts feeling like another room of our house, we forget that its a public place, so we forget about protecting our self. It happens to everyone. I do it my self, a few semesters ago I even left a hard drive in there and someone took it. Thankfully, I had everything backed up.

Stealing anything is not a good thing, but stealing a storage device is probably the meanest thing that someone can do in the DDM. When someone does this they are not just taking a $15 (or more) item, they are potentially taking hours, days, weeks, or even entire semester of work, work that could even help get them a job.

This semester is a hard one for all of us. As of now we have no student workers, no part-time, and Rob is not there as much as he use to be either. So we need to be a little more careful and depend on each other a little more than usual.

First Protect your self:

• Back Up ALL of your work in a few places.
• STOP working from storage devices:  (Storage device means STORAGE, NOT WORKING DEVICE. Save your work to the computer, put your STORAGE device away in your bag. Save it to your STORAGE device when your done). 
• Don't leave things in the studio.

Protect Each Other: 

• If you see someone get up and leave things offer to or at least try to keep an eye on there stuff until they get back.
• Watch for unfamiliar faces. The DDM Studios are for DDM Students ONLY. If you see someone you don't know ask if they are DDM students. If they are not, "NICELY" explain to them that they need to find a computer lab. If they refuse, tell one of the instructors, or go to the office and tell Linda or Frank (if they are not available who ever is working).
• Don't be offended or get upset if someone asks you if your a DDM student. This should make you feel better, because it tells you that someone is watching out for you and your stuff.

If you have other ideas how we can make the DDM Studios more safe please comment on this post.

NOTICE: 
GAG Meeting will be postponed till next week. Same time, same place, same rules.

See ya then!

Photo I

Reminder:
 Don't forget to watch all the videos before class Tuesday.

ALSO...
There are some updates to the 'Tech Stuff',  to the right >>>,  that might help you getting started in LR (Lightroom).

Additional: If you are searching on your own through Lynda.com for Lightroom your searches will be more effective if you type 'Photoshop Lightroom'. Simply typing 'Lightroom' tends to offer less links.

Photo II

The phrase... 'the only thing that is holding you back is your self...' Never applied to anyone more than you guys.

To move things along, lets just post these to your blog (not this one, your own).  Oh -- you don't have one?! What could we do about that??? :-|

Lets do it so we can get moving. You can not move on until your eggs are approved!

Ok... in the mean time, here is some things for you to read. You don't need to memorize these, there will be not quiz or test. This is to help your shooting out. Read them and think about how the information can help you in your own work, take notes when something jumps out at you (yes, write in a notebook), then apply them to your shooting. Also, be prepared to explain what, and how you used what your read to the images. 

These are articles from a variety of schools, or areas of photography. You will find many similarities and even redundancy, but be patient and don't be too quick to assume you already know about what they are talking about. Each school has slightly different approaches. Also, don't dismiss one because its not the kind of photography your interested in. They can all provide valuable insight, and help improve our work regardless of the kind of pictures they are talking about.

PPA (Professioanl Photographers of America) Twelve Criteria Used to Judge Print Competitions

The Secret: What Makes a Great Photo

5 Easy Composition Guidelines

Composition in Nature Photography, part I

Composition in Nature Photography, part II

Wildlife Photography-Compostion

Top Tips for Starting Out with Documentary Photography

10 quick documentary photography tips

News pictures

ITS NOT TO LATE! But almost.

ALL DDM STUDENTS MUST HAVE 3 CREDITS OF PRACTICUM!

I know more of you need to be in this class than are signed up. The class is offered ONLY in the fall and spring semester AND ONLY for 1 credit. NO EXCEPTIONS!

DO NOT come to me next year saying you need more than one credit. The answer is and emphatic NO!

First GAG Meeting for Spring Semester:
This Wednesday, Feb 6th at 2 pm
DDM Class Studio/Lab

This should be a GREAT year for GAG! There are a lot of events coming up in our area and a lot for us to do. We also now have over $2000 in our account to do them.
 
Who MUST ATTEND...
Anyone expecting to get a degree in DDM are required to attend this and all meetings and participate in activities... the only exception is if you have a class or work at the time of the meeting or activity. (Work = a paid employee and scheduled to work at that time.) You can NOT miss classes for GAG meetings or activities (except field trips).  If you miss a meeting or event you are required to communicate with the officers, committees, or other members to find what happened at the meetings and how you can participate in any activities if they are planed.


WHO IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND...
If you are in Intro to Graphic Design (DDM 101) or Intro to Mac (DDM 110), or if you are just taking DDM classes as electives like Photography or video, your are welcome, and encouraged to attend and be a member of GAG but it is not required.


What is GAG?
GAG stands for Graphic Arts Group. Currently we are loosely affiliated with AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Design,  (click here for student member ship page, membership not required at this time). This is one of the issues that we will be discussing at future meetings. Basically, our group is about helping us learn more about the field of graphic arts (graphic design, photography, illustration, animation, video, etc.), help us as students to participate in and travel to events related to our field, and get to know each other and begin to developed a professional network for our selves to help us once we have graduated.


We need Officers: (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.). Ideally officers students who are in or have taken at least Page Layout I.

Added incentive for being an officer... 
Positive - You will receive extra credit at the end of the semester in any of my classes.
Positive -  I can promise you that this is a GREAT opportunity to add strengthen your resume, and will help you get a job after you graduate. 
Negitive - We will loose all that money that you have all worked so hard to get if we don't have officers by the end of the meeting.

Note: If you are interested in being an officer but can not attended the meeting contact; Michelle (michelle.eriacho@gmail.com), or Rylen (jackrabbit1492@gmail.com).

Setting up your Blog

Instructions to set up your blog...

1. Log into your Gmail account.

2 Click “more’ (upper left (Gmail Calendar Document…. more)).

3. DO NOT select ‘Blogs’ in the pull down. Click ‘even more’.

4. In the second column under ‘Communicate, show & share’ click ‘Blogger’

5. On the Blogger Page Click the big orang ‘Create A Blog’ button.

6. Follow the instructions from here.

Lynda.com Viewing Assignment

NEW LYNDA.COM UNM LINK >>>>>
  Links panel to the left >>> over there >>>

Viewing Assignment:
IMPORTANT: To access the videos you must first log into lynda.com through the link to the left, Then click the links. Otherwise you will just be brought to the normal Lynda longin and you will not be able to get in.

Photoshop Lightroom 2 Essential Training with Chris Orwig

This is sort of an experiment, I am not sure how well it will works. The problem is that it seems to open each link to a new page or tab, or it will change the page. Please comment bellow if you find the links helpful or you rather just look the chapters up than clicking on each chapter.

IF YOU USE THESE LINKS TO ACCESS THE INDIVIUAL TUTORIALS MAKE SURE THAT "AUTO PLAY CHAPTER" IS CLICKED ON. (This is at the bottom of the video viewing window). Notice that there is closed captioning as well. If you have trouble hearing it, click it on too.

This set of links are to be viewed either before or during class.

0. Introduction
1. Getting Started

2. (chapter 2 we only need the two parts below right now. You can watch the others latter.)
      Lightroom Modules
      Essential Interface Shortcuts

11. The Develop Module: Using the Basic Panel

16. The Develop Module: Converting to Grayscale

This set can be viewed on your own time... before the next class meeting.

2. Setting the Stage

3. The Library: Importing Images

Spring 2013: Photo I, II etc

Welcome to the Spring semester of Digital Photography. We are off to a little bit of a slow start here but we will be up and shooting in no time.

There have been a few emails about the book. There are 2 options both are essentially the same book the essential way is a little lighter, or rather has a few less chapters in it, but both cover what we will need for the class. The text book is primarily used as reference, if you have another photography text book, bring it in. It may be able to be used as a substitute.

Photography: the essential Way, by London, Stone, and Upton ISBN-13: 978-0-13-614276+8
or
Photography: Edition, by London, Stone, and Upton
The second option... 'Photography', is a more comprehensive book. I suggest the 9th or 10 edition of Photography. Earlier versions back to the 6th are suitable for the class but will not have or will have out of date material concerning digital cameras.

Purchasing these books: I suggest taking some time searching the web and buying online. I would supply links but the prices vary substantially. You will be better off spending 15 or 20 min searching for your self. NOTE: DON'T FORGET TO LOOK AT THE SHIPPING COST... things to good to be true usually are.

Just a reminder... Don't forget your memory cards for Tuesdays class. You will also want to get a small pocket sized notebook as soon as you can.

See ya Tuesday 3:15