Video Fridays: Stop-Motion Xmas Videos

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This creative video popped up in my feeds and reminded me of some of the video techniques/lessons that I used to teach my middle schoolers. This video combines stop-motion with birds-eye composition techniques. I’ve posted the Bird’s Eye Composition lessons below, if you want to make your own bird’s eye image. Also, apologies for those who were hoping to avoid any Holiday Mariah Carey ear-worms this holiday. You’re welcome.

Bird’s Eye Compositions

Assignment Overview:

Introduction:

Today we are going to begin experimenting with Bird’s Eye Compositions, which means shooting images directly above the subject that might tell a whimsical story. The idea may have began with a mother taking an image of her sleeping infant and then decided to add elements to the image to tell a story, maybe what the baby was dreaming about. For this assignment you will need to use a device with a camera (sorry, your ChromeBook might be too big and bulky for this one), you will need props and a way to shoot the image standing way above the subject and the composition. [The image above is from the Instagram account, sienna.and.i]

Video Lesson:

Please watch the following video, pay close attention to the examples discussed & terminology:

Photography Terminology:

Tripod: A device to hold your camera steady
Composition: the way the elements of a scene are arranged in a photograph
Bird’s Eye Composition: A photograph taken directly above the subject
Wide Angle View: A wider field of view than a normal camera lens

Activity:

Now it’s your turn!

Find a large open area where you can arrange your props. If you can, lay-out a background that helps tell your story. You are not required to be in the image, and you aren’t required to have another person in the image. You can use dolls or toys in your composition.
Take Your Pictures:
- Using a device with a camera (camera, iPhone, smart phone, tablet, iPad) take at least one to five images. You will only need to turn in one image, but if you take multiple images you can select the best one.
- You are not required to be in the image, and you aren’t required to have another person in the image. You can use dolls or toys in your composition.
- You can (CAREFULLY!) stand on a chair or ladder and using a device with a camera (camera, iPhone, smart phone, tablet, iPad) take at least one to five images. You will only turn in one image, but if you take multiple images you can select the best one.
- If you are taking your pictures on a device other than your Chromebook, copy the images to your school Google Drive
Turn-In Your Pictures:
- In Canvas, go to A21: Bird’s Eye Compositions, click the START Assignment button
- Insert the image(s) that you took. In Canvas click the Insert menu > Image > Upload Image, find and select your images (one at a time).
- Continue until you’ve inserted all the images that you want to.
- Click the SUBMIT button when you have completed this assignment

Final Note: This lesson was first posted my first semester teaching media and it so happens that we needed to do this during “remote learning,” so students were expected to come up with their own materials and props and not fall off any tables or chairs in the process. Yeah, the good ol’ days of Fall 2020.

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