Thursday, December 3, 2009
Impressive work from the almighty seniors, and a farewell to photography class
I stopped by the gallery to view the show last week, and although I wasn't able to go to the opening, I still managed to speak to two out of three artists about their work.
Krista put together a set of pieces expressing Spanish influenced forms of dance. She says that the dances were performed mainly by gypsies, jews, and arabs. The hand motions are very important and were crucial parts of her paintings. She said that the three blank canvases displayed in the front of the gallery were for images of the feet hands and whole body movements that were projected onto the canvases. The body parts were moving, showing how the dance would have been performed. Her pieces include wonderful drapery and the hand and finger gestures were my favorite part. My favorite piece was called Sevillanas, which had a royal blue background and a female who, although a still frame, captured the essence of so much movement.
Monica's exhibit was the next that I looked at. Her art was very fashion-based. There were a couple human figures wearing clothing that she must have designed herself. It looked like the sketches that designers would turn in to companies to be made into actually clothing. One of the pieces I had seen in an exhibit last year. It was a blue piece with a beautiful female face.
Last but not least was Cassie's exhibit. At first I stood there staring at her installation exhibit wondering if I was to remain on the outside, just observing, or if I was supposed to go inside. Draped sheets covered the exhibit like a tent and strings of medicince bottles draped the opening doorway like the hippy beads I used to have in my room in grade school. I could feel the intensity of the piece just from looking inward. I could see that the tape on the floor made human outlines similar to the ones you would see at a crime scene. My first thought was suicide. I read her statement to find that she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis one month before her twenty-first birthday. She designated everyone to go in and even sit down on the couch that was against the wall, so I did. While inside I noticed that the tape that made the human outlines had writing covering every inch of it. I could not tell if they were lyrics from songs or if they were extracts from a diary, maybe even the thoughts that were running through her head when she was writing them. On the back wall were seven self-portraits that were extremely wide ranging yet the face consistent and identifiably Cassie. There were shoes set in the corners with nails protruding directly up. Her guitar was in another corner wrapped in barbed-wire. She explains that every day is painful and the nails and barbed-wire help to convey the pain she experiences. The pill bottles streaming down on the doorway are bottles that she has gone through. There is no cure, only medicine to relieve some pain and reduce the swelling. I had a class last year with Cassie and have seen her progression. She has come along way and achieved great artistic qualities in her exhibit called "99 pills."
I want my pictures to be the last blog on my site, so I'm going to do my normal blog on this one as well. I cannot believe that photography is over. The semester flew by! I enjoyed the presentations and thought that it was a great way to show the class how we can apply what we have learned throughout the semester. Although I did not enjoy the blogging assignments, I am glad and feel quite accomplished to have a compilation of blogging posts. I hope to continue blogging, and probably will have millions of things to talk about now that it is not for an assignment! That's the way it goes! I feel like I am much more knowledgable on the field of photography, and although not even close to being a proffesional, I think I could put up a rather convincing front.
Krista put together a set of pieces expressing Spanish influenced forms of dance. She says that the dances were performed mainly by gypsies, jews, and arabs. The hand motions are very important and were crucial parts of her paintings. She said that the three blank canvases displayed in the front of the gallery were for images of the feet hands and whole body movements that were projected onto the canvases. The body parts were moving, showing how the dance would have been performed. Her pieces include wonderful drapery and the hand and finger gestures were my favorite part. My favorite piece was called Sevillanas, which had a royal blue background and a female who, although a still frame, captured the essence of so much movement.
Monica's exhibit was the next that I looked at. Her art was very fashion-based. There were a couple human figures wearing clothing that she must have designed herself. It looked like the sketches that designers would turn in to companies to be made into actually clothing. One of the pieces I had seen in an exhibit last year. It was a blue piece with a beautiful female face.
Last but not least was Cassie's exhibit. At first I stood there staring at her installation exhibit wondering if I was to remain on the outside, just observing, or if I was supposed to go inside. Draped sheets covered the exhibit like a tent and strings of medicince bottles draped the opening doorway like the hippy beads I used to have in my room in grade school. I could feel the intensity of the piece just from looking inward. I could see that the tape on the floor made human outlines similar to the ones you would see at a crime scene. My first thought was suicide. I read her statement to find that she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis one month before her twenty-first birthday. She designated everyone to go in and even sit down on the couch that was against the wall, so I did. While inside I noticed that the tape that made the human outlines had writing covering every inch of it. I could not tell if they were lyrics from songs or if they were extracts from a diary, maybe even the thoughts that were running through her head when she was writing them. On the back wall were seven self-portraits that were extremely wide ranging yet the face consistent and identifiably Cassie. There were shoes set in the corners with nails protruding directly up. Her guitar was in another corner wrapped in barbed-wire. She explains that every day is painful and the nails and barbed-wire help to convey the pain she experiences. The pill bottles streaming down on the doorway are bottles that she has gone through. There is no cure, only medicine to relieve some pain and reduce the swelling. I had a class last year with Cassie and have seen her progression. She has come along way and achieved great artistic qualities in her exhibit called "99 pills."
I want my pictures to be the last blog on my site, so I'm going to do my normal blog on this one as well. I cannot believe that photography is over. The semester flew by! I enjoyed the presentations and thought that it was a great way to show the class how we can apply what we have learned throughout the semester. Although I did not enjoy the blogging assignments, I am glad and feel quite accomplished to have a compilation of blogging posts. I hope to continue blogging, and probably will have millions of things to talk about now that it is not for an assignment! That's the way it goes! I feel like I am much more knowledgable on the field of photography, and although not even close to being a proffesional, I think I could put up a rather convincing front.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
FotoWeek D.C.
For the second year, Fotoweek took place in Washington, D.C. The event displays art exhibits, museums and other events that take place all throughout the city.
It's simple. All you have to do is get a pass, which is free, that will permit you to view all of the exhibits. A map and schedule are also conveniently included!
The first gallery consists of two floors of art work, from National Geographic displays, FotoWeek finalists awards and the works from photojournalists Peter van Agtmael and Pete Muller (which depict the aftermath of a conflict in northern Uganda.)
A projector also casts images on the side of the building in the evenings of FotoWeek.
Most of the work displayed in the FotoWeek galleries is news or documentation oriented.
Lots of photos of the devastation and conflicts people are going through appear in the galleries.
There are also several political pieces ranging from the White House to Barack Obama.
FotoWeek serves as a great opportunity for newer artists and photographers to display their works as well.
Pretty cool, just wish it was closer.
It's simple. All you have to do is get a pass, which is free, that will permit you to view all of the exhibits. A map and schedule are also conveniently included!
The first gallery consists of two floors of art work, from National Geographic displays, FotoWeek finalists awards and the works from photojournalists Peter van Agtmael and Pete Muller (which depict the aftermath of a conflict in northern Uganda.)
A projector also casts images on the side of the building in the evenings of FotoWeek.
Most of the work displayed in the FotoWeek galleries is news or documentation oriented.
Lots of photos of the devastation and conflicts people are going through appear in the galleries.
There are also several political pieces ranging from the White House to Barack Obama.
FotoWeek serves as a great opportunity for newer artists and photographers to display their works as well.
Pretty cool, just wish it was closer.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
DETAILS OF PHOTOS
Alright, after unsuccessfully trying to alter the blog post with my photos seven million times...I have given up. I am just going to have to write the information in this blog post instead.
My first two photos are for the "Use of Red." I used my landscape setting to take these shots and I really like the way that they turned out! It really emphasizes the point made in the book about how intense and attention grasping the color red really is. It looks as if the berries in the first photo are Snow White's poison apples on the tree. Really cool I think, not bragging though!
Second, I shot the reflection photo. I used my close-up setting for these shots. I wish that I could have found a puddle that was in a natural setting rather than the cruddy cement. So although the reflection isn't the main focus, I think that the brightly colored rocks do a nice job of drawing you in and making you search for the tree reflections.
Third was the silhouettes. I love silhouette photos! I had a lot of fun doing these and a hard time picking my favorites. I like to find something with a good shape and something that almost frames the picture.
Next, (fourth), I did the "in motion" photos. The first, and I can only imagine how ridiculous I looked, I ran on the grass and aimed my camera at the leaves. I used my sports setting although I think that it is supposed to capture the image as a freeze frame. The other photo is of a tree line and almost gives an eerie vibe I would say. I really like it though, and it will be a good contribution to my project.
Fifth I shot "one image image" although I saw in the email that I was supposed to be panning. I won't lie, I thought that I just had to capture one sharp image and the rest blurry. These berries are beautiful colors and I had a lot of fun shooting them, especially with all of the moisture on them.
Sixth was detailed close up. I shot a group of berries for the first image and then I found some really interesting tree bark that worked perfectly with my close-up mode. Tree bark is cool! I never would have thought to take pictures of tree bark before this class. It seems boring but if you have ever really looked at it, its actually quite detailed and interesting.
Seventh was the rule of thirds. This is a pretty weak example of the rule but, it works, and I was feeling rushed for time.
As far as the shot with hyperfocal settings, I was unable to get a picture that did any justice of the assignment. They were truly terrible and I could not force myself to put them on my blog. The last couple pictures are for the "free" slot in the assigment however they are not my favorites. This assignment was fun! Cold, but fun! ;)
My first two photos are for the "Use of Red." I used my landscape setting to take these shots and I really like the way that they turned out! It really emphasizes the point made in the book about how intense and attention grasping the color red really is. It looks as if the berries in the first photo are Snow White's poison apples on the tree. Really cool I think, not bragging though!
Second, I shot the reflection photo. I used my close-up setting for these shots. I wish that I could have found a puddle that was in a natural setting rather than the cruddy cement. So although the reflection isn't the main focus, I think that the brightly colored rocks do a nice job of drawing you in and making you search for the tree reflections.
Third was the silhouettes. I love silhouette photos! I had a lot of fun doing these and a hard time picking my favorites. I like to find something with a good shape and something that almost frames the picture.
Next, (fourth), I did the "in motion" photos. The first, and I can only imagine how ridiculous I looked, I ran on the grass and aimed my camera at the leaves. I used my sports setting although I think that it is supposed to capture the image as a freeze frame. The other photo is of a tree line and almost gives an eerie vibe I would say. I really like it though, and it will be a good contribution to my project.
Fifth I shot "one image image" although I saw in the email that I was supposed to be panning. I won't lie, I thought that I just had to capture one sharp image and the rest blurry. These berries are beautiful colors and I had a lot of fun shooting them, especially with all of the moisture on them.
Sixth was detailed close up. I shot a group of berries for the first image and then I found some really interesting tree bark that worked perfectly with my close-up mode. Tree bark is cool! I never would have thought to take pictures of tree bark before this class. It seems boring but if you have ever really looked at it, its actually quite detailed and interesting.
Seventh was the rule of thirds. This is a pretty weak example of the rule but, it works, and I was feeling rushed for time.
As far as the shot with hyperfocal settings, I was unable to get a picture that did any justice of the assignment. They were truly terrible and I could not force myself to put them on my blog. The last couple pictures are for the "free" slot in the assigment however they are not my favorites. This assignment was fun! Cold, but fun! ;)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
---------Photo Op---------
PHOTOGRAPHY
ASSIGNMENT~
Use of RED
REFLECTION~
SILHOUETTE~
One "SHARP" image~
D
etailed CLOSE-UP~
Rule of THIRDS~
F
REE~
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
What a beautiful day!
My roommattes and I raked our lawn and the millions of leaves that have collected on it. It looks so much better and being outdoors caused me to have some photography inspiration. While out exploring, I was fortunate enough to come upon a beehive in a tree. It was beautiful! I found the day to be quite successful in photographing pictures for my final project. I would like to leave some mystery, so I won't go any further than into the details of my photographs. I am very excited for out photo trip to Rim country on Friday. So far, I have 53 slides in my powerpoint presentation. I will probably end up limiting it down so that I can have time to discuss the process and important things that I have learned throughout the class. I need to ask Dave in class how to get different angles especially when you are below something. I know that you probably just have to deal with what you have but I thought there might be a trick that I don't know about.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Anyone up for a photo trip??
After speaking to Dave about possibilities for my final presentation, I have narrowed my photoraphs down and picked a theme to center them. He suggested that I go out to this private land off Rimrock to shoot. I am very interested to go here and was wondering if anyone else would like to go? But since I'm pretty sure no one reads this (except for you Dave) I will just ask everyone in class today. Hopefully I will be able to find a few other places with unique ideas that fall into my theme. :)
The Power of Perspective
General goal for a great landscape photo: visual depth
As a photographer, you have one chance to capture the three-dimensional beauty that you see in one flat frozen view.
In a photo, obviously, objects closer to the lens appear larger than those off in the distance, but it it important that you take advantage of this "size cue." By offering images that people have seen before, it allows them to establish a size scale for ovjects in the rest of the photograph.
Size cue examples: trees, shrubs, flowers, bushes, animals
Focal length is important to creating a visual depth in a photo.
For the most extreme perspective effect you should put the camera as close to one of the size cues as possible.
Find the perfect height while avoiding getting too low or too high, because both will flatten your picture. Tim Fitzharris likes to position his camera at a 45 degree angle from the horizon of the first size cue he finds. Avoid overlapping size cues because they will detract. (however, there is an exception)
If the size cues are similar, for example, repetitive rocks, overlapping may cause a neat perspective.
Sidelight can also cause a visual appeal in that it many times displays volume. Sidelight generally causes well lit areas as well as dark shadowed areas, which are easlily distinguished to the viewer. These drastic contrasts also depict depth along with textures too.
Hazy days or otherwise known as atmospherics, days with haze, fog, mist, snow, rain, and dust, help to create three dimensions in landscapes. "A little haze goes a long way in creating perspective effects."
Five planes
1. The foreground plane features plane features interesting land-scape details that set the scale for the composition.
2. the midground plane contains well-defined size cues that lead the ey into the picture.
3. the feature plane shows the center of interest, usually a dramativ landform.
4. the cloud plane is ideally a puffy collection of cumulus or nimbus.
5. and the sky plane comprises the final backdrop in pure shades of blue, rose, peach or amber, depending on the time of day.
As a photographer, you have one chance to capture the three-dimensional beauty that you see in one flat frozen view.
In a photo, obviously, objects closer to the lens appear larger than those off in the distance, but it it important that you take advantage of this "size cue." By offering images that people have seen before, it allows them to establish a size scale for ovjects in the rest of the photograph.
Size cue examples: trees, shrubs, flowers, bushes, animals
Focal length is important to creating a visual depth in a photo.
For the most extreme perspective effect you should put the camera as close to one of the size cues as possible.
Find the perfect height while avoiding getting too low or too high, because both will flatten your picture. Tim Fitzharris likes to position his camera at a 45 degree angle from the horizon of the first size cue he finds. Avoid overlapping size cues because they will detract. (however, there is an exception)
If the size cues are similar, for example, repetitive rocks, overlapping may cause a neat perspective.
Sidelight can also cause a visual appeal in that it many times displays volume. Sidelight generally causes well lit areas as well as dark shadowed areas, which are easlily distinguished to the viewer. These drastic contrasts also depict depth along with textures too.
Hazy days or otherwise known as atmospherics, days with haze, fog, mist, snow, rain, and dust, help to create three dimensions in landscapes. "A little haze goes a long way in creating perspective effects."
Five planes
1. The foreground plane features plane features interesting land-scape details that set the scale for the composition.
2. the midground plane contains well-defined size cues that lead the ey into the picture.
3. the feature plane shows the center of interest, usually a dramativ landform.
4. the cloud plane is ideally a puffy collection of cumulus or nimbus.
5. and the sky plane comprises the final backdrop in pure shades of blue, rose, peach or amber, depending on the time of day.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Finding photogenic landscapes
Good lighting is always a factor when photographing landscapes. Sunset, sunrise, and overcast with blue skies are some of the best times to capture a great image. A calm atmosphere will allow stability in the photo and will also depict the feeling of calmness. You want to make the viewers want to be in your photograph! Make objects clean and sharp, and if there is water worth shooting, attempt to get an image when it is at its calmest and so a reflection will appear.
Keep up to date on weather announcements.
Fog, haze, mist and falling snow are all very beautiful meteorological events that can add to the appeal of your photo.
Use north and south camera to use sidelight to your advantage.
Capture interesting cloud formations.
Recognize the importance of color....color can depict a mood but more importantly it can draw attention. Bright colors are obviously more appealing than dull and thus red is most appealing. Sharp detail with lots of colors and even better, colors that work well with eachother and blend throughout, rather than drastic color changes that take away from one another.
Capture foreground details that will draw the viewer up and into the rest of the photograph. Places that look untouched by humans are very appealing and if you can capture a bit of the intersting wildlife that lives there, even better!
Keep up to date on weather announcements.
Fog, haze, mist and falling snow are all very beautiful meteorological events that can add to the appeal of your photo.
Use north and south camera to use sidelight to your advantage.
Capture interesting cloud formations.
Recognize the importance of color....color can depict a mood but more importantly it can draw attention. Bright colors are obviously more appealing than dull and thus red is most appealing. Sharp detail with lots of colors and even better, colors that work well with eachother and blend throughout, rather than drastic color changes that take away from one another.
Capture foreground details that will draw the viewer up and into the rest of the photograph. Places that look untouched by humans are very appealing and if you can capture a bit of the intersting wildlife that lives there, even better!
Wildlife portraits
Best equipment:35 mm SLR with a telephoto lens in the 300-600 range, a 1.4 or 2X teleconverter for adjusting subject matter, and as always, a steady tripod or beanbag depending on your shooting location. The paragraph next discusses how a photographer should be cery aware of the approach one takes towards wildlife. Even though park wildlife are more adapt to tourists and photographers etc., they are still WILD-life. If you break the comfort zone established between the animals and humans and the animal decides to attack or even scare you or the people around you, new rules and regulations may be formed to prevent future occurences, and you don't want to be responsible for ruining it for everyone. Also, avoid "nesting" areas, or places where the animals keep their young, even though it may help you attain a great photograph. If you are caught lurking near an animals offspring, the anial may do one of three things: attack you, leave the area and abandon its children, or disregard your presence. Either way, you wouldn't want to risk it!
Telephoto advantage: "Its relatively shallow depth of field permis ready blurring of distracting elements not crucial to subject developent, which accentuates by contrast the sharpness and importance of the center of interest."
Set up a three-layer photograph.
Three layers consist of a foreground, middle ground and back ground. The foreground should depict the animal's environment and is usually blurred to avoid distracting from the image itself. The middle ground should contain some parts of the foreground and generally the subject matter or animal. The background should contain visual image that stretches to the borders of the picture and has lack of detail.
As sad as it is to admit, we are a culture that thrives on beauty even when it comes to animals. Take this into account when you are shooting wildlife because a picture of a scragily deer, no matter how great the photo is, will not have the best chances of selling. Shoot appealing and intersting animals that attract interst. Also, even though it may be nearly impossible for one to get the whole face in focus, at least aim to focus the eye. This clear eye will be a pulling factor for grabbing someone's attention and keeping it.
Shooting more than one animal at a time can be rather risky simply because it adds one more area of interst and another object that you will have to be aware of. Do not let one out show the other but instead show the two in a way that they can work together!
Telephoto advantage: "Its relatively shallow depth of field permis ready blurring of distracting elements not crucial to subject developent, which accentuates by contrast the sharpness and importance of the center of interest."
Set up a three-layer photograph.
Three layers consist of a foreground, middle ground and back ground. The foreground should depict the animal's environment and is usually blurred to avoid distracting from the image itself. The middle ground should contain some parts of the foreground and generally the subject matter or animal. The background should contain visual image that stretches to the borders of the picture and has lack of detail.
As sad as it is to admit, we are a culture that thrives on beauty even when it comes to animals. Take this into account when you are shooting wildlife because a picture of a scragily deer, no matter how great the photo is, will not have the best chances of selling. Shoot appealing and intersting animals that attract interst. Also, even though it may be nearly impossible for one to get the whole face in focus, at least aim to focus the eye. This clear eye will be a pulling factor for grabbing someone's attention and keeping it.
Shooting more than one animal at a time can be rather risky simply because it adds one more area of interst and another object that you will have to be aware of. Do not let one out show the other but instead show the two in a way that they can work together!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
~~~~~~~~~P-E-N-G-U-I-N-S~~~~~~~~~
I have officially added another destination to my list of places I would like to visit. South Georgia Island. We wanted to go there on our South America trip, however there simply was not enough time. It looks absolutely amazing and the animals are so photogenic. (probably because they out number all of the humans combined!) Art is extremely lucky to travel to all of these places; lucky and talented I might add. He definitely earned his job yet I don't quite understand how people end up with such great careers.
Anyway, it absolutely blows my mind that there can be such a large densely populated island filled with seals, penguins, albotras and whales in the surrounding waters! This would be a great experience, somewhat similar to what I would imagine Antarctica to be like except that the weather is much more mild in South Georgia.
Animals in action
Plan, be early, be smart about angles, use time wisely, and study up on the surroundings and the behavior of the animals. Do some research to find the best times to photograph certain animals and begin from there. Maybe take a test run and explore the area so that you know how far and where exactly you want or need to be. If possible study the animals behavior, even if only online. Get there early so that you have time to get the equipment ready and capture the beautiful lighting that comes with sunrise. Be careful of the angle that you shoot certain animals. A photo will seem more personal and have more of draw in more attention if you feel like you are on the same level looking directly at the animal. The whole excitement with animals is that we generally do not get to interact or even see many of the animals around the world, so the photographs shape the way we interpret the animals. Try to capture this in the picture. For instance, if you are shooting baby cubs, try and get their playful side. Try to portray their distinct and unique behaviors. I personally would love to shoot penguins, especially after watching the video. They are so little! My sister is obsessed with penguins and has had millions since I was little. In all of the pictures that I had seen they looked huge. I thought they were at least my size haha!
getting CLOSE
(Techniques to draw within camera range of wild subjects)
Step 1.
Do your homework.
Know that it is the right season for the wildlife you are shooting to likely be seen. Understand some of the animals' behavior so that you can capture the great shot of a full wing spanned or an elk bugling, etc. Find an area that will complement your wildlife shot. For instance, make sure that the background will not outshine or distract from the wildlife itself.
Step 2.
Be smart, use common sense.
Respect the wildlife. If they are uncomfortable and move away from you, do not follow. For instance, once when I was on a drive through the back roads of Harlowton, MT, I spotted a porqupine. We traveled off of the road so that I could get a photo of it. It took off running the other way, and was actually much faster than I would have imagined. The right thing to do would have been to give the animal its space, but I really wanted a picture. I snapped a quick picture and left the porqupine alone. On the other hand, if this animal was in a zoo, it would have been much more comfortable around me. Animals have very good instincts and are aware of humans.
Step 3.
Whether or not an animal will let you near, depends on your stalking strategy. You can directly approach the animal which may be a bit intimidating to some animals. You can slowly approach while looking in the opposite direction, avoiding eye contact and pretending you are not aware of the animal. Or, you can be very quiet, slow and attempt to remain unseen. I would be terrible at the last strategy. I would probably get amazingly close and just when I go to reach out my camera, snap a nearby twig, scare the animal, and miss a perfect opportunity. Plus, with knowing how aware the animals are as it is, I would not trust this way to be the most effective. When stalking, for lack of a better word, avoid trapping them or making them feel uncomfortable. Again, just be aware and acknowledge their behavior.
Step 4.
The planning may take long than the actual photography, but if you are patient and have set up the shot to your best ability, it will most likely be worth it in the end!
Step 1.
Do your homework.
Know that it is the right season for the wildlife you are shooting to likely be seen. Understand some of the animals' behavior so that you can capture the great shot of a full wing spanned or an elk bugling, etc. Find an area that will complement your wildlife shot. For instance, make sure that the background will not outshine or distract from the wildlife itself.
Step 2.
Be smart, use common sense.
Respect the wildlife. If they are uncomfortable and move away from you, do not follow. For instance, once when I was on a drive through the back roads of Harlowton, MT, I spotted a porqupine. We traveled off of the road so that I could get a photo of it. It took off running the other way, and was actually much faster than I would have imagined. The right thing to do would have been to give the animal its space, but I really wanted a picture. I snapped a quick picture and left the porqupine alone. On the other hand, if this animal was in a zoo, it would have been much more comfortable around me. Animals have very good instincts and are aware of humans.
Step 3.
Whether or not an animal will let you near, depends on your stalking strategy. You can directly approach the animal which may be a bit intimidating to some animals. You can slowly approach while looking in the opposite direction, avoiding eye contact and pretending you are not aware of the animal. Or, you can be very quiet, slow and attempt to remain unseen. I would be terrible at the last strategy. I would probably get amazingly close and just when I go to reach out my camera, snap a nearby twig, scare the animal, and miss a perfect opportunity. Plus, with knowing how aware the animals are as it is, I would not trust this way to be the most effective. When stalking, for lack of a better word, avoid trapping them or making them feel uncomfortable. Again, just be aware and acknowledge their behavior.
Step 4.
The planning may take long than the actual photography, but if you are patient and have set up the shot to your best ability, it will most likely be worth it in the end!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Analysis of a photo
In the chapter on modifying light Tim Fitzharris states that "filters are used primarily to reduce subject contrast and enhance color." It is best to get filters that fit all of the cameras that you use, or one that is large enough to be used on them all. The following photograph, taken by Dave Shumway will be my example that I will discuss and use to describe the rest of the chapter. http://www.shumwayphotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-of-Glacier/8882313_9DbJa#588934475_3HXgJ
I would bet that Dave used a neutral density filter on the photograph to balance the picture "retaining the richness of the sky and the detail in the foreground." Although color enhancing filters can be used, I doubt that any were because he would be able to adjust the color on the computer seeing that he shoots in digital. The closest part to the viewer in the photo is the trees which are still quite some distance away, so using a portable light would not be necessary, although it may be for other photos that need a little help illuminating the foreground.
There is definitely dominance in this picture and I find it to be the ray of sunshine in the lower mid range of the photo. Establishing this area of dominance is important in capturing and keeping your viewer's attention. When looked at from a distance it is more visible that there is a lighting bolt design starting with a sharp diagonal at the top with the clouds then coming back with the sunshine and again back with the treeline. These three things work together to make jagged yet flowing lines for the eye to follow.
Color is an important part of appeal and is drastically captured in this photo. Throughout the frame are dark greens, dark blues and greys, yet in the middle is this exquisite orange streak...very appealing, making it the center of interest as well. As mentioned earlier, the center of interest lies in the bottom middle or the lower most portion of the rule of thirds grid.
I would bet that Dave used a neutral density filter on the photograph to balance the picture "retaining the richness of the sky and the detail in the foreground." Although color enhancing filters can be used, I doubt that any were because he would be able to adjust the color on the computer seeing that he shoots in digital. The closest part to the viewer in the photo is the trees which are still quite some distance away, so using a portable light would not be necessary, although it may be for other photos that need a little help illuminating the foreground.
There is definitely dominance in this picture and I find it to be the ray of sunshine in the lower mid range of the photo. Establishing this area of dominance is important in capturing and keeping your viewer's attention. When looked at from a distance it is more visible that there is a lighting bolt design starting with a sharp diagonal at the top with the clouds then coming back with the sunshine and again back with the treeline. These three things work together to make jagged yet flowing lines for the eye to follow.
Color is an important part of appeal and is drastically captured in this photo. Throughout the frame are dark greens, dark blues and greys, yet in the middle is this exquisite orange streak...very appealing, making it the center of interest as well. As mentioned earlier, the center of interest lies in the bottom middle or the lower most portion of the rule of thirds grid.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Annie Leibovitz...a true American master
READ HER STORY!! http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/annie-leibovitz/life-through-a-lens/16/
She has amazing photographs, shot numerous celebrities and made her name well known for her beautiful work across the board. If you don't have time to read the story at least take some time to look at some of her work!
She has amazing photographs, shot numerous celebrities and made her name well known for her beautiful work across the board. If you don't have time to read the story at least take some time to look at some of her work!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
My group and I have been working on our mid-term project, so I found it fitting to do my thursday blog on some interesting facts I have come across. Our hypothetical trip takes place in South America and here are some fun facts:
~~Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the driest regions in the world and to this date has yet to record rainfall.
~~Charles Darwin made the Galapagos Islands famous when he studied animals and their behavior, which contributed to his ground-breaking theory of evolution.
~~Brazil measures 2,725 miles north to south which is the equivilant to the distance between New York City and Reno, Nevada.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
My first photograph of slow exposure was easy since my camera has no problem taking blurry photographs. I did not have to adjust or change the settings on my camera for this shot. I took this shot while driving to Big Timber.
For my second shot, a fast exposure, I used the fireworks mode on my camera, and thanks to my lovely assistant, Stacey, I was able to capture a graceful mid-air shot! The second one is one of my favorites, but was taken previous to the assignment at Evel Kneivel Days in Butte, MT in July of this year.
My third photo is narrow depth of field, and I was able to capture this shot by choosing the close-up option on my camera. This is a flower in the yard of my house.
Lastly, my large depth of field photo I used my landscape mode. This was taken outside of Billings. This is not my favorite picture, but I do like the layering that is present in the depth of the photograph.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Finally we get to take pictures!!!!!
We have four photos we must complete including a long exposure, short exposure, narrow depth of field, and lastly long depth of field.
For a long exposure, I would like to probably start with something rather easy like the water that runs in my back yard and capture some leaves floating on top of the water.
For short exposure, I want to capture a person in mid-air jumping!
Narrow depth of field, I would like to photograph the bark of a tree or maybe some of its leaves.
Long depth of field, possibly take a picture off the rims, especially at night would be cool!!
For a long exposure, I would like to probably start with something rather easy like the water that runs in my back yard and capture some leaves floating on top of the water.
For short exposure, I want to capture a person in mid-air jumping!
Narrow depth of field, I would like to photograph the bark of a tree or maybe some of its leaves.
Long depth of field, possibly take a picture off the rims, especially at night would be cool!!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
~~~~~~MOTION~~~~~~
The next chapter of Nature Photography discusses how one would attain great images in motion just as the author Tim Fitzharris has done. The most important factor of capturing an action shot is shutter speed. In situations like this, a tripod is not necessary but can be extremely important as it may make or break the shot. Depending on the shot that you would like to attain, determines the setting or speed of the shutter. Sometimes action photos display part of the action and other times the action is completely frozen. The faster the shutter speed, the more still or frozen the picture will appear. I'm looking forward to experimenting with shutter speed!!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Exposures
Learning How to Produce a good exposure:
"Exposure is based on through-the-lens light meter readings that transmit the luminance of the scene to the camera's onboard computer," says James Fitzharris. The aperature size and shutter speed control the exposure. One important part of attaining the correct exposure is by looking at the histogram graph.
Histogram
The histogram graph displays the amounts of different values of light consisting of a shadow area on the far left, a midtone area in the middle, and a highlight area on the far right. If the graph displays a much greater amount of light on one side than on the other, it means that the exposure is either too dark or too light and that the aperature or shutter speed need adjusting. It is important that you get the exposure right on the first try to aviod missing a great shot. The light meters cannot differentiate between white snow or sand that is supposed to be light from land that is supposed to be dark. If left unadjusted, these areas will be dsiplayed as neutral-gray. Evaluative/matrix metering is the best mode for general-purposes, whereas spot metering only determines the exposure based on merely 6% of the picture, which can be useful when shooting wildlife.
Modes:
The next step is done by manually or automatically adjusting the the shutter speed and aperature. AV or Aperature Priority Mode "is the best mode for subjects because it gives priority to depth of field." The larger the depth of field desired, the smaller the aperature and vice versa. TV mode or Shutter Priority mode allows you to set the speed of the shutter and the camera will choose the aperature. Manual Mode allows you to set both the shutter speed and aperature and is useful when shooting action shots.
Problems:
Difficult lighting and short amount of time to capture a shot can create problems. Always remember that a one notch increase or decrease in exposure makes a significant change. In situations like this it is important to refer to the histogram and make sure that the picture's values are generally balanced. If the picture is darker or lies in a shadow try decreasing the exposure by one notch. To aviod neutral grey areas when shooting white or really bright lit subjects increase the exposure by one or two stops. Sunrise and sunset provide some of the best and most popular lighting to shoot in. To measure the light, do a meter reading of midtone section including the sun.
"Exposure is based on through-the-lens light meter readings that transmit the luminance of the scene to the camera's onboard computer," says James Fitzharris. The aperature size and shutter speed control the exposure. One important part of attaining the correct exposure is by looking at the histogram graph.
Histogram
The histogram graph displays the amounts of different values of light consisting of a shadow area on the far left, a midtone area in the middle, and a highlight area on the far right. If the graph displays a much greater amount of light on one side than on the other, it means that the exposure is either too dark or too light and that the aperature or shutter speed need adjusting. It is important that you get the exposure right on the first try to aviod missing a great shot. The light meters cannot differentiate between white snow or sand that is supposed to be light from land that is supposed to be dark. If left unadjusted, these areas will be dsiplayed as neutral-gray. Evaluative/matrix metering is the best mode for general-purposes, whereas spot metering only determines the exposure based on merely 6% of the picture, which can be useful when shooting wildlife.
Modes:
The next step is done by manually or automatically adjusting the the shutter speed and aperature. AV or Aperature Priority Mode "is the best mode for subjects because it gives priority to depth of field." The larger the depth of field desired, the smaller the aperature and vice versa. TV mode or Shutter Priority mode allows you to set the speed of the shutter and the camera will choose the aperature. Manual Mode allows you to set both the shutter speed and aperature and is useful when shooting action shots.
Problems:
Difficult lighting and short amount of time to capture a shot can create problems. Always remember that a one notch increase or decrease in exposure makes a significant change. In situations like this it is important to refer to the histogram and make sure that the picture's values are generally balanced. If the picture is darker or lies in a shadow try decreasing the exposure by one notch. To aviod neutral grey areas when shooting white or really bright lit subjects increase the exposure by one or two stops. Sunrise and sunset provide some of the best and most popular lighting to shoot in. To measure the light, do a meter reading of midtone section including the sun.
Chase Jarvis
http://www.chasejarvis.com“The best camera is the one that is with you.” I was online looking at Chase Jarvis' site, his pictures, awards and processes. After clicking the button titled "Chase," I was able to read a little something straight from the heart of this great photographer. It was extremely refreshing to read about someone as passionate and dedicated to what they do as Chase is. And I would definitely swim the English Channel with him.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/
The Big Picture displays news stories through pictures. I selected my top three favorites including Scenes from Sri Lanka, Ballots, Bullets and Bombs in Afghanistan and Greenland. The first two were very political and offered a great insight to what is going on in these parts of the world. On a lighter note, I much enjoyed the photography of Greenland and may even consider adding it to the places I would like to visit. Bright rainbow colored houses cover the hillside and glaciers right in their backyard along with other remarkable landscapes. Check it out!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Working in the field,Winter photography,Nature Photography's Year
Working in the field enjoyably is what this section of the book explains. Making sure that once again, you have a convenient tripod for lugging around. The book also suggests getting a vest which also sounds quite efficient when searching for numerous gadgets and such. I found something I strongly agree with when it comes to cell phones. Always keep one on you in case of an emergency and especially when shooting by yourself. Alert someone of your location and length of stay before leaving.
One of the most important parts of this next section, 'Winter Photography,' is dedicated to clothing. Layers are crucial and those that zip on and off are even better for those freezing days. This is easily understood for me coming from Montana where the weather can change drastically in an instance. It can be hot and beautiful, rain and snow in the same day without question in Montana. Also, for this class we will be shooting during the fall season when times can get pretty chilly. This segment helps give a good winter preparation.
Lastly, Fitzharris depicts his favorite place to photograph each month. It is interesting to see what his explanations are for each month and even though they are surely different for all photographers, I loved looking at the great shots he has captured in this section and throughout the book. I have been to Kauai, HI and loved every second of the trip. From sunrise to sunset I remember looking at the beautiful land and absorbing all of the perfect snapshot opportunities. I would love to go again with a really great camera...possibly in December as he advises.
One of the most important parts of this next section, 'Winter Photography,' is dedicated to clothing. Layers are crucial and those that zip on and off are even better for those freezing days. This is easily understood for me coming from Montana where the weather can change drastically in an instance. It can be hot and beautiful, rain and snow in the same day without question in Montana. Also, for this class we will be shooting during the fall season when times can get pretty chilly. This segment helps give a good winter preparation.
Lastly, Fitzharris depicts his favorite place to photograph each month. It is interesting to see what his explanations are for each month and even though they are surely different for all photographers, I loved looking at the great shots he has captured in this section and throughout the book. I have been to Kauai, HI and loved every second of the trip. From sunrise to sunset I remember looking at the beautiful land and absorbing all of the perfect snapshot opportunities. I would love to go again with a really great camera...possibly in December as he advises.
Monday, September 7, 2009
After reading the segment in our book on photographing tiny critters, I found the future face for my insect photo shoot on the pavement by my car. Actually, I almost stepped on the quarter-sized black beetle as I got out of my car. I could not believe the size of this beetle and couldn’t wait to photograph it. Then I remembered that the book said one cannot make frame-filling pictures with only standard lenses. I decided to take a quick picture on my cell just for proof of how large the beetle I had found indeed was. A reflector is also helpful in situations like this, to help with spotlighting the famous critter. Two more items added to my list for when I decide to become a down-right serious photographer who can justify spending the amount necessary to buy adequate equipment.
I am so excited to get out and begin taking some wildlife and nature photographs. As I continue to read Fitzharris’ book I find myself wondering if my camera will even be able to do any justice to the objects and scenes I am shooting. When I think about buying a new camera I also begin to think about all the lenses I will need and the tripod for stability. Then of course I will need a camouflage lens cover and tri-pads for carrying the tripod. Needless to say, I will be broke by the time I have purchased all of these items.
I am so excited to get out and begin taking some wildlife and nature photographs. As I continue to read Fitzharris’ book I find myself wondering if my camera will even be able to do any justice to the objects and scenes I am shooting. When I think about buying a new camera I also begin to think about all the lenses I will need and the tripod for stability. Then of course I will need a camouflage lens cover and tri-pads for carrying the tripod. Needless to say, I will be broke by the time I have purchased all of these items.
Super-telephoto...what?
Wow! Talk about mind boggling…I feel like I do when my roommate starts talking about organic chemistry! Super-telephoto lenses....what? Focal length, lens speed, brand, zoom telephotos, and auto-focus all seem like very important concepts when attempting to take a great photograph. This section breaks down and explains some of the reasoning behind different lenses and their purpose. For instance, the paragraph on lens color discusses how black super-telephotos appear classy, white ones are intended to reflect heat and most nature lenses are camouflage to blend with its surroundings. There is also a lens for shooting in precipitation that protects your camera while managing to capture great pictures that you had intended on getting before nature’s interference. Image stabilization is extremely important as well as the lens focus. I would probably choose the 500mm lens because like in the photo above, it has proven to get the job done!
TRIPODS!!
Tripods….hmmm…I have read that for serious photographers, tripods are quite important and in some cases absolutely necessary. The more lightweight the tripod is, the better and also that the tripod has the ability to get very low to the ground. Another important factor is that the tripod can be erected quickly in order to get that perfect shot! A tripod head is also beneficial towards being a serious photographer since the head provides a panning opportunity! Not sure what tripod would be best for me, although I have a bit more insight after our last class when Dave went through each tripod example and explained the pros and cons. Now I can conclude that I would also like a stylish pair of tri-pads to place on the legs so my shoulders will be protected while packing my tripod around. I was also very intrigued with the beanbag camera stabilizers. I think that for most of my circumstances the beanbag would come in handy. Not creating a savings account for a tripod or beanbag yet, but possibly in the future I may find I wish to splurge and help take my photography to the next serious level.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
http://www.margecasey.com/davidlindseywade
While searching the web, I stumbled upon an artist by the name of David Lindsey Wade. His photography is quite appealing and extremely unique. I would highly suggest taking a look at his portfolio on http://http//www.margecasey.com/davidlindseywade. Once you have taken a look at his portfolio, browse through the eight other categories listed by clicking the (more) button. I found the category titled 'Nudes' as particularly interesting and have no doubt that you will as well! Check it out! You will be glad and possibly inspired that you did!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Abraham's Photography
Admit it! You are guilty too of innocently Google searching the names of friends, family members and occasionally yourself. I will admit I have "Googled" just about everyone on my family tree in hopes to find that possibly I have celebrity relatives or that one of them has left me with a great fortune! Although the fortune and fame have yet to be found, I did stumble upon a photographer with the same first and last name as myself. Her name is Ashley Abraham and she specializes in wedding photography. http://www.abrahamsphotography.com/There are only five viewable photos on her website at this time. Two of the five are in black and white and happen to be my personal favorites. Not a very entertaining sight and with so few pictures I wouldn't advise to check it out yet. Hoping to see more pictures added to her web page soon!
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