SUMMER 2022: 42: ASSIGNMENT FORTY TWO: "BRAIN FOOD"

DUE JUNE 6, 2023

“BRAIN FOOD”

Can food make us smarter? Is there really such thing as “Brain Food”?

Maybe there is… and you have been asked to shoot brain food for a national magazine editorial story. Brain food?

Bananas…

Yep. Bananas are the new brain food according to some quack…errr… new age scientist (who also owns 2.5 million shares of Chiquita… who knew?).

The story is being written from a sort of tongue in cheek approach, so some humor can be very good for the shot. The magazine wants a full-page vertical, in color, with bananas in the shot. They would prefer to have it have a person in it, and no monkeys – but if a person is not available, they are good with a conceptual shot of the bananas.

If you actually shoot a brain, it is imperative that you get a release from the brain. Or the brain’s legitimate guardian.

So that is the assignment… ‘Brain Food’.

Bananas.

The client is wanting a verticle image for a single page lead in.
However, I want to see what you can do with a double page image as well.

9×12 ratio for verticle.
12×18 ratio for double-truck.

Make this shot something FOR your portfolio. Creating a boring ass banana shot on some seamless is probably NOT gonna win this client over… it has to say brains, smart, cool, banana-hot coolness.

How will YOU tie being smart with bananas?

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS TO CREATE A GREAT BRIEF, THEN EXECUTE IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES.

THIS IS A CONCEPT SHOT

You are the art director, and YOU are the one in control of what this image looks like.

The magazine has left it in your capable hands, and they want to be knocked out by your image.

I like small journals for this sort of thing.

THE HEADLINE WILL NOT SAVE YOU.

If you are thinking you can just shoot a bunch of bananas and put a line of type saying “bananas are brainfood” think again.

The image must say the brainfood line without saying anything with text.

The usage will be in magazines (full and quarter page ads) and as verticle ads on website sidebars. The text will be minimal, but supportive.

This is ALL YOU!

Sketch / Notebooks

I am a big believer in sketching out image ideas. And you don’t have to be an artist to do so. Remember, these notes are for your eyes an brain to scan and understand, not for hanging on gallery walls.

From concept preparation to lists of props needed to lighting ideas and more – there is nothing better than a small notebook or three.

There will be a workbook furnished to you for the class and it will have a section for each assignment. However, you may also want something smaller to do extensive notes on as well/

I recommend the small type that can easily be carried in a pocket. I have one in my auto, on the bike and always one in the camera bag. I have a larger one for daily notes and such in my notebook bag.