Last Thursday in the Cypress College Wedding class we were given the task of finding four items on campus to photograph: a chair, a plant, a book and the tower.
Here are some of my favorites.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
MVI_0434
Von Thomas spoke to the class about the Red Camera and the Canon 5D Mark II and demonstrated how they worked to capture still and moving images.
You can learn more about Von Thomas by reading his blog: Red Digital Motion Still and Tech @Blogspot. or looking at his website Digital TECH NYC .
Friday, September 18, 2009
Available Light - Shadow_Due Friday September 18
Update: October 13. Grade A-
We had the critique for this assignment during our class period last week. Instructor's comments:
"Thank you for your persistence. I like two of your images very much. They
contain qualities beyond just mere highlight shadow relationships. I find them
to be full of depth and mystery. They really draw in a viewer, without one getting
caught up in the question of what they are looking at. Te one, which now I must
say has a leaf like appearance could hang on the wall in my opinion. It seems to
float freely in some kind of space."
He is referencing my favorite image from this assignment - so great minds really do think alike..... :)
I just emailed the images for this assignment. They were supposed have a mysterious, abstract or artistic theme. Cliff gave us a couple of examples of what he was looking for. They were both botanicals on the dark, moody side. My images are a bit lighter and I think
abstract and artistic if not mysterious. These images were all captured in color and converted to black and white in Lightroom.
This is my favorite of the four I submitted for the critique.
I'm anxious to know what the instructor thinks. The critique will probably be Tuesday and I will still be in Chicago, so I will miss the class discussion, but I know he will have a grade and comments for me when I return.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Advanced Digital Printing_Camera Test-Due September 14
There was a problem with the server @OCC so the assignment was delayed for a week. I'll miss next week's class because I will be in Chicago - so I turned in my images. I forgot to give him the written part of the test - so I will email it tomorrow...
Here is the Contact Sheet with all the images from the Camera Basics Test
Camera Basics
Describe your camera.
Canon 5D Mark II/ Compact Flash media storage/21.1 Mega-Pixels
This camera shoots Jpegs and RAW (CR2)I think I can safely make a 16x20 image without manipulating the
file (interpolating)
http://www.design215.com/toolbox/megapixels.php
http://studioplus.corbis.com/DownloadableDocuments/Interpolation_Guidelines.pdf
Flash
This camera does not have built in flash.
Zoom Lens
Canon 24 -70mm F1:2.8
Shoot a subject first with the widest angle of the zoom, than shoot the same subject with the longest angle of zoom.
Focus, Shutter Button, and Action Shots
This camera can lock the focus when the shutter button is depressed but I changed the preference so this function is managed by the AF start button on the rear of the camera.
There is a beep when auto focus is achieved. The image is briefly displayed on the LCD monitor when the picture is captured. There is no delay between pushing the button and capturing the image.
Shoot a person jumping in the air. Frame the shot so your subjects feet can be seen IN THE AIR. Anticipate the delay between the delay of the shutter and button - try to capture the person in mid air. Shoot five images.
Exposure
This camera has a manual exposure setting.
Shoot a subject, without flash, by bracketing your exposures as follows: 1st, 2nd and 3rd frames at -2 stops, -1 stop, and 1/2 stop under-exposed - expose 4th frame accurately, 5th, 6th and 7th frames at +1/2 stop, +1 stop, and =2 stops over-exposed.
Lighting Color Temperature or White Balance
This camera has a manual color temperature/white balance setting.
Shoot a subject in the shade without a flash, using the following settings:
Daylight
Indoor/Tungsten
Fluorescent
Shade/Cloudy
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wedding_Shoot in Manual Due - September 24
Here's Rachael in great side lighting and kinda funky back lighting.
I still have to capture the indoor images - I captured one image with Natalie - but was unable to set up a backlit composition - I'll try again tomorrow....
O.K. I got some great images today - thanks to Javier - not only was he my model - he also gave me
some great shooting tips.
Back to the drawing boards - I'll try to get someone to give me a little of their time on campus tomorrow.
I wanted to download the images I captured for this assignment last Thursday after class, but I
could not find them. I think I must have formated the disk over these images when I was at
Spaghettini's last night :(
For this assignment Greg told us to get close to the subject and fill the view finder with the face to determine the correct exposure. Step back take the photo and don't agonize over the background -just concentrate on getting the face right. We have to expose a subject accurately in the following conditions:
bright sun - bright background
bright sun - dark background
shade - bright background
shade - dark background
indoor - sidelight
indoor - backlit
Available Light - Light and Shadow - Two Assignments
Here is the response I got about the shadow images I posted in my Smug Mug
gallery.
Hi Cynthia, I reviewed your images. They are definitely showing your awareness of shadows, yet please keep in mind the themes requested: mysterious, abstract or artistic. I am not seeing anything that really meets this criteria yet. Basically I need you to think outside the box, let loose. Everything I see now is very literal.
gallery.
Hi Cynthia, I reviewed your images. They are definitely showing your awareness of shadows, yet please keep in mind the themes requested: mysterious, abstract or artistic. I am not seeing anything that really meets this criteria yet. Basically I need you to think outside the box, let loose. Everything I see now is very literal.
Well duh... They are indeed literal - nothing mysterious or abstract here - but I thought a couple were pretty artistic :( I"m going to look again at everything I have done so far and see if I can find something that meets all three criteria- or crop into an image to make it fit. Not sure I have time left for more shooting.
Available Light _Light and Shadow - Two Assignments
The second part of the assignment asks us to focus on shadows:
Shadow: Create 3 non-related extraordinary images where shadow is utilized as a primary or complimentary component of the composition. Images should have a mysterious, abstract or artistic theme.
This one is my favorite. I thought it was mysterious
but it did not meet Cliff's criteria. Perhaps I should
have converted it to black and white.
I put a lot of these shadow images on my Smug Mug account: If you have time, look at the images and
let me know which three you think meet the criteria by writing a comment at the end of this post.
Thanks (Click here to go to my Smug Mug account)
Selective Light: Create an extraordinary image wherein light has been utilized in
a selective manner. accentuating the center of interest in a very impact full and
dramatic way.
These were the images I turned in. I have not received a grade yet.....
Updated 9.8.2009
Grade received - B+. Cliff thought the light in the "Golden Light" image was gorgeous - but was unmoved
by the subject - he encouraged the class to "marry" the subject with the light. I guess that means to try
and see a connection between the subject and the light before you push the shutter.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Available LIght_The Power of Light
Updated: September 15, 2009
Grade: A-
Your comments are insightful... Not sure whether the average viewer would learn so much from the visual information provided by the light as we see it..
O.K. I guess this means - I need to see the image as others might see it and not rely on my own experiences so much.
I chose this image of a south western facade because I realize many
of my travel photographs include architectural details.
I found this cloudy sunset on Flickr also. It was captured by Phillip Klinger.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcdead/3713208200/
Grade: A-
Your comments are insightful... Not sure whether the average viewer would learn so much from the visual information provided by the light as we see it..
O.K. I guess this means - I need to see the image as others might see it and not rely on my own experiences so much.
Select three examples which demonstrate my awareness of light having a strong impact in an image. Choose images Which relate directly to areas of my interest.... Due 8/23
This image by Kelly West was found on Flickr. I think it is delightful.
Those tiny feet on the big boots of a soldier. We don't know if it is a mom or a dad and we don't know if it is a little boy or a little girl, but still a poignant story is told in the image.
I chose this image of a south western facade because I realize many
of my travel photographs include architectural details.
I found this cloudy sunset on Flickr also. It was captured by Phillip Klinger.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcdead/3713208200/
Digital Capture _Bits of Wisdom Assignment
I was responsible for collecting information of blogs that would be helpful to the students in the Digital Capture class. I found hundreds but decided to highlight a few I really liked.
Blogs and Online Journals
Advanced Digital Capture Workflow
September 3, 2009
X-rite Photo Blog
Vincent LaForet
Matthew Jordan Smith Experience
Chase Jarvis
A Photo Editor
New York Times Lens Blog
PhotoShelter
Pixsylated
PDN Pulse
RSS Feeds
Digital Capture _Visit to Aaron Rapoport Studio
I had my trusty little Canon G9 in my bag and could not resist capturing a few pictures on my way out.... perhaps if I had moved a bit faster I would not have gotten that $60 parking ticket :(
I always learn a lot on these field trips even if it is just looking around and learning how a studio works in the real world.
Students from our class watch over the shoulders of the Digital Tech, much like a client might watch as images are being collected in the field
Our Advanced Digital Capture Class took a field trip to Aaron Rapoport Studio in Hollywood. We watched a demonstration by his Digital Technician (when I find his card I will edit this post and fill in his name).
Our Advanced Digital Capture Class took a field trip to Aaron Rapoport Studio in Hollywood. We watched a demonstration by his Digital Technician (when I find his card I will edit this post and fill in his name). Meet my Instructors - Fall 2009
Emphasis on current techniques of advanced digital printing workflow, digital file preparation, color management and advanced digital retouching techniques.
This course will allow students to work hands on with 35mm and 2 1/4 digital camera systems, building upon the skills learned in Digital Capture Workflow course. Practical application of tethered photography in conjunction with Adobe Lightroom will be the focus, as student learn how to handle themselves professionally as a photographer or digital tech.
Tuesday 2-4pm Seminar: Available Light - Clifford Lester
This course concentrates on producing images under available light conditions found in natural and man made environments. Topics include creating awareness of light and its function along with learning techniques for exposing under man different lighting conditions.
The concepts, equipment demands, and techniques used by wedding photographers are emphasized. Lectures and assignments will prepare students for basic applications.
The Idea
This is my 4th year in the photography department at Cypress College. Up to this point I've been keeping my assignments in separate notebooks for each class and consolidating them at the end of the year into one huge book- I have a whole shelf of notebooks that help document my progress on this journey. I decided to start this blog to keep track of all the assignments I submit to my instructors this year. It should save space :) and I think it will be even more helpful to me - we'll see.
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