Unusual and Interesting Photos

Part 3.

1. Below each photo are suggestions for photographers. List 3 of the ones you think are the most 
important for photographers to remember when they are out shooting.

I think that the three most important suggestions for photographers are:

• To find the correct lighting (catchlight)
• To capture a story telling expression
• To look at things from different angles

2. Pick your favorite painting, get a copy of it and post it on your blog.

3. Then go find a REAL photo that looks like your painting. 

4. Did the photographer follow the suggestions fully?

The photographer did follow the suggestion of reflection, but not of lighting, or expression.

The reflection of him stands out because the background is black, and the angle of the reflection is different, and interesting. However, the expression on his face doesn't say anything or tell a story. Also, he is the main focus of the reflection, but doesn't have correct lighting on himself. 

5. Which style of painting do you think might influence you?

I think that the style of painting that will influence me the most will be the concept of finding different perspectives and angles, not just taking pictures at the same eye level angle. This might mean that I will have to lay on the floor, or stand up on a chair to get the picture I want.

Unusual and Interesting Photos

Part 1.

1.    What is your reaction to his work?

I was amazed by his photos. His pictures are so unique, interesting to look at, and are high quality.

2.    How do you think he made these photos?

I think that he took a series of photos of one object at different angles, and overlaid them.

3.    Think about some buildings you have seen, which ones would be good to take a photo like this? Tell me about those buildings, where are they, could you get easy access to them?

The capital in downtown Austin, because there is a part at the top where it is thinner, and has a statue sitting on it. Another building would be the UT tower in Austin, because it is beautiful when it lights up, and there is a clear background behind it. You could easily get access to both these buildings because there is public access, and they are easy to see from far away.

Academics / Community Service Photos

My favorite photo from this section was of the boy climbing a wall. He was almost to the top and everyone was watching him from below.

1.  I chose this photo because it is very focused on the climber and everyone else is a little blurry.
     This effect draws so much attention to the main subject. Also, his facial expressions show that he
     is putting so much effort into climbing to the top.

2.  In this photo, there are a few rules of photography evident. One of them is balance because he is  
     close to the camera and is on the very bottom of the frame, while all the people, are on the top of
     the frame far away from the camera. This picture also follows the rule of thirds because he is
     slightly off center horizontally and vertically.

My shoot:

1.  I think I will be taking pictures in the art rooms because the students are always making
     interesting sculptures, paintings, or drawings. I saw some of their sculptures of different things
     like animals and food, and they were amazing. I would love to photograph all the incredible
     creations, and all the students focusing and having fun in the class.

2.  I would like to photograph in Mr. Logan's sculpture classroom and/or Mrs. Abbott's art 1
     classroom. There are many areas in the garage to so I might try photograph all areas of the art
     department.

3.  To get amazing photos I will really have to look at the angles and lines of the classroom to make
     sure that the photo is interesting and has different dimensions. I also might have to lay on the floor
     or stand up on a chair to get the perfect view. I will need to remember the rules of photography to
     make sure that each picture is different and appealing to look at.

Filling the Frame

I chose this picture for filling the frame because the background is occupied by darkness. By having a simple and contrasting background/frame, the focus is more on the subjects.

Action / Emotion

This photo has the best action and emotion because there is so much going on. They are doing a science experiment using water and by the look on their faces, they are happy and excited. This picture clearly represents what the students are feeling. I also like how the photographer took the picture in the middle of the action. 

The Story

In this photo, students are praying for their school, students, and teachers at the flagpole. This shows the power of coming together and sharing your beliefs with others. The students aren't afraid of what others might think because they are publicizing their faith. To me, this is why this picture tells the best story.

Photo Manipulation and Ethics

Summary:

     This story is about how photoshopping pictures can be an offense and can cause people to lose their jobs. In many cases around the world, including the U.S., Israel, Lebanon, and other countries in the Middle East, photographers have photographed an altered the image of an important event that was in the newspaper. Many of the cases were about how they added or replaced objects or people in the photograph, portraying an unrealistic image. 

    

      In my opinion, this type of photoshop is unethical because by changing something important, the picture could be representing something false that didn't happen. For example, if I took a picture of the president giving a speech, then replaced his face with someone else's, then the picture is a false representation of what happened that day. Personally, I would want to look at a photograph in a newspaper that wasn't altered, so that I would know that what I saw in the picture really happened. I think that as long as the editor doesn't replace, heavily alter, or remove anyone or anything in the picture, then he or she shouldn't be punished by losing their job.

     This is the most unethical picture because it is portraying false information. Saddam an Bush did not debate, but the image makes it look like they did. Anybody who had picked up this article expecting a story on how they debated, would have been disappointed because the cover page was a false representation of what really happened. 

     This photograph is the least unethical because the use of photoshop didn't advertise or portray false information. In this picture, the pyramids were moved closer together so that the background would be fuller. This isn't bad because the editor didn't heavily alter or change an event that occurred. 

Great black and white photographers PART 2

Steichen, Lotus       

     Edward Steichen Lotus was born in a small European country, Luxembourg, in 1879. But, him and his family moved to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1881, he was only two years old. When he was a teenager, he realized that he loved art, especially painting, and moved to Paris in 1900. But, he gave up painting a few years later to become a photographer. In 1917, he made aerial photography unit in France after he joined the U.S. Army, but when the war was over, he became interested in taking pictures of plants, flowers and creatures like insects. In 1923, he was offered a job as a photographer for "vanity fair" and "vogue". This was a turning point in his career and made him famous. 14 years later, he decided to stop working for these companies and became a Navy officer during World War II. After the war, he continued to take pictures of things he loved until 1973, when he died in France.

Sources: 

http://agnautacouture.com/2013/08/04/edward-steichen-a-painter-by-training-turned-to-photography/

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Steichen

Prompt shoot photos

Happy

Bowie

 square

Metal

Merger

post shoot refection

1. What challenges did you encounter while trying to get the photos of your first 4 prompts (Square, Metal, Happy, Bowie)
The challenges that I faced were that I couldn't find an interesting angle when taking pictures of big objects like trees and floors. I also found taking an interesting picture of lines to be difficult.

2. What technical aspects of photography or the assignment in general (focus, framing, holding the camera, etc.) did you find yourself thinking about the most? Provide a specific example of what you did to do this correctly.
I thought about placement the most because I was having a hard time with the angle of the photo. But, I took a picture of a square plaque in the library at a good and interesting angle.

3. If you could do the assignment again, what would you do differently now that you know some basic rules of photography?
If I could do this assignment again, I would try harder to find interesting angles by standing on something tall, laying on the floor, or getting closer to the object I was focusing on.

4. What things would you do the same?
I would position objects to make sure they were focused, and make sure that the background was simple.

5. Finally - go back and edit your blogs with the 4 photos (square, metal, happy, Bowie), tell me what rules of composition (which you just learned about) did you end up actually achieving? Did you have any?
I ended up achieving, the rule of thirds, simplicity, and lines.

6. Are you interested in shooting those same prompts again, why?
Yes, because they were very different from each other, and it was easy to find objects that fall under that category.





http://rebeccasphotojournalismblog.blogspot.com

- Her photos are in focused, simple, and interesting to look at. I especially like her picture of Happy.

- The only thing I would change is the background on the Bowie picture. It is a beautiful picture, but I think it would look better if there was a simpler background.

The Camera

1. Explain the “camera obscura” effect. How is it achieved?
"camera obscura" was an optical effect discovered by Greek and Chinese philosophers. 
There is a small hole made in a completely dark room. Light is concentrated and focused through the hole so that the outside scene is projected upside down on the opposite wall. 

2. What invention during the 17th Century helped man get a step closer to creating the modern camera?
Glass lenses.

3. What were the parts of the first modern camera invented by Niepce? 

A glass lens, dark box, and film.

4.What do modern digital cameras have in common with Niepce’s camera?  

Modern cameras and Niepce's camera both produce a photo by light going through the lens, into the camera, and exposes the film.

5. What do digital cameras use to capture an image?

Digital cameras use an electronic sensor. (CCD)

6. What is the difference between the Auto Mode and the Program mode?

Auto: the camera is in complete control of flash and exposure.

Program: you can control the flash and other camera settings.

7. What is the Portrait mode used for? How does it work?
The portrait mode is used when the camera is trying to blur the background using the setting aperture.

8. What is the Sports mode used for? (not just sports) How does it work?
The sports mode is used to freeze motion. The camera uses the fastest shutter speed.

9. Why should you do a half press on the trigger button?
You should do a half press because the camera responds faster, there is more control over the focus, and there is a better composition.

10. What does this symbol mean? When would you use this?
This symbol means disabled flash. You use this when you do not want there to be flash at all.

11.What does this symbol mean? When would you use this?

This symbol means auto flash. It is used when the camera thinks that the photograph needs more light.

12. What happens to your photo if there is too much light?
If there is too much light, the picture will be too washed out.

13. What happens to your photo if there is not enough light?
If there is not enough light, the picture will be too dark.

14. What is a “stop.”
"stop" is a measurement of light. (change in the brightness of light)

15. How many stops brighter is the new planet if there are two suns instead of one?
The new planet is +1 stop.

16. How many stops brighter is the new planet if there are four suns instead of two?
The new planet is +2 stop.

17. What affect does a longer shutter speed of have?
More light.

18. What affect does a shorter shutter speed have?
Less light.

19. What does the aperture control?
The aperture controls the brightness/light.

20. When adjusting the aperture, how can you increase the amount of light?
By increasing the F-stops.

avoiding mergers-9/11

I chose this photo for avoiding mergers because the people's white clothes blend in with each other and the building and smoke are the same color, making it hard to see what the main focus of this photo is.

framing-9/11

I chose this photo for framing because the main focus of this photo is the big cloud of smoke and debris which is framed by the buildings on either side.

balance-9/11

I chose this photo for balance because the colors, grey and black, are divided evenly in the center of the photo. Also, the man falling from  the building is located where the dividing line is for the grey and black, therefore making the photo balanced.

lines-9/11

I chose this photograph for lines because the smoke clouds, lines of the building, and cracks in the building are all different types of lines. (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal.

The rule of thirds-9/11

I chose this photo for the rule go thirds because the most important objects in this photo are the twin towers which are in one third of the photograph.

Simplicity-9/11

I chose tho photo for simplicity because there is one major focus, the building. There aren't any clouds in the sky, people, or other buildings that distract from the burning building.

best black and white photographers

callahan, detroit

walkins, washington

steichen, lotus

First Photos

I was not in the class to do the assignment.

Welcome to my blog