Why you are doing this assignment
One of the major elements of composition is texture, the reproduction of small detail, such as the surface of asphalt, the weave of cloth or the peeling paint on an old house. It might seem like a small thing, but texture makes an image come alive, and helps create that illusion of an imaginary universe on a flat piece of paper.
Remember that “textural perspective” is one of the ways of showing depth in an image.
How to do this assignment
Take a series of images that make use of textured surfaces in various ways. This does not mean that you should shoot boring images of bark or grass or concrete. A textured surface should be a part of each image, but not necessarily the only part. Shoot the textured surface in such a way that it shows textural gradient, with close texture sharp and obvious and far-away texture less obvious.
This assignment needs to be sharp, in focus, with no camera shake. Maximize your depth of field. Shoot in cloudy bright light at a high shutter speed (125 and above) with a small aperture (f/11 and smaller).
Please use everything you have learned this semester to create visually interesting, appealing work.
What to shoot
Your main subject (center of interest) could be a person or an object, but whatever it is, use a textured surface as one of the major elements of the image. Think of shooting from a low angle or with the camera close to a wall, but try to create an image with every part sharp, in focus.
Locate an interesting place with interesting surface patterns, such as the small courtyard on the Leʻahi side of Smith Office. If you are at the beach, use the sand for your textured surface.
What your folder should contain
- An analysis sheet of your one best image
- Two 8X10 prints of your two best images
- A contact sheet with at least 20 visible images related to the assignment, with the two best images circled with a blue, red or green sharpie
What your assignment should look like
Aim for a contact sheet that contains
- At least 20 visible images
- At least 7 different subjects
- images that show creative use of textured surfaces