TGJ 2O1 - Photo Collage Assignment

Okay you grade 10 Technology Communicators, here is your mission - if you choose to accept it (and by the way, you have to accept it. It's an assignment!):

Using the photos you took on Friday, or the photos other people took (you have access to their folders too - let's not get too possessive about the work here, you'll have plenty of time for that later), create a visually compelling collage with a pre-determined theme.

Specifications:
Size: 8.5" x 11" @ 300 p.p.i (Make sure you set the resolution when you set your file size)
Images: Use one main photo (Choose a quality image that has visual appeal)
Minimum 7 photos including main photo


Artistic Question: How do I create a compelling collage that expresses a particular theme and is compositionally balanced and visually pleasing?

Step 1. Read through the article "Secrets to Creating Compelling Photo Collages", by Helen Bradley. (Click on the link "secrets to ..." to read the article - or go to http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article.asp?p=438833)
Step 2. Browse through the photos that you took and also some of the photos that other took and begin to think about and plan a photo collage with a specific theme. As the article suggests, try to choose one photo that will be the main photo of your work and base your theme around this photo. Use the other photos (feel free to manipulate them in any ways you need to) to compliment the theme and help accentuate the main photo.
Step 3. Gather your photos and follow the instructions in the article. (Gather more than you will need)
Step 4. Using the photos you gathered (please save them all in a folder marked Collage in your home drive) begin by creating a background and create your collage.
Step 5. Write about your collage and justify your design choices in terms of composition and visual expression of theme.
Step 6. Due by the beginning of class Friday October 9th, 2009: Ready to present to the class and discuss.
Please drop .psd file into drop folder and call it "yournamecollage.psd"
Save for web once you have saved the psd file and add it to your blog with your written description and justification. (Describe your theme, your concept and your design choices and how they help to express your theme).

Assessment:
Theme is visually evident
Composition is balanced
Visual hierarchy helps tell a story (Where do we look first, second, third...)
Visually pleasing design
Main photo stands out and is visually compelling
Evidence of having read article
Multiple, organized, well-labeled layers
Manipulation of photos (re-sizing, cropping, masking, blending etc.)

Good luck! You can post questions here as comments at the end of this posting.
Ms. S.