Weekly Music Indulgence


We Are the Few by Streetlight Manifesto

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Notes pgs 114-119

Shooting A Formal Portrait
  • Practice your setup routine beforehand so you do not waste time during the shoot.
  • Be relaxed, so your subject will be relaxed as well.
  • Stool should be about 4-6 feet in front of the background.
  • Place the light about 45 degrees to the right side of your subject.
  • Have a reflector on your subject's left side, about 3-4 feet away.
  • Adjust the angle and position of the reflector for the best effort.
  • Set the camera directly in front of the subject, 6-10 feet away.
  • Talk to the subject and guide them in how you would like them to pose.
Camera Settings
  • Use a wide open aperture and a shallow depth of field to emphasize the subject.
  • Shutter speed should not be slower than 1/60, faster than a subject can blink.
Lighting!
  • Indoor lighting: use one light and a reflector on the opposite side of the light. Reflector position most critical.
  • Outdoor lighting: no direct sunlight! shoot in open shade, and 3-6 feet away from the subject.
    • Cloudy Days are perfect
    • Avoid distracting backgrounds.
Candid?
  • Capture a person going about everyday life.
  • Do not pose your subject, actually let them act natural.
  • include your subject's surroundings.
  • More photos will be taken than in other situations.
  • Use a fast shutter speed, 1/250 and above.

Monday, October 18, 2010

My Weekend. 10.15-10.17

up way too early for no reason.

toes.

mocha truffles on haight.

"I'm just trying to skate!"


Bambi?


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Journal Notes Pages 108-113

A portrait is a collaboration between the subject and the photographer. A photographer must learn to become comfortable in front of people; because every great picture depends on building a relationship even if it is only temporary.
  • The bigger the film negative, the greater the detail a photo can have.
  • Film speeds for portraits:
    • Slow (50-100 ISO)
      • More detail, a smoother photo
      • good for formal portraits
      • Using a tripod is highly recommend for slow speed films because they have slow shutter speeds as well.
    • Fast (400-3200 ISO)
      • More light sensitive than slow speed films.
      • Good for candid and environmental portraits
      • A fast speed film provides a faster shutter speed which can allow the camera to be handheld.
  • Black and White vs. Color Film
    • Black and White
      • Focuses the viewer's attention on the subject.
      • Eliminates distracting background elements.
      • Good for formal portraits.
      • Provides a Serious and edgy energy to photos.
    • Color
      • Captures Feelings and Impressions very well
      • Warm Colors provides photos with intense feelings
      • Cool Colors provide photos with restful and calm feelings.
  • Tripods are used to steady cameras
    • should be used while taking stationary subject shots, not in-motion shots.
  • Cable Release
    • Used by the photographer in order to not move the camera while taking a shot.
  • Reflector used to reflect light into the shadows.
    • A standard, full sheet of white mat board or foam-covered board that is 32 x40 IN
  • Formal Portrait
    • simplest portrait style and should emphasize the person and nothing else.
    • no distracting background elements
    • example: Senior portraits.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Journal Notes, Chapter 5 : pages 102-107

Photos reveal our true self or a "photo fiction."



  • The art of photography grew to replace the art of painting and eventually became more commonplace and affordable than painting.
  • Gaspard-Felix Tournachon 
    • Began shooting in France in 1853
    • First great portrait photographer
      • used soft-lighting
      • and plain, dark backgrounds
    • took formal eloquent photos of artists, writers and actors of the time.
    • "speaking likeness"
      • was able to capture subjects' personalities on film.
  • August Sander
    • Began shooting in Germany in 1892
    • Took the first environmental portraits
      • Shot subjects in daily life and work settings
    • Created a documentary of the German people from 1892-1954
  • Creation of Portraits
    • Value
      • Range of Light & Dark areas in a photo
        • Lightest and Darkest areas attract attention & help move eyes throughout an image.
    • Location of Light Source
      • Advantage of light values, highlights & shadows of your subject
      • textures & shapes become more/less visible as values change.
    • Emotional Content
      • Shadowed areas = darker/melancholy mood
      • Brightly lit areas = upbeat/positive feeling

Monday, October 4, 2010

Photo Essay : San Francisco Through My Eyes

Sutro Baths Adventure.
Free Shoes.
Deep Blue Abyss.
Giants Hilarity.
Cleanup the Beach.
Capoeira on Haight.
i think this whole city is weird...but i like it.
Where can i find Stacy's Mom?