Reply To: Lesson 6 assignment

#30170
Duncan Rawlinson
Keymaster

Hi Jess,

Thanks for submitting your assignment.

Here is the EXIF data for these images:
http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Taylo.jpg
Date Time Original: 2015:06:17 03:42:57
Exposure Time: 1/125
F Number: f / 8
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 1600
Metering Mode: CenterWeightedAverage
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 28mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D7000
LensInfo: 180/10 550/10 35/10 56/10
LensModel: 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Lens: 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6

http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/taylo2.jpg
Date Time Original: 2015:06:17 03:43:03
Exposure Time: 1/125
F Number: f / 8
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 1600
Metering Mode: CenterWeightedAverage
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 46mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D7000
LensInfo: 180/10 550/10 35/10 56/10
LensModel: 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Lens: 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6

http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/DSC_2874.jpg
Date Time Original: 2015:06:17 03:41:00
Exposure Time: 1/125
F Number: f / 8
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 1600
Metering Mode: CenterWeightedAverage
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 28mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D7000
LensInfo: 180/10 550/10 35/10 56/10
LensModel: 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Lens: 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6

If there is one thing I immediately noticed here it’s that your use use of leading lines in these images is really great!

Placing your model right where you did was a really really nice choice. In terms of the assignment itself you’ve done really really well. What’s more your model’s pose and expression are all good. Your background is elegant and relatively simple.

Well done!

Specifically with respect to:
http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/taylo2.jpg

In a situation like this where it’s quite dark you may want to use an off camera flash to fill in some of the darker areas. This will also make your model pop out a little more from the background.

Another suggestion here would be to use shallower depth of field. In this way your background is even more smooth and buttery.

You want your viewer to look at your model not your background. So they viewer only needs as much information as you want to give them. In this case just enough to know she’s out in some kind of market.

Also I want you to remember to be close. This is so easy to forget but it’s also really important.

So with this image a little closer, shallower depth of field, and a little fill from either some kind of bounce or flash.

With respect to:
http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/DSC_2874.jpg

This is the type of scenario that is really calling for an HDR photo.

A ‘high dynamic range’ image is one that basically has more brights and more darks all in the same image.

Do you notice here how it’s extremely bright outside the market where the tree is but very dark inside?

There is no way to properly expose this image and see both properly in one photo.

So what you do is you ‘bracket’ a few exposures. Meaning you should some underexposed and some overexposed images and then merge them together later on your computer.

HDR is a whole other topic outside this lesson but you may want to learn how to do it properly. There a tons of free tutorials and lessons on this subject.

It’s very useful for scenarios like this where you have white hot highlights (outside) and super black darks (inside in this photo).

One final note here would be to pay attention to strong horizontal lines.

Notice the brown lines on the ceiling. They make the images feel crooked.

This really becomes a problem when you make prints of these images because the edge of the print/frame will make this feel even more crooked.

So in future just be aware that if there are super strong horizontal lines you’ll want them to be level and match the horizon. Either that or make them intentionally off kilter (dutch angle)

I hope this helps.

Keep up the good work.

See you on the next assignment.