COM 215

COM 215 (Niman) PHOTO ARRAY # 2

Assignment Description

Create a collection of 10 photos affixed to paper. Photos must be shot by student during this semester (a friend may shoot the photo if the student is appearing in it and has directed it). Photos should be stapled or taped to 8.5"x11". Do Not Use photo albums or plastic pages – I need a space to write comments. And lots of thick photo albums add up to a large awkward pile for me to carry. Arrays will not be accepted electronically under any conditions.

Please be prepared to provide original negative or digital photo file (including other photos in sequence with digital numerical markings from camera) if questions of plagiarism arise. Photos you did not shoot, including copies or full frame photos of pictures you did not shoot, constitutes plagiarism and will result in automatic course failure and college disciplinary action.

Number and briefly label each photo. Affix photos in proper order. Students will be graded on their comprehension of theories presented in class and readings as demonstrated by the photos. Grades will be based upon how clearly and creatively photos demonstrate principles. Text may accompany photos, but the photos should clearly demonstrate the theory without depending on the text. The theory demonstrated by the photo should be clearly evident. Do not use examples from class or readings. Concepts demonstrated by photos should not be dependent on symbolic signs (words), cultural literacy (for example, a thrift shop alone only depicts poverty if you understand what the sign "Thrift shop" means) or the social class positioning of the photographer (for example: A rich person might see a 1,500 square foot ranch style home as poverty while a poor person might see it as a dream home -- your examples should be universally comprehensible and unambiguous).

Photos # 1 and # 2 should show two separate but textually similar scenes clearly juxtaposing poverty with wealth. Depictions should not require any great deal of cultural literacy and hence, should be clear to all viewers regardless of their backgrounds. The difference between poverty and wealth should be stark and clear -- to anyone. Think Jacob Holdt.

Photos # 3 and # 4 repeat exercise of photos 1&2 contrasting poverty with wealth, but using subjects that are very different from 1&2.

Photo # 5 should be a general news shot (you may use text to clarify this shot). Photo should not be an ambiguous undecipherable shot. Events should be newsworthy as in general "news."

Photo # 6 should be a sports feature shot. Again, the event depicted should be newsworthy -- at least on a local community or campus level.

Photo # 7 should be a sports action shot. Again, the event depicted should be newsworthy -- at least on a local community or campus level

Photo # 8 should be a spot news shot. (Avoid interfering with firefighters, ambulance crews or law enforcement officials when taking this photo -- see warning below). Photo should not be an ambiguous undecipherable shot. Photo should be newsworthy. If you can't find any spot news, you can stage fake spot news for partial credit. If you find good spot news, you can earn extra credit -- keep your camera with you.

Photo #9 should tell us something about your life. Photo should give us a good idea of who you are and what makes you unique. Photo should provide as much information as possible.

Photo # 10 should document the act of “work” (as in employment). Work, in this case, is a verb. It should be clear to viewers that the subject of the photo is "at work."

Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities as a Photographer - Download Guide Here - Carry it with your camera.

Correcting Misinformation Regarding Your Rights as a Photographer - From USA Today.

Please Remember to Think About Ethical Issues: Just because you have the right to make a photo doesn't mean it's the tight thing to do.

WARNINGS

During the Fall 2005 semester, a Buffalo police officer allegedly manhandled, handcuffed and eventually stole a COM 215 student's camera (10/05) after the student shot a spot news photo of officers using what she described as excessive force while arresting people on Chippewa Street. The student reports that she was not near the officers nor was she interfering with them. Students should exercise caution in the vicinity of police officers, particularly if you think their actions may be abusive or illegal. You do not have to win a Pulitzer prize for your photo in order to fulfill the spot news photo requirement.

Wal Mart photo processing workers have violated customer privacy and reviewed student photos, inappropriately calling in law enforcement officers when they didn't understand the context of the photos they were processing. Read more here. At this time I am unaware of any similar instances in the Buffalo area.