PROJECT: "Just Imagine...."
OBJECTIVE:
Perhaps one of the most enjoyable aspects of photography is its ability to convey ideas of alternate realities. What makes photographs rather unique in this regard is the fact that photographs are often associated with truth and reality. Photographs are proof. So, to present anything in photograph that's from one's imagination is to confront these notions of photography and reality.
REQUIREMENTS & CONSIDERATIONS
This project is an opportunity to make images based upon your imagination. There are no limits to topic or viewpoint. There are no requirements as to retention to reality or truth. The only actual requirement is that whatever the idea, it must be presented in a color photographic print.There are three or four types of images to consider. The first is naturally images which are about fantasies and make-believe. While the photographic techniques are not special, the images are about usual ideas and concepts. The "strangeness" or "imaginative" aspects of the images is from the combinations of subject, situations, and visual vocabulary contexts. Examples would be fantasy portraits (costumes, make-up, etc.), staged events, and theatrical presentations.
You might consider unusual or alternative ways of seeing physical realities. These types of images are mainly creating various effects with the camera, lenses, special effect filters, and any other means of altering the image taking process. You might consider using different types of films; even consider printing from slides instead of negatives to get a negative-color print.
The third type would be things to do in the darkroom when printing. These may be anything from making photograms to experimenting with the processing chemistry. You may considered different ways of prints: out-of-focus, diffused or blurred, moving the paper, or extreme contrast variations. Let yourself play with the process. You might consider making colored images from b/w negatives on color printing paper. See instructor if you wish to make color prints. However, you must provide your own color printing paper.
Altering the processing chemistry can be either very interesting or very frustrating; mainly because most of the effects are unpredictable. One of the most dramatic yet most unpredictable is "solarization." If you want to try this process, or any other process, see instructor for procedures and chemicals.
So, experimentation with the taking the photographs and methods of printing is the key objective for this project. Have fun! In actuality, there are no failures in this project; just alternative presentations of your ideas.
Submit at least one print for grading. You may submit others if you wish. Grading will be for originality and effort.