1. The Epic of the Individual
This is a warm-up. I believe that every human life is extraordinary if we have the patience to look. Further, among the key skills that a commercial photographer must have, is the ability to communicate and work with people. Your assignment is to take a portrait of a stranger. The final product is to include a caption with a quote from the subject that gives insight into their life and personality. The photo should also express the sentiments of the caption.
For reference, see http://www.humansofnewyork.com
As in every assignment, your images must be tack sharp unless there is a legitimate artistic reason for blurring. If your images are *almost* sharp. . . reshoot. This assignment should take several hours to complete at a minimum. Your final deliverable is just one photo, but you should have hundreds of candidates (probably of several different subjects) to choose from. Your best shot should be extraordinary. This is not just a picture of a person: this is an image of a human life. Treat it as sacred, precious, and worth your time. Make it interesting. This will be graded very strictly. On a more positive note, this has the potential to be one of the more enjoyable and rewarding assignments you’ll ever do. Have fun!
Final deliverable: One, full-res photo with an equal-sized caption underneath in PDF or Jpg format.
Disclaimer: Please be safe about this! Do not approach strangers alone or in isolated areas. Keep a buddy near you, or stay in safe, public locations.
This assignment is for Digital Photography course (ART 3040) at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah taught by Alex Chamberlain in the Fall of 2016.
