Scavenger Hunt

OBJECTIVE: STUDENTS WILL PRACTICE ACHIEVING SHARP FOCUS AND DEVELOPING THEIR PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE.

To me, photography is an art of observation.  It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them."

- Elliot Erwitt

Today we are going to walk around the school on a "photo scavenger hunt."  You will be given a list of objects or concepts that I want you to photograph.  Some items on the list will be abstract concepts, not concrete objects, so you will be forced to use your imagination as to how to photograph them!  The more creative you are the BETTER!  I also want you to take as many photographs as possible!  The more photos you take, the more practice you are getting, and the faster you will improve!

TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER:

1. SHARP FOCUS

What is the subject of your photograph?  What do you want the viewer to look at?  Whatever it is, make sure it is in SHARP FOCUS!  Achieving sharp focus in your photographs is one of the most important skills you will need as a photographer!  Why?  Photo editing programs like Photoshop can do a lot of amazing things.  It can fix up photos that are too light or too dark, remove unwanted elements, straighten crooked horizon lines, and do a thousand more handy tricks.  But it cannot take a photo that is out of focus, and make it be in focus. For that reason, I’ve always felt that focus is the most important element to get right while you're shooting.

• Try Auto Focus (frame subject in center, hold shutter half-way down, reframe after beep, take photo)

• Try Manual Focus, especially if Auto Focus isn't giving you the results you are after! (switch Auto/Manual Focus Switch to MF, twist focusing ring on end of lens)

• Don't get closer than 10-11 inches or so

2. FIND A UNIQUE WAY TO "LOOK" AT YOUR SUBJECT- BE CREATIVE!

No matter how dull or ordinary your subject matter may be, you have the power to show us that object in a whole new way, from a new perspective; you can make them interesting and inspiring!  Think about all the different ways you can photograph an object- up close, from far away, from above, from below, from the side, etc.  You can also manipulate whatever your subject is.  For example, let's say "apple" is an object on your list to photograph.  Rather than photograph an apple sitting on a table (boring!) maybe you could photograph a classmate biting into one, someone juggling 3 of them, or the inside of a cut apple, focusing on its seeds.  

It is your job to make whatever you are photographing interesting, inspiring, exciting, new and unique!  Think outside the box!

PHOTOGRAPH AS MANY OF THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS/CONCEPTS AS YOU CAN!