Adventure Awaits--Student Verison

[mrod]

A few days ago I posted an example of a project (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showpost.php?p=109325&postcount=1) for my middle school students. Several of you (OK, a few of you) asked to see what they came up with, so...here's 12 of them. The other half are still in production. I'll post them sometime next week.

I left them as is, mistakes and all. Some are a bit obtuse, as well. I wasn't exactly sure what they were after. At any rate...

Enjoy. And, if any of you are looking for something to do, and felt like doing comments ala Wendy for Grant's Challenges (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showpost.php?p=109601&postcount=21), that would be cool! We all know how good we feel when others say nice things about our stuff. I try to do that for them as well, but let's face it: I'm their teacher..what do I know? Plus, along with the positive, I also need to point out ways to improve, which tends to throw a little cold water on their parade. I just thought it might be nice for them to get comments from a neutral party.

Don't feel obligated, though. I know you're all busy, busy, busy.

Their Work (http://schools.mukilteo.wednet.edu/staff/rodriguezme/stu_images/index.htm)

Thanks!

Mike

[kroberts]

It's amazing what today's young students can do with technology!

The ads definitely caught my attention and made me want to call or go to the internet sites listed to get more info...

Thanks for sharing! :)

[kevq]

Mike,
you must be pleased with work as good as this.
Just one thing the jouting one comes up twice, if you click the safari one you get jousting.
Kev.:)

[mrod]

Opps. Thanks, Kev. I'll fix it...

[WingAnimal]

Mike - How cool is this?!?!?! I love these! I think your students have done a great job overall. I am very impressed with what they have learned. If I may, I'd like to offer some realistic comments - both positive and constructive (you can take out anything you want):

Amanda: Great choice of picture - makes me want to visit. Nice job with the edging and the shadow. A slightly darker blue would have been nice (pulling from the left side of the sky rather than the right side) - but that is just personal preference and getting picky.
Beatrice: Very cool picture! Nice choice of fonts and color combinations! I'm not sure exactly what the add is for, but I feel the wild calling for me. Spell check is our friend. No affects on the edge of the pic?
Brandon: Probably my favorite one as far as using all the techniques and blending styles together. The picture fits with the Ad. The font fits with the theme. The design is well done. Great job!!
Demi: It's a nice start. Good job with the edge. The overall ad needed to be wider so you could add more text/info.
Olga: Awesome! I have 3 cats myself, and you actually made me want to get another one - unheard of!!! Okay, this is just my own two cents worth - I would have called it "Pet Purrrri" (with no "O" and more "R"s) - but that's just me. The work you did on this is fantastic! Tied with Brandon?
Dennis: Great job! Nice affect using stars on black for the left side. Overall you did a superb job. Two minor things I would change - the first text block could stretch more to the right; the third text block needs to stay to the left.
Ian: Nice job overall. Great edge affect. Spell check is our friend.
Jesse: Who doesn't like a ferrari?!?!?! Great job on your edge affect! It might be nice, for contrast, if your left side was a different color - perhaps the same color red as the car?
John: Very nice job!! Great choice of fonts, colors, blending. Your edge is nicely done. Your headline text could stretch a little more into the picture -- if you are going to overlap, overlap it more so it looks bold. Very impressive!
Kevin: Looks like fun! Nice job on your edge. The date of the event is a little small (but I'm not as young any more). Also, I would have perhaps chosen a color that was in the picture (the green or blue of the banner) for the text so that there is a connection.
Kurtis: I have a new camera that I'm ready to take on the Safari!!! Great job overall. Nice use of colors in the title to draw me in without overstating on everything else.
Lewis: You got my attention! Nice job with your edge. Interesting use of some text affects to draw out certain lines. Good job with a colorful subject!

[Wendy]

Amanda ... I do like the way you have set off the dark image by the bright lettering ... that works really well. Almost had me calling the travel agent !!

Beatrice ... Nice use of a dreamy photo effect and using the same font with different shades of green is a great idea. Nice work

Brandon ... Oh that is fun, really made me laugh and you have a Mac in the image too ... cool !!! Well done with matching the text to the theme.

Demi ... I especially like the way you have followed the angle with the torn edge ... that is a nice touch and I like the soft edge it goes well with the image.

Olga ... What a cute photo and good touch matching the text colour to the cats nose :). Perfect place to have the torn edge it really adds to the effect. (Oh dear I nearly said purrfect!!)

Dennis ... Good strong image, it grabs your attention. I like the use of the lens flare .. and the two tone text, especially the distorted text. Thats is nice.

Ian ... Now that is almost hypnotic. The torn edge in the centre of the face is well placed ... its actually hard to look away from it. Nice work!!

Jesse ... Well that is a great car !! I really do like the way you have done the offset text with Big, Sale etc thats a clever touch. Nice work on the distorted text too.

John ... Makes me want to climb the rusty lighthouse !! ... Good work with the colour change on the left hand side that lifts the image and adds life to it. The text amused me too !!

Kevin ... The positioning of the tear just to the left of the banner is good it draws the eye down to that corner. The strong red text then pushes your eyes up to the top .. its a good balance of colour and movement.

Kurtis ... Great colour choice for your text the warm colours conjure up the image of a Safari. Good use of text and colours on the image.

Lewis ... Wow that really is colourful ... and just right for the rainbow theme. Does the red on a rainbow really taste like strawberries is just great, I wont forget that one, nice work on the rainbow and the reflection too.

Wendy

[kayser]

Mike-

Thanks for sharing with us!

Very creative work and good and different ideas for this project; they were all fun to see!

My one recommendation for almost all of them is that I wouldn't buy anything from someone who can't spell or doesn't take the time to check their work. I would move to the next ad that had a more professional presentation. I won't include that in my individual comments below, but it's really a point worth making. (And I hope I've spelled everything correctly here!)

Amanda- Nice, creative choice for font. The picture is nice but a little dark, so it wasn't as inviting for a travel ad. Nice work on the edging!

Beatrice- Good edging on the photo and merging with the writing. Some of the text doesn't make sense so I had to reread to make sense of it. Liked the colors chosen for the text. Nice touch with the signature in the corner.

Brandon- very well-presented and eye-catching. Good choice of font and very easy to read.

Demi- Seemed unfinished, but a good start. With a name like Sunset Flights would have expected a more colorful font, maybe a mix of oranges for the font color?

Olga- Perfect (purrfect?) picture, draws the customer's attention. Good use of a complementary blue for the text pane.

Dennis- Captured the space theme very well and did a good job of carrying that throughout the project.

Ian- Umm, I don't know what to say??

Jesse- Liked the warped/curved font but at least for the font "buy a Ferrari," it was hard to read. Would have liked to see more color overall.

John- Good overall. The rusty color for "The Rusty Lighthouse" was a good idea but a little hard to read so maybe a different font would have been better or avoid the layer style used there?

Kevin-Well done but could have been better with a font color picked up from the picture itself. The date should be larger. And what's sparing??

Kurtis- Well put together and easy to read. One I looked at several times. I think it could have been even better with something going on in the text part- maybe some textured background or a more creative font?

Lewis- Good use of color and using the rainbow colors from the picture in the text part.

[NMarti]

Mike
I can't really add much to what everyone else has said but wanted to say they all did a really wonderful job! I would echo the spelling issue, but then I can't tell you how many times I forget to proof my work - remember the birth announcement for my nieces' baby that had the wrong year?:eek:

You should be proud - they are on a great path and do seem to have learned well.

Great job kids!

[mrod]

Kay writes:

My one recommendation for almost all of them is that I wouldn't buy anything from someone who can't spell or doesn't take the time to check their work. I would move to the next ad that had a more professional presentation. I won't include that in my individual comments below, but it's really a point worth making.

I'm SOOOO glad several of you have made this point! If I had the proverbial nickle for every time I and the other fine teachers in our building try to hammer this one home...

I think it's good for them to hear it from someone who is (a) not their parent, and (b) not their teacher.

They need to make the jump from "There, I'm done," to "There, I think I'm done, but I'd better have another pair of eyes look it over and give me some feedback."

But hey, that takes some effort...:eek:

Mike

[kayser]

oh, I guess that should have been check HIS work. see...I knew I would do something wrong there! :o

My one recommendation for almost all of them is that I wouldn't buy anything from someone who can't spell or doesn't take the time to check their work. I would move to the next ad that had a more professional presentation. I won't include that in my individual comments below, but it's really a point worth making.

[CarolLHB]

I do have two things to say to the kids-

1. Fantastic job-you guys are very creative.
2. Be nice to your teacher, he is awesome!!!! You are so lucky to have him!

:)

[Pauline]

Mike they are all great, and my compliments go to YOU their teacher as you are obviously doing a fantastic job and I know that is a comment you probably hear rarely! :D

[WayneS]

I think the kids did a great job. I agree they must improve their spelling! But here's one for the kids side, Mike should check his spelling as well. Your title should be "Student Version", not "Student Verison".

Wayne

[mrod]

Your title should be "Student Version", not "Student Verison".

Hey, thanks, Wayne! Quick fingers, bad eyes...unfortunately, I can't edit the title...

I must say, I certainly never thought this thread would turn into a lesson in mechanics.

I try to be as accurate as possible, as I've found many middle-school kids have a hard time distinguishing the difference between a typo and not knowing how to spell a word. I occasionally make a typo in the various written directions I give them, and rarely is their comment "Mr. R, you made a typo, mistake, etc." It's "Mr. R, you don't know how to spell [insert simple word here]." So, it's just easier to be right. Most of the time. You know...

And congrats! A lot of people before you missed it! ;)

Mike

[Shari]

First - I just have to say I agree about the spelling. I have often sent advertising back stating that if they do not have the time to proof read their ad there is no way I would trust them with any business dealings.

Next I have to say that these kids have done fantastic work. How old are they? I just can't imagine being lucky enough to learn Photoshop in SCHOOL! I do envy them. And to have a teacher that cares so much. Our future artists at work!
Shari

[kayser]

Oh, the irony... but really, posting to an informal forum is different than turning in homework or ad copy, so I think you get a pass here...

[mrod]

Kay-

Whew! :) I'd hate to imagine what we'd fined if we started going through everyone's posts with a fine-toothed, grammatical comb...

Shari-

They are middle schoolers: 11-14 (the kids who did these were 13-14, 8th graders. And yes, when they make the effort, the do some pretty cool stuff. Some are VERY artistic, and a couple are well on their way to being fine photographers, too. I don't teach photography in my class, but some of the images they take and bring in to play with are really, really good.

Mike