Shutter Speed

At the beginning while the sun is still partially up and the courtyard has reasonable light
a.) the dunking booth
Slow Shutter
b.) the food eating contest
Fast Shutter
c.) the rock climbing wall
Slow shutter
d.) someone working at a booth
Slow Shutter
e.) the DJ/MC working at the middle of the circle
Fast Shutter
f.) the Diamonds performance.
Fast Shutter

Towards the end when there is no sun and has gotten dark enough that you can't see from one end of the courtyard to the other.
a.) the dunking booth
Fast Shutter
b.) the food eating contest
Fast Shutter
c.) the rock climbing wall
Slow shutter
d.) someone working at a booth
Slow shutter
e.) the DJ/MC working at the middle of the circle
Fast Shutter
f.) the Diamonds performance.
Fast shutter

2. List the three settings your camera has regarding setting shutter speed (these are found at #5 on the Shutter Speed website. Explain how each works - DO NOT COPY AND PASTE, use your own words.
"Auto Mode" - Shutter speed and aperture are automatically chosen by the camera.
"Aperture Priority mode" - you set the lens aperture and the shutter speed is automatically set by the camera.
"Manual Mode" - you set both the aperture and shutter speed manually.
"Shutter Priority mode" - you set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture.

3.) 3. 4 , 5.6 , 8 , 11 , 16 , 22.

Aperture

F16

F2.8

 

1. What part of the body should we closely relate aperture?
We would relate the eye to the aperture.
2. Finish this sentence - the smaller the Aperture The lighter it is, the higher the Aperture The darker the photo is.
3. In your own words tell me how aperture impacts Depth of Field?
A smaller aperture will bring all foreground objects in focus and a larger aperture will make the background blurry

Africa Powerpoint

1. On your blog post your reactions to the power point

This powerpoint was really interesting and I was able to see all of the animals that live in the Africa wild. This powerpoint almost made me feel as if i was in Africa with the animals. The pictures were really detailed and showed the animals in their natural habitat. 

2. What was your favorite photo? Describe it and tell me why its your favorite

My favorite photo was the one where the elephants are forming a line and there is a blank background. This photo is very dynamic because it seems as if the elephants are coming towards you and are going to come out of the picture. I love the fact that it is in black and white because it makes the photo seem more dynamic. Overall this photo is really cool and made me want to go and visit africa. 

3. Look up the photographer –

a.     What kind of camera did he use?

He used a Pentax 6711 camera with only two fixed lenses. 

b.     What is his reason for taking the photos?

He takes these photos because it is his goal to record the life of  these animals as a testament to these wild animals and places before they are all gone. He wants to almost create an elegy for these animals.

c.     What is his hope by taking these types of photos?

His hope is to capture these animals in their state of being and for people to see them in their natural way of existence, before they are all extinct. 

d.     Find something he has to say about Africa and post the quote on your blog

     Brandt states,"The photos are my elegy to these beautiful creatures, to this wrenchingly beautiful world that is steadily, tragically vanishing before our eyes."

4. Find one of his photos that you really like and post it on your blog.

Academic Shoot Reflection

1. What challenges did you encounter while trying to get the photos following the rules I set out for you?  I found it hard to focus on the rules whenever i went out to the classrooms to take photos. When you get in the classrooms, they are crowded and it's hard to find good examples of each of the rules. I also didn't want to stay in the classrooms that long, because i felt that i would bother the class. Also, when you get into the class some kids move around and are joking, which makes it hard to get a good photo.

2. What technical aspects of photography or the assignment in general (focus, framing, holding the camera, etc.) did you find yourself thinking about the most? Provide a specific example of what you did to do this correctly.I constantly found myself focusing in on the subjects i wanted to capture. I found myself always taking a photo that was first zoomed all the way out and then i would take another that would be zoomed all the way in. I also made sure that i framed the photo well and didn't have any extra people in the backgrounds.

3. If you could do the assignment again, what would you do differently now that you know some basic rules of photography?If i could re-do the assignment, i would focus more on getting plenty examples of each of the rules of photography. I would also try to make sure that i didn't have any mergers or busy backgrounds that would distract my subject.

4. What things would you do the same?I would continue using creative angles and finding interesting and unique subjects to capture. I would try to stay away from the obvious examples and be creative with the prompts.

5. When you go out with your next set of prompts, which rule do you think will be the easiest to achieve?I think that when i go out to take more photos, capturing a balanced photo will be very easy. I will just make sure that the subjects in the frame are not crowded and make the photo feel balanced. I also think that avoiding mergers is easy, as long as you keep the background empty.

6. Which rule do you think will be the hardest to capture?I think that trying to capture the rule of thrids will be the hardest. I'm still not completely sure what a good example of this rule is, so when going out to shot i might still be a little confused. I also think that capturing a good framing example will also be hard.

7. What rule are you still not totally clear on and what can you do to figure out what that rule is?
I'm still not clear on the rule of thirds and i could probably just google photos that are good examples of this rule. I could also go back to the original website and re-read the explanation that it gives.

Academic Photo Shoot Photos

Lines:

How well did you follow the rule?
I think i followed the lines rule pretty good because i focused mostly on the line of desks that create a slanted line, which leads back to the 2 students in the back room.

What is the subject (be very very specific)?
The subject is the two students working in the very back of the room.

Is it clear to people looking at your photos what the subject is?
Although this is not the best photo, i think those that look at this photo will understand that the focus is mainly the students in the back of the room.

If you didn't follow the rule well, what could you have done differently?
I think i could've taken a clearer photo and included both rows of the desks, that way there would have been 2 lines leading back to the subjects in the back.

Simplicity:

How well did you follow the rule?
I think this is the perfect photo for simplicity because there is a blank background which doesn't distract viewers away from the focus.

What is the subject (be very very specific)?
The subject is clearly the toy lizard, which i found in a biology classroom.

Is it clear to people looking at your photos what the subject is?
Yes, i think that it's clear what the subject is because there is nothing else in the photo.

If you didn't follow the rule well, what could you have done differently?
Overall, i think that i followed the rule well, but i think i could have gotten rid of the sink in the background which kind of causes a distraction.
Rule of Thirds:

How well did you follow the rule?
I don't think i followed the rule very well, it's unclear what the subject is and the photo is also blurry and out of focus. I found it difficult to find a good example of the rule of thirds, because people in the classrooms were constatnly moving around. I think that if you divide this photo into thirds, you will have a balanced photo with subject in each portion.

What is the subject (be very very specific)?
Now that i look at the photo, i'm not too sure what the subject is. I tried to focus mainly on the student working on her project in the very front left corner.

Is it clear to people looking at your photos what the subject is?
No, i don't believe that it's clear what the subject is. If i had zoomed in or focused on a specific group or person, then i think this photo would have turned out better.

If you didn't follow the rule well, what could you have done differently?
If i could change this photo i would just focus on a different part of the class and not try to include so many people in the photo, because this distracts the viewer.
Balance:

How well did you follow the rule?
I think this is a perfect example of balance. The three girls form together to make a triangle and make the photo feel more balanced.

What is the subject (be very very specific)?
The subject is actually the three girls working on their science project.

Is it clear to people looking at your photos what the subject is?
I think that it's clear what the subject is, because the girls are at the very front of the photo and there is not that many distractions in the background.

If you didn't follow the rule well, what could you have done differently?
I probably could have made sure that there was no one else in the background of the photo, that way the viewer could focus on the 3 main subjects.
Framing :

How well did you follow the rule?
I had a difficult time trying to follow the rule of framing. I don't think this photo is the best example, but it was the only picture i had that i think somewhat follows this rule.

What is the subject (be very very specific)?
I tried to focus mainly on the girl in the middle, and she is intended to be the main subject of the photo.

Is it clear to people looking at your photos what the subject is?
I think that when viewers look at this photo, they will think that the 3 girls are supposed to be the subject. However, i wanted the subject to only be the girl in the middle.

If you didn't follow the rule well, what could you have done differently?
I would have told the girls on the side to stand further away from the girl in the middle, that way they could almost be creating a line going towards the subject (girl in middle). I also probably would have zoomed out that way the subject would be more clear.
Avoiding Mergers:

How well did you follow the rule?

I think i followed the rule very well. The girl at the right end only has half of her head showing in the photo. So i think i created a perfect merger for this photo.

What is the subject (be very very specific)?

The subject is intended to be the group of girls that were working together on their class assignment. I tried to make it obvious that the girl at the end is the merger./

Is it clear to people looking at your photos what the subject is?

I think that it is very clear what the subject of the phot is because i made sure that there was a clear background. The subjects of the photo also fill the frame.

If you didn't follow the rule well, what could you have done differently?

I actually think i followed the rule to the best of my abilities, and i wouldn't really change anything.

Academics Shoot Preview

The Story

I believe that this photo tells a story about the students that are in this picture. It visually tells the story because its almost like a freeze frame/ snapshot and the students are in action. I believe that the story is how a group of high school kids have volunteered to work at a homeless shelter to serve and provide food for the homeless. These kids are very excited for this opportunity and are glad to be helping out.

Action and Emotion:
I believe that this photo shows the best action and emotion out of all the winners. The motion in the picture shows the students performing a science experiment and the bubbles have just flown into the air. The emotion on their faces look like they are shocked that the experiment worked and they also look very excited.

Filling the Frame:
This photo is a perfect example of the frame being filled. The frame is filled by the multiple students in the picture. All of the students are in a circle and standing around a table. There are so many different places to look throughout the photo, thus causing it to look filled.

Post Shoot Reflection

1. Some challenges that I faced while trying to shoot my first three prompts, were that I wasn't able to find some examples of grumpy. Most of my subjects were not good examples, and didn't really portray grumpy. I also wasn't creative enough with my angles. Overall i think, if next time I use all my creativity I will end up with some good photos.
2. I found myself usually always holding the camera properly and having the camera around my neck. I also was constantly thinking about not to shoot photos at a diagonal angle, and instead use high or low angles to get a good photo. In all my photos, I had all of my photos focused correctly. 
3. I think that if I could do this assignment over, I would use a lot more angles in order to get a unique photo. Next time I will try to get on the floor or shoot some really high angles. I will also try not to have people that are cut off in my photos, because i found that in most of my original pictures, most subjects were cut in half in the corners. I will now know how to avoid mergers and how to use lines to direct the viewer's attention. 
4. Next time, I will still take multiple photos, that way when I get back to choose my favorite I will have multiple options. I will also continue to take a close up and then a far shot of my subject/model. Another thing that I would do the same, is being creative and not so obvious about my shooting photos that represent my prompts. 

6.) I'm interested in shooting these prompts again because after looking at others photos i've gotten some new ideas on how to create an interesting photo. I would want a chance to be more creative with the prompts. 
    

Avoiding Mergers

 

 This photo is a good example of avoiding mergers. Usually in group photos the photographer tends to cut off people from the ends of the photo. Thus, leaving an effect that the person is cut in half. Instead, this photo leaves enough space at the ends of the frame to include all the firefighters. Nobody is cut off and this creates the feeling of balance. The photo tells more of a story because everyone is in the picture. 

Framing

 

In this photo, the buildings in the foreground give the picture more depth and allows the viewer's eyes to be directed toward the center, which is the burning of the twin towers. Since this photo has framing, it automatically makes it feel more personal and tells a story, rather than just taking a snapshot of the burning building alone. 

Balance

 

 In this photo, the three men seem to be creating a triangle. The triangle allows for the photo to seem more balanced, instead of having the men spread out creating the feeling of imbalance. 

Lines

 

 In this photo, the two lines that emerge from the sky lead the viewer's eye directly down towards the twin towers. This technique is effectively used because the lines direct the viewer to the focal point. This photo also seems much more dynamic and supernatural because of the presence of the lines.

The Rule of Thrids

In this photo, the buildings are evenly lined up and if you were to put a grid on top of the photo, the photo would look evenly dispersed and balanced. The technique allows for the picture to show more of the landscape and not just show the twin towers in the middle of the photo. Instead, the twin towers are more towards the right of the photo.

Simplicity

 

I believe this is the best example of simplicity because the photo has a very plain background, which allows the viewer not to be distracted away from the focal point, which is the tower being burned down. The focal point is also in the center which helps the viewer know where to look.

Metal

In this photo the technique of lines applies, because the rows of bike holders creates a line leading to the bike in the front of the photo. However, i don't think i achieved any of the other rules of composition in this photo.

Red and Grumpy

Red: In this photo, I don't think i achieved any of the rules of composition. There are lines on the building however these lines don't direct the viewer's attention anywhere. 
 

Grumpy: I think that in this photo, the technique of lines applies because the vertical post behind my subject leads the viewers eyes toward him. However, there is an awkward merger that cuts off the pole, and i could have avoided this by positioning the camera better. He is also in the center which might apply to the rule of thirds, allowing the picture to feel balanced.

Great black and white photographers, PART 2

William Klein Biograhpy:

• Born in New York City in 1928
• He was born into a family with poor jewish immigrants
• At a young age he experience the views of anti-semitism because he grew up in mostly an irish neighborhood, and he was jewish.
• He enrolled at the city College of New York to study sociology.
• He even was in the US army as a radio operator.
• Klein spent multiple years in both Paris and Milan, gathering influences from the culture for photographs.
• Since he was originally a painter, most of his photographs are either blurred or out of focus.
• He published "Rome" in 1960, "Moscow" in 1964, and "Tokyo" in 1964 these all being photobooks.
• An interesting thing I found about Klein is that he used to be a fashion photographer for Vogue and would usually photograph his models outside or on the streets.
• Klein isn't the traditional photographer and instead challenges society with his photos. Most of his photos concern dark humor, social criticism, and satire.

Bastrop Fire: Warm Up

 These were just a few of the pictures that impacted me the most when viewing pictures from the Bastrop wildfires. These pictures show houses in the midst of burning down. I can only imagine how tdevasted the homeowners were to see that all of their belongings are suddenly gone and they have no place to go. This wildfire continues to take the lives of many, and I can only hope everything gets better.

The Camera

"The Camera"

1. The camera obscura effect is achieved by a hole acting like a lens, it then focuses and projects light on the wall of the dark room. 
2. During the 17th century Issac Newton and Christian Hugyens perfected the understanding of optics and process of making high quality glass lenses. 
3. The first modern camera included film, a glass lens, and a dark box.
4. Modern digital cameras still work the same way as the original camera, because light passes through the lens and exposes the film.
5. Digital cameras use an electronic censor called a CCD to capture images.
6. The difference between auto mode and program mode is that auto mode will completely control flash and exposure. While program mode simply allows you to point and shoot, still allowing you to adjust the flash and exposure. 
7. Portrait mode is used when you want to attempt to blur out the background. The camera will use the fastest available lens setting.
8. The sports mode is used for freezing motion, and the camera will use the fastest shutter speed available.
9. You should do a half press because it has a faster response time and more control over focus, it also has better composition.
10. This symbol means disabled flash. This means when you want no flash because you may just want natural lighting.
11. This symbol is auto flash and you would use this when you want a default setting. The camera will automatically adjust the lighting if it think it needs it. 
12. If your photo has too much light then the picture will be washed out. 
13. If your photo does not have enough light then the picture will be too dark. 
14. A stop is a relative measurement of light.
15. It would be 1 one stop brighter if there were two sons.
16. It would be 4 stops brighter if there were 4 sons.
17. A longer shutter speed means you will have more light
18. A shorter shutter speed means you will have less light
19. The aperture controls the amount of light that gets into the camera.
20. By having larger openings you can increase the amount of light that goes in.

Canon Rebel T3: 

Masters of Black and White Photography

Photographer: Harry Callahan

Title: Eleanor and Barbara
Why I like this: The dramatic lighting makes this photo seem really eerie and makes you wonder what is hidden in the darkness.










Photographer: William Klein

Title: Candy Store, Amsterdam Avenue
Why I like this Photo: This photo looks really cool because of the checkerboard background and the blurred effect in the background. This background makes the little boy stand out more. 









Photographer: Lothar Wolleh

Title: Nuns at St. Peter Square
Why I like this photo: I think that this photo has great lighting and the sunset really adds to the beauty of the photo. Overall i think that the dramatic lighting causes a mysterious effect.