Macro Photography

One more tangent before we take the photos for our narrative project.

Today we're going to look at macro photography. Macro photography is basically just close-up photography. In many cases, getting as close to the subject as your camera will allow.

Professional macro photography can cost a lot of money in expensive, specialized equipment. But, I'm going to let you in on a little professional secret-find a cheaper camera. In my camera bag I always carry a cheap compact camera, something similar to what you or your parents already have. The small sensor size and small lens size of these compact cameras allow you to get great macro shots with very little expense. Of course, I try not to let the paying customers see me break out the cheap little camera.

So, today you should try to avoid the Nikon cameras. They will work, but not as well as the others. So instead, grab one of the Cannon compacts that we have, the S5's or the G11, or try your own camera. Switch your camera to macro mode (a picture of a flower is the universal symbol for macro) and shoot away. But...

...before you go to take pictures, check out some examples HERE!

You should each post 5 pictures to your blog today. DO NOT post the same pictures that someone else in your group posts, or neither of you will get credit. Also, your pictures must be taken outside!

Good Luck!!!

Some Videos

One of the greatest things about studying photography is the almost limitless instructional material available online.

As we really start to understand the basics of photography, now is a great time to watch some professionals at work. For this assignment, watch the following two videos (you can watch them in small groups or all alone). After watching both of the videos, post some of your thoughts in the comments section for this post (click on "awesome students" at the end). Feel free to respond (respectfully) to comments that other students have posted as well.

The first video is Photographer Dave Hill shooting an ad for Verizon IN A PARKING LOT.

090820 Verizon - photo shoot from Dave Hill on Vimeo.

The second video is a photographer named Robert Seale shooting an artist at the South by Southwest Music Festival.

Lighting it up in Austin with Robert Seale from PhotoShelter.com on Vimeo.

Narrative Photography Step Three: Preconception

You have the story. You have some suggestions from your classmates. Not it's time to decide what your picture will really look like. Follow these steps to begin creating your image:

1. Think about it. I know it sounds kind of silly, but take a couple of minutes to think about what you want your picture to look like. Get away from your friends. Get away from people. Find a quiet spot and think specifically about your picture. Don't let your mind wander-THINK ABOUT YOUR PICTURE. You might find that this step is actually more difficult than you first thought as all of our minds tend to want to wander.
2. Visualize your picture. Close your eyes and see your picture. What does it look like? Where is the light coming from? What are the important details that will be included in your image? 
3. Write it all down. Using words only, tell me what your picture will look like. Include as many specific details as possible.
4. Draw a picture. Include as many details as possible. Annotate where necessary.
5. Talk to me. Bring all of your materials to me and lets talk. You must complete this step before going to part four.

Narrative Photograpy Step Two: Other People's Pictures

After writing your story, your second task is to read the stories of three of your classmates. You can find their stories by clicking on their names on the right of this blog.

After reading each story, describe in the comments section what their picture should look like. Be as specific as possible.

Narrative Photograpy Step One: The Story

Narrative photography tells a story within the confines of a single image. For our work, we are going to tell a story before we take a single shot. Your assignment, therefore, is to write a one page, single-spaced narrative that we will you as a basis for creating your image.

A couple of suggestions:

• Use settings that you will have access to for your image.
• An emotional plot may be easier to capture in an image.
• Keep it simple. Don't get too many characters, settings, or events involved in your story.
• There must be a conflict in your story!

Post a copy of your written narrative to your blog.

Texture Overlay

We're going to add a little extra oomph to some images today by adding a little extra texture to them!

1. Open your background image and texture image in Photoshop.
2. Copy your texture image by pressing "ctrl a" to select all and the "ctrl c" to copy.
3. Select your background image and press "ctrl v" to paste the texture over it.
4. In the layers palette, change the blend mode from "normal" to something else that works for your image (such as "multiply" or "screen.").
5. Create a layer mask on the texture layer by clicking on the "layer mask" icon.
6. Use the brush tool to erase areas of texture over the subject of your image.
7. Fine tune and enjoy.

Texture

Texture adds a dimensional quality to images, giving them the appearance of three dimensions instead of only two. There are unique and interesting textures all over the place, so this assignment shouldn't be too difficult to complete. However, really try to get the most interesting and photogenic textures that you can find.

See some examples of texture HERE.

A couple of technique tips for you:

1. Use a tripod people!
2. Get in close. You may need to switch your camera to macro mode (It's a picture of a flower on most cameras). If your camera won't focus, you may be too close.
3. Look closely at everyday objects. You may find texture in places that you wouldn't expect.
4. The texture should fill the whole frame. You may have to crop the image in Photoshop to achieve this.
5. Use a tripod!

Your Assignment:

• Take 5 different texture images.
• Save the images somewhere where you will have access to them (N drive, flash drive, email), we will be using them again in the near future.
• Post the 5 images to your blog.

Do and Redo

If you are missing any assignments, today is an opportunity to make them up. Go to powerschool to find any assignments that you are missing and then get them on your blog.

After you complete all assignments that are due up to this point, your new assignment is to choose one image or assignment that you've completed over the last nine weeks and improve that assignment. Carefully consider what the purpose was for the assignment, what you wanted to create to complete the assignment, and how you can improve your initial attempt.

After creating a new image for the assignment, post it to your blog along with a paragraph that details the original assignment, your approach to improve your image, and the final outcome.

The Eyes

Work along with the following videos as you watch them. You will most likely have to pause and review portions many times.






Post your final image to your blog.

Contrast

Contrast is one of the most effective composition techniques to add interest to your image. However, there are many different types of contrast that you can take advantage of.

Tonal Contrast: Probably the most obvious type of contrast in photography, tonal contrast is the difference between the light and dark areas of a photograph. An image with primarily bright tones with dark accenting tones is said to be high key, while an image with primarily dark tones with light accenting tones is low key.

Color Contrast: Color contrast shows the difference between colors with opposite characteristics (see the color wheel). Color contrast is enhanced when there is a large proportional difference in amounts of each color used.

Contrast of Sharpness: There are different techniques used to create contrast in sharpness. The first being depth of field. Utilizing a shallow depth of field, you can create an image in which the foreground and background are out of focus, while the subject of the photo is in focus. A slow shutter speed can also create contrast in sharpness by allowing movement blur in either your subject or background.

Some great examples of contrast can be seen here.

For your assignment, you will write a five paragraph essay detailing the types of contrast and their impact on an image. Due at the end of class.

After completing the essay, create two images that exemplify contrast. Post them to your blog.

Framing

When I first think of framing, I think of putting a picture in a picture frame. While the concept is similar in photography, the framing that we do will be completed as the picture is taken.

Framing in composition is using elements within your image to create a border or frame next to, above, below, or around your image in order to create a more specific point of interest for the viewer.

For this assignment, watch this video.

Look at and read this website.

Read the handout.

Scour the web for further examples of framing. Post a few pictures or links from the web to your blog when you post your image.

Come up with a plan, then take a picture that illustrates the concept of framing in composition, and post the image to your blog. Remember that your image will be graded on quality, so make sure that it is in focus and well-exposed.

Manual Mode

It's time to take control of your camera!

For this assignment you will go to five different lighting situations (outside, cafeteria, classroom, closet, etc.) and decide on the necessary camera settings to take each of the following types of photographs:

• Still Life
• Portrait
• Action Shot

Post each locations along with the camera settings for each of the three types of photographs to your blog.

Brief Exposure Explanations With Examples

Time to put your knowledge to the test. For this assignment you must write a brief report (something like a 5-paragraph essay) describing the 3 factors of exposure that we have talked about thus far: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Your report should include at least six photographs taken by you to illustrate the points that you make.

Good luck!

ISO Portraits

Today is the first day that we're going to do some work with Photoshop! But first we need to watch a video, take a couple of pictures, and then watch another video.

This first video has some basic reminders of the effects of ISO on your image.



After watching the first video, choose a partner and go out and take some close up portraits of each other.

• Your camera should be in aperture priority mode.
• Your aperture should be wide open.
• Your ISO should be set at 1600.

Choose the best portrait that you took and convert it to black and white in photoshop after watching the second video.

Forced Perspective

Last time we took advantage of the very shallow depth of field created by a wide open aperture in order to create some portraits with a blurred out background. This time we are going to do the opposite. We are going to take advantage of the very deep depth of field to create some straight out of the camera illusions called "forced perspective."

This assignment has three parts. For the first part, you will do some online research. Look wherever you can for examples of forced perspective. Look at a lot of examples! There are tons of them out there.

After you have sampled much of the forced perspective magnificence that the web has to offer, you must then search for a forced perspective tutorial. Again, there are many available on the web, find one that you can understand so that you can go out and create a forced perspective picture of your own.

The final step is to go out and take a picture. Work in groups of three. Either of the cameras that we have will work for this assignment. Make sure that the camera is in aperture priority mode and then set the camera at the highest possible aperture (f22 on the Nikon or f8 on the Canon).

Post a link to the tutorial that you followed on your blog, as well as the picture that you were able to create.

Good Luck!

Depth of Field and Focus Points

Last time in class we explored shallow depths of field by opening our aperture up all the way to f1.8. Today we're going to practice working with shallow depth of field while focusing on very specific parts of the image.

To learn how focusing with the D80 works, we're going to do something craze; we're going to read the manual. The pages that deal with focus can be found HERE.

After carefully reading, reviewing, and understanding the pages from the manual, you will put your understanding into action in a series of three photos. The photos should each contain at least three object. In the first photo you will focus on the object closest to the camera. In the second photo you will focus on the center object. In the third photo you will focus on the object furthest from the camera. Your aperture should be set at f1.8 for all of these pictures. See below for an example.

Post all of your photos to your blog along with a short reflection of the process that you went through to take the photos.

Good Luck!

Caught in the Act

Today we are going to look at freezing the action in a scene using a high shutter speed. Follow the steps below to complete this assignment:

1. Find a partner.
2. Come up with a plan in which you can take a picture of something moving at a high rate of speed, and freeze the action (such as throwing a ball, running, jumping, flying, etc.).
3. Scrap your first plan, and then come of with a new plan that is better, more fun, and more exciting.
4. Grab a camera and a memory card.
5. Put your camera in shutter speed priority mode.
6. Talk to Mr. Shellabarger about your plan.
7. Go to somewhere bright (this will help you use higher shutter speeds).
8. Take your totally awesome picture.
9. Come back and post your picture on your blog.
10. Prepare to share your experience with the class in a short presentation of your blog.

Good Luck!

Camera Parts Assignment

You will complete this assignment in groups of four our five. You may choose your groups.

In your group you will develop a presentation that will familiarize our class with a specific camera. Once you have formed your groups, come to me for your camera assignment.

Your presentation should include all physical parts of the camera, including all buttons, levers, switches, pieces, parts, etc. Information about your camera can be found online, or I have the manuals that came with the cameras.

You do not need to demonstrate all functions of the camera, but you must demonstrate the following:

• How to change shutter speed.
• How to change aperture.
• How to change ISO.
• How to format the memory card.
• How to insert/remove memory card.
• How to insert/remove/charge batteries.

Your presentation should be at least 5 minutes long and involve all members of your group. It must also utilize a multimedia approach, meaning that you should have pictures, charts, or movies in your presentation.

You will have 2 class periods to prepare the presentation.

If you have questions, please ask them on the comments section of this post so that all students may receive the answer.

Photography, Tuesday January 26th

Sorry I'm not here today guys. Hopefully you'll make it through this lesson without me! Read through this entire blog post and watch the videos and follow the instructions as you go.

This first video I created last spring when my wife was about to have a baby, so ignore the comments at the very beginning. Also, we will not be writing the article that the video talks about starting at 7 minutes 10 seconds (we'll write it later this semester!) so you can stop at that point. This video will give you a brief introduction to the idea of exposure. We'll be talking a lot more about exposure in the coming weeks!




Notes:

• Understanding exposure separates photographers from picture takers!
• Exposure occurs any time that light reaches your film or digital sensor.
• A good exposure accurately represents light and color throughout your image.
• An underexposed image generally appears dark and has loss of detail in the darkest areas.
• An overexposed image generally appears too bright and has loss of detail in the brightest areas.
• Quality and quantity of exposure can be manipulated in your camera with the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
• No singular exposure exists for any given situation. There are always multiple combinations of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO that will result in the same exposure.

After watching the exposure video, check out this short video on shutter speed:

Notes:

• Shutter speed determines how long light can enter through your lens and expose your photograph.
• When your shutter speed is too long, your photo will be over-exposed or too bright.
• When your shutter speed is too short, your photo will be under-exposed or too dark.

Assignments:

• Become familiar with how to change the shutter speed on the Nikon D80 and the Canon S5.
• On the Nikon turn the top dial to "S" which stands for shutter speed and adjust it using the dial on the top right of the back of the camera. Your shutter speed will show in the top left corner of the display. If it doesn't show, gently press and release the shutter button half way down to activate the display.
• On the Canon, turn the top dial to "Tv" which stands for time value, and adjust it using the directional pad on the top right of the back of the camera.
• Once you become familiar with the operation of shutter speed, help any students in the class who are having trouble.
• Look at photography blogs on the internet. After considering many blogs, put a link to your favorite on a new post on your blog so that I can check it out.
• Good Luck!

First Photo Assignment

Welcome to photography!

For your first assignment you need to do the following:

• Create a blog on www.blogger.com
• Write your blog address on my list (it should start with http)
• Take 5 pictures of anything in the school.
• Post 5 pictures to your blog.
• Look at a variety of photography blogs on the internet.