MediaArtTutorials
Video Composition of the Mundane – Part 1
Objective
Document the McMaster campus through the lens of the beauty of the mundane, using only medium close-up, close-up, extreme close-up, and macro photography techniques.
Materials Required
- Smartphone or personal camera: Setup your Smartphone Camera for Photo
- Computer
- Optional: headphones (for tutorials)
Activities
Complete the following in order. Ask your professor or TA for help as needed.
[15 min] Conceptualize Your Project (Group Work)
With your partner, open a document (Word or Google Docs) and answer the following:
Conceptual
- What story, emotion, or theme do we want to convey?
- How can we highlight the uniqueness of the space through the mundane?
- References:
Artistic
- What specific locations on campus will we photograph?
- How will framing, textures, or colours make our images more compelling?
- How does light shape our composition?
Technical
- What devices are we using?
- How will we ensure focus, resolution, and lighting consistency?
- How will we apply medium close-up, close-up, and extreme close-up photography techniques?
Macro photography is optional. Check if your phone or camera supports it before including it in your shoot.
➡️ Export as PDF
📄 Filename: Group-#-Notes.pdf
Include both names + student numbers
[40–60 min] Photograph (Individual and Group Work)
‼️ Before taking photos, make sure you follow these instructions to setup your Smartphone Camera for Photo.
Take 40–60 photographs using only the following techniques:
- Medium Close-Up
- Close-Up
- Extreme Close-Up
- Macro (optional)
Goal: capture detailed, overlooked aspects of campus space.
Restrictions
- ❌ No staged objects or interventions
- ✅ Use only observational photography techniques
Recommendations
- Seek interesting textures, lighting, reflections
- Carefully consider focus, exposure, and framing
- Avoid blurring or overexposure
- Try unexpected points of view: look up, lay on the ground, get close to edges or corners—shift your perspective to see familiar spaces in unfamiliar ways
References
Other Helpful Resources
[20 min] Photo Selection (Individual Work)
Create Your Photo Grid
- Select 12 best images, 24 for both students.
- Paper Size: Letter (8.5 × 11 in)
- Orientation: Portrait or Landscape (depending on your photographs)
- Arrange in a grid (2x2) layout using:
- PowerPoint, Word, Canva, Pages, or Keynote
- See examples bellow
- Export as PDF
📄 Filename: Lastname-Name-Photogrid.pdf
Before Next Class:
Install DaVinci Resolve in your computer (download here)
DaVinci Resolve is also available for Tablets through the corresponding App Store, but editing on tablets is not recommended due to limited screen space and functionality.
📤 Submission
| Type | File Name | Who Submits |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Group-#-Notes.pdf |
One per group |
| Individual | Lastname-Name-Photogrid.pdf |
Each student |
⚠️ Follow the submission protocols carefully. Incorrect submissions may result in lost points.