Final Portfolio

Due: last day of class, for final critique (Wednesday, 12/7)

The final portfolio shall consist of both digital and printed elements as follows:

Digital; flattened jpegs, highest quality, 1600 pixels longest side

• 10 images from the various shooting exercises. Choose strongest images. Edit strategically. 
• 1 image from each of the main projects.

Printed; 5 optimized, color-balanced prints, on quality paper. Prints should be of the highest quality, with no banding or clogged nozzle artifacts. 

• Five prints representing your strongest work from the class. Edit strategically. 

Project 4: The Uncanny

©Loretta Lux

The Uncanny:

Something that is both familiar and foreign at the same time. The uncanny usually rings somewhat odd or disturbing in a subtle, psychological way. Some examples of the uncanny would be: mannequins, wax works, ventriloquists, etc.

For this project, create an image that explores the uncanny, or that somehow challenges the veracity/truth-claim of the photographic medium. Explore the neighborhood between "the real" and "the fabricated". The image should include at least one figure (of some kind) and an interesting (real or composited) background. It might be helpful to think of this image as being staged, or a slightly modified reality. Working with subtlety often makes for a stronger image. The examples below should help clarify some possibilities.

Think big for this one... props? costumes? styling?

There are just a few technical ground rules for this project.

1. At least 11"x14" @300 dpi. All component pieces should be at adequate resolution
2. At least one of the main subjects should be shot with white screen techniques
3. The white screen subject should be masked and appropriately integrated into the new background, with light quality and direction convincingly matched.
4. The finished image should be a believable reality

Due Dates:

• White Screen production Shoot: 11/7, 11/9
• Progress Critique:11/16
• Thanksgiving Break: 11/23
• Final Image Due: 11/30

Useful links:

Patrick Nagatani

Loretta Lux

Gillian Wearing

Gregory Crewdson

AES+F

Sarah Anne Johnson

Sarah Cusimano Miles

Student Work: