Introduction to Lighting, Design Elements, & Photographic Techniques CUVPHI302A Capture Photographic Images Session 2 of 8 Aaron.Burton@cdu.edu.au
Housekeeping
Session 1 REVIEW 1. Prepare to capture digital images 1.1. Discuss photographic project with relevant people and select appropriate camera and accessories 1.2. Assess digital camera features to ensure that outcomes meet project requirements
Camera Technology
Digital Camera Features CAMERA CHECKLIST: Manual mode Quality & Compression Sensitivity / Film Speed (ISO) White Balance (WB) Light Meter / Exposure Aperture (e.g. f5.6) Shutter Speed (e.g.1/125th)
Useful Accessories
Session 2 Plan 1. Prepare to capture digital images 1.3. Plan shots for the project taking into account digital camera features, lighting, photographic design elements and photographic techniques
Session 2 Plan 1. Prepare to capture digital images Lighting Photographic Design Elements Photographic Techniques
LIGHTING Quality: (1) Colour (2) Intensity (3) Size (4) Direction Trent Parke
LIGHTING Quality: (1) Colour (2) Intensity (3) Size (4) Direction Trent Parke
White Balance
White Balance
White Balance
LIGHTING Quality: (1) Colour (2) Intensity (3) Size (4) Direction
ISO - Film Speed / Sensitivity
LIGHTING Quality: (1) Colour (2) Intensity (3) Size (4) Direction
Soft Light Soft shadows Low contrast Soften edges Beautiful Shade Cloud Dusk/Dawn Window Light Size
Hard Light Hard shadows High contrast Emphasize edges Dramatic Light Size Direct sun Direct light bulb/flash
LIGHTING Quality: (1) Colour (2) Intensity (3) Size (4) Direction
Lighting Direction
Lighting Direction
Lighting Direction
Lighting Direction "Rembrandt lighting" position main light 45 from subject
Lighting Direction Three Point Lighting
Hard direct light Difficult to soften i.e. bounce or reflect Head-on position has no shadows - no volume Foreground often blown out - difficult to vary flash intensity Only use for fill On-Camera Flash
On-Camera Flash
Reflectors & Diffusers
Windows & Shade
Golden Hour
DESIGN ELEMENTS (1) Proportions (2) Balance (3) Brightness & Contrast
DESIGN ELEMENTS (1) Proportions (2) Balance (3) Brightness & Contrast
Proportions Horizontal Left to right Stability Landscapes TV / Computer James Nachtwey New York, 2001 - Searching for survivors.
Proportions Horizontal Left to right Stability Landscapes TV / Computer Elliot Erwitt New York, 1974
Proportions Horizontal Left to right Stability Landscapes TV / Computer Walter Looss Jr, Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii, 1990
Proportions Vertical Pull' effect Top and bottom Vertical lines Walter Looss Jr, Greg Louganis, 1984
Proportions Vertical Pull' effect Top and bottom Vertical lines Benoit Gysembergh, Bamako, Mali
Proportions Vertical Pull' effect Top and bottom Vertical lines Carolina Salguero, New York, September 11, 2001
Proportions Vertical Pull' effect Top and bottom Vertical lines Dennis Stock, Tokyo, Japan, 1974
Proportions Square Symmetrical Diagonals Diane Arbus, Child with Toy Hand Grenade, Central Park, NYC, 1962
Proportions Square Symmetrical Diagonals Walter Looss, Tiger Woods, 2002
Proportions Square Symmetrical Diagonals Nick Brandt
Proportions Square Symmetrical Diagonals Brent Stirton, fetching water, 2003
Rule of Thirds Divide frame in 3 sections Points of emphasis Sebastião Salgado Refugees in the Korem camp Ethiopia, 1984
Rule of Thirds Divide frame in 3 sections Points of emphasis Stefano Rellandini, Kashmir earthquake, 2006
DESIGN ELEMENTS (1) Proportions (2) Balance (3) Brightness & Contrast
Balance Weight Tone Colour Texture Space Mary Ellen Mark Falkland Road, Bombay
Balance Weight Tone Colour Texture Space Jonas Bendisken, Satellites, Russia, 2000
Balance Weight Tone Colour Texture Space Walter Looss Jr, Michael Jordan, 1987
Balance Weight Tone Colour Texture Space Shehza Noorani, carbon dust, Dhaka, Bangladesh
DESIGN ELEMENTS (1) Proportions (2) Balance (3) Brightness & Contrast
Brightness & Contrast
Brightness & Contrast
PHOTO TECHNIQUE (1) Focus (2) Depth of Field (3) Motion (4) Lens & Perspective
PHOTO TECHNIQUE (1) Focus (2) Depth of Field (3) Motion (4) Lens & Perspective
Focus
Focus
Focus
Title: "Afghan Girl" (detail) Photographer: Steve McCurry Subject: Sharbat Gula Camera: Nikon FM2 Film: Kodachrome 64 Lens: Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 "Afghan Girl" was featured on the front cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Tip: Make sure the eyes are sharp
PHOTO TECHNIQUE (1) Focus (2) Depth of Field (3) Motion (4) Lens & Perspective
Depth of Field Aperture Lens focal length Subject distance
Depth of Field Shallow DOF Large Aperture Long lens Close subject distance Wide DOF Small Aperture Wide angle lens Far subject distance
Depth of Field Aperture Lens focal length Subject distance
Depth of Field
Lauren Greenfield, Prom in the OC
Jonas Bendiksen, Satellites, 1999-2005, Abkhazia
Jonas Bendiksen, Satellites, 1999-2005, Russia
Eddie Adams, Mother Theresa
PHOTO TECHNIQUE (1) Focus (2) Depth of Field (3) Motion (4) Lens & Perspective
Motion
Motion Shutter Speed 1 sec 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 Tip: To prevent camera shake set the shutter speed above the focal length of the lens i.e. use at least 1/500 sec shutter speed with a 300mm lens or 1/60 sec with a 50mm lens
John Mabanglo, Diver Chelsea Davis at Fina World Championships, 2006
Vincent Larofet, Beijing Olympics, 2008
Vincent Larofet, Beijing Olympics, 2008
Sydney Seshibedi
Motion Shutter Speed Fast paced sports require at least 1/500 sec for sharp images often 1/1000 or 1/2000 sec Slow shutter useful for panning Slow shutter for night shoots Slower than 1/30 sec will almost certainly result in camera shake - use tripod/monopod Tip: 1/125 sec a good starting point
Panning - follow the subject while pressing the shutter so the subject remains sharp and the background is blurred
Ronald Modra, Ben Johnson, Olympics, 1988
PHOTO TECHNIQUE (1) Focus (2) Depth of Field (3) Motion (4) Lens & Perspective
35mm Lens Focal Lengths Wide-angle (short lens) 18mm - 100º 20mm - 94º 28mm - 74º 35mm - 62º Normal / Standard (similar to vision) 50mm - 46º Telephoto (long lens) 85mm - 28º 135mm - 18º 300mm - 8.5º 500mm - 6º Zoom Lens & Perspective
Lens & Perspective Charlie Cole, The Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989
Lens & Perspective Charlie Cole, The Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989
Lens & Perspective James Nachtwey, Nicaragua, 1984
Lens & Perspective Steepening Perspective Close to subject Wide angle lens Flattening Perspective Large subject distance Telephoto lens
Lens & Perspective Thomas Hoepker, Muhammad Ali, Chicago, 1966
Session 2 1. Prepare to capture digital images 1.3. Plan shots for the project taking into account digital camera features, lighting, photographic design elements and photographic techniques LIGHTING Quality: (1) Colour (2) Intensity (3) Size (4) Direction DESIGN ELEMENTS (1) Proportions (2) Balance (3) Brightness & Contrast PHOTO TECHNIQUE (1) Focus (2) Depth of Field (3) Motion (4) Lens & Perspective
Session 3 NEXT WEEK 2. Preview and experiment with image capture 2.1. Operate digital camera according to manufacturer specifications 2.2. Set digital camera preferences and use photographic techniques to achieve desired results