Aubrey's Photography Blog: 2014

1.Reflecting upon this first semester, what do you think is the most important thing you have learned? Please use details and please tell me WHY you think this.

The most important thing I have learned is to change my perspective in order to get more eye-catching shots. At one point I was told that my pictures looked like something “a parent could have taken” and that really got to me. After that, I began to look at my photography differently and was really inspired to think outside the box.

2. What is one thing that you wish we had spent more time on? Again please use details and tell me WHY.

I wish we spent more time on the architecture aspect of this semester. I feel like wasn’t really given a lot of tips on how to make my architecture pictures to stand out so I ended up with mostly mediocre shots. I wish we had a meet up downtown so that we could have all worked on the architecture project together.

3. Lightroom is a pretty powerful tool and I know we have only touched parts of it, what are two things you would like to either spend more time on, or what function do need more training on? If you need to open Lightroom you should do so, please try to get the correct name for the controls you are talking about.

I would like to learn about how to reduce the appearance of blemishes using the “heal/clone” brush tool. Also, I have no idea what the “split toning” is used for. A function I would like to improve my skills with is using the Temperature and Tint sliders. I have a difficult time using those to get the best effect possible.

4. This semester I pushed really hard to finish as much of the required curriculum that I wanted to cover that models the ACC assignments. We are four assignments short of finishing but 2 of them will be done in class, so we did well to get as much done as we did. With that being said, do you feel the work load is acceptable for this class? Please tell me WHY?

I think the workload is okay. I haven’t had a problem turning any of my assignments in so the workload isn’t really bothering me. If I did change one thing, it would be to make a separate due date for each assignment/ event shoot so that there isn’t 3 things due on a single day.

5. So far, what was your favorite assignment/photo shoot that we did? Please include details of why this was your favorite and what parts of the task that made it your favorite.

My favorite assignment was the pet portrait one. I really enjoyed working with my pets and attempting to capture their personalities in my photographs. I honestly thought it was my best set of photographs from this past six weeks, even though my grades don’t agree. L The pictures I took of my dogs are some of the photos I am most proud of in my portfolio.

6. Which assignment was the most difficult for you to understand/complete? Again, please be specific and include details of why it was that way for you.

The assignment I had the most trouble with was the sunny 16 assignment. I had a difficult time knowing what exactly I was supposed to do because I don’t think the assignment was explained very well. Also, I didn’t understand the language very well.

Below is a list of the content/assignments we will be doing next semester. Please look over the list and answer the questions proceeding:

Commercial Photography 2^nd semester topics:

Steel wool shoot - 4th

Tilt-shift lens - 4th

HDR images – 4^th

Macro photography – when we get back

Using a Flash – early in the semester

News/Photojournalism formal – early 4th

5 stations (includes colored water droplets, spinning lights, black acrylic, bubbles, and focus stacking) – early in the semester

Studio – with formal shoot MU/Model/Clothing – late 4^th, and 5^th 6 weeks

Silhouette free shoot - 4th

Time-lapse video – 5th

Hyper-lapse video – 5th

Captions – 6^th

Print show – 6th

Film – maybe 6th

Guest speakers – 2-3 people – Mark Heaps - all-around photographer (includes studio tour at his new location), Jeff Campbell - wedding photographer, Jay Janner - Austin American Statesman lead photographer, Steve DeMent - Portrait photographer, Imiko Miller - Portrait photographer, Ariana Price - former student Columbia College Chicago Film School, Jennifer Ramos - specializes in Roller Derby and other event photography.

Field trips – wildflower center, downtown – March for Wildflower, April Downtown, May Enchanted Rock/Fredericksburg flowers - Mark Heaps studio location.

Meet-ups – steel wool, any field trips we can't make during school time

7. Which topic listed above are you the most excited about? Be sure to explain why.

I am most excited about the FILM topic. I have always wanted to learn how to shoot with a film camera and how to process the photos afterward. Also, I have been thinking about purchasing a film camera so my hopes are that in that unit, we learn about what to look for when buying a film camera and about how to know if the camera is good quality.

8. Are there any photography related topics that you want to know more about, but you don't see covered above and that we haven't touched on this semester?

I think all the topics that I would like to be covered are in the list. I am very excited for each of the units we will be learning about. Also, I can’t wait for the guest speakers to come!

9. What are you photographic goals for the future? Do you see yourself going to college specifically for photography? Do you want to learn more about your collegiate options specifically for photography?

I love photography but it is a very risky business. I would like to continue expanding my knowledge of photography so that I can use it as a side-job/hobby. I don’t plan on going to college for photography but I am considering taking the ACC photography class during my senior year.

10. One thing I haven't spent much time on, and that isn't in my plans is about equipment, do you think that we need to spend a little time talking about photography equipment? If you answer yes to this question? Is there anything in specific you want to know? What types of things should I prepare to share with you in regards to equipment.

I would like to learn more about the equipment that is compatible with my camera. I would like to purchase filters, a flash attachment, and light reflectors in the future but I have no clue how to tell if what I am buying is a quality product. I would like to learn about where to go to get the best quality equipment at a reasonable/ high-schooler friendly price.

11. Post your best/favorite photo that you took of the semester.

12. Finally, since this is the first semester of teaching this class here at Bowie, what suggestions do you have for me about how this semester has gone, what I could be doing better. What suggestions do you have to improve any part of this class? For example, you could tell me about student/teacher relations, student/student relations, the content we are covering, the lesson plans themselves, the structure of the formal assignments, the directions for event and free shoots, etc. I am open to anything. Part of my job is to make this a positive experience, yet it is also an educational opportunity for all of you and the other part of my job is to teach you new skills.

I think the main thing that needs to be worked on is the explanation of assignments. I have a difficult time knowing what exactly I am expected to do for each shoot and would like it if we had a hands-on example of what you would like us to do. Instead of showing us your pictures, we could maybe go out into the school and actually practice what we are going to do on our own. Also, I think there needs to be some improvements on student-teacher relations. It is unfortunate that students feel like they can’t talk to their teacher when they have a question about their work due to the fear of you getting mad. It seems like most times, you are in a bad mood. I’m hoping in the future we are given feedback as to why we receive a certain grade. If there is a way on blogger to leave comments, I would like to know what I could do better. Also, I’m not sure if this would be possible but given the feedback about how to make our pictures better, we should be given a chance to go back out and shoot the assignment again to receive half credit back. Or if the issue is our processing in lightroom, we should be able to re-process the photo to earn credit back. Afterall, the best way to strengthen our photography skills is to go out and apply the corrections that you give us.

Fill light- A second light source can be referred to as “fill light.” This reduces the depth of shadows and makes facial features look softer.

Main light- This is brightest light on a subject or scene. This can be either the sun or a studio light.

Hair light- This is the light used to illuminate the subjects hair.

Background light- The light that is placed behind the subject of a picture.

Shadowless lighting- Use of a speed light to create a background with no shadows, called “Soft Light.”

Butterfly- A shadow casted under the nose shaped like a butterfly.

Loop- Lighting used to create a soft shadow of the subjects nose on their cheeks.

Split- A single light source is placed 90 degrees offset from the subject and slightly above eye level. It lights one side of the face and leaves the other in shadow.

Rembrandt- Lighting technique achieved using one light and a reflector. Popular in portrait setting because it appears natural and uses minimum equipment.

Grey Card- A middle grey reference, used with a reflective light meter. It is a way to produce consistent image exposure.

Hard light versus soft light- Hard light creates harsh, dark shadows. Soft light creates less crisp shadows and will appear more “clean”.

Strength - shutter speed and aperture's appropriate to portraits- Aperture should be largest available. Shutter speed should be at least 1/125 to freeze any camera shake.

3:1 lighting ratio – The light discrepancy between two light sources is one and a half f-stops.

Inverse square law of light (remember photography)- An object that is twice the distance from a source of light will have a quarter of the illumination.

TIPS:

24. The worst way to get a “candid” expression from your subject. Whenever I go on a shoot, I always try and get an assistant that can help pose the subject and make them laugh and play so that I can focus on the photography. My pet peeve is when the assistant says something like, “You look so stiff! Loosen up!” Ugh! Telling the subject that they don’t look good only makes the situation ten times worse. Never tell the subject they look stiff or they need to loosen up. It backfires 100% of the time.

35. Learn the famous S pose. Every human being who could ever be considered a portrait photographer must know the s-curve. It’s essential posing education, and I’m definitely going to be teaching it greater detail in my 30-day portrait photography class. Basically, the model does this pose by making the (camera right) side of a model make the shape of an S with the shoulders and hip creating the right edges of the S.

59. Never allow the model to wait on you. Nothing kills the excitement and energy of a shoot more than making the model wait for 10 minutes for the photographer to work on getting lights set up and camera settings properly prepared. Get your gear ready before the model ever shows up so you can keep the energy moving.

63. Get a hair light. Putting a flash or the sun behind the subject is perfect for making the model pop of the background. This is especially true when the subject has dark hair and the background is also dark.

73. Long noses should look straight at the camera. To minimize the distracting look of a long nose, shoot the model head-on and with the chin slightly up. This helps to mask the flaw so the viewer can see the person without distraction.

75. Try not to show the flat portion of the hand. Hands can look distracting and unnaturally large in a photo of it is turned 90 degrees to the camera. It’s best to have the hand curved away slightly from the camera.

76. Choose your poses before the shoot. Making a shoot list and possibly printing off some examples can help you to keep the energy of a shoot moving. Like the picture of the model dancing on the left, you’ll never get the great and creative poses that you want until you work for it. Sit down and spend some time thinking of creative poses, and when you get out to shoot portrait photography, don’t be afraid to try some new things.