Taking photos for Completion Tasks

Some tips on making the most of Completion Tasks.

Completion tasks are basically a gift. Do the task, submit it on time and you're basically looking at full marks. Add up all those 3/3s and you're rocking an extra 100% for very little effort. The flip side, if you don't get them done, and this happens way too often: students leave these tasks too late, they pile up and end up getting either handed in late (with a penalty) or even worse, not at all. That 100% is suddenly a liability instead of a gift.

Taking better photos

Completion tasks are generally pretty basic. For most of them, you'll be doing the work in-class and uploading and submitting those photos. That said, some students use the opportunity to go the extra mile - and that's where real learning happens. Consider the following submissions. Both are for completion task titled 'depth of field'. The first, completes the requirement, and that's fine. The second does more. For the second submission, the student took the time to set up her own scene, and applied some of the rules of photography to her scene. She has simplified the scene and removed distractions (rule #1 and #2 of our established rules of photography). She has created unity (one of the principles of design) by using a similar look in all the photos submitted in the album. But more than that, she has created an aesthetically pleasing photo. This is something that could be framed. You know those photos that come in with the frame when you go buy frames in a store? This could be one of those. Certainly, this level of effort will translate to taking better photos for you major assignments.

Getting the Marks

Completion tasks are assessed 3 available marks. Work will receive a mark of 3/3 only if it is completed at a level which demonstrates appropriate effort. Lazy work, or work which fails to follow learned techniques (does not meet basic considerations of good photography) can not be assessed a 3/3. i.e. No out of focus photos. No intrusions. No poorly composed snapshots.