Lesson 1: Christmas

[Cassandra Arellano]

One of the photos shows a view from below while the other is a view from normal view.

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[Duncan Rawlinson]

Hi Cassandra,

Thanks for taking the time to post your first assignment.

Here is the EXIF data for image: 01fa0c22503372792e984d97f3fc48418374687f87.jpg

Date Time Original: 2013:11:30 19:11:45
Exposure Time: 1/15
F Number: f / 2.40
Exposure Program: Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings: 500
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 4.12mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: Apple
Model: iPhone 5
LensInfo: 4
LensMake: Apple
LensModel: iPhone 5 back camera 4.12mm f/2.4

Here is the exif data for image: 01a531a5886686001a25c65fc616af3ae2743a4eef.jpg
Date Time Original: 2013:11:30 19:12:29
Exposure Time: 1/15
F Number: f / 2.40
Exposure Program: Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings: 640
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 4.12mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: Apple
Model: iPhone 5
LensInfo: 4
LensMake: Apple
LensModel: iPhone 5 back camera 4.12mm f/2.4

Now I notice that you’re using your iPhone and that’s ok just know that you will be limited in terms of what you can achieve if you are using a phone for your camera. Although to be fair if you know what you’re doing you can shoot some great images.

Look at all these photos shot with an iPhone 5:
http://www.flickr.com/cameras/apple/iphone_5/

The idea of this assignment was to try and use photography to make something seemingly mundane into something interesting. I can see that you’ve tried to make a unique perspective here and shoot the image at a more unique angle.

This kind of experimentation is good and welcomed although there are a few things that could be done to improve here.

First you have to understand that cameras are nowwhere near as good as your eyes. Cameras are just dumb tools and they can’t see very well in the dark (unlike your eyes).

In this case your camera is shooting in very low light and it has no idea what it’s looking at. It doesn’t know what colors should be either. Thats what the term white balance is all about. White balance just refers to how your camera handles the color temperature of what it’s looking at. Notice how in these photos it looks a bit pinkish? That’s because your camera’s automatic white balance is confused and it doesn’t know what it’s looking at.

Like almost anything in photography you can take control and improve the image by making a few changes. For one using manual white balance and telling the camera what it’s looking at will really help the color.

Another would be to avoid shooting in very low light with a camera like a phone. A more high quality camera will allow you to shoot in sitations that are ‘low light’. In these low light situations your camera increased the ISO so much that they start to look grainy. (the ISO is just a fancy way of saying how sensitive your camera is) The darker a situation the higher your camera will set it’s ISO to make itself more sensitive.

Here are a couple examples of a similar image. Notice how they all involve removing things from the frame to make for a more compelling image?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinaphotography/8272580235/

I would encourage you to either get a more substantial camera or get some apps that allow you to manually control the settings on your iphone.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with next!

You can always email office@photographyicon.com if you need camera recommendations or just have questions.

Thanks!

[Duncan Rawlinson]

Also please bear with me around here over the next little while. Things may be a bit messy as the website continues to get better.

Thanks!

[Author]

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