Wk 3: Camera Use // Experimenting with Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

Something I feel like I now use almost every time I now take an image.

Here are my first experiments:

I feel at first I mainly focused on the vertical lines but I am now starting to think about the horizontal lines and the intersecting points as well.  

Here was some useful tutorials I watched: 
http://theartofphotography.tv/episodes/episode-5-rule-of-thirds/

http://theartofphotography.tv/episodes/episode-18-composition/

Wk 6: Artist Study & Self Directed // William Eggleston

I watched this documentary on William Eggleston over the weekend. It had some great information on his practice as a photographer and how he approached his subject matter.

Eggleston focused on 'the everyday' or 'the ugly', photographing his home town. Even though he has mainly stuck to photographing in the same location he tries to only photograph a subject once or twice so he wouldn't get confused about which image to choose. This idea of photographing democratically meant that he photographed what would normally be considered mundane or uninteresting. This resulted in images that had a feeling of emptiness and isolation.  His images were rarely posed as he attempted to capture people in their environment as they are/were. But in this process he clearly looks for color and uses some classical composition techniques including: Rule of Thirds, Contrasting Colors, Fore/mid/background, Vantage Point and Leading Lines.

Afterwards watching the documentary I tried taking some images around my house in a semi similar fashion - so I guess they inspired. These images could use a bit of work and I feel that I probably should have played more with color.

Aperture: 4
Shutter Speed: 1/60
ISO: 1000

Aperture: 5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/50
ISO:1000

Obviously looking at one's messy and grubby home is somewhat unsatisfying but I actually kinda like the quality of both these images. 

Wk 5: Camera Use // Understanding Light & Experimenting with Diffuser

This exercise was relatively simple, of the options from the deflector: White, Silver, Gold or Diffuser I preferred the silver or diffuser effect although I'm imagining on the intended image as to which you would need to use.

For these images I focused on rule of thirds.

Framing a subject with shadow
Framing a subject with shadow. Using the direct light from the window and closing the curtains I achieved this smaller area of light.

Silver Reflector
This image of Donna was created using the silver reflector with the sun behind her - as you can unfortunately see in her glasses! I didn't notice this until the images were uploaded so it is good to know that this can happen and will try to more aware of this in the future.

Diffuser
With the diffuser and Donna facing the sun this has created a softer more even spread of light on her face and hair. I also like the the depth in the background and the result leading lines that have framed Donna nicely.

Gold Reflector
Perhaps my reflector is extra gold or maybe it was the time of day but her face but the result is a very gold light. Perhaps this would be more useful if it was placed further away?

Wk 4: Artist Study // Manray & Eikoh Hosoe

Focus: Texture & Positive/Negative Space

Man Ray
Born in the USA Man Ray (an alias draw from his own name) spent half his life in America and the other half in France. His journey as an artist started as a painter working in cubism and pre-surealism.

This is one of his first images: taken with a long exposure (about 30 minutes) it captures a work his friend and artist Marcel Duchamp had been working on.

Texture: The texture in this image of the dust is very clear from the long exposure. Although it is hard to know what the image is at first glance, it looks a bit like a shot taken from a plane high in the sky of fields and fences but the detail of the dust pieces of the left make it confusing.

Rayograph - created without a camera. This way of working allowed him to simply work with light and create the shapes he wanted using objects.

Negative/Positive Space: This image was created (I believe) by objects being placed directly onto photographic paper and then exposed to light. While the space is probably pretty equal between the black and white, the positive nature of the shapes created in white are made all the more positive considering there is almost no tones between the black and white.




Eikoh Hosoe
Japanese Photographer Hosoe explored his practise of capturing his subject matter thoughtfully and with a fair for images that were somewhat experimental. Not just taking an image of a person, he seems to think more conceptually than that. Using the environment around to help tell the story. His techniques using high contrast, leading lines, experimental vantage points, rule of thirds (many falling perfectly on the intersecting points), high shutter speeds and pattern.

Negative Space: The subject in this image is place of the bottom left hand bottom intersecting line with almost nothing in the rest of the frame making this women the clearly defined focus. Your eye is immediately drawn to her and the light in the image is constructed so that there is a circle centering on the woman which almost excludes the only other element in the frame.

Negative Space & Texture: This image brings together texture with the leaves of the bush and negative space again the use of the leaves filling up the negative space in the frame.

Wk 6: Self Directed // Event Photography

Last weekend I headed to Palmerton North for a family get together. During the soiree I was asked to take some pics of the event. While this initially felt a bit strange to do at a family event, as I didn't want people to feel like they were being constantly snapped I tried to subtly take candid shots that would would also allow me to practise being somewhat invisible as a photographer. I'm not sure if this is a useful tactic but I would prefer to take images where people aren't to self conscious to too camera aware. The environment was pretty dark with low ambient lighting. I went for the lowest shutter speed I could and a wide aperture, unfortunately I also had to push the ISO right out and this did create a lot of noise on the images. However, I worked with them in Camera Raw to correct the exposure and try and reduce noise.

Here are few of the images after working with them in Camera Raw:

Wk 5: Self Directed // Light & Composition Experimentation

During Self-Directed on Friday I went searching for subjects focusing on composition, color and light. Since we have started to look into light I have definitely started to look at things differently and have been able to find more 'interesting' aka subjects that I get excited about shooting.  

Shot Details: 

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/1600

ISO: 160

Thoughts: Two buildings that I had never looked at closely became interesting as the roof of the brick building framed the concrete building on the right. This could be more interesting if I hadn't centered the image so much but in the same vain I like that the sky is centre.

Compositional Techniques Incorporated:  Leading Lines, Pattern and negative space.

Shot Details:
Aperture: f/3.5
Shutter Speed: 1/1600
ISO: 160
Thoughts: The red, white and black in this image along with the blue of the flag and sky makes for a crisp and striking image. The high shutter speed has stopped the flag but the way it which it still has movement due to the wind gives it momentum and emotion.
Compositional Techniques Incorporated:  Rule of Thirds, Shutter

Shot Details:
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125
ISO: 800
Thoughts: Fave image so far. The color and subject matter are engaging. The light from the sign stands out in front of the sunset and the silhouettes from the chimney and aerial have a nostalgic quality.
Compositional Techniques Incorporated:  Rule of Thirds, negative space

Shot Details:
Aperture: f/22
Shutter Speed: 1/80
ISO: 100
Thoughts: I attempted to get a relatively clear landscape and while I don't think this is perfect it was cool to have a play around in such a picturesque setting. While I also tried to include for/mid/background in this image, the dominating factor would be the use of rule of thirds which I seem to favor....
Compositional Techniques Incorporated:  Rule of Thirds (Placing the ground level on the bottom horizontal line and the top of the mountain on the top horizontal line) and the Power Line Structure on the left hand Vertical Line. 

Shot Details:
Aperture: f/8.0
Shutter Speed: 1/1000
ISO: 160
Thoughts: My Guy Bourdin inspired Still Life using direct light to frame the subject - incorporating contrasting colors Red and Green. This style of lighting would definitely be something I would use again and try to use in a portrait.  
Composition Techniques Incorporated: Contrasting Colors, Framing with Shadow & Negative Space

Wk 6: Digital Technology // Photomerge

Photomerge!

Using Bridge > Photoshop I merged 3 photos taken class together. This technique would be useful for shooting images that needed to be enlarged or that were difficult to get in one shot - as well as images like the one above where the subject/s are repeated over multiple exposures.

Wk 5: Camera Use // Contrasting Colours

Looking into the specifics of contrasting color has definitely opened my eyes to choosing colors in a more calculated way rather than just hoping things go together. While we had limited options for finding these colors in Lovegrove Crescent we found them eventually!

Red and Green

Yellow and Violet

Orange and Blue

And an extra pic of Bruce in his blue jacket next to the yellow wall just because!

Wk 6: Camera Use // Understanding Speedlite

A speedlite is a great tool for bringing additional light into an image. While the use of a speedlite can be temperamental and look harsh when used directly on a subject when manipulated by pointing the light either at a wall or a ceiling it can create a softer and more flattering look. Using a flash outside starts to eliminate defined shadows and seems to make for a rather dynamic image.

Using the flash outside in direct light.
Shot Details
Aperture: f/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/250
ISO: 100
Thoughts: The additional warmth and softness the flash added makes the possibility of shooting in the middle of the day far more possible and interesting.

Over Exposed background. Created by first exposing for the correct balance and then taking down the shutter speed or making the aperture wider. This image could definitely be brighter on the subject but as you can see the background is definitely over exposed. Some work in Camera Raw could solve this issuse.
Shot Details:
Aperture: f/ 5.0
Shutter Speed: 1/60
ISO: 100

Under exposed background. First work to gain the correct exposure and then work 2 stops down from that by increasing your shutter speed or making your aperture smaller.

Shot Details:
Aperture: f/18
Shutter Speed: 1/100
ISO:  200

Flash and Blur. Making sure your flash is set to 2nd Curtain on your Camera you can use the flash to blur motion. Ideally you want your subject moving prior to opening your shutter.

Shot Details:
Aperture: f/ 6.3
Shutter Speed:1
ISO: 100

Diffused Flash pointed directly at subject. This definitely has a softness that is appealing as it doesn't seem to distort too much and is definitely flattering on the subject.

Shot Details
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/250
ISO:100

Wk 5: Digital Tech // Photoshop - Cutting Out!

Here are my first attempts at using the Marque and Lasso Tools in Photoshop. I'm definitely still getting my head around the logic of photoshop as I don't find it naturally intuitive but getting better each time - well hopefully! 





1st Attempt: Bad Cut Out! Using Magnetic Lasso Tool I attempted this cut out and changed the background from blue to green. I had difficulty with the hair and edges of the coat.

2nd Attempt: Getting better - used quick mask and paint brush this time. Although can still see the original blue around the edges and the side of the subjects face is still jaggered.The areas where I used paint brush are also smoother than the rest which isn't so great. Still getting my head around doing cut outs - have since done a couple at home and while they weren't perfect I was starting to get the hang of them slightly more.

Brightening the background: Changed it to a violet - much easier as the subject was far cleaner. Used the quick selection tool for this.

Adding in eyes: Lucky for me my subject didn't change anything other than opening and closing her eyes which made the job easier. Potentially her eyes maybe slightly smaller than they should be.

Brightening the sky: AFTER / This was relatively easy in that it was a straight line. Although the tiny bumps in the guttering were harder to change than I would have thought. I think the sky it too bright now and the details of the cloud are somewhat over blown but the exercise was useful all the same.

Brightening the sky:  BEFORE

Wk 3: Artist Study // Imogen Cunningham & Diane Arbus

Focus: fore, mid and background, vantage point

Imogen Cunningham 

Living till she was 93 years of age and starting her career as a photographer early, Imogen amassed a huge variety of styles. Famous for her botanical studies and nudes she also managed to work in the areas of portraiture, street photography and industrial still life. With her work spanning from pictorial style portraits to incredibly detailed images of lily's Imogen kept herself immersed in her work and keep having fun. What interests me most with her work is her almost constant use of triangles (45 degree angles) through out her work be it still life or with the human form - to the point where it looks like it has been purposefully manipulated to do so. 

Diane Arbus

The camera gave New Yorker Diane licence to talk to strangers and document society. An attempt to get into someone else's skin - an impossible task. She tried to be specific rather than general. Photographing the fringes of society 'freaks', 'homosexuals' and 'lesbians' for example. She asked all her subjects to pose and look directly into the camera in an effort to create still and ended up created images that draw in an audience. These subjects hadn't really been exploited before, she would go on adventures photographing seemingly dangerous people,  people who would be looked away from at  in the street. In terms of composition - although she was highly aware of the traditional techniques but is far more interested in her subject (or trophy). 

Composition: The subject has been placed in the middle of the frame in a chair in front of a fireplace. She has cut off the top of the fireplace and has only shown a hint of the chair at the edge of the frame. The subject is clearly defined and the positioning makes the image somewhat symmetrical by placing her right arm on the edge of the chair and having the legs pointed in the other direction. The vantage point in the image is at the same eye-line as the subject.

Composition: In this image Arbus has employed the rule of thirds, placing the subject on the left hand line with her head and foot place on the floor just popping out from above and below the horizontal lines. The bench has the affect of a leading line and her vantage point is definitely higher than the subject but only slightly.