This document provides details for an assignment in a visual arts photography class. Students must complete an independent study project (ISP) that involves promoting, creating, and hosting an art show of their original photography. The document lists the submission requirements, including a promotional flyer, printed photographs, photograph frames, artist statements, reflection, and critique. It also includes a rubric that will be used to evaluate the projects based on knowledge and understanding, thinking and inquiry, communication, and application. The key aspects of the assignment are to showcase original student photography, create promotional materials, and provide analysis of their creative process and technical skills.

1. Visual Arts Photography Sargento
!!
ISP 20%
Task:
• Your ISP will require you to promote, create, and host an art show for your original
photography in one of the following categories; portrait, creative, or digital enhancement
Submission)Checklist)
Completed) Component) Details) Due)Date)
☐) 1. Promotional!Flyer! 4”x5½”!@!300!dpi!(Photoshop)! April!3,!2015!
☐) 2. 5!Photographs!
• Printed!on!glossy!or!matte!
• 8”x10”!or!8”x12”!
• Ensure!images!are!printed!at!highest!DPI!
possible!
April!6,!2015!
☐ 3. 5!Photograph!frames!
• Solid!black!
• 8”x10”!or!8”x12”!
☐ 4. Artist!statements!
• All!in!one!Word!document,!describing!
the!story!of!each!photograph;!how!it!fits!
into!your!theme.!
• Word!document,!1!paragraph!per!
statement!(~1Q2!pages)!
☐ 5. Artist!statement!boards!
Print!your!artist!statements!on!hard!stock!
paper!to!post!underneath!or!beside!each!of!
your!photographs!
☐ 6. Reflection!
• For!each!photograph,!discuss!in!detail!
how!you’ve!used!composition!
techniques,!elements!and!principles!of!
design,!exposure!settings,!and!
adjustments!made!in!Photoshop.!
• Word!document,!1Q2!pages!
☐ 7. Critique!
• Choose!one!photo!that!you!view!during!
the!ISP!art!shows!to!critique!using!the!
Critique)Worksheet.)
• Word!document,!1Q2!pages!
––––––– ––––––– ––––––– ––––––––––––––

2. Visual Arts Photography Sargento
!!
Rubric
Criteria)) Level)1)
(50Q59%)!
Level)2)
(60Q69%)!
Level)3)
(70Q79%)!
Level)4)
(80Q100%)!
Knowledge)&)
Understanding)
• Demonstrates!knowledge!and!understanding!of;!
o Composition!techniques!
o elements!and!principles!of!art!and!design)
o PostQprocessing/digital!darkroom!techniques!(Adobe!Photoshop))
o Exposure!(aperture,!ISO,!shutter!speed))
o Gallery!setup!and!presentation)
Demonstrates!a!limited!
degree!of!knowledge!
and!understanding.!
Demonstrates!some!
degree!of!knowledge!
and!understanding.!
Demonstrates!a!
considerable!degree!of!
knowledge!and!
understanding.!
Demonstrates!a!high!
degree!of!knowledge!
and!understanding.!
Thinking)&)Inquiry)
• Photographs!demonstrate!clear!thought!to!present!an!original!theme!
• Photographs!demonstrate!clear!thought!in!composition!choices;!simplicity,!
balance,!exclusion/inclusion,!ruleQofQthirds,!etc.!
• Reflection!clearly!analyzes!decisions!of!composition,!postQprocessing,!exposure,!
and!elements!and!principles!
• Critique!demonstrates!clear!thought!and!analysis!of!technical,!composition,!and!
emotional!elements!
• Time!management!
Demonstrates!a!limited!
degree!of!thinking!and!
inquiry.!
Demonstrates!some!
degree!of!thinking!and!
inquiry.!
Demonstrates!a!
considerable!degree!of!
thinking!and!inquiry.!
Demonstrates!a!high!
degree!of!thinking!and!
inquiry.!
Communication)
• Final!photographs!creatively!communicate!original!theme!(Transition)!
• Artist!caption/statement!clearly!demonstrates!understanding!of!original!theme!
• Reflection!clearly!communicates!understanding!of;!
o Elements!and!principles!of!art!and!design!within!own!composition!
o Composition!techniques!
• Reflection!clearly!communicates!use!of!postQprocessing!techniques!(Adobe!
Photoshop;!adjustment!layers,!etc.)!
• Reflection!clearly!communicates!use!of!exposure!settings!(aperture,!shutter!
speed,!and!ISO)!
• Critique!clearly!and!appropriately!communicates!technical,!composition,!and!
emotional!elements!
Communicates!ideas!
with!a!limited!degree!of!
clarity!and!
effectiveness.!
Communicates!ideas!
with!some!degree!of!
clarity!and!
effectiveness.!
Communicates!ideas!
with!a!considerable!
degree!of!clarity!and!
effectiveness.!
Communicates!ideas!
with!a!high!degree!of!
clarity!and!
effectiveness.!
Application)
!)
• Applies!composition!techniques!appropriately!(ruleQofQthirds,!balance,!etc.)!
• Applies!use!of!effective!postQprocessing!techniques!(Adobe!Photoshop)!
• Use!of!elements!and!principles!of!art!and!design!
• Appropriate!file!formats!submitted!(hiQres!JPEGs)!
• All!required!materials!submitted!(see!above!checklist)!!
• Appropriate!setup!of!gallery!
• Creative!and!appropriate!design!of!promotional!flyer!
Applies!knowledge!and!
understanding!with!a!
limited!degree!of!
effectiveness.!
Applies!knowledge!and!
understanding!with!
some!degree!of!
effectiveness.!
Applies!knowledge!and!
understanding!with!a!
considerable!degree!of!
effectiveness.!
Applies!knowledge!and!
understanding!with!a!
high!degree!of!
effectiveness.!
) ! !
Final)Mark:) !

3. Visual'Arts:'Photography' ISP' Sargento'
CRITIQUING PHOTOGRAPHS
!
!'Adams'Conducting'A'Critique'Session'
'''''Courtesy'the'Ansel'Adams'Gallery.'
'
Photo'critiquing'is'an'important'way'to'advance'
your'overall'photography'skills.''
'
This'is'not'always'easy'and'fun,'nor'is'it'always'
constructive.'But'in'the'worst'case'it’ll'teach'you'
that'you'don’t'have'to'listen'to'everyone’s'opinion'
of'your'work.'In'the'best'case,'you'will'learn'
something'from'the'feedback.'
'
The'purpose'of'critiquing'photographs'should'be'to'help'photographers'to'improve'their'work'
through'a'better'understanding'and'proficiency'in'the'technical'aspects'of'photography'and'the'
theory'of'visual'literacy,'and'this'while'helping'the'photographer'maintain'his'or'her'individuality'
and'way'of'seeing.'
'
The'critique'should'attempt'to'open'the'photographer's'own'thought'process;'it'should'not'be'an'
attempt'to'change'the'photographer'into'a'clone'of'the'assessor'H'the'very'curse'to'creativity.'
'
When'making'comments'on'another’s'photographs,'aim'to'be'objective'and'constructive.'It’s'better'
to'ask'questions'with'what%if'to'help'suggest'improvements'without'being'negative.'For'example,'
“What'if'you’d'taken'a'few'more'steps'closer'to'the'subject?”,''“What'if'you'played'music'during'
your'portrait'photo'shoot'to'ensure'your'subject'is'more'relaxed?'They'look'slightly'tense'in'the'
shoot”,'“Slightly'out'of'focus'or'camera'shake;'Use'a'tripod,'or'up'shutter'speed'and'hold'steady.”'
And,'it’s'absolutely'okay'to'add'simple,'positive'comments'such'as,'“Superb,'I'only'wish'I'had'taken'
it!”'
'
Feedback'in'a'critique'should'encourage'the'artist'to'look'at'their'skills'and'how'they'could'
improve'their'work;'it'should'spark'a'conversation.''
'
It'is'essential'to'determine'the'photographer's'purpose'for'making'the'image;'was'it'for'a'clinical'
study,'travel'photography,'photojournalism,'fine'art'piece'or'perhaps'an'entry'for'a'creative'
competition?'Only'then'can'the'critique'be'properly'focused'
to'assist'the'photographer'along'an'effective'learning'path.'
%
So'let’s'look'at'the'steps'to'take'to'critique.''Here’s'a'checklist'
to'go'through'and'see'how'the'photograph'holds'up.%
%
Remember,%you’ll%get%as%much%out%of%this%process%as%you%put%in.%'
'

4. Visual'Arts:'Photography' ISP' Sargento'
CRITIQUE CHECKLIST
1. TECHNICAL QUALITY
Editors,%judges%and%evaluators%all%agree;%a%successful%photographic%image%must%have%good%technical%
quality%to%start%with.%
• FOCUS:'Is'the'image'sharp,'in'focus?'If'not,'is'it'intentionally'soft'and'successful?'
• CLEANLINESS:'Is'it'free'of'scratches,'dust'spots,'stains,'lens'flare,'etc?'
• EXPOSURE:'Is'it'too'light,'too'dark'or'just'right?'Are'there'overexposed'(blown/washed'
out)'or'underexposed'areas?'
• DEPTH!OF!FIELD:'Is'DoF'used'to'control'the'viewer’s'eye?'
• LIGHTING:'Is'there'too'much'contrast'in'the'lighting?'Too'flat'(no'range'in'shadows'or'
highlights)?'Or,'just'right?'
• COLOURS:'Does'it'have'neutral'colours'or'a'strange'colour'cast?''
'
'
2. COMPOSITION
Affected%by%the%camera%viewpoint%and%focal%length%of%the%lens.%It%can%raise%an%image%from%a%technical%
success%to%an%artistic%success!%
• BALANCE:'Is'the'image'aligned'correctly'or'is'it'crooked?'
• LOGIC:'Is'the'arrangement'of'the'visual'elements'effective?''
• PURPOSE:'Is'there'a'strong'centre'of'interest,'focal'point,'pattern'or'design?'Where'is'your'
eye'drawn'to?'
• CLARITY!OF!FRAMING:'Is'it'simple,'yet'complete'and'without'distracting'elements?'What'
should'and'shouldn’t'be'in'the'frame?'
'
'
3. EMOTIONAL APPEAL
The%vital%element%for%a%truly%great%image,%making%it%unique%and%memorable.%
• DYNAMIC:'Does'it'grab'and'keep'your'attention?'Does'it'have'the'"wow"'factor?'
• PROVOCATIVE:'Does'it'excite'your'imagination,'or'create'a'strong'emotion'in'you?'
• CREATIVE:'Does'it'show'a'familiar'subject'in'a'new,'unusual'and'yet'effective'way?'
• UNUSUAL:'Does'it'show'a'very'unusual'subject'in'an'effective'way?!
• What'emotion'do'you'feel'when'you'look'at'the'photo?'Or'lack'of?'
• Did'the'photographer'connect!with'his'subjects'or'do'they'look'tense,'posed'or'unnatural?'
• Does'the'photograph'tell!a!story,'or'part'of'one?''(It'could'be'as'simple'as,'“here'are'my'kids'
whom'I'adore”'or'“here’s'my'dog'catching'a'Frisbee.”'Or'a'very'deep'one'such'as,'“this'is'
what'poverty'looks'like,'right'in'my'hometown.”)'