Photo 12  Composition and Black and White Photography UnitThis is a four part unit with a focus on sharpening your eye to composition.  For this unit we will be removing the element of colour to force you to focus more on the other elements of design and composition. You will look at B&W photos, read about composition in B&W and then take your own B&W photographs.  Please do these assignments in order.

Part 1: Balance and B&W (15 marks)Balance is a principle of design that lays out images within a frame so that the objects are of equal visual weight. When different parts of photo command your attention equally, perfect balance is achieved. The two main kinds of balance are “Formal Balance” (also called Symmetrical Balance) and “Informal Balance” (which is also called “Asymmetrical Balance”).

Formal Balance is when the elements of the photo are symmetrically (or approximately so) distributed on the picture frame. Examples:

Informal Balance is when the elements of the photo are asymmetrical distributed on the picture plane. Examples:

Informal Balance using rule of thirds Informal Balance using unusual framing

Assignment and Submission: Post on UNITS, title “Composition and Black &White Unit: Part 1 - Balance”

- 3 labelled photographs using formal balance (5 marks)- 3 labelled photographs using informal balance (5 marks)- 5-10 notes on the below balance article. (5 marks)

Read and make 5-10 notes on this article.

TECHNICAL TIPS:We are working directly in monochrome (B&W), NOT desaturating the photos later on the computer.

A)     How to Set your Picture style to Monochrome (Black and White)   **This method will automatically take pictures in black and white. You won’t be able to change it back to color.

1. Rotate the mode dial to P, Tv, Av or M. Program mode (P) is most similar to Auto mode.

2. Press the down arrow and a list of ‘Picture Styles’ will appear.3. From this list select Monochrome then press SET

B)     Check Histograms on your camera using [Brightness] Display Histogram:  This will help you keep the detail in both your darks and your lights.

1. The peaks in the graph will skew more to the left the greater the dark components of the image there are, and will skew more to the right of the graph the greater the bright components of the image there are. Components up against the left edge of the horizontal axis are crushed blacks, and components up against the right edge are blown highlights. The components in other areas reproduce gradations.

2. By looking at an image and its histogram, you can check the exposure level and the overall gradation in the image.

3. Check out the samples in this article on reading Histograms. 

Photo 12  Composition and Black and White Photography UnitPart 2: For the Love of B&W Design (10 marks)A. Watch the below 10min video on Elements and Principles of Design. Make a list in your notes of the elements and principles discussed in it.

Elements and Principles of Design in Photography Video  

B. Using scissors, cut out and use the below bookmarks to physically bookmark 3 favourite images in the B&W Photo Magazines.  Neatly fill in the information about each photo. Submit bookmarked magazines/books to Ms. Stewart.

1. 1.Your Full Name: 2.3. 2.Photo information 4. i) Magazine Issue #:5. ii) page #:6. iii) photographer’s full name:7.

22.1.Your Full Name: 23.24.2.Photo information 25. i) Magazine Issue #:26. ii) page #:27. iii) photographer’s full name:28.

43.1.Your Full Name: 44.45.2.Photo information 46. i) Magazine Issue #:47. ii) page #:48. iii) photographer’s full name:49.

8. iv) photo title:9.10.3. First reason this photo caught

my eye:11.12.13.4. Why I like it?14.15.16.5. What is the visual emphasis?  17.18.19.6. How does the photographer

draw your attention to this emphasis?

20.7.What kind of balance is used?

21.8. List the main Elements and Principles of Design used to compose the photograph.

29. iv) photo title:30.31.3. First reason this photo caught

my eye:32.33.34.4. Why I like it?35.36.37.5. What is the visual emphasis?  38.39.40.6. How does the photographer

draw your attention to this emphasis?

41.7.What kind of balance is used?

42.8. List the main Elements and Principles of Design used to compose the photograph.

50. iv) photo title:51.52.3. First reason this photo caught

my eye:53.54.55.4. Why I like it?56.57.58.5. What is the visual emphasis?  59.60.61.6. How does the photographer

draw your attention to this emphasis?

62.7.What kind of balance is used?

63.8. List the main Elements and Principles of Design used to compose the photograph.

Photo 12  Composition and Black and White Photography UnitPart 3: Back ground information on B&W photography

“Parameters of a world without color forces you to see things differently, to stretch and work out your photographic eye muscles, and that in turn pushes you creatively.”  David Geffin

“The argument of not shooting black and white because it’s a thing of the past is a little odd to me, especially given that color photography is not necessarily a modern invention. Kodachrome for 35mm cameras has been around since the 1930s. The far more interesting (and possibly meaningful question) may be: ‘Why is black and white still so prevalent today, given we've been able to shoot color for so long?’.” David Geffin

Assignment and Submission: 

A. Copy the below links onto your Units page under “Composition Unit” title: “Part 3: For the Love of B&W”

B. Read the two attached articles and watch the slide show and under each link write a sentence or two about main points from each that you thought most important.

Article #1

Why It’s Important to Shoot in Black and White

Article #2

10 Tips on How To Create Better Black and White Images

Slide Show

Composition in Street Photography

Photo 12  Composition and Black and White Photography UnitProject 4.1One Object, One Photo Shoot, Many ViewsCriteria: I will be marking this assignment based on your

Composition (Devices)

use of balance

contrast emphasis of focal

point

Elements & principles of design

Instructions:1) Find an interesting object at home or school.

Think; kitchen gadget, complex toy, special object, something from the science room, art room, music room or gym…

2) Ask to borrow!! Then Book the studio.

3) Take 60+ B&W photos of that same object with the same background. Use only one studio session if possible. Adjust the following to get many different and interesting compositions:a) Camera angleb) Camera distance from objectc) Lighting (a strong light will give contrasty shadows and soft light,

soft shadows)d) Focus, Depth of Field, focal point…e) Balance (formal or informal)

4) Submit 30 of the best photos under units. Format 5 images across and 6 images down.

Reflection: Make an interesting title and write 2-3 sentences about:a) How your thought process

about composition changed over the photo shoot.

b) The ups and downs of the project.

c) Your favourite photo and why you like it most?

Project 4.2B&W Free ChoiceCriteria: I will be marking this assignment based on your

Composition (Devices)

use of balance

contrast emphasis of focal

point

Elements & principles of design

Instructions:Take many B&W photos that you feel have excellent composition.

Submit:Submit the 4 you consider best.Reflection: For EACH PHOTO, make an interesting title and write 2-3 sentences about:

Two main compositional devices or elements of design that are important to that photo and why/how they are used in the composition.

What you like best about the photo.