Robin Michals | COMD 1340 Photography 1 OL89 | FAll 2020

Author: rmichals (Page 5 of 11)

Lab: Week 9 – Optical vs Digital Shallow Depth of Field

Optical Depth of Field is created by the characteristics of the camera lens.

Digital Depth of Field is created by software.

Work near a window or if you can go outside, that works too. You will need an app such as Focos.

Using three different pairs of subjects, each time with one closer to the camera and one farther from the camera, create shallow depth of field both optically and digitally and compare the two. Experiment with how much physical space is between the two subjects and how close you can get to the closer subject and still have it be in focus. You should have 6 final photos

In the case of the marigolds,

  • shooting with the regular camera, there is some visible shallow depth of field in the flowers farthest from the camera.
  • shooting with the the Focos app, shallow depth of field is pronounced and maybe even a bit exaggerated.

Put your pairs of photos into a post with a description of what you did and wht you learned about how to create the effect of shallow depth of field. There will be no credit for lab exercises without explanatory text!

Category: Lab: Week 9 – Optical vs Digital Depth of Field

Quiz 1

4 pts. Please put your photos and your written answers in a text file, convert to PDF, and email it to me: rmichals@citytech.cuny.edu

Due: Nov 3, 8am.

Each question is worth 1 pt.

  1. Angle of view – Working with a simple object near a light source, take 6 photos of it. One each from: a worm’s eye view, a low angle view, an eye-level view, a high angle, a bird’s eye view, and an oblique angle.
    Clearly label each photo with the angle of view. No credit will be given for unlabeled photos.

2. Take a photograph where the negative space is a really strong shape. Include a description of the foreground/background relationship in the photo.

3. Take a photograph with motion blur using the Lightroom Camera (not another app like Slow Shutter Cam. Describe how you got the motion blur. Include the shutter speed at which the photograph was taken.

4. Compare and contrast how these two photographs use shadows. Use at least 4 vocabulary terms from today’s class topic page for full credit.

HW 6: Reflections

Due November 3. 4 pts. 

Reflection – 1. the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.

Working outside during the day, photograph reflections to create strong compositions that include a combination of elements that are seen directly and by reflection. Reflections can be found in water, windows, and cars among other surfaces. Do not confuse reflections with shadows. Working outside during the day, take enough photographs to end up with 30 interesting photographs with reflections. No credit will be given for improperly exposed photographs or out of focus photographs. No credit will be given for photos taken inside without sufficient light.  Upload to an album on Flickr. 

Reflections example by Edward Burtynsky:

Week 8 – Midterm – Critique Guidelines

Critique Etiquette

  1. Please give the presenter the respect of your full attention.
  2. Any comments or questions you have during or right after a presentation should be directly related to your colleague’s photography.
  3. When you comment on your colleagues work, start with the positive. Use the terms below that we have learned this semester.
  4. It is very important that the presenter hear from a range of students in the class. Your opinion and judgements are important. Offer your thoughts generously. Do not leave the work of responding to the others in the class.
  5. Conversely, please do not speak over your classmates.

Vocabulary

Framing: How the frame brings together the elements inside the rectangle juxtaposing them, creating relationships between them

Types of shots: how much information is in the frame

  • a long shot
  • a medium shot
  • a close up
  • an extreme close up.

Frame within a frame – use elements in the frame to enclose the main subject and draw attention to it. A frame within a frame can be a window or door or it can be items in the foreground such as branches.

Angle of View:  describes the camera position in relationship to the subject. The angle of view may be: 

  • a worm’s-eye view
  • a low-angle
  • eye-level
  • a high-angle
  • a bird’s-eye or aerial or overhead view
  • an oblique angle.

Rule of Thirds – Instead of placing the main subject in the center of the frame, divide the frame into thirds horizontally and vertically and place the main subject at one of these intersections.

Fill the Frame –  (get closer) – do not leave empty areas that do not add to the composition and plan to crop in later.

Diagonals – Sloping lines

Leading Lines – lines in the photograph that lead the eye to the main subject

Patterns – repeated elements. Break the pattern for visual interest

Figure to Ground -the relationship between the subject and the background sometimes described as negative and positive space.

Diffused light – light that comes from many directions and creates soft shadows

Direct light– light that come from one direction and creates hard shadows

Contrast: The measure of difference between bright areas (highlights) and dark areas (shadows) in a photo

High contrast : Large difference between highlights and shadows. Mostly lights and darks without many mid tones        

Low contrast :  Little difference between lights and darks. Mostly mid tones.

Frozen Motion-Motion is stopped and captured in the frame with a fast shutter speed.

Blurred motion-moving elements blur with a longer shutter speed.

The Decisive Moment: A term coined by Cartier Bresson- “the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression.”

Quiz

Quiz

Homework

HW 6: Reflections

Lab: Week 7 – Quiz Review

The class will have a quiz next week on October 27th.

It will cover the topics discussed to date: the frame and composition, light and exposure, shutter speed, and global corrections in Lightroom.

Working with your group, write three questions for next week’s quiz. What are the most important topics covered?

Each question needs to have a part where students demonstrate understanding. Since this will be essentially open book, no question can simply allow for the test taker to cut and paste an answer.

Write one question in each of these three formats:

Define a term and then use it in a sentence.

Compare and contrast two photos (select from any used on any of the class topics pages or taken by students this semester) to discuss XYZ.

Define a term and take a photo that demonstrates that term.

Put your questions in a post with an answer key. Make sure to include the names of everyone in your group.

Category: Lab: Week 7 – Quiz Review

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