Category: Lab Exercises (Page 1 of 7)

Photograph your objects on two different backgrounds. Keep as much about the photo the same – the composition, the angle of view – and change the mood just with the background. Adjust your photos in Lightroom. Put the two photos in a post with a short description of what you used and how the different backgrounds change the mood of the two photos.

Post. to open lab student post/ Lab11 background

In food photography, soft light is often used as the main light. The main light can be either backlight or side light. To make the food look appetizing, we generally fill or brighten the shadows.

The side of the food away from the main light will be dark. To brighten and soften the shadows, we reflect light from the main light into the darker side. Adding fill evens out the light. It reduces contrast. You can’t simply correct for this with software. When you do, you will lose detail in the brighter areas to get a good exposure on the areas in shadow.

The fill in a photo studio may be another light or a white board to reflect light back on subject . You can try a piece of computer paper if you don’t have white cardboard. Use it to reflect the main light back onto the subject. It will brighten the shadows and even out the light.

Working with your main light, photograph a group of a few food items, using back and side light, both with and without fill.

First pick a background. Arrange the items on the background , creating a pleasing composition .

Set position of main light and rearrange items if necessary. To soften light from a clip lamp place tracing paper in front of light. If you can’t soften the light, adjust the light so shadows are not distracting.

Shoot the scene with backlight

• one overhead shot (birds eye view)
• one 3/4 shot
• one detail

Shoot the scene with backlight and add fill

• one overhead shot (birds eye view)
• one 3/4 shot
• one detail

Shoot scene with side light

• one overhead shot (birds eye view)
• one 3/4 shot
• one detail

Shoot scene with side light and add fill

• one overhead shot (birds eye view)
• one 3/4 shot
• one detail

Upload all 12 images to open lab in a gallery. Lab11 Food/ Fill

Label all images

Describe your process including how you set up the shot. What did you use to reflect light into the shadows. Did you get better results from back or side light? Which image is the best? Why?

Wide Angle Distortion is created when using a wide-angle lens AND the camera is very close to the subject. The object close to the lens appears abnormally large relative to more distant objects, and distant objects appear abnormally small and hence more distant – distances are extended. 

When shooting a portrait with a cameraphone, you can’t change your focal length unless you have an iPhone 11 or 12 and even so the choices are limited. But whatever camera you shoot with, you will see wide angle distortion in the photo if the camera is too close to the subject.

Take two photos of a model or yourself: one with wide angle distortion and one without.

If you are shooting with a cameraphone, take the first photo with the camera very close to your subject or your own face. Take the second photo with the camera at least at arm’s length, better yet on a tripod, home-made or otherwise.. You will need to crop the second photo in Lightroom to get the framing to be about the same.

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Special thanks to Prof Michals

There are times though when we want to use wide angle distortion. The exaggerated scale relationships can be used to be funny or dramatic.

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Create six photos that use wide angle distortion to make a funny or surprising image. Post all 6 to flickr. Pick best 2 and include them in post with the previous two

Put the four photos in a post with the category Lab: 12 Wide Angle Distortion with an explanation of wide angle distortion. What is it? how do you create it and how do you avoid it. When do you want to avoid it and when might you want to use it?

Review the portrait lighting styles: Rembrandt, Broad, Butterfly, Short, and Split light.

Standing by a light source , create a self-portrait in each lighting style. Put them into a post with the category below. Clearly label each one with the lighting style . Answer the questions: Which lighting style was most difficult to create? Which gave you the best result ?

Post to open lab. student post/lab 10 light positions