Good morning, photojournalists!
I hope you enjoyed your weekend and that the Thrive on Five was good for you. We had fun doing some of the activities with our boys.
A lot of you had last week off because YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR EVENTS FOR THE YEAR! YAY!! Those of you who aren't done, I sent you an email reminding you of what I posted last week.
So, this week you have another assignment. As usual, it's just to get you thinking about photography. It's not difficult or overly stressful. It's to get you thinking about how to take pictures and keep you in contact with me.
So, here's what you need to do:
Pick a spot in your yard or a newby park. Set the timer on your phone for 10 minutes and really pay attention to your surroundings. It may be a little hard for you, and it may feel boring at first, but really take the time to pay attention and observe what's happening around you.
I did this in my backyard, and I noticed a little snake making its way across the yard (I moved quickly. We have snakes in our neighborhood quite often). I moved up to our garden where we have strawberry plants blooming and noticed an ant hill in the corner. I detest ants almost as much as I do snakes, but I became fascinated by their movements.
I also sat by my tulips. Tulips are my favorite flower because when I was a little girl, my grandpa grew tulips along his front walkway. We spent a lot of time at my grandparents' house, and every time we ran out of their front door in the springtime, he'd always say, "Don't step on my tulips!" I looked at the structure of the flower and the different kinds of tulips I have.
Anyway. Find something that catches your eye, and watch it before you take your photos. Once you find something to photograph, get down low. Photograph the bugs or whatever you found from their level.
Get bug's eye view.
Put your picture on this google doc:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZJeCpHIiiMcHqQ47eymGrF6OEA3FJU1GQkbDfyX7zXg/edit?usp=sharing
AND tell me why you chose this to photograph. What about it caught your eye?
It looks like the weather will be BEAUTIFUL this week! Get out there an enjoy it!
Monday, April 27, 2020
Monday, April 20, 2020
4.20 How do you make up events?
Good Monday morning, photojournalists!
I hope this post finds you well!
This is how I'm feeling today
I've received several emails from several of you asking about events.
Obviously, there aren't any more events for the rest of the year. I know several of you were hoping to make up events from January and February in the later months of the school year.
First off, I'm only going to require events for January and February, so if you took events in March and were missing events in January or February, I went into the gradebook and transferred the March ones to ones you were missing in January or February. That should take a little of the stress off of a few of you.
Also, I've graded every event that you've turned in, so if you took pictures at an event and didn't turn in your paper, please let me know so I can check the server.
You can check that by looking at your photojournalism folder on your laptop and comparing it to the google sheet I made to keep track of everything. Here's the link if you can't find it: 2019.20 Photojournalism Events Semester 2
Now, some of you still need to make up events.
I've decided that the best way to do this would be to have you learn skills in PhotoShop AND THEN use those skills to make a video that teaches someone else how to do them.
You need to make a video like the one I made teaching you how to rename your photos, and here's the link to that video: How to Batch Rename Photos
Every skill you learn and video you make will count as one event.
Here are the skills I'd like you to learn and make a video of yourself doing:
USE PHOTOS YOU'VE TAKEN UP TO THIS POINT TO EXPERIMENT, AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE READY TO ACTUALLY DO THE ASSIGNMENT(S), EMAIL ME, AND I'LL SEND YOU A PHOTO TO DO THE ACTUAL VIDEO WITH.
1: Using Levels to improve the color of your photos.:
2: Make a photo black and white and then adjust the sliders of the colors to make different areas in the photo stand out.
3: Cut out a figure in a photo with a transparent background so it can be place on a yearbook page.
How do you record your screen and voice?
Here's a link to a video that shows you how to do it if it's not blocked:
How to record your screen and voice using QuickTime
If it is blocked, google it.
How do you learn how to do these things and then show others?
Google how to do them. There are HUNDREDS of videos of photographers talking you through how to do them.
With Photoshop, there are at least 10 different ways to do each of these skills, which is one of the reasons I kind of struggle with PhotoShop sometimes.
ONCE YOU DECIDE WHICH ONE YOU'RE DOING, AND LEARN HOW TO DO IT, EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE GOING TO DO, AND I'LL SEND YOU THE PICTURE TO DO YOUR VIDEO WITH.
When is this due? Thursday, May 7. DO NOT EMAIL ME THE MORNING OF THURSDAY, MAY 7 AND ASK ME HOW TO DO THIS.
START NOW!!
EACH one counts as one event. So you can make up three events. If you have all of your events to make up, do all three of these before you ask me for another activity.
Practice on photos you already have from ones you've taken.
Got questions? I'm just an email away!
I hope this post finds you well!
This is how I'm feeling today
I've received several emails from several of you asking about events.
Obviously, there aren't any more events for the rest of the year. I know several of you were hoping to make up events from January and February in the later months of the school year.
First off, I'm only going to require events for January and February, so if you took events in March and were missing events in January or February, I went into the gradebook and transferred the March ones to ones you were missing in January or February. That should take a little of the stress off of a few of you.
Also, I've graded every event that you've turned in, so if you took pictures at an event and didn't turn in your paper, please let me know so I can check the server.
You can check that by looking at your photojournalism folder on your laptop and comparing it to the google sheet I made to keep track of everything. Here's the link if you can't find it: 2019.20 Photojournalism Events Semester 2
Now, some of you still need to make up events.
I've decided that the best way to do this would be to have you learn skills in PhotoShop AND THEN use those skills to make a video that teaches someone else how to do them.
You need to make a video like the one I made teaching you how to rename your photos, and here's the link to that video: How to Batch Rename Photos
Every skill you learn and video you make will count as one event.
Here are the skills I'd like you to learn and make a video of yourself doing:
USE PHOTOS YOU'VE TAKEN UP TO THIS POINT TO EXPERIMENT, AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE READY TO ACTUALLY DO THE ASSIGNMENT(S), EMAIL ME, AND I'LL SEND YOU A PHOTO TO DO THE ACTUAL VIDEO WITH.
1: Using Levels to improve the color of your photos.:
2: Make a photo black and white and then adjust the sliders of the colors to make different areas in the photo stand out.
3: Cut out a figure in a photo with a transparent background so it can be place on a yearbook page.
How do you record your screen and voice?
Here's a link to a video that shows you how to do it if it's not blocked:
How to record your screen and voice using QuickTime
If it is blocked, google it.
How do you learn how to do these things and then show others?
Google how to do them. There are HUNDREDS of videos of photographers talking you through how to do them.
With Photoshop, there are at least 10 different ways to do each of these skills, which is one of the reasons I kind of struggle with PhotoShop sometimes.
ONCE YOU DECIDE WHICH ONE YOU'RE DOING, AND LEARN HOW TO DO IT, EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE GOING TO DO, AND I'LL SEND YOU THE PICTURE TO DO YOUR VIDEO WITH.
When is this due? Thursday, May 7. DO NOT EMAIL ME THE MORNING OF THURSDAY, MAY 7 AND ASK ME HOW TO DO THIS.
START NOW!!
EACH one counts as one event. So you can make up three events. If you have all of your events to make up, do all three of these before you ask me for another activity.
Practice on photos you already have from ones you've taken.
Got questions? I'm just an email away!
Monday, April 13, 2020
4.13 Make a rainbow!
Good morning, photojournalists!
Last week's announcement about not going back to school hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew it was probably coming, but I had been holding out hope that we'd be able to go back. I'll be honest, my oldest and I have shed some tears over the situation (we're both big criers), but we'll get through this! I miss you all so much!
I'm up bright and early this morning because everything.... EVERYTHING for the yearbook is due today.
I have to upload it to the yearbook company site by midnight tonight, and I'm pretty excited to actually be able to put this puppy to bed!
FIRST: I've heard from several of you about how you can make up events. I have an idea percolating, but I need to go over it in my head a little bit this week. I'll post them in a week, so please don't stress. I've got you.
I WAS going to have you go outside for this week's project, but I took one look at the weather and was like, "Nope, too chilly!"
So, this assignment will keep you inside. You can all thank me when we see each other again.
This week's assignment is simple: you're going to make a rainbow.
You remember learning about the colors of the rainbow, right?
ROY G. BIV is how I learned them
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
You need to walk around your house and take a picture of every color of the rainbow. You can omit "indigo" if you need to.
Then use PicMonkey to create a visual of them however you want.
Put them on this google doc:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/137txbaFMZMZwNQOcKjD7LotoMme_2uWi-YeH3w-ICJQ/edit?usp=sharing
If you need anything, I'm just an email away!!
Have a great day!
Last week's announcement about not going back to school hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew it was probably coming, but I had been holding out hope that we'd be able to go back. I'll be honest, my oldest and I have shed some tears over the situation (we're both big criers), but we'll get through this! I miss you all so much!
I'm up bright and early this morning because everything.... EVERYTHING for the yearbook is due today.
I have to upload it to the yearbook company site by midnight tonight, and I'm pretty excited to actually be able to put this puppy to bed!
FIRST: I've heard from several of you about how you can make up events. I have an idea percolating, but I need to go over it in my head a little bit this week. I'll post them in a week, so please don't stress. I've got you.
I WAS going to have you go outside for this week's project, but I took one look at the weather and was like, "Nope, too chilly!"
So, this assignment will keep you inside. You can all thank me when we see each other again.
This week's assignment is simple: you're going to make a rainbow.
You remember learning about the colors of the rainbow, right?
ROY G. BIV is how I learned them
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
You need to walk around your house and take a picture of every color of the rainbow. You can omit "indigo" if you need to.
Then use PicMonkey to create a visual of them however you want.
Put them on this google doc:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/137txbaFMZMZwNQOcKjD7LotoMme_2uWi-YeH3w-ICJQ/edit?usp=sharing
If you need anything, I'm just an email away!!
Have a great day!
Monday, March 30, 2020
3.30: Flipgrid
Good day, photojournalists!
Two assignments for this week:
Several of you know my love for "The Office." Okay, maybe "love" is putting it mildly. Okay, no maybe, "love" is putting my feelings for "The Office" mildly. I ADORE that show!
So, first assignment.
Watch this youtube video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F5pgG1M_h_U
I think we could all use some good news.
Now for some more good news, I've figured out a new way to communicate!
Before you all roll your eyes and say, "Oh, Sparks, you drive us crazy," it will allow you to record video, and let's be honest, I've missed your voice!
So, check your email for the FlipGrid code and record a video for me.
BUT make sure to login and then click on the "Record a Response" and make your video there. Don't email it to me. I want the class to see your faces, too!!!
It looks like this, and you'll click on the green plus.
Two assignments for this week:
Several of you know my love for "The Office." Okay, maybe "love" is putting it mildly. Okay, no maybe, "love" is putting my feelings for "The Office" mildly. I ADORE that show!
So, first assignment.
Watch this youtube video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F5pgG1M_h_U
I think we could all use some good news.
Now for some more good news, I've figured out a new way to communicate!
Before you all roll your eyes and say, "Oh, Sparks, you drive us crazy," it will allow you to record video, and let's be honest, I've missed your voice!
So, check your email for the FlipGrid code and record a video for me.
BUT make sure to login and then click on the "Record a Response" and make your video there. Don't email it to me. I want the class to see your faces, too!!!
It looks like this, and you'll click on the green plus.
I miss you all terribly!!
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
3.25 Virtual Learning Documentation Photo
Good morning, photojournalists,
Since many of you don't have cameras like the ones we use at school but all of you have iPhones or something like that, we'll be doing some documenting of your life with your smart phones.
Today, your assignment it to upload two separate photos of your experience with Virtual Learning right now.
The great thing about Virtual Learning is that you can do it almost anywhere, almost any time. I've walked down the halls and seen students laying with their backs flat on the ground and their legs against the wall, like criss cross applesauce, but it looks like they're "sitting" on the wall.
You can do virtual learning at 2:30 a.m. while you're standing on your head, trying to drink an Oreo milkshake, and clipping your toenails.
Like I said, anywhere, anytime.
I want you to really think about where you do a lot of your virtual learning, when you do your virtual learning, some of the things you've realized you can do with virtual learning, etc., and use that to inspire your photos.
I want you to put AT LEAST TWO of your photos of you learning virtually on this google doc:
3.25 VIRTUAL LEARNING PHOTOS
AND I want you to describe what these photos mean. Give me the who, what, when, where, why, and how of each photo.
Here are two examples I took yesterday and today. They aren't great examples, but you kind of get my gist. THINK OF DIFFERENT ANGLES YOU CAN GET, HOW YOU CAN ILLUSTRATE GOOD PHOTO COMPOSITION.
THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 27TH AT 10 P.M.
Since many of you don't have cameras like the ones we use at school but all of you have iPhones or something like that, we'll be doing some documenting of your life with your smart phones.
Today, your assignment it to upload two separate photos of your experience with Virtual Learning right now.
The great thing about Virtual Learning is that you can do it almost anywhere, almost any time. I've walked down the halls and seen students laying with their backs flat on the ground and their legs against the wall, like criss cross applesauce, but it looks like they're "sitting" on the wall.
You can do virtual learning at 2:30 a.m. while you're standing on your head, trying to drink an Oreo milkshake, and clipping your toenails.
Like I said, anywhere, anytime.
I want you to really think about where you do a lot of your virtual learning, when you do your virtual learning, some of the things you've realized you can do with virtual learning, etc., and use that to inspire your photos.
I want you to put AT LEAST TWO of your photos of you learning virtually on this google doc:
3.25 VIRTUAL LEARNING PHOTOS
AND I want you to describe what these photos mean. Give me the who, what, when, where, why, and how of each photo.
Here are two examples I took yesterday and today. They aren't great examples, but you kind of get my gist. THINK OF DIFFERENT ANGLES YOU CAN GET, HOW YOU CAN ILLUSTRATE GOOD PHOTO COMPOSITION.
THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 27TH AT 10 P.M.
Photo 1:
Who:
Me, Ronna Sparks-Woodward
What:
Working on getting the yearbook google drive organized
When:
9:35 on Tuesday, March 24th
Where:
In my living room
Why:
I took this picture because I drink a ton of water out of this cup, and there's water in it. When I'm home this cup is always full of ice water right next to me with a straw. I like this cup because I got it from the Kansas City Royals for Teacher Appreciation night.
How: (you can think about how does this represent visual learning, or how you got the picture, etc.)
I'm working later at night than I'd prefer to because that's usually what you'll find me doing, so Virtual Learning hasn't really changed my timing of stuff, but it has changed my approach.
Type of Photo Composition and why:
Foreground background: The object in the foreground is the first thing you see, and the background is blurred out.
Photo 2:
Who: Me, Delaney Pierce and Belle Zubiri
What:
Participating in a two-hour Zoom meeting where we planned out the last 30 pages of the yearbook, which is spring sports, but since we don't have any spring sport events before the page deadline is due, we had to change up several things.
When:
Monday, March 22nd on the first official day of Virtual Learning
Where:
At my kitchen table surrounded by all the trappings of planning the book: the large iPad with pictures cut out on it, proofs in the background, notes, etc.
Why:
Because we had to completely change everything in the book from pages 130-160, which is freaking us out
How: This is the perfect example of virtual learning. I'm meeting with two students helping them problem solve issues and figure out how to communicate that to the staff.
Type of Photo Composition and why: kind of birds eye; I needed to get Delaney and Belle in the photo so you could see that I wasn't just working on stuff by myself.
THIS IS DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 26TH AT MIDNIGHT.
Now I leave you with my sons and I "celebrating" our first day of virtual learning.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, and have a GREAT day!!
Sunday, March 22, 2020
3.23: Welcome Back
Good day, my photojournalists,
I have to say that on Thursday, the last time I saw you, you know we were in the middle of trying to get a yearbook deadline in, so I barely even noticed that the bell rang, and I hate that all I pretty much said was, "Have a great Spring Break!"
Confession: I really wish I had taken the time to say goodbye to you all. I thought we might have a week, maybe two, out of school, and I didn't anticipate being out for as long as we are, much less possibly longer. I would have given you all a long-distance high five and a long distance hug...
Hindsight 2020, right? (get it?)
Today we're supposed to spend reconnecting on a virtual level, so I would like for you to take a few minutes and send me an e-mail letting me know that you read this post and how you're doing.
I'll post a short assignment for you to complete on Tuesday, but it should take you a maximum of 10-15 minutes.
So. please, email me and let me know how you're doing. Has anything happened other than the usual happening to all of us?
I'm exceedingly sad that I won't get to see you all for at least a month, but I also told Dr. Kurth, if anyone can do this and do it well, it's us!
Have a great day, and please email me today... like now!
I miss you all!!!
I have to say that on Thursday, the last time I saw you, you know we were in the middle of trying to get a yearbook deadline in, so I barely even noticed that the bell rang, and I hate that all I pretty much said was, "Have a great Spring Break!"
Confession: I really wish I had taken the time to say goodbye to you all. I thought we might have a week, maybe two, out of school, and I didn't anticipate being out for as long as we are, much less possibly longer. I would have given you all a long-distance high five and a long distance hug...
Hindsight 2020, right? (get it?)
Today we're supposed to spend reconnecting on a virtual level, so I would like for you to take a few minutes and send me an e-mail letting me know that you read this post and how you're doing.
I'll post a short assignment for you to complete on Tuesday, but it should take you a maximum of 10-15 minutes.
So. please, email me and let me know how you're doing. Has anything happened other than the usual happening to all of us?
I'm exceedingly sad that I won't get to see you all for at least a month, but I also told Dr. Kurth, if anyone can do this and do it well, it's us!
Have a great day, and please email me today... like now!
I miss you all!!!
Thursday, February 13, 2020
2.13 More about Dan Eldon
Happy Virtual Learning Day, photojournalists!
For today, prep more for our conversations about Dan Eldon by going to this site:
https://www.daneldon.org/
and reading about him.
Read over the "about" section and look at pictures of him and his friends that went on the trip to help the refugees.
For today, prep more for our conversations about Dan Eldon by going to this site:
https://www.daneldon.org/
and reading about him.
Read over the "about" section and look at pictures of him and his friends that went on the trip to help the refugees.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)