Lesson 1 Assignment

[Molly Ackley]

The first photo is of a fruit bowl containing bananas that just may be a little past their prime. The second photo is of the fruit bowl turned upside down, almost entrapping the bananas. It kind of looks like the bananas are trying to escape their banana jail, too. I posted another view that I liked also. I kind of like how it’s not one point is perfectly in focus – almost like it’s spinning because of the spindles of the fruit bowl.

[Duncan Rawlinson]

Hello MoMollyJo!

Thanks for posting your first assignment!

I like what you’ve done here for a few reasons. For one thing you’ve gotten your first assignment online and that can be quite a chore to get done!

Beyond that it looks like you’ve tried to shoot this photograph in manual mode in a low light situation.

Throughout the course you will see that I post the EXIF data on the photographs. It’s just a fancy way of saying settings…

Here is the EXIF data for these images:
[attachment=2:1cd8pnqe]IMG_0787%5B1%5D EXIF.png[/attachment:1cd8pnqe]
Date Time Original: 2011:03:23 09:50:11
Exposure Time: 1/20
F Number: f / 1.80
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 200
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 50mm
White Balance: Manual white balance
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
LensInfo: 4
LensModel: EF50mm f/1.8 II
LensSerialNumber: 0000000000
Exif Version:
Flashpix Version:
Color Space: 1
Pixel X Dimension: 5184
Pixel Y Dimension: 3456
Maker Note: 898
User Comment: 8334
Date Time Digitized: 2011:03:23 09:50:11
Subsec Time: 15
Subsec Time Original: 15
Subsec Time Digitized: 15
Shutter Speed Value: 4.38
Aperture Value: 1.63
Focal Plane X Resolution: 5728.18
Focal Plane Y Resolution: 5808.40
Focal Plane Resolution Unit: 2
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Scene Capture Type: Standard
InteroperabilityIFDPointer: 8598
ExifIFDPointer: 348
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 2
X Resolution: 72
Y Resolution: 72
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2011:03:23 09:50:11

[attachment=1:1cd8pnqe]IMG_0814%5B1%5D EXIF.png[/attachment:1cd8pnqe]
Date Time Original: 2011:03:23 10:08:21
Exposure Time: 1/12
F Number: f / 1.80
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 400
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 50mm
White Balance: Manual white balance
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
LensInfo: 4
LensModel: EF50mm f/1.8 II
LensSerialNumber: 0000000000
Exif Version:
Flashpix Version:
Color Space: 1
Pixel X Dimension: 5184
Pixel Y Dimension: 3456
Maker Note: 898
User Comment: 8334
Date Time Digitized: 2011:03:23 10:08:21
Subsec Time: 00
Subsec Time Original: 00
Subsec Time Digitized: 00
Shutter Speed Value: 3.63
Aperture Value: 1.63
Focal Plane X Resolution: 5728.18
Focal Plane Y Resolution: 5808.40
Focal Plane Resolution Unit: 2
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Scene Capture Type: Standard
InteroperabilityIFDPointer: 8598
ExifIFDPointer: 348
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 2
X Resolution: 72
Y Resolution: 72
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2011:03:23 10:08:21

[attachment=0:1cd8pnqe]IMG_0800%5B1%5D EXIF.png[/attachment:1cd8pnqe]
Date Time Original: 2011:03:23 09:58:00
Exposure Time: 1/15
F Number: f / 1.80
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 400
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 50mm
White Balance: Manual white balance
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
LensInfo: 4
LensModel: EF50mm f/1.8 II
LensSerialNumber: 0000000000
Exif Version:
Flashpix Version:
Color Space: 1
Pixel X Dimension: 5184
Pixel Y Dimension: 3456
Maker Note: 898
User Comment: 8334
Date Time Digitized: 2011:03:23 09:58:00
Subsec Time: 00
Subsec Time Original: 00
Subsec Time Digitized: 00
Shutter Speed Value: 4
Aperture Value: 1.63
Focal Plane X Resolution: 5728.18
Focal Plane Y Resolution: 5808.40
Focal Plane Resolution Unit: 2
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Scene Capture Type: Standard
InteroperabilityIFDPointer: 8598
ExifIFDPointer: 348
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 2
X Resolution: 72
Y Resolution: 72
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2011:03:23 09:58:00

Now you’ll notice there are couple issues with these images. The main problem is that it’s a relatively low light situation and you are shooting at relatively slow shutter speeds.

In a situation like this that is somewhat low light (even thought it might not look like it to your eye) your camera might struggle to capture enough light. If that’s the case you might need to increase your ISO to compensate and or speed up your shutter speed. Alternatively using a tripod would allow you to get away with more. In other words, in low light it’s hard to shoot crisp images handhelp at lower ISOs.

I like that you’ve played around and tried to experiment as well. I certainly recommend a sense of play and experimentation with your photography learning.

One other thing I should note is that you may want to learn the minimum focus distance of your lens(es). Many people don’t realize their lenses can’t focus on anything until it’s a certain distance away from the lens. Your lens may have some distance markings on it. The smallest distance is the minimum focus distance.

Do you have a tripod?

Do you have any questions?

Let me know.

Thanks! 🙂

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