Project Introduction
Sometimes the best learning happens when you’re pushing yourself outside the standard assignment box. That’s the spirit behind the Photography Skills Challenge — a flexible, self-directed opportunity to level up your skills and earn extra credit while doing it.
You’ll choose one of the 10 challenges listed on the official DMMD site (Photography Skills Challenge Page) and build a full mini project around it. You’ll shoot creatively, reflect on the process, present your work in a clean format, and demonstrate understanding of camera settings, storytelling, and post-production.
If you’re willing to go above and beyond — this is where you prove it.
❗ Heads Up: Read all of the project requirements, all the way to the end. You must present your work to the class for peer review if you want the extra credit.
Creative Focus
This challenge isn’t about just taking a few pretty pictures. It’s about intentional practice. You’re building a structured collection of images around a theme, sharpening your eye, and showing control over exposure settings (ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed).
You’ll also practice how to:
- Present your work clearly and professionally in both slideshow and portfolio formats
- Frame images around a specific prompt or idea
- Use manual DSLR settings to fit your creative intent
- Write useful, descriptive captions and metadata
- Compare your edited and unedited versions using WordPress tools
Project Requirements
Your submission must be published as a Portfolio Post on your WordPress website. It must include:
Content Guidelines:
- Choose 1 challenge prompt from the Photography Skills Challenge page
- Write a 150–250 word project intro, explaining what challenge you chose, what you were trying to capture, and how you approached it
- Give the project a unique name (don’t just call it “Challenge 3” — be creative)
Photos:
- Submit 2 unique photos for each of the 5 listed subject types (minimum 10 total images)
- No duplicates, slight variations, or re-used angles — each image must be a different subject
- Each image must be:
- Resized to 1920x1080px at 72dpi
- Titled and described (include ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed in the caption)
- Displayed cleanly on your portfolio page
- If any photo was edited, you must include a before-and-after Image Compare Block
Presentation:
- Create a Google Slides Presentation of all your final images
- Embed the presentation at the top of your Portfolio Post
- This slideshow will be used for in-class peer review and discussion
Project Grading Rubric
Explain the grading rubric here (six categories, 100pts).
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress Portfolio Post | Intro, unique title, tags, featured image, clean layout | +5% |
| Image Quality & Originality | 10 different subjects, strong visual quality, not repetitive | +5% |
| Captions & Metadata | Accurate titles, descriptions, and camera settings for each image | +5% |
| Image Compare (if applicable) | Before/after shown using WordPress block correctly | +5% |
| Google Slides Presentation | Embedded and ready for class critique, cleanly formatted | +5% |
| Effort & Execution | Shows extra effort beyond minimum; thoughtful choices and clear intent | +5% |
| Total (possible) | 30% Extra Credit |
OCP & Standard Alignments
01.01 – Demonstrate knowledge of basic computer operations (resizing images, embedding content)
01.04 – Demonstrate knowledge of online research techniques (selecting challenge and applying concepts)
02.01 – Apply knowledge of design elements and principles (framing, balance, color, and tone in photos)
02.04 – Demonstrate knowledge of composition (subject placement, contrast, rule of thirds, etc.)
03.02 – Demonstrate knowledge of digital imaging software (image processing and editing workflow)
03.06 – Demonstrate knowledge of photographic and lighting techniques (manual controls and exposure)
04.03 – Create a digital portfolio to showcase multimedia projects (WordPress layout and Slides embed)
Digital Media & Multimedia Design 