Nil Santana’s Advanced Photography class joined us in the Learning Studio last month for a couple days looking at studio lighting. Thanks to Kyle Trafton, one of our media production specialists, who helped Nil’s students to get the most out of a variety of lighting solutions.
Here are a few of the portraits Nil’s students produced in the studio as well as a few of their final submissions. For a glance at Nil’s complete assignment, see the links below.
Project Brief
You’ve been asked to produce a “cover story” in the style of a popular consumer magazine that you like. You will submit a copy of the magazine along with your assignment for comparison. In this assignment, you will produce one “cover” portrait photo, and in addition, you will produce two more “inside” story shots, either black-and-white or color, one of which will be a performance shot (environmental), and the other a more relaxed “everyday person” portrait that lets us see something of the person behind the performance role. . .
The nature of consumer editorial portraiture centers on celebrities, or at least people of particular notability. There is frequently an emphasis on performers of one sort or another, be it show biz or politics or science. The performance aspect may be overt or implied, but it is usually there. You will do well to seek out as a subject someone who either is a performer, or has aspirations to be in the public eye. Try to discover the specific nature of this desire and draw upon it for your work. (more…)
Dr. Cole Bennett’s ENGL 325: Advanced Comp students produced Literacies projects that premiered this afternoon.
Student readings all semester focused on “theories of literacy from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, paying particular attention to readings that emphasize social and political issues related to reading and writing.” The course concluded with individual students or groups producing short videos that extended the focus of the course to consider other cultural literacies:
“Rhetorically, this video should attempt to convince the viewer that 1) the activity under consideration qualifies as an expanded form of literacy; and 2) society would benefit as a whole if such argument were accepted. How does the subject fall under a definition of literacy? Which definition? Why does it matter? How are our lives enriched if we agree with you? How might your opponents disagree with you, and how would you address such concerns?”
Thanks again to students from ENGL 325 for working with us in the Learning Studio. Here are a few examples of their work.
This year student filmmakers involved in FilmFest had the opportunity to work with DSLR cameras with HD video provided by Canon. The Learning Studio managed checkouts for a wide variety of camera bodies and lenses, including Canon’s popular 5D we discussed in a recent post.
Friday night at a premiere event at the historic Paramount theater winners were announced.
“Hazel & Jack,” directed by Lawson Soward and produced by Caitlin Bardford, took home awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Producer.
“Smile,” directed by Ben Weaver and produced by Nathan Vail, earned the People’s Choice Award and Best Original Composition.
“The Reunion,” directed by David McMichael and produced by Trevor Cochlin, won Best Independent Film.
The screening also included Best Picture for last semester’s 24-hour FilmFest, “Pages,” directed by Jordan Havens and produced by Ben Weaver.
Then on Saturday a panel of guest judges met with students to provide feedback on each film as well as share their experience in the entertainment industry. Thanks to the judges for taking time to join us and to Tom Craig and his student production team for putting on a remarkable event.
And thanks to Canon for providing equipment that challenged our students to produce a higher caliber of work this year.
Project Brief
