Assignment #1: Forced Perspective

"The forced perspective technique manipulates our human perception with the use of optical illusions to make objects appear larger, smaller, farther, or closer than they actually are. I once screamed like a little girl at a scary movie in a packed theater, only to find out later that the gigantic monster on the screen was only a little model. The movie makers had used forced perspective to turn a plastic toy into something frightening to the audience. The use of digital effects today still incorporates this popular way of portraying scenes or objects."

Photographers also use Forced Perspective to manipulate images and make the audience believe something is happening when it is really not. Below are some image examples of forced perspective. 

Your jobs this class are the following:

1) Create a group of 2 or 3 students
2) Take some class time to brainstorm some ideas based on the examples handed out in class
3) Use the school grounds to create a Forced Perspective photograph to hand in to me via e-mail (see the first post for my email address)
4) Please also screenshot your brainstorming session and email it to me in the same attachment

How will you be marked?

Each of the following categories is going to be marked out of 5 (5 being the highest achievable):

1) Creativity: how interesting is your photograph? If it's a direct re-make of one of the examples, you will likely score quite low. If it's something unique, you will score higher.
2) Does your brainstorming show effort was made? If you are done this assignment with plenty of time to spare, perhaps you did not attempt to play with aspects like light and props.
3) Is it believable? If there is, say, a gap between a hand and what it is supposed to be supporting, perhaps you didn't take enough time or enough shot to ensure that it is a believable forced perspective. Many of the photographs are achieved after 20-30 tries. Remember: it's about creating an optical illusion for your audience. If a gap is visible, the illusion is destroyed. 
4) How is the quality of your image? Have you taken into consideration the lighting? If it is too dark to decipher what the illusion actually is, the mark will reflect that. We will not be going into photo editing in our time together, so basic adjustments on the device will suffice. Check for overexposure as well. 

This assignment is worth a total of 20 marks, and the percentage will be decided by your regular classroom teacher when they join you this semester. Your teacher will be forwarded all the work we do together this week, so yes! Everything we do together COUNTS. 

-Mrs. S