Author Archives: Kassandra

by | December 14, 2012 · 9:05 pm

Final Evaluation

Since I’ve taken this course, I have learned many things that I was never taught before. The first and most important thing I have learned in this class is how to use a DSLR. I’ve always used a point and shoot and learning how to use a DSLR has opened up my eyes on how much you can actually control when taking a photograph. I even bought myself a DSLR to continue practicing on taking better and more beautiful photographs. Another important thing I was taught is to use camera raw to edit photographs before bringing it into Photoshop for final retouching. I never knew how much you can change in a photograph, from its exposure to its vibrance and saturation. One last thing I’ve learned in this class is the vocabulary that is used in the field. It’s great to describe photographs with more specific terms.

This course will really help me for designing because now I am not limited to just using stock photographs for my designs, rather I can take a picture myself and fully control how I want my photographs to look like.

Something that I would like to learn in this course is a basic lesson on how to use Adobe Lightroom. I have seen this program a few times and are curious on how you can edit photographs with the program.

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by | November 17, 2012 · 3:05 pm

Learning Log 7 – Painting with Light

I think that this picture was one of the strongest pictures that my group and I took because of the lighting and the overall idea. It took us a few tries to get a decent shot, but it was really fun trying out different ideas for a good painting with light photograph.

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by | October 10, 2012 · 8:24 pm

Learning Log 5 – Portrait Basics

What are important factors to consider when shooting a portrait?
The most important factors in shooting portrait photos is to focus on the face, as well as using proper lighting techniques. You also have to make your subject comfortable and to capture some sense of emotion in the photograph.

What is the difference between broad and short lighting?
Broad lighting is when the main light is on the side of the face that is facing the camera, while short lighting places the main light on the side of the face that is away from the camera.

In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the main light?
The main light is the light that is used to create shadows and sharp contrast.

In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the fill light?
The fill light makes shadows less dark by adding light to them.

In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the background light?
The background light is used to separate the subject from the background.

 

This picture is my favorite picture because of Sean’s expression, as well as the contrast of light (from this face) to the shadowing.

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Filed under Learning Log 5-Portrait Basics

by | October 2, 2012 · 1:15 pm

Brooklyn Historical Society

Daguerreotype of Magdalena Hulst, circa 1855, DAG.09; Photography collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Digital Photograph taken at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

I personally think that the trip to the Brooklyn Historical Society taught me many new things, especially about daguerreotype photographs. It was exciting to know that we were able to see the daguerreotypes up close. Daguerreotypes are really different from digital photographs. Daguerreotype pictures are pictures that were made with chemicals and the pictures appear on metal plates. When I viewed one of the daguerreotypes, at first you couldn’t see the image, but when I viewed the picture on a different angle, I saw an image of a young woman sitting down. Digital photography is such a dramatic change from daguerreotype. Digital photographs are a stark images with vivid colors, yet daguerreotypes are images that you have to take time to look at to see what they really are, and the decorative frames that they put around these small images are beautiful, and seemed like it took a lot of time to create. This shows the difference of photography and the difference of how much goes into developing a photograph from the 1800’s to now. Overall our visit to the Brooklyn Historical Society was like a step back into the past, and it was a great to view the different daguerreotype pictures.

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Filed under Learning Logs, Photography Formats

by | September 26, 2012 · 7:13 am

Botanical Garden – Best Shot

This picture was the most favorite picture I took at the Botanical Garden because I like how the rays of sunshine appear in the photo. I also really liked the detailing of the leaves and how it was the focal point of the overall picture.

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Filed under Learning Log 3 - Botanic Garden

by | September 13, 2012 · 7:34 pm

Sunflower Shoot – Kassandra Urena

This was one of my favorite pictures from the sunflower shoot because of the use of radical cropping. Also, the lighting emphasized the texture of the petals.

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Filed under Learning Log 2-Lighting Direction

by | September 6, 2012 · 11:06 am

Chair Photoshoot – Kassandra Urena

The most successful picture I took today was this picture that was part of a stool that we used. My group decided to use the stool in an angle to create a different effect, rather than just keeping the stool in the same position. We used a light to create shadows on the legs of the stool. In the end an interesting shadow appeared, along with small light spots throughout the stool legs.

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Filed under learning log 1-Composition

by | September 1, 2012 · 9:37 pm

Homework 1 – Kassandra Urena

Dawoud Bey – Harlem Stories

1. What type of photograph is it?
The photograph called “A Woman Waiting in the Doorway” is a portrait photo of a woman who is standing next to a doorway in Harlem.

2. What can you tell (or guess) about the photographer’s intention?
From what I can tell, Dawoud Bey is trying to capture the simplicity and expression of the woman.

3. What emphasis has the photographer created and how has that been done?
The photographer has used sidelit lighting, creating a dramatic effect to the photo. The lighting directly hits the subject, which makes her the main focal point of the photograph.

4. Do technical matters help or hinder the image?
The technical matters help the image. The sharp focus of the photo makes all of the elements in the picture work well together.

5. Are graphic elements important, such as tone, line, or perspective?
Graphic elements are important since they change the overall mood of the photo. The first element I noticed about the photograph was the side lighting, then I focused on the woman’s pose and expression.

6. What else does the photograph reveal beside what is immediately evident?
The photograph shows how different things were in Harlem in the 1970’s compared to now.

7. What emotional or physical impact does the photograph have?
This photo makes me wonder what the woman is thinking about while waiting in the doorway.

8. How does this photograph relate to others in the same series by the same photographer.
This photograph relates to the other photographs in the series because it shows simple yet highly expressive street photographs that describe how Harlem was during the 1970’s.

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