Book Project 

First, I highly recommend that you purchase a digital camera for this class. Your digital camera must be at least ten (10) megapixels. I recommend the Canon PowerShot; a great camera that is very reasonably priced. If you are interested in purchasing a Digital SLR, I recommend the Canon Rebel. If at all possible, purchase a digital camera before you leave for summer vacation. That would allow us to sit down and go over your camera together before you leave. Newtown Camera, located in Summit, has a great selection. Speak to me privately if there is a financial hardship relative to purchasing a digital camera.


DO NOT FORGET TO ADJUST YOUR ASA ON YOUR CAMERA FOR THE APPROPRIATE SPEED. When shooting outside, in bright light, you should shoot on 200 ASA. When shooting indoors, or in low light, you should shoot at 800 ASA.

On digital cameras, be sure to shoot on the highest quality, preferably RAW. Also adjust your white balance according to the lighting situation you are shooting in. If you are shooting indoors with Flourescent lights, set your white balance accordingly. You will need to have at least 10 mega pixels. Please call/email me with questions about this. Format your media card when you first purchase it or when you would like to erase all of the images on the card.

Over Summer break, shoot a photo essay on a place/town/city/location that you travel to or spend time in this summer. The concept and focus is to be on that one town/city/location, not multiple towns/cities/locations.

Do the following:

• Shoot at least 50 files depicting the town/city/location and its buildings (exterior and interior, with permission on the latter, of course). 
• Shoot at least 50 files of people of the town/city/location in the spaces and environments where they work and live. 
• Shoot at least 50 files on a back street or behind the buildings, etc. 
• Shoot at least 50 files on where people eat: home kitchens, restaurants, cafes—interiors and exteriors. 
• Shoot at least 50 files at night. Beautiful light. For example, when the light itself makes interesting patterns—usually in the morning or late afternoon. 
• Shoot anything else that you can come up with to round out your essay about the town/city/location.

Collect all kinds of momentos that you might use in your book or on the cover. Or you might want to scan things for the cover of your book.

Don’t try to shoot this assignment all in one day or wait until the last minute. Concentrate on different parts of the assignment on different days. VARIETY IS VERY IMPORTANT! The more time that you put in, the stronger your book will be. Think about what only YOU can see—not the usual touristy photos. What do you see that NO ONE ELSE DOES? What makes YOUR photos special and different from everyone else’s? Composition, Vantage Point, and Light are key. If you have a different, special essay in mind, call me to discuss. I must approve any photo essays different from the town/city/location essay described above.

Danielle Picard-Sheehan 
Coordinator of Visual Arts
267.614.5121