Reading and Class Discussion

Wednesday 9/10

Read Chapters 1, 2 and 3 in the textbook, Light and Lens.

Prepare discussion points for the following:

Chapter 1: From the history of photography described by the author, please choose a historic "movement" or approach to the medium that personally resonates with you. Be able to explain how this is pertinent to you as a photographer. Where might you go with this inspiration?

Chapter 1: Read pages 18-30. Pick at least 2 question/answer combinations that you resonate with the most (in a positive way). Then pick 1-2 that you agree less with. Be prepared to discuss your reasoning in class.

Chapter 3: Generate 1-2 points about camera technology from the reading that you found intriguing, or have a question about. Be prepared to discuss.

Making color the subject

Field trip exercise:

Create a set of images, where you are exclusively looking for color. Let color itself be the subject. At first, keep it simple, limiting yourself to one color. Relax and simply respond to the perceptions that grab your attention. Get close and use your frame to isolate the color. Do all "cropping" in camera at the time of shooting. Eliminate all distracting elements that detract from the main subject of color.

Avoid flowers, for now!

Depth of Field

Field trip / homework exercise:

Deep depth of field. Achieve with small aperture and/or wider angle lens.

Shallow depth of field. Achieve with wide aperture and/or longer (telephoto) lens.

In class:

Explore depth-of-field using Aperture Priority Mode. 

Nikon: use "A" mode

Canon: use "Av" mode

The photographer chooses the aperture and the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed for optimal exposure.

Shoot in fairly bright conditions to ensure adequate exposure, or use higher ISO. Create a photograph where there is a distinct foreground object and the background is fairly far away.  Focus on the foreground object, and maintain this focal placement. Shoot the image three times, varying the apertures. Create at least 3 3-image sets.

• f4 or wider (f2.8, f1.4 okay)
• f8
• f16 or smaller (f22 okay)

Shooting (for Monday 2/2)

Chose specific subjects and shoot them with widely varied depths of field, while maintaining the same composition/framing. This means 2-3 variations of the same "shot" but created with a range of apertures to vary the depth of field. Again, shoot on aperture priority

In the examples below, we see the same subject and the same framing, but with different depths of field. How does this affect the image? Which do you prefer? Why?

f4.0

f18

Printing Paper

We will be printing many of your pictures in this class. Here are recommended papers. Please stick with Epson to ensure compatibility with our printers. The standard, required, size is letter, but if you prefer larger paper, the printers will accommodate up to 13" x 19"

Choose matte or glossy. You only need one kind, your choice. But having both can be nice, if you want.

Ultra Premium Presentation Matte:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/203721-REG/Epson_S041341_Ultra_Premium_Presentation_Paper.html

Ultra Premium Glossy Photo:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543611-REG/Epson_S042175_Ultra_Premium_Glossy_Photo.html

Assignment 1

Due: Wednesday 9/3, bring files to class

Rules of the Game: 

• Natural light (window or outside)
• No flash (so please use plenty of light)
• Shoot JPEG (Large File, Highest Quality) or RAW
• Auto Exposure and Auto Focus is okay for now
• Shoot 50-100 images
• No camera phones (for now)—use a proper camera
• No pets, flowers, beer cans or cigarette stubs...be adventurous, and try something different.

Pick one subject, a specific person, place or thing. Shoot that one subject for the whole assignment. How many different ways can you shoot one subject? Vary angle, background, lighting, (very) close-up/middle/far, composition...anything you can think of to create as much variety as possible. Again, do not change subject...just change the way you see and photograph the subject.

Welcome

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Student Work, Recent Years

(Image: Culberson)

(Image: Craft)

(Image: Dublin)

(Image: Thornton)

 (Image: Busby)

(Image: Culberson)

(Image: Kerr)

(Image: Kerr)

(Image: Kerr)

(Image: Ross)

(Images: Taylor)

(Image: Rogers)

(Image: Loggins)

(Image: Marguerite Gray)

(Image: Anne Masline)

(Image: Hayden Sloan)

(Image: Heather Orlando)

(Image: Busby)