URBAN LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
Urban Landscape Photography is about capturing the essence (the life) of city streets, buildings, and architecture. It has the power to change the meaning of what we see, give new life or a different perspective to a particular environment or space. It can tell a story or just dazzle the eyes. It can actually be broken down into three specific genres of photography that involve cities, life, and architecture:
PROJECT GUIDING QUESTIONS
How might I know that my urban landscape photograph is successful, engaging, and interesting?
How might using the editing techniques help enhance the quality of my finished product?
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Students will photograph urban landscapes of the east side of St. Paul. Focusing in on what makes the east side the east side will be an important part of this lesson. Taking time to think about what specific landmarks make the east side unique will help you be able to define the project for yourself and for the people that view your images. This project may be displayed in an upcoming art festival.
Photographs must be taken at a large file size on the camera being used. Images brought into Photoshop are better sized down rather than up. Save files at 300 dpi with the following file name “[your choice of name]_1” – you can choose a title but then add an underscore and number them 1,2,3...etc. Developing a naming convention for your work is helpful. File them together in a folder titled “Urban Landscape”. Images will be compiled into a poster 22 x 36, 300 dpi.
IMPORTANT: Always Save As to maintain the original photograph. Students will be required to show original photograph and edited photograph in critiques.
Download Urban Landscape Handout for more details on
homework assignments and peer reviews/self-reflections.
- Candid Street Photography – urban photography focused more upon the city itself (and it’s life) than the people who live in it.
- Cityscape Photography – urban landscapes go beyond the capturing of the big picture cityscape that is usually quote polished and clean.
- Architectural Photography – urban landscapes are most interested in what happens in and around a building or location, the space surrounding it.
PROJECT GUIDING QUESTIONS
How might I know that my urban landscape photograph is successful, engaging, and interesting?
How might using the editing techniques help enhance the quality of my finished product?
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Students will photograph urban landscapes of the east side of St. Paul. Focusing in on what makes the east side the east side will be an important part of this lesson. Taking time to think about what specific landmarks make the east side unique will help you be able to define the project for yourself and for the people that view your images. This project may be displayed in an upcoming art festival.
Photographs must be taken at a large file size on the camera being used. Images brought into Photoshop are better sized down rather than up. Save files at 300 dpi with the following file name “[your choice of name]_1” – you can choose a title but then add an underscore and number them 1,2,3...etc. Developing a naming convention for your work is helpful. File them together in a folder titled “Urban Landscape”. Images will be compiled into a poster 22 x 36, 300 dpi.
IMPORTANT: Always Save As to maintain the original photograph. Students will be required to show original photograph and edited photograph in critiques.
Download Urban Landscape Handout for more details on
homework assignments and peer reviews/self-reflections.
urbanlandscapehandout.pdf | |
File Size: | 64 kb |
File Type: |
VOCABULARY
Urban - view definition
Landscape - view definition
Landmarks - view definition
Perspective - view definition
Focal Point - view definition
Detail - view definition
Framing - view definition
Composition - view definition
Urban - view definition
Landscape - view definition
Landmarks - view definition
Perspective - view definition
Focal Point - view definition
Detail - view definition
Framing - view definition
Composition - view definition
EXAMPLES OF URBAN LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
From the Back Window, Alfred Stieglitz, 1915
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Alfred Stieglitz, American Photographer (1864-1946)A leader of the Pictorialist movement in photography history, Stieglitz was influential in transforming photography into a recognized art form. The following are two examples of his photography of cityscapes and street life. While urban landscape photography is common today, it wasn't in the early 1900's.
View more of his work. |
LINE - SPACE - Dan Borg - view work
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Luca Campigotto is a contemporary photographer. Born in Venice in 1962, he has been photographing landscapes since the 1980’s. His work has shown all over the world and he has nine books published of his work.
http://www.lucacampigotto.com
http://www.lucacampigotto.com
Jonathan Fernandez is an interactive designer that explores HDR urban landscape photography. HDR is High Dynamic Range Imaging when a camera takes a picture at several exposure levels rather than just one.
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Urban-Landscape-Photography/1765446
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Urban-Landscape-Photography/1765446
Brian Matiash is also an HDR Photographer. Originally from Brooklyn, he now lives and works in Portland.
30-minute interview about his work - http://vimeo.com/10690679
http://brianmatiash.com/
30-minute interview about his work - http://vimeo.com/10690679
http://brianmatiash.com/
"Viking Purple", Minneapolis Skyline by Chris Schoenbohm
Chris Schoenbohm is a young photographer who is currently traveling the world taking photos. His blog was started last year of his explorations and photography.
http://www.lostmanproject.com/
Chris Schoenbohm is a young photographer who is currently traveling the world taking photos. His blog was started last year of his explorations and photography.
http://www.lostmanproject.com/
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Urban Landscape project in LA video
This is My Court video
Bike riding through the cityscape video
Urban Landscape project in LA video
This is My Court video
Bike riding through the cityscape video
IMAGES FROM RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
WHAT URBAN LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHS INSPIRE YOU?
DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCHING URBAN LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Research urban landscape photography and find two images that catch your attention.
2. Complete the survey form below for each image. (10 points)
Suggestions to get started:
1. Research urban landscape photography and find two images that catch your attention.
2. Complete the survey form below for each image. (10 points)
Suggestions to get started:
- Google search with keywords "urban landscape photography" or "urban photography" and then choose images. From there you can research sites and artists by beginning with the image first.
- Feel free to start with the photographers mentioned in this lesson and take a deeper look into their work and choose one of their other photographs.
- Two blogs that have lots of urban landscape photography examples:
D-Photo blog - http://www.thedphoto.com/inspiration-fix/urban-landscape-photography/
Design Your Way blog - http://www.designyourway.net/blog/inspiration/52-great-examples-of-urban-photography/
Editing Assignment
Review the following groups of pictures and complete a worksheet about them. Afterwards begin editing your photographs - note that you will be keeping the original and Save As to create a new file document for your edits. Next week we will place the edited version next to the original.
EDIT GROUP #1
EDIT GROUP #1