Picnik highlights - part 2

Hi girls! Here are some more featured photos that you have edited in Picnik. It is always such a treat to see what creative ideas you come up with. There were several outstanding submissions for each assignment (selective boost guitar, selective boost sign, and shadows and sunshine). Here are a few highlights.

Featured Picnikers: Carolyn, Rylie, Katlyn, Katelyne, Colby, Hailey, DeAnna, Brianne P, Ania, Mackenzie.

Carolyn

Rylie

Brianne P

Ania

DeAnna

Colby

Hailey

Katlyn

Katelyne

Rylie

Mackenzie

Very nice work, ladies!

PS - Always remember to check the spelling and exact wording of your quotation before you submit it. There were a few discrepancies in the "shadows and sunshine" assignment.

Science 7 - Cantilever bridge videos

Hi Sc 7C and 7P!  Here are some videos I found on YouTube to help illustrate the concept of the cantilever bridge:

Video #1 - a model of a cantilever bridge in motion:

Video #2 - People breaking a cantilever (remember that it is easier to support a load on a cantilever closer to its attached end, a concept that we discovered when Megan and Nicole supported the weight of a backpack on one arm, first close to the shoulder and then closer to the wrist):

Picnik nature assignment

Hi Computers 8! The order of business today is to finish your "shadows and sunshine" assignment. When you are finished that, move on to the nature assignment described below:

Choose one of the following quotations:

"In summer, the song sings itself."
- William Carlos Williams

"My profession is to always find God in nature."
- Henry David Thoreau

"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within."
- Horace Friess

"Sounds of the wind or sounds of the sea
Make me happy just to be."
- June Polis

"Each moment of the year has its own beauty . . . a picture which was never before and shall never be seen again."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If one daffodil is worth a thousand pleasures, then one is too few."
- William Wordsworth

"The earth laughs in flowers."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The ocean . . . cold and wild the surf, rushing in to overwhelm the beach, the wind, stinging my cheeks, enveloping me in total freedom."
- Scott Holman


Choose a nature photo from Google Image Search that will complement the quotation you have chosen. Please be sure that the resolution of the photo you choose is high enough that you will be able to edit it with accuracy and that it won't be too "crowded" once you add your effects to it.

You can choose the effects you add to the photo. Remember that sometimes less is more. Some suggestions:

- selective colouring (turn the photo to black and white or sepia and paint back on some original colour)
- selective boosting (turn down the saturation of the photo, boost the picture, click "reverse effect" and then paint back on some boosted colour)
- text emphasis (pick out an important word or phrase in your quotation and change its font, colour, and/or size)
- vignette
- soften
- any other effect(s) that you deem appropriate

When you are finished, save your file as "Lastname, nature quote" and hand it in to my drop box.

Happy editing, you creative beings, you! :o)

PS - Here are some examples of photos I've edited with text. With longer quotations, you may want to spread the text out over the entirety of the photo.

O Canada!

Just for fun this Saturday afternoon:

4 of my dearest International Music Camp friends and coworkers and me singing a barbershop arrangement of "O Canada" before performing at the dedication of the Alme International Arts Centre (the newest and definitely one of the most beautiful buildings on the IMC campus!) - IMC summer 2008.  This video was recorded in Howard Hall, an older building on campus that is used for various rehearsals during camp weeks.  Enjoy!

New Comp 8 Picnik assignment

Hi Comp 8!

Today's assignment is to choose an appropriate photo from Google Image Search (or from your own collection of photos, if you have one) that would complement the following quote:

"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The technique we will be experimenting with is that of changing the TEXT to emphasize certain words. This can be achieved by creating multiple text boxes so that you can change the size, colour, and font of certain words.

For this assignment, I would like you to emphasize the words "shadows" and "sunshine."

Save it as "last name, shadows sunshine" and submit it to the drop box.

Sc 7P Homework Check

Hi Science 7P! The definitions of metal fatigue and alloy are due for tomorrow's class. Don't forget! :o)

Career Ed 8

Hi Career Ed 8!

1. Open a blank Word document and type your name in a header (right justified).

2. In your regular text body, center a heading called Learning About Learning Styles. Make the text bold, italicized, and underlined.

3. In 1-2 paragraphs (left justified, Times New Roman, font size 12), describe what you know about your own learning style. Do you feel that you are stronger as an auditory learner than a visual learner? As a tactile/kinesthetic learner than an auditory learner? What leads you to believe these statements about your own personal learning style? For example, do you write things down frequently in your agenda in order to remember them (visual)? Would you retain information in class better by listening to the teacher and discussing with your peers (auditory) or by working on hands-on projects (tactile/kinesthetic)?

4. Make a prediction regarding the outcome of your learning styles test. Do you expect the results to show that you are stronger in one area? Which area(s)?

Test your learning style online here.

Some questions to answer after completing the test:

1. Are the results in line with your predictions?

2. What did your experience with the classroom activities (listening to the pancake recipe, reading the information about International Music Camp, and learning the dance to "Saturday Night" by doing and moving teach you about your learning style?

3. Based on your experience with both your school life and the activities from this class, rate your learning styles in order, #1-3: tactile/kinesthetic, visual, auditory.

Save your document with your last name and the title "Learning Styles" and submit to my drop box. Remember that I will discard anything that is improperly titled! Please give yourself credit (and make my job easier) by saving your work with your LAST NAME first. Thanks!

Picnik highlights

Hi Computers 8! Here are a few of the highlights from the past couple Picnik assignments. It's always so interesting to see the variety of assignments turned in from each of you. Some edits have been very subtle, and some have been very bold. These were a few that stood out to me as being particularly unique, interesting, and generally well done.

Featured Picnikers: Lindsey, Hailey, Regan, Jordyn, Ania, Mackenzie, Kennedy, and Alicia. Great job girls! :o)

Lindsey

Hailey

Lindsey

Regan

Jordyn

Jordyn

Ania

Mackenzie

Mackenzie

Kennedy

Alicia

Alicia

Computers 8 Selective Boosting assignment

Hi girls!

To continue along the same lines of what we have been working on in Picnik, today we will be experimenting with another form of selective colouring that I call "selective boosting." Basically what it entails is lowering the colour saturation of your original photo, boosting it, and REVERSING the painting effect so that whatever you paint back on will be boosted (higher colour saturation) while the rest will be more muted colours. So, to break that down step by step:

1. Upload the photo that is to be edited.
2. Under the "Edit" tab, click "Colors" and pull the saturation toggle towards the left until you have achieved the level of colour you desire (be sure that it is muted enough that your boosting effect will be noticeable and worth your time and effort).
3. Under the "Create" tab, choose the Boost feature. Adjust the level using the toggle tab until you are happy with the colour of the object to be singled out (i.e. a flower, a guitar, a person, etc.). Always make sure to alter it only enough so that it adds to it, not detracts by being too distracting or overpowering. For example, sometimes boosting colour will erase important details, such as creases in flower petals, etc.
4. In the "Effect Painting" box, click "Reverse Effect." This will bring everything back to the lower colour saturation level. Now, when you paint back the original colour (just like we did when we experimented with black and white selective colour painting), it will be a more bold and saturated colour. The overall effect will be that the entire photo is in colour, but one piece will stand out.

Here are some examples:

Original:


Edited version (based on the steps outlined above, plus some text and a vignette):


Notice how the guitar stands out a bit more than everything else around it. Here's another example of a photo that I edited using selective boosting (this is me standing in front of a waterfall in New Zealand):

Original:

Edited version:

The changes are more subtle when using this technique than the black and white, but it can be very effective if done well. In the waterfall picture, I would stand out even more if I had changed the background to an even lower colour saturation. Keep in mind that when I am looking at your completed photo editing assignments, it should be very clear which portion of the photo was selectively boosted (if it's not clear, consider changing the colour saturation more drastically before you begin effect painting).

Here are the photos I'd like you to work on today:




Save the first one with your last name and "Selective boost guitar" and the second one with your last name and "Selective boost sign." Keep in mind that you can choose which portion(s) of the photo you want to boost (i.e. Do you want to boost the person with the guitar, and leave the background muted so that he stands out? Or, do you want to boost the background and leave the guitar player muted so that he is less noticeable in the midst of his vibrant surroundings?). Be creative - I have seen some amazing work from you so far and am curious to see what you come up with!!!!

Some things to keep in mind:

- Use a brush size that will allow you to be accurate (avoid "colouring outside the lines" please!)
- If you are going to add any text, be sure that there are no spelling errors. Also, please be sure to use a font style and colour that will be clearly visible over your photo.
- Save everything you edit with your last name first. I will discard anything that I find in the drop box without a name on it.

Thanks! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Science 7C HW check tomorrow

Hi 7C! The Science homework check tomorrow will be for ALL Checkpoint questions (#1-7). Please make sure to have them completed! Thanks! Ask if you have any questions.

Selective colouring and quotations

Hi Computers 8!

Once you have finished your "Public Market" edit (which is overdue now, for those of you who haven't submitted yours) as well as your selective colouring flower photo, here is a new assignment for you:

Choose a photo that has vibrant colour (a flower, a bowl of candy, a guitar, etc.) and do selective colouring (remember to change the photo to black and white and then paint on the original colour using a brush size small enough that you can be accurate in your lines), and then search Google for a quotation that will fit with the mood of your photo. You may need to put your quotation on more than one line.

When you are finished, save the file with your last name and "Colour and Quote" and hand it in to my drop box.

Happy Picniking!

IP 10 portfolio divider pages

- Cover page (Name, Personal Portfolio 2009)
- Skills
- Family and Friends
- Education and Training
- Volunteer Experience
- Hobbies and Interests
- Goals and Dreams
- Personality/Character
- Employment History

Also, please remember to submit your resumes and vocab assignments asap, as these are both overdue. Thanks!

IP 10 portfolio divider pages

Here are some potential photos for your Education and Training divider pages.  You may also consider taking the school photo from the Rivier website.

Sc 7C HW check - Act 2-6 and Checkpoint

Hi 7C!  The HW checks coming up in Science are as follows:

- Activity 2-6 (Table, Finding Out #1-2) is due on Monday, March 9th

- Checkpoint questions #1-7 are due on Wednesday, March 11th

We will be starting on Topic 3: Materials next class.  Thanks for all of your hard work over the past week.  We've been having some great discussions and creative brainstorms.  Make sure your notes are caught up if you've missed any classes, as we have covered some important material.

Also, make sure that you are comfortable with the terms structure, design, and function.  Make sure that you are able to use them in a sentence to show their meanings as well.

Computers 8 Picnik assignment

Hi Computers 8!  Here is the order of business for today (and continuing):

1. Finish editing the sample picture from www.picnik.com that we started last class.  Remember, we are practicing our selective colour painting techniques, which means that we want to change the entire picture to black and white and then paint back on the red lettering by using the circle brush tool.  If you try to paint back on the original red and it's not working, chances are you accidentally saved it mid-process and now the computer thinks that portions of your original are black and white.  You may have to restart this project.

2.  Choose a picture of a brightly coloured flower from Google image search.  Daisies work well for this effect, as there are some great photos out there of high quality close-up images of vibrant daisies.  If you would rather choose a different flower, that's ok too, but please choose an artistic photo rather than just a snapshot of a garden.  Using selective colouring again, paint back on the most vibrant colours (likely the petals, and depending on the composition of the photo, maybe some green as well).  In this instance, often less is more.  Once you have finished the selective colouring, use the text adding feature to add the name of the flower pictured (i.e. Daisy, tulip, chrysanthemum, etc.).  You may choose the font, colour, size, and positioning of the text, as long as the text is clearly visible.  Be creative with your choices - choose a font that complements your photo.  Also, remember that you can increase the saturation of colour on the original photo before you change it to black and white so that the vibrance of the colours is more intense against the black and white.  Try playing with colour saturation and/or the "Boost," "Orton-ish," or "Lomo-ish" effects.  You can also alter the percentage/fade of the effect by using the sliding bars if it's too strong (or not strong enough).

3.  If you have any time left over, choose another photo from Google image search to edit using the same techniques (selective colour effect painting, and text addition).

****** MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAVING YOUR WORK!!!!  You will hand in these photos to my drop box when you are finished, so please label them with your name as well.  The easiest way to submit your work may be to save the file to your desktop and then drag and drop from there to my drop box. ******

4.  Bring a favourite picture from home or from Google image search for next class.  If you want a photo that you have on facebook, you must put it on a USB before class, as we will not be signing into our facebook accounts to retrieve pictures.