Category: Class Topics (Page 3 of 3)

Needed for this class

• Camera or cameraphone
• Lightroom Classic or Lightroom Photoshop App
• Review: Light quality-direct and diffused, exposure compensation

Light and Dark

The word photography is rooted in Greek meaning “ writing with light “  One of the main concerns of photographers is how light illuminates a scene or subject. While we focus attention on light, it’s easy to not pay attention to shadows. Shadows, although dark, can be as dynamic as light. The shadows shape light, define texture, and act as compositional elements. 

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.

Shadows –  dark areas in photo that can range from black with no detail to dark tone with detail

Uses of light and shadow: Light and shadow are complementary elements in photography. The quality and direction of light affect how a subject looks while  producing shadows in various forms

1. Contrast and Drama :  Shadows can be used to create contrast to produce a dramatic effect. Attention of the viewer is drawn to tonal contrast which can not happen without shadows. In this interplay of light and shadow, the lighting effect is enhanced by the shadows.  

2. Shadows can be used to direct the viewer’s attention. Shadows can be be shapes that may be used as compositional elements  to direct attention to the center of interest in a photo. Also shadows can surround a light area to make it a center of interest.

3. Reveal form: Using shadows will give form to subjects and make them look more three dimensional. The shadows don’t necessarily need to be black for this to happen. As long as one part of subject is light and one part is darker the photo will look more three dimensional. For dramatic effect, direct light will produce dark shadows. But for some subjects, dark hard shadows can be distracting or cause loss of detail. For subjects where detail is important, using partially diffused light will make soft shadows that will show form and maintain detail. 

4. Reveal texture: Side light with shadow will show texture

5. Shadows can be shapes and patterns that can be used to complete a composition.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

How light falls on your subject is key to using shadows in photography. The best direction for a combination of light and shadow will be light coming from the side. For dramatic effect photograph when the light( direct light ) is at a lower angle which  will produce longer dramatic shadows. For less dramatic effect, use diffused light.

Exposing for photos that contain light and dark areas you will need to use exposure compensation. If there is large dark areas in the photo, the meter will over expose the light areas. In this case you need to use exposure compensation to lower the level of the lighter areas. 

Lab Exercises

Shadows

Black and White

Homework

Light and Dark

Needed for this class

• Camera or cameraphone
• White and black cards or paper

Light Quality

Light is either direct or diffused.

Direct light: the light strikes the subject from one angle and creates sharp shadows. Sunlight is an example of direct light.

Diffused Light: the light hits the subject from many angles and creates soft shadows. The light is diffused on an overcast day or in the shade.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Measuring the Light

Exposure is the amount of light that comes into the camera to create the photograph.

Exposure is made up of three components:

1. ISO-Sensitivity to light.
2. Shutter Speed-the length of time that the camera’s shutter is open during the exposure. (For more on shutter speed)
3. Aperture-how wide the cameras lens opens to allow the light to come in. (For more on aperture.)

All three are measured in stops.

How your Camera Meter Works

Acronym: TTL – Through the Lens

The meter in your camera is a reflected-light meter.

A reflected light meter averages the tones in the scene and selects the aperture and shutter speed values that will make the whole scene medium gray.

Watch from :45 to 1:34 for an explanation of how your camera meter works.

Using Exposure for Creative Effect

Sometimes, you don’t want the tones in your image to average out to a medium gray. You want to tones to be low key-mostly dark or high key-mostly light.

How to control exposure

With a cameraphone: Touch the area where the main subject is and then drag the little sun icon up or down to increase or decrease the overall exposure.

With a camera: Use Exposure Compensation set to plus to increase the light and set to minus to decrease the light.

Exposure Compensation-a way to force the camera to make an exposure either lighter or darker than the meter reading. Good for backlight or extremes of light and dark.

Lab Exercises

Lab Exercise: How your camera meter works

Lab Exercise: Using Exposure for Mood

Homework Due Next Class

Low and High Key

Needed for this class

• Camera or cameraphone
• Light source: a window or a desk lamp
• two small objects that represent opposites

Bey and Weems

How does each photographer use the frame in these examples?

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Thinking about the Frame

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.

Angle of View Examples By Alexander Rodchenko

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Resources

Joel Meyerowitz on the frame

Labs: Week 2

Juxtaposition

Angle of View

Homework: The Frame

Needed for this class

• a camera or cameraphone
• an account on openLab and membership in our class

Introductions

Introduce yourself.

Take the Technology Survey

The survey is here. Please put the camera or cameraphone you will be working with in the box after question 6.

Lab Exercise

Hands

Thinking about Photography

Photography is many things but one or the most important is that is is a means of personal expression. You can use it to show others your reality.

Interview with Dawoud Bey

Interview with Carrie Mae Weems – The Kitchen Table series

Homework

Finding Your Voice