PROJECT OVERVIEW: PART 1

The first part of this project will just be a simple exercise in us making a camera and using it to make some images in the darkroom--something to get you inside the guts of photography and how it worked before AND now. So, we'll make a camera together. In order for your project to be successful you need a working camera that you've built and that camera needs to be able to make an image that shows motion (could be ghost-like) and is of anything you find interesting that has both a foreground and a background. You can choose the content, but try to make it intriguing. If you need a review of composition rules, they are here.

The first part of the project is worth 50 points divided equally between the functionality of the camera, the quality of the photograph (exposure and clarity), and the creativity of photograph made.

PROJECT OVERVIEW: PART 2

The second part of the project pairs engineering students and photography students in a collaborative project.

Through real-world interactions as design engineers and their photographer clients (who needs a camera built to create a specific image), students should work together to ultimately build an aesthetically-inspired camera and create an image with that camera. While the engineers will be predominantly responsible for the construction of the camera and the photographers will be responsible for capturing the image, students will work together throughout this process - just like how it works in real life.

As this is a simulation of a real-world exchange between two professionals, you will be graded not only for your camera building or image creation, but also on your professional communication throughout the project. For more details about how this project will be graded, please see the detailed rubrics.

Step 2: Research

For the engineers to be successful working in an area they likely have very little knowledge about (photography), we need to do a little research.

The information found HERE talks a bit about the history of the camera and gives an overview of pinhole cameras.

ASSIGNMENT: For your second Flipgrid video, engineers should discuss this document and any questions they may have with their collaborative partners. Photography students should explain the concepts, etc. that engineers need a bit more detail on or help understanding. Please use the "How Pinhole Cameras Work" section of our video project for this discussion.

Step 4: Build the camera

This is the point in the project where we part ways. Here the engineers will work to produce the designs that have been agreed upon with their clients.

As the engineers discover more questions in this building process, they will communicate with their photographer clients through the "Team Discussions" portal. Clients - please make sure to check in on this portal daily to ensure your engineering team is able to continue to make progress.

Once complete, we will send our cameras to the clients.

Step 6: Discuss the results

When the photographers finish capturing their images, they will meet with to the engineers for review. This is a great time to discuss the process used in this project.

• Did the image come out the way you expected?
• What elements went well?
• What would you change if you could start over?
• Did you enjoy this collaborative challenge?

During this meeting, students will have an opportunity to take pictures together with these cameras. Ultimately, the clients will pick which engineering consultant they will give their business to based on the entire project (communication, camera, images, etc.).