Lecture Week 4

Digital Workflow

• capture images on camera
• open in Adobe Bridge
• apply metadata to sort images
• process raw files in Camera Raw
• work on images in Adobe Photoshop

RAW vs. JPEG

• raw - uncompressed file format
• jpeg - "lossy" compression

Pros/Cons of Shooting in RAW

• Pros:
• not processed in camera
• larger file = more information
• can capture in 16bit
• higher quality image in photoshop
• Cons:
• each file must be processed individually
• larger files use more memory space
• may not be necessary to always shoot RAW

Camera Raw Functions

• white balance
• clipping
• cause darkest or lightest details in image to shift to pure black or pure white
• lose all detail in that part of image
• exposure
• white clipping adjustment
• large increases = increased shadow noise
• large movements in highlight values = stretch information in shadow values
• blacks
• brightness
• contrast
• clarity, vibrance, saturation 

Work Flow Options

• space - Adobe RGB 1998
• depth - 16 bits/channel
• size - 15.1 mp
• resolution - 300 pixels/inch

Lecture Week 3

Hard light

• the sun
• single point light force
• creates sharp shadows

Soft Light

• broad light source
• difference angles of light
• soft shadows

Printing Credit

• by 10 sheets for $48
• enough for thematic projects

Human Condition Discussion

I chose to photograph a feminism theme. I want to use objects that represent the female gender such as make up, shoes, dresses, etc. I want to use bright lighting to capture the colors of my work. I also want to use a shallow depth of field for some images to be able to really focus on the feminist objects in the composition. 

For my artist to research, I chose Prue Stent who is a 21 year old Melbourne based photographer. She is a feminist photographer which relates to my theme. The aspect that most inspired me about Prue was her usage of the color pink. She uses pink in her photographs to resemble femininity and to connect all her photos together. Regardless of the content of the photo, the color pink always sticks out as the first thing you see. She uses different medias to create the color; for example in the pictures below, she uses pink colored water, pink paint, and pink nail polish. The different shades and mediums of pinks gives each photo a unique perspective but still help it resonate with the feminine theme. Prue's images are also very simplistic, which I like. I think it makes for a powerful image when there isn't much going on but instead there is one strong focal point. The photos I like most of Prue's are the close ups (the ones I selected below). She also does photos of women and body parts but I think the up close pictures resonate with me more.

Lecture Week 2

Transforming The World Into A Photograph

• flatness
• 3D world is transformed to 2D photograph
• photograph is a 2D representation of the 3D world
• relationships created in the image that did not exist before because photographs have no depth perception 
• opaque photos - viewer is stopped by the visual plane
• transparent - viewer is drawn into the space within the photograph
• frame
• frame encloses the content of the photograph all at once
• for some pictures, the frame is active (the structure of the picture begins with the frame & works inward)
• time
• affected by 2 factors;
• duration of the exposure
• static nature of the final image
• fluid world is stilled into photograph
• length of time that is captured is dependent on the shutter speed
• focus
• camera creates hierarchy that controls what the viewer focuses on in the image
• camera creates single plane of focus, this plane is parallel with the picture plane & gives emphasis to a part of the picture and helps distill a photograph's subject from content
• hierarchical emphasis can be minimized by increasing depth of field (focus lessening on foreground and background)

Organizing a Picture

• vantage point
• frame
• focus
• time

Sense of Place Discussion

I am choosing to explore the city theme. Being new to Melbourne, I am fascinated by all this city has to offer. I want to photograph Federation Square and Flinders Street Station because that is where I first explored Melbourne. I am planning on going during the mid-day when the sun is out. I want to get some sky-line shots and also shots that are characteristic to Melbourne. I want to alternate between small aperture for the sky lines, and large aperture for the photographs of specific things.

Lecture Week 1

• at least 5 gallery visits
• look at some theoretical works for visual journal
• select 2 artists for genre projects (300-500 words each)

DSLR Camera

• Aperture
• controls the diaphragm within the lens to let in more or less light 
• measured in f-stops
• controls depth of field
• large aperture = shallow depth of field = low f-stop number
• Shutter Speed
• amount of time the mirror is in the up position and the shutter system remains open, allowing the film plane or sensor to be exposed
• measured in terms of a second (1/60th, 1/20th)
• controls movement
• 1/60th & slower requires tripod for blurred images 
• 1/500th freeze movement 
• ISO 
• speed system derived from film manufacturers to rate their films in terms of sensitivity to light 
• higher the number, the faster, or more sensitive the speed of film
• the greater the sensitivity, the less light is needed
• best image quality by using lowest ISO
• if under exposed, use next highest 

Camera Modes

• Manual
• control over ISO, shutter speed & aperture
• AV (Aperture Priority) 
• choose aperture, with auto shutter speed & ISO
• controls depth of field
• TV (Shutter Priority)
• choose shutter speed with auto ISO & aperture
• control image quality

DSLR Settings To Adjust

• image quality = RAW
• color space = Adobe RGB
• shooting mode = manual
• white balance = auto