PH 612 - The Nature of Photography - Finals

Somewhere around eight weeks into the term, the time midterms are conducted, everyone in class is asked to choose a subject/theme for their finals and has to submit the proposal in writing. Once the proposal gets ok'ed you have about eight weeks to the day of the finals, where you have to present ten photographs which form a coherent body of work. While I had chosen to make images in the aesthetics adhering to Minimalism while exploring lines, form, shape and texture, others had chosen projects relevant to their style of photography and subject matter closer to them. Some of the projects by other students.

- A study on the personalities of individuals through the tattoos on their body
- Atrocities committed on people with different sexual preferences. An enactment to bring awareness with self as the subject.
- A documentary themed shoot on the days in the life of a survivor of a critical gun shot.
- A modern day take on fairy tales.
- Days in a laundry mart.
- Fences.
- Strong women.
- A documentary themed shoot to the days in life of her 99yr old grandmother.

Now onto the ten photographs which form my submission for the finals - Photographs with Minimalism aesthetics, abstractions both organic and geometric, exploring lines, shape, form and texture

PH 612 - The Nature of Photography - Assignments

Weekly assignments for The Nature of Photography course in the first semester. Assignments given out are due for submission the next week. Photographs are to be printed typically on an A4 size photo-paper. But you can choose to get a smaller or larger print if you desire.

Everyone puts their work on the wall, to get critiqued by the instructor and by the students. Receiving feedback from the instructor, Jim Sienkiewicz a fine art photographer, is a highly constructive process. Other students in the class participate in the critique session too, which gives you great insights into how your photograph can be perceived and interpreted in ways you hadn't anticipated.

Assignment 1: A photograph on any subject matter
The first assignment was a fairly laxed one. Just get a photograph you made.

One of the early photographs I had made since I move to San Francisco. A fascination for urban landscapes clubbed with a need to explore the city more made me go after this vantage.

This one was shot for being a postcard pic.

PH 612 - The Nature of Photography

There is so much content covered in the introductory photography courses at the Academy of Art University, that it comes as no surprise that they ended up splitting all the content between two courses: The Language and Nature of Photography. This course helps build strong foundations on visual literacy and expression. Students are better equipped to both verbally and visually communicate through photographs, understand the work of past and contemporary artists from a meaningful perspective. 

The description of the course from the Academy's website - "This course is dedicated to the investigation and understanding of photography as a visual language. The elemental relationship of form and narrative is explored as a means for individual artistic expression. Emphasis is placed on application of these principles through practical assignments and verbal discussion."