It was the most depressing assignment of the year — the midterm performance exam. It was very unpleasant, but not because the students did poor quality work. The assignment was to illustrate the feeling of loneliness, so the photos that fit the concept best also make the viewer feel the worst. It’s great work, but all of it very solitary.
The Sophomore Graphic Design and Communications students completed their midterm with excellent food photos.
Their confidence levels are high, and they should be. The students have shot excellent photos and are now ready to move ahead to portrait photography. Check out their work below.
Mechanical Maintenance Technology students discuss how to overcome a challenge with the Rube Goldberg-style machine.
Students prepare the machine for another test run.
Shortly before spring break, the freshman Graphic Design and Communications students visited the Bismarck State College Mechanical Maintenance Technology program in Mandan. The class was working on creating a Rube Goldberg-style machine to raise a flag.
The GDC students photographed the machine in action and under construction. Everyone was surprised by the complexity of the machine that featured tiny cars cutting strings and mouse traps popping balloons.
The instructor, Norlyn Swenson, devised the assignment to help students understands the six basic machines, to enhance problem solving skills and to help students learn to work in a group atmosphere.
The GDC students learned about shooting photos in conditions they cannot control and around people they are not familiar with. Their goal was to document the machine and the people that worked on the project.
Thanks to Norlyn Swenson for allowing us to shoot photos in your lab.
Student photographs “Special 1” from the BSC Snack Bar in the Graphic Design and Communications studio.
A student adds butter to French Toast to make it appear as good as it will taste before photographing it.
A student adds butter to French Toast to make it appear as good as it will taste before photographing it.
The folks at the Bismarck State College Snack Bar are wonderful – they make great food and are always very nice to deal with. Portions are aimed student student-sized appetites, so you never leave hungry.
Several weeks ago the Graphic Design and Communications Department was approached about creating a new breakfast menu for the Snack Bar. As part of the project, the instructors decided to have the sophomore students photograph the breakfast food. It’s a great real-world exercise where students’ photos will become part of a design that will be posted in the Snack Bar area.
So far the photos look great, but not all of them have been downloaded from the cameras and edited. Check back for a preview of some of their images.
Glass bottles on a shelf.
Bass and guitar.
Pen and notebook.
Converse basketball shoes.
Controlling depth of field in photography is an excellent way to create interest in an otherwise mundane image. The technique is simple, but requires a little practice.
The freshman Graphic Design and Communications students captured the images above for a depth of field assignment.