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I had a lot of trouble following this assignment. It was not easy to convert my vague mind pictures into actual photographs. I have attached two subjects that I took separate shots of. There are others (out of over 100) that address other aspects of the assignment but there is no room to attache them here.
regardsPeter Dunne
Hey Peter,
Can you confirm which lesson you are working on here? This was posted under lesson 5 but I think you already did that one via email?
I may be mistaken. Please let me know.
Thanks.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for submitting another assignment.
Let’s dive right in.
Here is the EXIF data for these photos:
http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ngv.jpg
Date Time Original: 2016:02:19 13:13:53
Exposure Time: 1/250
F Number: f / 14
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 1000
Metering Mode: Spot
Focal Length: 50mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS 6D
LensInfo: 4
LensModel: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
LensSerialNumber: 0000a09d6c
Exif Version:
Flashpix Version:
Color Space: 1
Date Time Digitized: 2016:02:19 13:13:53
Subsec Time Digitized: 00
Shutter Speed Value: 7.97
Aperture Value: 7.61
Max Aperture Value: 4
Focal Plane X Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Y Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Resolution Unit: 3
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Scene Capture Type: Standard
ExifIFDPointer: 232
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 1
X Resolution: 400
Y Resolution: 400
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2016:02:21 14:07:18
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.4 (Macintosh)http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ngv-uncropped.jpg
Date Time Original: 2016:02:19 13:13:53
Exposure Time: 1/250
F Number: f / 14
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 1000
Metering Mode: Spot
Focal Length: 50mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS 6D
LensInfo: 4
LensModel: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
LensSerialNumber: 0000a09d6c
Exif Version:
Flashpix Version:
Color Space: 1
Date Time Digitized: 2016:02:19 13:13:53
Subsec Time Digitized: 00
Shutter Speed Value: 7.97
Aperture Value: 7.61
Max Aperture Value: 4
Focal Plane X Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Y Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Resolution Unit: 3
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Saturation: Normal
ExifIFDPointer: 232
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 1
X Resolution: 400
Y Resolution: 400
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2016:02:21 14:07:47
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.4 (Macintosh)http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/poppies.jpg
Date Time Original: 2016:02:19 11:55:21
Exposure Time: 1/1000
F Number: f / 4.50
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 320
Metering Mode: Spot
Focal Length: 40mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS 6D
LensInfo: 4
LensModel: EF17-40mm f/4L USM
LensSerialNumber: 0000000000
Exif Version:
Flashpix Version:
Color Space: 1
Date Time Digitized: 2016:02:19 11:55:21
Subsec Time Digitized: 00
Shutter Speed Value: 9.97
Aperture Value: 4.34
Max Aperture Value: 4
Focal Plane X Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Y Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Resolution Unit: 3
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Scene Capture Type: Standard
ExifIFDPointer: 232
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 1
X Resolution: 400
Y Resolution: 400
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2016:02:21 13:33:39
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.4 (Macintosh)http://photographyicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Turkish-Delight.jpg
Date Time Original: 2016:02:19 11:55:01
Exposure Time: 1/1000
F Number: f / 4.50
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 320
Metering Mode: Spot
Focal Length: 40mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS 6D
LensInfo: 4
LensModel: EF17-40mm f/4L USM
LensSerialNumber: 0000000000
Exif Version:
Flashpix Version:
Color Space: 1
Date Time Digitized: 2016:02:19 11:55:01
Subsec Time Digitized: 00
Shutter Speed Value: 9.97
Aperture Value: 4.34
Max Aperture Value: 4
Focal Plane X Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Y Resolution: 1520
Focal Plane Resolution Unit: 3
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Scene Capture Type: Standard
ExifIFDPointer: 232
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 1
X Resolution: 400
Y Resolution: 400
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2016:02:21 13:30:20
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.4 (Macintosh)ngv.jpg:
I could immediately tell that this image was warped and distorted and this more anything else took me out of the image. As a photographer you really don’t want people to drop out of having interest in your photos for a technical reason. It’s fine if they’re just not interested because they don’t like the image but you really never want someone to be distracted by a purely technical problem as I was here.
A potential solution to the distortion here is 1, not warping the photo in post and 2, capturing using a tilt shift lens.
There is a great article on that here:
http://goo.gl/S77MhII would also advise you to try not to crop in post. Always always always try to get the photo you want in-camera. If that means moving your feet, move your feet!
You’ve done something quite important here. You have use patterns and leading lines to showcase what you think is interesting. In this case the architectural elements on this structure. This is really great.
What’s more the image is very simple and elegant. So you’ve met the requirements for the assignment and done well with this image.
The process of simplification is really a wonderful way to make your images really sing.
It’s so simple but it’s often overlooked, show whats interesting and NOTHING else! Easier said than done but it really is key.
poppies.jpg
In this image the element in the lower left of the frame was a little distracting to me but since it’s shape almost mirrored the shape of the object holding the flowers I feel like it’s not too bad.Notice here how the camera’s automatic white balance got confuse and the photograph’s color is very pinkish?
Try to always shoot in raw and set your white balance manually. In this way you’ll always be able to fix the color if you make a mistake with your white balance setting.
Turkish-Delight.jpg
This is image is the best of the batch. The lines are nice and the colors are wonderful. BUT, there is one tiny problem. The flowering in the top left corner of the frame is cutoff. If something is part of your area of interest you really don’t want to cut it with the edge of the frame. Or at least do it intentionally if you must.Overall you’ve done a good job with this assignment. I would encourage you to continue working on this process of simplification.
The one question I ask myself (in my head) is usually “what is interesting and unique about THIS”. It really forces you to identify what is actually interesting and worth putting into a photograph and this should set in motion all of your other knowledge of how to shoot…
I have to say you’re really progressing well and I sympathize with you on having trouble with this assignment. You may find the noise of the world and the visual noise of your environment will encroach on your ability to really simplify. It will be a constant battle.
Go have a look at the works of Steve McCurry one of the greatest photographers alive today:
http://stevemccurry.com/blogNotice the simplicity and the elegance of every single frame.
If there is an element in the frame it’s there for a reason!
Keep up your excellent work Peter. You are doing really great.
Thank you.
Thanks Duncan. We finally got there. The Poppies shot was meant as a “before” to the Turkish Delight “after”. I retook the shot closer concentrating on the main element only, so I think we are on the same page here. So much to do when preparing to take a shot….shutter speed, aperture, ISO and white balance. I had been deliberately avoiding white balance adjustment so I could work on the other functions. The NGV was also “before” and “after”. However you are right, I did crop the “after” and distorted it. I have been putting a lot of effort into the camera functions because I have taken pictures for years on full Auto, concentrating totally on producing an interesting image. Now that I am concentrating on learning how to use the camera I am treating the choice of subject itself as secondary, as a means to an end. Eventually, once I achieve more competence with the camera I am hoping I will develop a more wholistic approach. I really appreciate your comments and I am grateful for your confidence. I will check out the links. Thanks
Peter
Hi Peter,
Apologies if I wasn’t too sure about which image was which.
You are right to try to nail a few things at a time. It can be totally overwhelming at first.
One thing you can try is to just shoot in Aperture priority or shutter priority for a while and just work on that.
Remember if everything feels like too much you can always say forget this and just set it to auto and fire away!
As you used to do shooting in auto is not the end of the world.
Most cameras do a great job of trying to figure out what to use as settings.
Obviously I encourage manual shooting as much as possible for learning but I sometimes just set my camera to auto and snap away when I don’t feel like thinking about anything.
I never do this for my “real” photos when I’m trying to achieve something
The last thing we want is photography to feel burdensome for you!
Keep it up!
Hi Duncan. I certainly didn’t want to give you the impression it was all too much. The reason I am taking your course is to learn how to become comfortable enough with Manual settings to use them whenever I am composing a shot. I am happy enough to use Auto for the fleeting snap but the whole point is to be as creative and personal as I can be. It is just that sometimes there is a lot to work on with all the settings and I find occasionally my concentration on that gets in the way of the creative aspect. So I am just trying to make excuses for why my shots leave a lot to be desired in that area. I know I am better at the creative side than my assignment work shows and as I become more familiar with the incredible amount of variations in an SLR, that will return. I do like to use Aperture Priority sometimes and that is almost Auto and I am (pleasantly) surprised that you use Auto sometimes.
Regards
Pete
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