Photography 101; Wednesday, Second Period [03/15].

[hashtag_chocobro]

"So last week," Prompto said, looking like he'd actually managed to snag a nap or two here and there this week to some great effect, so that was nice!, "we talked about stock photography, and I tasked you with going out there and seeing what you could shoot that might fit the bill, so we'll start there, and then move on to today's lesson, which sort of bounced off of stock photography while also being kind of the opposite? Don't worry, we'll get there. Who wants to go first?"

And, of course, once the show and tell and breakdown on what made the shots they took good stock photos or not, Prompto then led into today's topic:

"So, if stock photography is generic use photography, commercial photography is focused on a specific branding or product. With stock photography, you want be sort of general and broadly appealing, but commercial photography is focused on a specific product or service, or whatever else you're selling. Products such aaaas....." He turned his attention to his own examples now being shown on the board, "Cup Noodle^TM!" Of course! "Or maybe Coleman^TM."

Look, them chocobros had bills to pay. Especially now that this one had a kid.

"You can see some techniques we've talked about in class being used to sort of highlight a product or evoke a certain feel related to that product. For example, this is a pretty typical way of selling a nice liquor: dramatic, simple, showing the product in the glass and a clear image of the bottle it presumably came from. Sometimes, the drama is everything. Take a look at this toothpaste ad, even, with a sharp focus on the product but using almost artsy close-up and angles. Nail polish....perfume....cars...food....just about anything you can sell, really, people are going to want to make ads of it, and you'll notice that with all of these, the shots are simple, usually brightly lit, and colorful to catch the eye. And, here's a little secret, especially with the food ads you see...a lot of it's actually fake. Real food doesn't look that nice, but it definitely gets your attention and your stomach rumbling anyway, doesn't it?

"So, we're going to talk a little bit about how to get those bright, eye-catching commercial photos today. Not exactly high art, but it can be kind of fun and maybe even a viable option for a career, you know? And of course, I probably don't have to tell you guys this, but, for next week, I'd like to see some shots of you trying to sell me something, could be anything, from an actual product to....I don't know...an idea? Use your imagination. Just because we're selling our souls for mad bank doesn't mean we can't be creative about it, right?"

He chuckled a little. "Right. Now, let's get into it, starting, of course, with lighting...."

All About Tea, Wednesday

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Right." Jon sighed. "I was looking for something else this week, but in the process, I apparently found out that heating water for tea in the microwave instead of a kettle is in fact a crime." Yes, Martin, you win.

"We've gone over some of the different varieties and sorts of tea. Each of them has a particular temperature it's best brewed at. That's where the problem starts." He fiddled with his computer to bring up an image on the overhead projector.

"Kettles heat using convection, so all the heat starts at the bottom, and the hot water goes up and the cold water goes down and it mixes."

He brought up another image. "Microwaves...don't work like that. Look, I'm not a scientist, but I think we can tell from this that the heat is all over and somewhat a mess. The point is, it's not even, there's no mixing, and so the tea doesn't brew equally."

He sighed. "So, there you go. That's why we don't brew in the microwave."

None of this, it should be noted, would stop Jon sticking his tea in the microwave.

"So let's brew some proper tea. I've got electric kettles, and I've got thermometers, we've got a few varieties. Pick one of each and let's see how it turns out."

Art is For Everyone, Wednesday, March 15, 2023

[heroic_jawline]

There was a large pile of rubber chickens in the classroom this week. Just go with it, okay? Just go with it.

"So this week is on modern art," Tony said, eyeing the pile.

"Modern art's not always incredibly weird," Steve felt compelled to add, "but sometimes it gets a little...out there."

"And we had a surplus of these, so..." Clearly it was the best solution! "You can cut them up, paint them, do whatever it is that you want," Tony said. "But the chickens must be in your project."

"And then you have to explain it," Steve said, nodding.