tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55499869892868024012024-03-08T07:11:34.227-08:00OCA DPP AssignmentsRichard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-66130392331074399652014-04-06T04:51:00.001-07:002014-04-21T03:29:30.180-07:00Assignment five–Tutor feedback and reflection<br />
I have included an extract of the main points that Sharon made about this assignment and highlighted the areas where I will need to take action before submitting for assessment:<br />
<em>I particularly enjoyed the abstract nature of many of these pictures. I got a sense of your morning routine but had to take some time to work it out. It added to the project not to be given all the information out right and as a result really pulled me into the work. It was also a good decision not to title the work in a descriptive way so you still kept the mystery. I’m also glad you went with this project and not the actor set, which looks like a good exercise but this work takes me on much more of a journey. The journey and intentions of this project were clear before I even read your blog so that alone suggests you achieved it well. I also thought that the ambiguity provided by the use of macro photography helped this project from being a clichéd way to attempt this task.</em> <em><span style="background-color: yellow;">I would like to see your writing move away from more technical detail such as the tablet package providing good texture and detail to incorporating a more reflective account of what it means for you to get ready</span>. In an extreme and shocking example you may be interested in Pete Mansell’s series for his level 3 Advanced. This kind of approach would help you to work with your creative ideas more and would help assessors know how you thought it through rather than seeing it as a simply technical exercise – which I am sure it is not. Some more information would be helpful here. <span style="background-color: yellow;">I like the theme of touch and this does come through but again, in your writing and in your final editing process, ensure this hits the assessors between the eyes!</span> The awareness you have about the retirement theme is very interesting and perhaps this is something you could look at in your next courses (landscape or documentary would both fit it well). I wish you all the best in exploring this if you choose to do so. (I think it would be great!)</em> <em>Technically these were well produced and printed. You demonstrated some very competent skills in applying lighting to the reading of an image. <span style="background-color: yellow;">The only ones that looked over produced was the shaving one and the pills held in a hand,</span> which could do with a reprint. Perhaps you could put them in a portfolio box for assessment? I’m glad you made the decision against manipulation, it wasn’t needed and I think the work is stronger as a result. I wonder if there are too many pills references. <span style="background-color: yellow;">If I was you I would edit it down to one picture to represent this aspect of your routine. The pills in your hand is probably the most obvious and also badly coloured so I would consider editing this one out.</span> The blue and white Braille image I feel is the most successful of these as it is the least obvious and most visually grabbing. <span style="background-color: yellow;">Thinking along these lines I wonder whether the shaving face is required? Something for you to consider in the final edit. In my opinion it would be a good editing decision to make the selection visually striking and ambiguous</span>. This would help the series sit well together both visually and conceptually. I think it is nearly there and with a few tweaks and removals it will be a tighter and more coherent set.</em><br />
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I will make the modifications to my initial blog submission by editing the descriptions using italics and reposting the blog with an explanation of what I have changed in response to tutor feedback.<br />
Following Sharon’s suggestion, I looked and Peter Mansell’s blog. It was indeed an extreme example but I’m glad I spent the time. I got an insight into the difficulties experienced by his particular mobility problems but more importantly into the hidden and very personal issues he has to deal with on a daily basis. Issues that someone who enjoys good health (and takes it for granted most of the time) is not aware of. <br />
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<br />Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-5482102503851959772014-02-19T03:11:00.001-08:002014-04-07T04:03:34.269-07:00Assignment five: Personal Project<p> </p> <p><font color="#000080"><strong>Editing in response to tutor feedback<em>. </em></strong><em>In response to my tutor’s comments (shown above), I have left my original explanations and captions in place and supplemented them with additional text in Italics, in particular how each step in my routine has come to mean something, simply by examining it in detail. The numbers shown on my prints have not been changed. Prints 5 and 8 have been omitted.</em></font></p> <p><br><strong>Introduction</strong><br></p> <div align="justify">I am interested in the possibilities of images from interactions between texture and light. My initial idea was looking in detail at the objects and surfaces that we touch every day (or may be touched by) but do not necessarily see, even if we look directly at them. </div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">I started by using a macro lens to to find some interesting shapes and details around my house and realised that I would have to restrict myself, as the number of opportunities was vast and the possibility of producing a number very similar images had to be avoided. Some of the images are enigmatic as I have identified and formed abstracts.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">During my early experiments I started plotting out my day, working my way around the house as I went about my daily routine. As it turned out, the first thirty minutes of that routine provided the basis of my collection of twelve images. The whole series is about starting my day, carrying out actions almost involuntarily, a routine which doesn’t change and finishes when I divert from habit and start whatever the business of the day dictates.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">It is interesting that another theme emerged from this series, depending on how you read it. During shooting I became aware that I had an additional theme in the series. I chose the first and last images with this is mind. As I approach my 65th birthday it became clear to me that this series was also about retiring. Being able to press the snooze button, needing to find my glasses before I can start my day, the unconscious routine borne of habit, the handful of pills and a label to tell me if I’ve remembered to take them and an empty diary page with the day waiting to be filled…….</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">I am happy with my selection. I tried to make this more than just a collection of abstracts or close ups and I think I have succeeded.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><strong>The images</strong></div> <div align="justify">I will print off the images to send to my tutor and for assessment but I will present each one here with some details of how it was made. Unless otherwise indicated, my camera was set on manual control and all images were taken under studio lighting. Exposure was determined using a flash meter. In most cases, focusing was manual and just one soft box and a reflector was used. </div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">I experimented with ring flash but this did not give the lighting I was after. The exercise in improvising this from kitchen materials and my SB600 speedlight was interesting and it will be a useful tool to have in the future.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <table style="width: 600px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KSgYdZ-pLWc/U0KF_JRZG7I/AAAAAAAAEJA/U4vC2-JNbyo/s1600-h/DSCN0002_235_thumb62.jpg"><img title="DSCN0002_235_thumb6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSCN0002_235_thumb6" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vRohpU180-E/U0KF_vOlSRI/AAAAAAAAEJI/ZKkGfVJumuQ/DSCN0002_235_thumb6_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="241"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mmejVPNZ6kY/U0KGAHyAGOI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/ui5XTE8-GJA/s1600-h/DSCN0005_234_thumb62.jpg"><img title="DSCN0005_234_thumb6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSCN0005_234_thumb6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O-nVVp1tGwE/U0KGAwYVPWI/AAAAAAAAEJY/FPSQcCH99Mw/DSCN0005_234_thumb6_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="333"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><strong></strong><br> <div align="justify"> </div><strong>The use of editing software for this project was restricted to normal post processing, in particular “cleaning” the images of dust. Even making sure the surfaces were free of visible dust before shooting, did not remove it completely. The most valuable skill I learned from the course was the organisation of my workflow and editing a large collection of images down into a meaningful project.</strong><br><strong></strong><br><strong>Image 1</strong><br><strong>This represents the start of the series and of my day. Do I snooze or get up? </strong><em><font color="#000080">Since retiring I have experimented with trying to wake without an alarm and on days when I have little planned, I have indulged. However, I find that I still need structure to my day which starts with a regular rising time.</font></em><br><strong></strong><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4JLkOZ1zTrs/UwSIfead1KI/AAAAAAAAECE/ccOv1OqUVZs/s1600-h/Print-019.jpg"><img title="Print 01" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 01" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-reE_kPG6eUY/UwSIgOot5PI/AAAAAAAAECM/yeooWdSOJbs/Print-01_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 598px" size="2"> <br>Image 2<br> <div align="justify">This image was a very late entry into the series. It wasn’t until after I had added all of the pictures to my blog that I realised I had forgotten my glasses! They are so much a part of me that<em> </em>there is a lot I cannot do without them. They just sit on my nose and work. The image was made using two soft boxes, one to the left lighting the object and one to right pointed at the background (white paper roll).</div> <div align="justify"> </div><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xDv3VFSYze4/UwSIg8Db9wI/AAAAAAAAECQ/1SHyIvcZep8/s1600-h/DSC_5616_2548.jpg"><img title="DSC_5616_254" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5616_254" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GcZ_8DThZ_o/UwSIhazZA0I/AAAAAAAAECY/8c7CM6XgkGk/DSC_5616_254_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 592px" size="2"> <br>Image 3<br> <div align="justify">This picture of the stamped metal magnet-release plate on the mirrored door of my bathroom cabinet couldn’t be lit successfully with flash. Instead a 64 LED array was used. I moved it around until I got the right combination of light and shadow in the letters. I emphasised the fingerprint by using moisturising lotion on my index finger. Because of its height and position in the bathroom I had to remove the door and photograph it in my studio/workroom. The quality of the LED light was surprisingly warm. I adjusted the fine tuning slider in the White Balance to a bluer tone, emphasising the cool metallic quality.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><em><font color="#000080">Instructions and labels constantly assault our senses, push, pull, stop, start. Most we see once and never look at again.In reality this tab tells me how to open a door. Beyond that, it’s a reminder to go beyond my boundaries. With age, it is more important to push myself forward out of complacency.</font></em></div><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rms2UCNsSj4/UwSIihMxayI/AAAAAAAAECk/QFEsZALqcuM/s1600-h/Print-028.jpg"><img title="Print 02" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 02" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6xfYXHecmVM/UwSIjou-jlI/AAAAAAAAECs/LHLFoRWS_L4/Print-02_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><strong></strong><br> <hr style="height: 1px; width: 596px" size="1"> <br>Image 4<br> <div align="justify">Again, this is a different touch. Hopefully the drag of the razor will be smooth and effortless, lubricated by foam and hot water. I used a black background and single soft box to allow me to highlight the water droplet. I made lots of exposures, trying to get the drop as large as possible by adding to it with an eyedropper and firing the flash before it dropped under its own weight. When I was setting up this shot I used a new razor with just water. Adding the foam caused some flecks of white in the droplet. I have edited them out.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><em><font color="#000080">Some habits are so ingrained that they are subconscious. For me, shaving is</font></em><em><font color="#000080"> one of them. With this image I wanted to examine in close detail the object that is in intimate contact with my skin every day. Shaving is a habit I cannot get out of. I went four weeks without shaving a year ago but didn’t like it.</font></em></div><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NIrXzWPMOzU/UwSIkdRtkMI/AAAAAAAAEC0/u4Bxi7BHtaQ/s1600-h/Print-048.jpg"><img title="Print 04" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 04" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fX1AjBOVLzU/UwSIlEhsWHI/AAAAAAAAEC8/NXvcAuCKpyg/Print-04_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br> <hr style="height: 1px; width: 603px" size="1"> <br>Image 5<br> <div align="justify">This was taken with autofocus, again difficult to judge but after several attempts I got this comparison of smooth and harsh textures. I took a lot of pictures of shaving foam at this point but decided not to include another.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><em><font color="#000080">Following my tutor’s advice, I have removed this image from the series as it does not add much to it and is is too obvious. </font></em></div> <div align="justify"> </div> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U9QpCdM9iKA/UwSImttQuBI/AAAAAAAAEDE/g6mKpZUQA8U/s1600-h/DSC_5084-_print-file8.jpg"><img title="DSC_5084 _print file" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5084 _print file" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lf7GyqeKAbY/UwSInhoWA4I/AAAAAAAAEDM/fyAcx7xFgB0/DSC_5084-_print-file_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br></p> <p> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 604px" size="2"> <p><br>Image 6<br>The next part of my routine involves taking my daily preventative medication, the braille on this tablet box was an ideal subject.</p> <p><em><font color="#000080">This is another device that we constantly look at but rarely see. Enigmatic for the sighted but a lifeline to the visually impaired. As this series is about touch and texture, I started thinking about the slow deterioration of eyesight over the years and my need for glasses. Hopefully I shall never need Braille. </font></em><br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ssWseLNxCms/UwSIoeLM-EI/AAAAAAAAEDU/x-RufzOG6OE/s1600-h/Print-067.jpg"><img title="Print 06" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 06" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mBoxIdlTZLo/UwSIo8oARxI/AAAAAAAAEDc/nIawZBElIKI/Print-06_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br></p> <p> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 594px" size="2"> <p><br>Image 7<br>The diary pack of tablets yielded some interesting text and textures.</p> <p><em><font color="#000080">My tutor thought that I should remove this image from the series as it was another image of my medication. Again, it is a tactile experience squeezing the pill through the foil but as the last image was about touch and vision, this was included because it is about touch and memory. A useful reminder of the day of the week when every day can seem the same without the total change of routine the weekends bring.</font></em><br><br><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o98QGmrtbFU/UwSIpmgohGI/AAAAAAAAEDk/UXcBmvjjxIQ/s1600-h/Print-077.jpg"><img title="Print 07" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 07" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Uc8OC7_gmls/UwSJH8-p9xI/AAAAAAAAEDs/zyYV_O-SAEE/Print-07_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br></p> <p> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 588px" size="2"> <p><br>Image 8<br></p> <div align="justify">Of all the images that I printed, this was the least satisfactory. My four colour printer rendered the skin tone of my palm very pink. At first I thought it was the reflection of t he pink tablet but every attempt I made at correcting the colour on screen produced a worse effect so I printed it ‘as was’.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><em><font color="#000080">This image I have removed from the series. As well as the difficulties experienced with the colour balance, it is too literal whereas the two previous images are enigmatic and less obvious.</font></em></div> <p><br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bAeioPatrLo/UwSJIx9WWzI/AAAAAAAAED0/p0bYtxLG2A0/s1600-h/Print-087.jpg"><img title="Print 08" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 08" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vKvdJqpt8EM/UwSJJjMAHgI/AAAAAAAAED8/UyCT-hPB_PY/Print-08_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br></p> <p> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 600px" size="2"> <p><br>Image 9<br>This image of the bead of water that is left by your top lip when you sip from a glass, was best photographed against a black background with just one light. I did try to use a white backdrop but the image was not as graphic.</p> <p><em><font color="#000080">With this image I wanted to show the after effect of the touch of my lips on the rim of a glass and the temporary nature of the film of water that forms there. The substantial amount of water that our bodies contain, will continue to exist long after we have gone, constantly being recycled and forever moving.</font></em><br><br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aNd3kvFX5IU/UwSJKcjDP1I/AAAAAAAAEEE/TrImwO1f_-4/s1600-h/Print-097.jpg"><img title="Print 09" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 09" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gHKWKJa3evQ/UwSJLOUYnZI/AAAAAAAAEEM/LbQXjySzieY/Print-09_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br></p> <p> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 592px" size="2"> <p><br>Image 10<br></p> <div align="justify">Photographing this neon lit button on my coffee machine using flash meant that the warm glow was burnt out and only the neon element was orange. To achieve this effect I photographed this using just the tungsten modelling lamp on my studio flash (f22 1.3s). Leaving the camera’s white balance setting on flash meant that the whole image was very yellow but after adjusting the camera settings to incandescent in my editing software, the orange glow in the button was retained and the surrounding surface could be set back to its normal colour. </div> <p><em><font color="#000080">I find this round button appealing. It has a soft touch and its warm glow promises something comforting. I know as soon as the light goes out, the promise will be kept with a hot cup of coffee.</font></em></p> <p> </p> <p><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wj8_IQH0-w4/UwSJMcYgTgI/AAAAAAAAEEU/Z3sMG3pjgcQ/s1600-h/Print-107.jpg"><img title="Print 10" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 10" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BrG5NsRBO0s/UwSJNAHJRBI/AAAAAAAAEEc/f3xUDkwaURY/Print-10_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br></p> <p> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 594px" size="2"> <p><br>Image 11<br></p> <div align="justify">I needed to move the single studio flash and reflector around to achieve what I wanted for this image of my coffee cup, a sense of the smooth shiny glaze, the form of the handle where the light has caught the edge of the curve and the vertical highlight where the handle is joined to the mug. This gave a three dimensional feel to the image with only a very narrow band of the picture in focus.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><em><font color="#000080">With this image I wanted to evoke the solidity and comfort provided by the contents of the mug. When holding the handle I rest my thumb here. I suppose it is the equivalent of the child’s comforter.</font></em></div> <div align="justify"> </div><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_9JO3QiaKBc/UwSJOJyZu0I/AAAAAAAAEEk/Ok1oWbeez24/s1600-h/Print-117.jpg"><img title="Print 11" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 11" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--lyPJb4IDh0/UwSJOtcXHVI/AAAAAAAAEEs/N2WKDWGX_DY/Print-11_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 594px" size="2"> <br>Image 12<br> <div align="justify">This final image is a representation of the day to come after the morning routine is completed.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><em><font color="#000080">It is my normal routine to scribble a few notes about the day just before going to sleep which makes the image a little ambiguous. With the whole day to myself, what is to be written here later, has at this point not been decided but is full of possibilities.</font></em></div> <div align="justify"> </div><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yZbblT72M_0/UwSJPdDRpPI/AAAAAAAAEE0/QqDgHMPB2nQ/s1600-h/Print-127.jpg"><img title="Print 12" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Print 12" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sA02fxACQKE/UwSRF4PpSSI/AAAAAAAAEFE/OdvOwuRYBrg/Print-12_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="398"></a><br><br> <hr style="height: 2px; width: 594px" size="2"> <br><strong>Reflection on the Project</strong><br> <div align="justify">I chose this theme partly because of my interest in abstracts and textures and partly because I wanted to try out a recently acquired 100mm f2.8 macro lens. Given recent weather events it was a good choice as I was able to complete the entire project indoors.</div> <div align="justify">I gave myself a very broad brief and let the project evolve. I deliberately allowed myself to explore different possibilities with regard to subject matter. My first difficulty was to do with photographing things in situ. The decision to use my studio/workroom solved that one easily. I needed consistent lighting and it was the only way forward. The second problem was to identify and introduce a theme or narrative to link the images. My first image was actually the door catch on the bathroom cabinet so the idea of following the sequence of events that occur after opening it followed on naturally. The first and last print were added at the end. I felt I had to have a starting point and a resolution point at which I could end the series.The final problem came when editing down to 12 prints as I introduced a lot of different ideas. Here are a few images that didn’t make the cut:</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <table style="width: 600px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GKrJi7ZN8rk/UwSRHV3OXNI/AAAAAAAAEFM/TdV_e504JAI/s1600-h/DSC_5316_0864.jpg"><img title="DSC_5316_086" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5316_086" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y_6RMIdmMGA/UwSRH4em6BI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/RJHP8HblqDE/DSC_5316_086_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="159"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JxtuK_dz7-4/UwSRI5SlXLI/AAAAAAAAEFc/HP5bnR1q1Rg/s1600-h/DSC_5349_0914.jpg"><img title="DSC_5349_091" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5349_091" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XBnIo4Ep05s/UwSRJALxXJI/AAAAAAAAEFk/paSb5HKSLns/DSC_5349_091_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="159"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--gvX2VT_dVk/UwSRKuFHEdI/AAAAAAAAEFs/JKmILYAQWfU/s1600-h/DSC_50304.jpg"><img title="DSC_5030" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5030" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w0ygoo3lklk/UwSRK6TksHI/AAAAAAAAEF0/C5aNQ9xgZWs/DSC_5030_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="159"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ITO6_2Jr9A4/UwSRMC4N2YI/AAAAAAAAEF8/LVcUUmWtAjI/s1600-h/DSC_5373_0973.jpg"><img title="DSC_5373_097" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5373_097" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GwFtDCnwO80/UwSRMh-NqiI/AAAAAAAAEGE/sIT9gJpv7fQ/DSC_5373_097_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--2XkYakLNbg/UwSRNa5U_8I/AAAAAAAAEGM/k--rEs7m2ts/s1600-h/DSC_5446_1304.jpg"><img title="DSC_5446_130" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5446_130" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7uo2SxdHN40/UwSRN1QJiYI/AAAAAAAAEGU/aEE9k4dm1Qw/DSC_5446_130_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="159"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mip8AtLdhSQ/UwSRPr9D5fI/AAAAAAAAEGc/fSBeFAsCw-M/s1600-h/DSC_5259_0384.jpg"><img title="DSC_5259_038" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5259_038" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QeriZHGQYlU/UwSRPxKtB7I/AAAAAAAAEGk/AhtmhJ3waBs/DSC_5259_038_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="159"></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">Having selected my 12 images (except my glasses, which I had forgotten) I read through the assignment brief and realised that I had not included “ all that you’ve learned on the course”. I did experiment with an idea of using a semi-transparent layer on some of the images to simulate the ‘touching’ idea but it was not successful. I thought it distracted from the image and I was unhappy with the accuracy of the selection tool in PSE.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iTmXb6uBRzo/UwSRRKhXekI/AAAAAAAAEGs/1AcyxHAoNPc/s1600-h/DSC_5508_170_compo5.jpg"><img title="DSC_5508_170_compo" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_5508_170_compo" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nwlhtKljVC0/UwSRRks6yxI/AAAAAAAAEG0/PjOZNhDC7Aw/DSC_5508_170_compo_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" height="221"></a></div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">I decided to stick with what I had. I had fulfilled the brief with my normal workflow and didn’t see that manipulating the images would achieve anything.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><strong>Self Assessment</strong></div> <div align="justify">I’m happy with my Technical and visuals skills, I’ve presented my work well and think that I have communicated my ideas with this set of photos. I’ve tried to create something new using my imagination and experimentation. My ‘personal voice’ I’m still not sure about but I think I’m getting there. I am continuing to read, attend study events. Since my last assignment I have added a lot to my learning log.</div> Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-77127210958288528262014-01-21T04:51:00.001-08:002014-04-14T12:15:19.124-07:00Assignment 4 – Reflection on Tutor Feedback<br />
Here are the tutor’s overall comments:<br />
<em>Thanks for completing assignment 4. I thought you showed a good level of creativity, with a subject that is current and also showed how you have got to grips with Photoshop. Well done. I think you could have deepened your level of research into real and fake in relation to photography both historically and today</em><br />
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<em>…</em>and Feedback on Assignment:<br />
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<em>…..When I started to look closer I did enjoy your thought process and thought how you executed your vision was well done. Although I think it is too literal in approach I have to admire the way you made the image match your vision, as highlighted in your sketch.</em> <em>I also like the made up language and the general concept for the magazine, which demonstrates a good level of creativity.</em> <em>My only criticism is that when considering real / fake in relation to photography you don’t have to go to extremes of using manipulation and Photoshop in a dramatic and obvious way. You could use the software in a subtle way and therefore confuse the viewer with what appears to be real but is not. In fact this is at the heart of photography as truth and an issue that has been live since photography began. One of the first photographs was by a man who staged his own death!</em> <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolyte_Bayard">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolyte_Bayard</a> …….and other comments on context: <b>Learning Logs or Blogs/Critical essays <i>(</i></b><b><i>Context) </i></b> <em>It’s great to see you continue to be engaged with your reading and OCATV visits. Taylor Wessing was a good idea and I enjoyed reading your points of view on the winners and others. These trips must not be underestimated in terms of importance to your studies.</em> <em>You also demonstrate a good level of Photoshop awareness when using it for touching up images and have made your position clear on how far you would go in changing images.</em> <em>In terms of making your blog easier to navigate may I recommend you put a label for your assignments so the assessors can easily link between your blog and your assignments.</em> <b>Suggested reading/viewing <i>(</i></b><b><i>Contex</i></b><i>t)</i> <b></b> <em>Looking at the work of other photographers and visual artists will open-up greater creative responses within your own practice. <b></b></em> <b><em></em></b> <em>Dave did an excellent job with his research for this assignment – you might be interested. I really felt like he got beneath the areas of importance for the real/fake debate in digital or manipulated photography and what this assignment was based upon.</em> <br />
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<a href="http://davebartlettdpp.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/assignment-4-real-or-fake/">http://davebartlettdpp.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/assignment-4-real-or-fake/</a> <b></b> <b>Other artists you use manipulation:</b> <b></b> <em>Wendy McMurdo</em> <em>Julia Fullerton Batten</em> <b></b> <b></b> <b>Conclusions / Pointers for the next assignment</b> <b></b> <em>Make your final assignment something that really interests you!</em> <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Reflection</span></strong> My reflection on feedback was included in an email to my tutor:<br />
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I understand that there are more subtle ways of using manipulation, maybe I need practice at doing that. My image is an expression of the way I see the situation. Unfortunately, I have the “crash bang” approach to assignments. I get an idea I think will work, put my head down and pursue it. I’ll try to remember to pause occasionally and ask myself if I’m on the right track or if I could do it differently.<br />
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Assignment 5 is coming on slowly. As I mentioned I have registered DPP for assessment in March but it will be touch and go. I may have to push it onto the July event. At your suggestion I put my Assignments in a separate blog some time ago. The link is on the top right listed under ‘My OCA Blogs’ above my photograph. Where my blog refers to a particular assignment, I’ll add a hyperlink if I can’t add a label. For level 2, I shall be moving to Wordpress which I understand is more flexible. <br />
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I’ve looked at the links you included and found Dave’s research very useful. I have actually read most of the topics he included at one time or another but didn’t think to write and include a report to my blog – omission noted for future action. All part of the “re-learning the learning process”. <br />
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Talking of which, I was discussing the Level 2 options with Eddy at the weekend and he mentioned the amount of written work that is required for the courses. I achieved an ‘O’ level in English in 1965 and since then have not written a sizeable or serious essay. I am finding it increasingly difficult (i.e. it takes me a long time) to marshal the ideas I get from my research and reading into a coherent form. Are there any resources or techniques that you can recommend which may improve my skills? <br />
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<br />Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-32182125597272694562014-01-12T15:59:00.001-08:002014-02-19T03:16:19.272-08:00Assignment four: Real or fake?<br />
<strong>13/12/2013</strong> I've had a few ideas about this one. Thinking of the globalisation of our High Streets and posing the question: <strong><em>Are the global brands squeezing the local colour out of your High Street?</em></strong> <strong>Notes: </strong>Use composite of shop fronts. 2 big brands either side of a local café distorted vertically converted to monochrome with colours running out over the pavement and down the drain. Look for shop fronts about the same scale - <span style="background-color: yellow;"></span>without parked cars. May have to add a clear piece of pavement and a SW drain. Photographs in pedestrian precincts ideal - search <strong>Google street view</strong> for locations near here. Farnham has both a Subway (The Borough) and Starbucks (Lion & Lamb) Alton has a Subway (High Street) <span style="background-color: yellow;">Farnborough has very little but I did pick up the story of the unsuccessful campaign to save the former Tumbledown Dick pub from being turned into a McDonalds Drive through. </span> Guildford High Street is the best venue, Starbucks, McDonalds and Jo Clark's café bar as the local colour How to make the colours look like flowing paint - research PS filters/plugins? Name of the magazine?............ Have your say - Ĉu via diru (Esperanto) Made up magazine – made up language! Here is a quick (bad) sketch of the idea in my head. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JMne5bi6wLI/UtMsF6RLFlI/AAAAAAAAD3g/5Nb-HNGkU-s/s1600-h/Squeeze4.jpg"><img alt="Squeeze" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fGGogi7aWpU/UtMsG7ObExI/AAAAAAAAD3o/WTTf0uhkDUU/Squeeze_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Squeeze" width="547" /></a><br />
Here is my first attempt at the image after a visit to Guildford High Street. This attempt was a rough try out to see if the idea was practical.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I2BOhy4ymBc/UtMsIIOiE1I/AAAAAAAAD3w/cGQKwAX3me4/s1600-h/Cover7.jpg"><img alt="Cover" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sD-1-d0n-_o/UtMsJFZlzEI/AAAAAAAAD34/R7TOmTFsq5Y/Cover_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" height="510" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cover" width="500" /></a><br />
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This attempt highlighted a few problems, mainly to do with scaling the images but the idea was there. I need another image for the left hand shop (too much detail to remove) and the central image’s scaling needs to fit so all the shopfronts and name boards are of similar height. I will also experiment with a selection layer on the monochrome image to show the colours running downwards and work on a method of showing the colours running across the pavement to the drain.<br />
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<strong>19/12/2013</strong><br />
After visiting several locations, experimenting with different views of shop fronts I have come up with four images which I think will provide a reasonable, believable image when edited, cropped and joined up. The most arduous part of this shoot was waiting for parked cars and delivery vans to move and finding suitable locations in the first place. Three of the images are from Guildford High Street and the fourth (Domino’s) is within walking distance of my home in Bordon.<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--2e85A9EGHY/UtMsKEERhfI/AAAAAAAAD4A/rnt4KfbGM7E/s1600-h/DSC_4708_clark_edit5.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4708_clark_edit" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J_WrftuCnpA/UtMsKl5htKI/AAAAAAAAD4I/LxL6-9PXXlI/DSC_4708_clark_edit_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="308" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4708_clark_edit" width="200" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2cRFgUxKWN8/UtMsLqFM_GI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/R1olZz4Hsxc/s1600-h/DSC_47755.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4775" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0Ilp8BewNKU/UtMsMDhW53I/AAAAAAAAD4Y/PQXhughRH6g/DSC_4775_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="310" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4775" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mfLm-j9o30E/UtMsNnIr2xI/AAAAAAAAD4g/H2NqxrP614M/s1600-h/DSC_47545.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4754" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uEtqbFsr4rk/UtMsOSsspEI/AAAAAAAAD4k/RyrWXOahMJM/DSC_4754_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="191" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4754" width="279" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kyc18ycn2KE/UtMsP9lySWI/AAAAAAAAD4w/WK0nnvOgR4o/s1600-h/DSC_4741_orig5.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4741_orig" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6qdGKRtvfXI/UtMsQgXCIqI/AAAAAAAAD44/Hrqrc2OH_t0/DSC_4741_orig_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="191" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4741_orig" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
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<strong>10/01/2014</strong><br />
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1. These are the original crops I made to assemble the image. Having processed them I had to ensure that the scaling was correct. I would like to have included more of the “big brand” shop fronts but using the vertical format I had to crop closely and on the McDonald’s facia, had to move the logo to the left. The centre frontage of Clarks didn’t matter as I was distorting it vertically but I did want to retain the essence of it as a cafe bar. I started off by using this black and white conversion.</div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8yF2aYq-pWY/UtMsRgxWRiI/AAAAAAAAD5A/-NCaR7smQoo/s1600-h/DSC_477511.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4775" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8IcBjSonyuQ/UtMsSU8EXtI/AAAAAAAAD5I/ArwwjKlNirs/DSC_4775_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="470" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4775" width="184" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QMjJS7LML8o/UtMsTJJM3hI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/8H4Lln51WhI/s1600-h/DSC_4708_crop6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4708_crop" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F-btY1Gwla4/UtMsT9mp_UI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/YmOT9UX0F5s/DSC_4708_crop_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="469" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4708_crop" width="144" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--0xkzOMLUKQ/UtMsUu5juNI/AAAAAAAAD5g/dpcQjMQ8Phk/s1600-h/DSC_474110.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4741" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-24Bp3Zcjl9s/UtMsVaFyJGI/AAAAAAAAD5o/eYDJofGbDQc/DSC_4741_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="471" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4741" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="600"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7DcmitvEkC4/UtMsWYFdl2I/AAAAAAAAD5w/EiYTKIJnOeo/s1600-h/DSC_4754_paving_crop5.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4754_paving_crop" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VV8XWFyThyo/UtMsW_NEKdI/AAAAAAAAD54/iAkqp2raWFo/DSC_4754_paving_crop_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="109" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4754_paving_crop" width="570" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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2. This is my first experimental attempt to add the paint to the pavement using Sumo Paint but the “bevel” tool wouldn’t give me a fine enough adjustment and the paint looks more like plastic.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cnd7WMwNGFA/UtMsXwyi2dI/AAAAAAAAD6A/-UMtic13iqI/s1600-h/Cover24.jpg"><img alt="Cover2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cgLn8HaPP20/UtMsYf_TFqI/AAAAAAAAD6I/mUSKS-zm2eY/Cover2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="130" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cover2" width="640" /></a><br />
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3. I was also unhappy with the monochrome shop front so I used the selection brush in NX2 to selectively remove the colour in streaks. I also made the crop a bit closer. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AWxG9ivmLVM/UtMsZo7qmlI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/K8hIzq-fPKc/s1600-h/DSC_4708_ratio_crop_colour11.jpg"><img alt="DSC_4708_ratio_crop_colour" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Me3TUpaODxM/UtMsaHFAtBI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/Gb1c48Nxpgo/DSC_4708_ratio_crop_colour_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="506" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_4708_ratio_crop_colour" width="161" /></a><br />
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4. Further experiments with painting in PS Elements using the pencil tool to outline and the fill bucket led to some interesting effects. I also chose to use only the colours from the original image. At this point I made my second attempt at the composite image paying attention to the reflections in the damp paving slabs. At this point I was still unhappy with the Jo Clark’s image.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-czN9MN1_VOM/UtMsbvZ04mI/AAAAAAAAD6g/TVKkl5gOHMk/s1600-h/Cover01---Copy6.jpg"><img alt="Cover01 - Copy" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rpdprMEwiuk/UtMsctXXFCI/AAAAAAAAD6o/oCGav9TDHAI/Cover01---Copy_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" height="457" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cover01 - Copy" width="375" /></a><br />
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5. My next idea was to use the distort brush to give the image some dynamism. I felt it lacked any interest otherwise. I have tried to retain the sense of the type of business by leaving the window lettering part readable. I also re-thought the McDonalds shop front and decided to re-crop it to exclude the first floor window. I have added the name of the fictional publication and some “dressing to make it look realistic. This is the final image that I will submit to my tutor as a print:<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pmcaanYVPCo/UtMsdrOKjkI/AAAAAAAAD6w/15xS84GvNGQ/s1600-h/Cover01%252520-%252520Text_final03%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Cover01 - Text_final03" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-57cmncRwFYI/UtMsektA0XI/AAAAAAAAD64/stKt12Tx9TE/Cover01%252520-%252520Text_final03_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="738" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cover01 - Text_final03" width="524" /></a><br />
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I have produced this image with no thought of deception, rather to use manipulation to construct an image to illustrate a metaphor. I’ve assembled the elements and arranged them in a manner which is obviously the realisation and simplification of an idea, not a physical occurrence.<br />
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<strong>Reflection on Assignment 4</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br /><strong>Demonstration of technical and visual skills:</strong> This assignment was challenging in its execution because this is the first really serious attempt I have made at constructing an image of this type. My usual editing software does not have the facility to use layers so I had to learn how to do that. I have shown the image editing skills I learned from this section of the course and have successfully planned and executed this project.<br />
<strong>Quality of outcomes</strong>: I have used my knowledge and experience to conceive this idea and present it in an original way. <br />
<strong>Demonstration of creativity</strong>: I think I have been very creative in the way I have used editing software to manipulate this image and interpret this idea.<br />
<strong>Context</strong>: The proliferation of global brands throughout our environment is something which concerns me especially at the expense of small highly personalised businesses. This image sums up how I feel.<br />
This assignment has been submitted to my tutor as a single print on 13/01/2014.<br />
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<br />Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-34929235336147775912013-11-20T04:18:00.001-08:002014-04-19T13:30:47.213-07:00Assignment three – Monochrome<div> </div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div>For this assignment, I have chosen a narrative theme which documents the removal of a Scots Pine tree from my garden. Its proximity to the house and the increasing severity of winter storms meant that I had to have it removed. Fortunately, my fears were justified as the base of the trunk had started to rot. The tree surgeon told me that in three years it would have become dangerously unstable.</div> <div> </div> <div align="justify">I was recording the event in any case, on video as well as in still photographs but it wasn’t until the weather changed on the second day that I thought that it would make a good monochrome subject, with the poor lighting draining the colour out of the scene. The textures of the foliage, bark, sawn wood and sawdust also lend themselves to monochrome treatment. </div> <div> </div> <div align="justify"> </div>The photographs were taken over three days, the first in bright autumn sunshine the remaining two days were wet and overcast. <br> <div align="justify">The nine prints that I have made should be viewed in chronological order and as a start I have laid out this “contact” sheet as a guide. I have asked my tutor to look at this post as the course notes suggest 5-10 prints. Sharon has already seen a tentative idea of the assignment at the Study Group on 19th October 2013.</div> <p>The prints are read from the top and left to right:</p> <p><br> </p> <table style="width: 347px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="242"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TO0ty-ZbJP8/U1FNQjpdhXI/AAAAAAAAEJs/v7riJUlUZpU/s1600-h/DSC_3958_first_edit_print_copy_web.jpg"><img title="DSC_3958_first_edit_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3958_first_edit_print_copy_web" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7vc0fDUhwsY/UoyQ4Iv60NI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/fdTlnevZJXQ/DSC_3958_first_edit_print_copy_web_t.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="165"></a><br><strong>Print 1 (3958)</strong></td> <td width="103" align="center"> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="242"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m0hjOkYa1Lc/UoyQ5Iv-tRI/AAAAAAAADqA/iNpIo6vASy0/s1600-h/DSC_3949_1_print_copy_web2.jpg"><img title="DSC_3949_1_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3949_1_print_copy_web" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DmTyjH3_hms/UoyQ5WbPPBI/AAAAAAAADqE/E6FtzZrBLow/DSC_3949_1_print_copy_web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="240"></a><br><strong>Print 2 (3949)</strong></td> <td valign="top" width="103"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7272bul2Cig/UoyQ6LRADTI/AAAAAAAADqQ/GjFbcTorgsg/s1600-h/DSC_3954_print_copy_web2.jpg"><img title="DSC_3954_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3954_print_copy_web" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5tGdu9S6ixI/UoyQ6kMZmgI/AAAAAAAADqU/kufNOHewspw/DSC_3954_print_copy_web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="240"></a><br><strong>Print3 (3954)</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="242"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pacmyJA4TAs/UoyQ7pAcMAI/AAAAAAAADqg/dVihezPaohQ/s1600-h/DSC_3965_1_print_copy_web4.jpg"><img title="DSC_3965_1_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3965_1_print_copy_web" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qtWqaEN21WU/UoyQ8Oj-qRI/AAAAAAAADqk/ZnLkWNQ1RJE/DSC_3965_1_print_copy_web_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="240"></a><br><strong>Print 3 (3965)</strong></td> <td valign="top" width="103"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CMGyv0j-cKs/UoyQ9CqXBEI/AAAAAAAADqw/FMMu1FfeY8g/s1600-h/DSC_3969_print_copy_web2.jpg"><img title="DSC_3969_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3969_print_copy_web" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oSBBJMtAVwc/UoyQ9ceSzJI/AAAAAAAADq4/AymCeJAiXss/DSC_3969_print_copy_web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="240"></a><br><strong>Print 5 (3969)</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="242"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-88m1bV4jCYU/UoyQ-ctZOKI/AAAAAAAADrA/OzkjZdSOi3Y/s1600-h/DSC_3970_print_copy_web2.jpg"><img title="DSC_3970_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3970_print_copy_web" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fYMcyVRQJgM/UoyQ-zEHxcI/AAAAAAAADrE/XXRZ2aaF0gM/DSC_3970_print_copy_web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="240"></a><br><strong>Print 6 (3970)</strong></td> <td valign="top" width="103"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5H4oaXYgGAw/UoyQ_lxRMuI/AAAAAAAADrQ/_WYfXNV_Brk/s1600-h/DSC_3977_print_copy_web2.jpg"><img title="DSC_3977_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3977_print_copy_web" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MhwD5bkNoow/Uoya28MwrqI/AAAAAAAADrg/p_EC0MWbjQs/DSC_3977_print_copy_web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="240"></a><br><strong>Print 7 (3977)</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="242"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dS_jXatVhog/Uoya3qc0KpI/AAAAAAAADro/rS9HrLEi0cE/s1600-h/DSC_3979_print_copy_web2.jpg"><img title="DSC_3979_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3979_print_copy_web" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U1F7KKPmoHs/UoyoUNOzeEI/AAAAAAAADtI/XFrra8Xyle8/DSC_3979_print_copy_web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="240"></a><br><strong>Print 8 (3979)</strong></td> <td valign="top" width="103"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-80WK6C-eqcs/UoyoVK6VYkI/AAAAAAAADtQ/B-OOXFypnT8/s1600-h/DSC_3982_print_copy_web2.jpg"><img title="DSC_3982_print_copy_web" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_3982_print_copy_web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V4KaBVN5tUQ/UoyoVh6HvII/AAAAAAAADtY/kAMDnTfgGWA/DSC_3982_print_copy_web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="159"></a><br><strong>Print 9 (3982)</strong></td></tr></tbody></table> <div align="justify">My idea is to submit all of these prints as a set. Depending on tutor feedback, there may be less. At the study group last month, I got some good feedback and as a result I changed the way I processed the images in Silver FX Pro2, choosing to adjust only the brightness and contrast, highlight and shadow protection and perhaps apply a colour filter in some cases. </div> <div align="justify">Making these adjustments in the plug-in using Capture NX2 unfortunately does not include the non-destructive element of NX2 itself so it is not possible to review the changes I made to every print, though I did record the following as I was working to give some idea:</div> <div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--I0KpNAPMxQ/UoyoW4y8zWI/AAAAAAAADtg/kpo52IadLOw/s1600-h/Page-36.png"><img title="Page 3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Page 3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jirok8simEg/UoyoYHGomrI/AAAAAAAADto/T6gzbpx88zo/Page-3_thumb4.png?imgmax=800" width="600" height="824"></a></div> <div align="justify">You can see that I have used various adjustments including control points to modify the brighter parts of the images and various colour filters to change the tones. These are all subjective adjustments, sometimes very subtle and difficult to record on a monitor. For this reason, my next section is about using the proofing tool to match screen output with printed output.</div> <div align="justify">Until now I have used a lab for printing the majority of my assignments but I was disappointed with the results of the first attempt so I have printed the assignment myself. I only have a four colour printer (CMYK) so the range of grey tones may be limited but I think I have done a better job than the lab in this case and a least I can immediately see the results and reprint if necessary. In the past I have been disappointed with inkjet printing but now the technology seems to be improving and I may well invest in a more sophisticated printer as I reach the second level of my degree course.</div> <div align="justify">Capture NX2 has a soft proofing system and I have practised using this for the assignment prints. My basic workflow is this:</div> <ol> <li> <div align="justify">Open the .tiff image from the Silver FX2 Pro2 conversion</div> <li> <div align="justify">Duplicate the file and save it as a NEF file (this will record all edits and allow new versions to be made) Add the suffix <strong>_print_copy</strong> to the file name for reference</div> <li> <div align="justify">Have the two files open in the workspace side by side. </div> <li> <div align="justify">On the print copy, open the soft proof dialogue an apply these settings for paper profile and intent:</div></li></ol> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--TZ05sfnvOk/UoyoYoYJvDI/AAAAAAAADts/CV1Mp1i7g8o/s1600-h/image18.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AkGmBb0ADqI/UoyoZDKFbnI/AAAAAAAADt4/1cKwjLnB85k/image_thumb24.png?imgmax=800" width="249" height="212"></a></div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">5. With Soft Proof on make adjustments to match the print copy as closely as possible</div> <div align="justify">6. Save and print the print copy, checking the colour management dialogue in the print window.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-q-q5_lDsnbo/UoyoZguBDbI/AAAAAAAADuA/wKY8HmtrWpI/s1600-h/image17.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gauPS1ImRc4/UoyoaVnfGCI/AAAAAAAADuI/TjjszUWURGg/image_thumb23.png?imgmax=800" width="224" height="337"></a></div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">This has resulted in prints closely matching the image on my monitor although I have noticed subtle differences in the print colour depending on the light in which it is viewed and a more noticeable change in the ink colour as the print dries.</div> <div align="justify">Having looked again at the nine prints I have decided to include them all in my submission except for 3954 as 3949 fulfils the same role showing the tree standing <em>in situ. </em>I have renumbered the prints and submitted them to my tutor with a viewing layout sheet:</div> <div align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fUHKhiyCZwc/UoyodC2dW8I/AAAAAAAADuQ/IxIMJxu-XS0/s1600-h/image5.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SJBin7KT1uw/UoyoeVimIRI/AAAAAAAADuY/cjn3IaoKvfs/image_thumb6.png?imgmax=800" width="600" height="445"></a></div> <p><strong>Reflection on Assignment 3</strong><br><strong>Demonstration of technical and visual skills:</strong> I have shown from this assignment that I can apply the skills I learned from the exercises to produce monochrome images from my digital files and shown skill in their conversion and enhancement to produce interesting images.<br><strong>Quality of outcomes</strong>: I have used my knowledge and experience to conceive this idea and present it in an understandable way. <br><strong>Demonstration of creativity</strong>: This is a personal project. I have recorded what has happened to a very old tree. I have lived with it in my garden for 27 years and I wanted to mark its passing.<br><strong>Context</strong>: Earlier in the course I wrote about Ansel Adam’s book “Trees”. I remarked then that I was fortunate to live in an area where I was surrounded by trees. They are a renewable resource but I am aware that they need to be looked after. A living thing that has survived for over 100 years deserves some respect. The woodland of which this tree once formed a part, can be seen in this historic photograph:<br><a title="Photo of Bordon, 1919 - Francis Frith" href="http://www.francisfrith.com/bordon/photos/1919_68813/">Photo of Bordon, 1919 - Francis Frith</a> (my house was built beyond the trees on the left of this picture)<br>This assignment has been submitted to my tutor as a set of prints on 20/11/13<br><br><strong>Tutor feedback on Assignment 3 </strong>(24th November 2013)<br><br>I was pleased to receive detailed and comprehensive feedback from my tutor. She was positive about the way I had presented it and thought that the images worked well together in black and white. I will re-write the introduction to the project to make more of the idea of this collection of images as a memoriam to a tree. I was unsure just how much to write as I wanted the images to stand on their own. I will re-edit the group in response to tutor feedback. Here is an extract of my tutor’s feedback with the issues that I will be addressing in preparation for assessment:</p> <p><em>The last picture is great – <font style="background-color: #ffff00">it’s like the fingerprint of the tree. I almost see that one as sitting slightly aside form the other more chronological set. It could be the picture on the coffin at the funeral!</font><font style="background-color: #ffff00"> I really liked how you talked about this as ‘ode to a tree’ and TV and the idea of an obituary for the tree really stayed with me. I hoped you would have made more of this, more in it’s contextualization and written introduction. It could have really pushed some creative buttons! (The way you introduced it at OCATV has really stayed with me and for me is the strength of the idea – something you should make more of in your write up / introduction for assessment.)</font> That aside I still think this works as a successful and coherent set of images around an interesting subject matter. I particularly like the first image of the house and the looming tree – somehow the context is very absurd and sets the tone well for the rest of the pictures, which could as easily be set in a forest.</em> <p><em>You did well on the edit. There is just enough and not too much information to take us through the journey. Perhaps, arguably you didn’t need <font style="background-color: #ffff00">both 4 and 5</font>, but that is minor.</em> <p><b><em></em></b> <p><em>Perhaps you could revisit the same picture as the opening image now without the tree and create a bookend effect instead of the empty sky? Just an idea. <font style="background-color: #ffff00">The empty sky is a nice representation of the clearing though and you may not want to be so obvious – however something within me would like to see and compare the house before and after! </font></em> <p><br>As suggested I will try to write up my book reviews as I go along and make them more detailed.</p> <p> </p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080"><strong>Editing in preparation for Assessment: </strong>I have added more </font><font color="#000080">to the introduction as suggested by my tutor and introduced more in the context of my family associations with this area. I have also edited the submission and taken new photographs in response to Sharon’s feedback.</font></p> <p align="justify">I wanted to mark the passing of this tree with a set of photographs. It seems almost callous to destroy such a large living thing without any record or memorial. It has stood for about 126 years and survived the 1987 storm when hundreds of trees in the immediate area were devastated. A rare feat of survival for a 100 year old. (I researched <em>Dendrochronology </em>and discovered that counting tree rings is not a particularly accurate way of aging a tree but for these purposes I think it is accurate enough)</p> <p align="justify">Sharon’s remark about the “fingerprint of the tree” and “the photograph on the coffin” got me thinking. The tree surgeon had cut me a thin slice across the trunk very close to the bottom so I counted the tree rings and thought about the significant dates in my family’s history which were relevant to the tree and where it was (Bordon in Hampshire). </p> <p align="justify">Between 1887 (my estimate of when the tree started growing) and 2013 I could link these events to the tree’s timeline:</p> <p align="justify">1903 – After the Boer War, my Grandfather was posted to nearby Longmoor Ranges with the Royal Engineers where they were building a railway. My Aunt was also born in this year at Whitehill, within a mile of the tree and where my son and his now family live.</p> <p align="justify">1919 – Within a hundred yards, this photograph was taken: <a title="Photo of Bordon, 1919 - Francis Frith" href="http://www.francisfrith.com/bordon/photos/1919_68813/">Photo of Bordon, 1919 - Francis Frith</a></p> <p align="justify">1936 - (or thereabouts) My father, newly enlisted into the Grenadier Guards, attended a training Camp at Oxney Farm which is still an Army training area and just a 1.5 mile walk to the northwest.</p> <p align="justify">1986 – The year I moved to Bordon, bought this house and learned about my family connections to the area.</p> <p align="justify">I have made several changes to the print submissions in response to feedback, removing print 5 and substituting this new print of the house without the tree (taken in December) for Print 7, below.</p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vhqAz_Pix08/U1FNVFmMQfI/AAAAAAAAEKM/Lf45wTkd6to/s1600-h/DSC_4779_crop%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC_4779_crop" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_4779_crop" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yL9ex3MU0yY/U1FNWHSsPAI/AAAAAAAAEKU/RqhHcP1EkjU/DSC_4779_crop_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="388"></a></p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify">Here is the final layout for Assessment submission:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2NWKbpQ-ubo/U1Lc8BdipRI/AAAAAAAAEK0/vTBw7kL_dag/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ghTAoEvEeuU/U1Lc9Ek2aaI/AAAAAAAAEK8/jXV3jh0ak1k/image_thumb%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="600" height="425"></a></p> Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-19921289258383967352013-09-03T09:05:00.001-07:002014-02-19T03:17:45.954-08:00Assignment 2 – Seeing like your camera–concluded<br />
<strong>Print Submission.</strong> I will submit the following 15 prints to my tutor for the categories listed.<br />
<strong>Part 1:</strong><br />
<strong>Strong incident dappled light</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y2wK9LDZTcg/UiYIVC9AcWI/AAAAAAAADMw/SEjHs7I7W4Q/s1600-h/DSC_3074_web8.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3074_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ujoIHYsb7ms/UiYIV6NMOoI/AAAAAAAADM4/uhU-8zs59JM/DSC_3074_web_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3074_web" width="163" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vAutQru9SbI/UiYIXaqZEcI/AAAAAAAADNA/FPTCRfxcJww/s1600-h/DSC_3088_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3088_web" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u9OtAyeT3AQ/UiYIX9jBajI/AAAAAAAADNI/OY6m7R_T-b4/DSC_3088_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3088_web" width="163" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aYh2PcVDm4I/UiYIZHaUjnI/AAAAAAAADNQ/yQzpNoVkvNI/s1600-h/DSC_3091_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3091_web" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EVWf0hpdr5U/UiYIZkFvuJI/AAAAAAAADNY/Y2Ly_eQI9o0/DSC_3091_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3091_web" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<strong>Street scene in the middle of a clear sunny day</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bFf3Gpk3iFQ/UiYIa643DsI/AAAAAAAADNg/51LpUOFBz1U/s1600-h/DSC_3104_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3104_web" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eos1Gjhsu_o/UiYIbX1gaVI/AAAAAAAADNk/S2WTAfC2RpM/DSC_3104_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="163" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3104_web" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pz1ArZ91R40/UiYIcd2xOpI/AAAAAAAADNw/uknMzVfq5sE/s1600-h/DSC_3168_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3168_web" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jVrVVekvjDA/UiYIc8BLRvI/AAAAAAAADN4/TJsey_9hL9w/DSC_3168_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="163" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3168_web" width="244" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ChoAxaVTgCM/UiYId5o77bI/AAAAAAAADOA/z1t8rmfWBgA/s1600-h/DSC_3129_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3129_web" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6yeIwknAGig/UiYIecb_63I/AAAAAAAADOE/farDiclmt4k/DSC_3129_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3129_web" width="163" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<strong>Landscape with low angle incident light</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RisdH_fxVNQ/UiYIfZI1RAI/AAAAAAAADOQ/eTGbgYI7Gw0/s1600-h/DSC_3176_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3176_web" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hEEoYgcOWY0/UiYIf_O61dI/AAAAAAAADOY/a4gL-h1TD24/DSC_3176_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="163" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3176_web" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oaMvrLOa6Mk/UiYIhH3lSWI/AAAAAAAADOg/bBF5afIebKY/s1600-h/DSC_3179_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3179_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NSA-rux8G5Y/UiYIhrHNutI/AAAAAAAADOo/SALEgzOQJIg/DSC_3179_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="163" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3179_web" width="244" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0QMGEX9o6zA/UiYIi8yaU9I/AAAAAAAADOw/Xo3f23uHyuY/s1600-h/DSC_3209_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3209_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r9aglqOzfxI/UiYIjWnChCI/AAAAAAAADO4/YPbKHsZho98/DSC_3209_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3209_web" width="163" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<strong>Indoor space with strong natural window light</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OeCEbNOTCMw/UiYIkPXcvZI/AAAAAAAADPA/W5Jo6UUXup0/s1600-h/DSC_3819_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3819_web" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K07o0LcdiVI/UiYIkuL2D0I/AAAAAAAADPI/vN_4oqSD95w/DSC_3819_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="163" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3819_web" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jqciqjp5Wzk/UiYIlWeVcHI/AAAAAAAADPQ/-Cc6Hc-H-UQ/s1600-h/DSC_3735_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3735_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dQvQcEdS8ko/UiYIl6aQ2iI/AAAAAAAADPY/WIqM3xdvEOQ/DSC_3735_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="163" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3735_web" width="244" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jLxRCwCOsc4/UiYIm3o_4WI/AAAAAAAADPg/-Lgdr4_HGyc/s1600-h/DSC_3795_web6.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3795_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qXTLdyMwIDg/UiYInaxaauI/AAAAAAAADPo/lBlWvbvrnyg/DSC_3795_web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3795_web" width="164" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<strong>Part 2</strong><br />
<strong>Street scene re–photographed</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Luu-gJInNeU/UiYIolxuoPI/AAAAAAAADPw/b49gb9MwCFA/s1600-h/DSC_3896_web9.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3896_web" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mRjkJ1AT150/UiYIpG1NCZI/AAAAAAAADP4/iY8WNLTo2aI/DSC_3896_web_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="163" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3896_web" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fTG3A2THzG0/UiYIqCCPaRI/AAAAAAAADQA/ByE8rBjqigU/s1600-h/DSC_3922_web7.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3922_web" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oe8ugZ2UhBE/UiYIqjEWl3I/AAAAAAAADQE/PhXXJtYKx8c/DSC_3922_web_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3922_web" width="244" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LsMq4e5ZSg4/UiYIr1ucqcI/AAAAAAAADQQ/rU-NUED4mtk/s1600-h/DSC_3903_web7.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3903_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qxujs1cmNjI/UiYIsRvS-LI/AAAAAAAADQU/6y4jx9PPfoQ/DSC_3903_web_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_3903_web" width="163" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Reflection on Assignment 2</h4>
<div align="justify">
This was a challenging assignment, not just because of the broad range of situations in which I had to make photographs, the frustration of waiting for the weather to change but also attempting to introduce some creativity into what seemed a technical exercise about pre-visualising what you would get from your camera given the lighting conditions in front of you. </div>
<div align="justify">
Looking at the four Assessment Criteria I think I have demonstrated technical and visual skills, I am happy with the quality of my outcomes, context and reflection but I haven’t really demonstrated much, creativity or originality. It was something I was aware of as I took my photographs but the technical requirements kept getting in the way. Must try harder!</div>
<div align="justify">
My tutors advice for this assignment was to devise a series on a theme and to be honest I just couldn’t think of something that I could fit into all of the lighting scenarios required. Perhaps I should use people more? Something I find difficult but must try to overcome.</div>
<h3 align="justify">
Wider research, reading and projects</h3>
<div align="justify">
Developing my own style or “voice” may take a long time but I have joined the Thames Valley Study Group and attended my first meeting. I will continue to get to as many study visits as I can. I have started to re-read “The Photograph as Contemporary Art” (I struggle with the language used in some of these books, so much for Art being accessible!)</div>
<div align="justify">
I have started Geoff Dyers “The On-going Moment” and I need to review Susan Bright’s “Art Photography Now” having read that some months ago.</div>
<div align="justify">
During the visit to the Prix Pictet exhibition, I discussed with my tutor a possible future project at one of the Army Training Units near my home. Unfortunately my early retirement from the MOD means that I no longer have access to the personnel or facilities but I am continuing with my candid street photography project.</div>
<h3>
Tutor Feedback on Assignment 2</h3>
I received positive and constructive feedback from my tutor for this assignment, mainly about the brief which I was aware of. I will take the advice offered and use the brief as a starting point and develop a theme and work it into the assignment. Hopefully this will make the assignments less of a slog (I did find this one frustrating and found it difficult to motivate myself towards the end) I have read ahead to the next assignment and I already have one or two ideas and some photographs that I can work with. I will also add a separate section for assignments to my learning log.Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-27764966929704406572013-09-03T09:02:00.001-07:002014-02-19T03:18:25.758-08:00Assignment 2 – Seeing like your camera<br />
<h4>
Saturday, 27 July 2013</h4>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="8332642401530280875"></a> <h5>
</h5>
<h5>
Part 1</h5>
The task for this assignment is to use high contrast scenes and pre-visualise how the digital camera will record them with the ultimate objective of producing images that need no further processing.<br />From the list in the brief, I chose the following: <ul>
<li>Scenes with strong incident dappled light
<li>Street scene in the middle of a clear sunny day
<li>Late evening/early morning landscape with low angle incident light
<li>Indoor space lit by strong, natural window light.</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
Below, I have detailed the process of making the images and the challenges involved for each situation. My camera was set on manual and the image quality is set on JPEG fine. Although I knew that the high contrast situations would mean compromises, either with blocked shadows or clipped highlights, I experimented with different compositions and exposures. I used the clipped highlight warning shown on the camera’s viewing screen as a guide while shooting.<br /><strong>Strong incident dappled light</strong><br />These images were made on Durford Heath in Hampshire. I had previously visited the site and had a good idea of what I wanted to photograph.<br />I used a tripod for this exercise so that I could shoot at low shutter speed (1/15 sec) and smaller apertures. First of all, I established the range of exposure values. The darkest shadows needed f8, the sunlit leaves, f22 and the sky, f32 (this value for the wide end of my zoom lens) The procedure below was followed for all three images selected.<br /><strong>1. </strong>I chose my first scene and bracketed from f11 to f25 keeping an eye on the highlight clipping warning. The images are shown below with their histograms:<br />
<br /><strong><span style="color: red;">1/15s f16</span></strong> There was no highlight warning for this exposure. The watch points showed a pixel value of 255 for the one highlight in the centre foreground and 9 for the darkest shadows.<br />
<br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NLUa3kV9Jhc/UfPbQG7o8RI/AAAAAAAAC2U/lZZ9vDgFA7Q/s1600-h/image181.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W8p43kyysG0/UfPbTJqi5aI/AAAAAAAAC2c/y6SgDAFimlA/image_thumb25.png?imgmax=800" height="500" title="image" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong><span style="color: red;">1/15s f18</span> </strong>There was no highlight warning for this exposure. The watch point for the shadows was 2 at the darkest point<br />
<br />. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fBCA31PdHEA/UfPbX_WVdJI/AAAAAAAAC2k/oqvWQAys9wA/s1600-h/image24.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rWhq5nu8vnU/UfPbaRu1_cI/AAAAAAAAC2s/L37gTw7uIJM/image_thumb34.png?imgmax=800" height="495" title="image" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong><span style="color: red;">1/15s f14</span> </strong>There was more highlight clipping on this image and an average value of 6 for the darkest shadow area.<br />
<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uQ2qgOIWtPw/UfPbfVCcCAI/AAAAAAAAC20/FmJAqxnbN_0/s1600-h/image30.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9IHK42sqbg8/UfPbiMUQX8I/AAAAAAAAC28/1mC5cNiZq70/image_thumb43.png?imgmax=800" height="493" title="image" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
<br />Of the three, I will choose <strong>3074</strong> as the most acceptable. At full magnification the highlight areas are acceptable. I chose this viewpoint of the path with the sun over my right shoulder to avoid lens flare and sun in the frame.<br />
<br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ky9mYOhF7Q4/UfPbjoJxzII/AAAAAAAAC3E/lOLELdg-Guk/s1600-h/DSC_3074_web8.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3074_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5-sxsf7AN4o/UfPblZqB2xI/AAAAAAAAC3M/6VQLis3g9Ws/DSC_3074_web_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="781" title="DSC_3074_web" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
<strong>2. </strong>For my second scene I wanted to show the radiance of the fresh green in the new leaves I paid more attention to the composition, leaving out the sky and avoiding having the sun directly in the frame. I think this is an acceptable compromise. I bracketed the exposure over the following range; f13, f16 & f20.<br />
<br /><strong><span style="color: red;">1/15s f20</span></strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-57KRQn4zniw/UfPbqHANj0I/AAAAAAAAC3U/yAveQTB_gUQ/s1600-h/image5.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4ylb4AjE0bk/UfPbrBgJOiI/AAAAAAAAC3c/Rhr4153wFpQ/image_thumb7.png?imgmax=800" height="229" title="image" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X76lDdGRgYE/UfPbrmnPL7I/AAAAAAAAC3k/TtCfxrJ1YVc/s1600-h/image10.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NrWsnZ7VdGQ/UfPbse71SHI/AAAAAAAAC3s/AiVgNrjCqVU/image_thumb15.png?imgmax=800" height="228" title="image" width="240" /></a><br />The double threshold tool displays the areas where the highlights are clipped and the shadows are blocked.<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q9oMLOfEhzA/UfPbtyamMgI/AAAAAAAAC30/YByexyVOLu0/s1600-h/DSC_3091_web11.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3091_web" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oe1cyIrtfoM/UfPbvY72MUI/AAAAAAAAC38/w4LXoDfS4NI/DSC_3091_web_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="781" title="DSC_3091_web" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>3.</strong> For my third scene I wanted to contrast the bright green new growth of the broad leafed trees with the apparently dry brown conifers planted alongside. The exposure for this image was 1/15s f11. I shot at f11, f14 and f18.<br />
<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C4IXPhzbqlc/UfPb0L46BEI/AAAAAAAAC4E/HzEi4abMC8U/s1600-h/image6111.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TPnX7JQiKyQ/UfPb3QvsGHI/AAAAAAAAC4M/a6GaLcxhFTE/image_thumb71.png?imgmax=800" height="491" title="image" width="519" /></a><br />
<br />The double threshold tool shows just a few clipped highlights and no blocked shadows. I have included two watch points on this screen shot. 1, in the shadow area has an average RGB pixel value of 5 and 2, in the highlight area in the foreground has a value of 246.<br />
<br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NWG2Cd_MYUU/UfPb4DZIiYI/AAAAAAAAC4U/3rMEyI5xpEQ/s1600-h/image121.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8Pf64GDx8kc/UfPb5GcCdmI/AAAAAAAAC4c/hjHzNk6z_g0/image_thumb151.png?imgmax=800" height="489" title="image" width="519" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dURHd3HnAj8/UfPb6fyq8qI/AAAAAAAAC4k/ypPU9jg4FIU/s1600-h/DSC_3088_web12.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3088_web" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iSleTCkNNgg/UfPb8Da-1gI/AAAAAAAAC4s/vHrrGLM_93o/DSC_3088_web_thumb9.jpg?imgmax=800" height="781" title="DSC_3088_web" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>Street scene in the middle of a clear sunny day</strong><br />The pictures were taken in Portsmouth where there are not a lot of tall buildings or narrow streets but it’s a close as I could get. My technique for judging these images were similar to those above, i.e. bracketing and using the highlight clipping display on the camera.<br /><strong>1.</strong> For this first example, I used a scene where half of the street was in shadow. I spot metered the neutral tone of the sunlight tower block – <strong>1/125 f18 </strong>and the red brick building in shadow –<strong>1/125 f5.6</strong>. I then made three exposures at various focal lengths with the metering system set on matrix to see which scene gave an image where the highlight clipping warning wasn’t activated.<br />(a) <strong>3102</strong> <strong>1/125 f16 18mm – </strong>no highlight clipping warning<br />
<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KQNGSxxxrPE/UfPb9jFfIbI/AAAAAAAAC40/STb0b0-jbxw/s1600-h/DSC_310273.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3102" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PMNU0hxJLYY/UfPb-Z3MH4I/AAAAAAAAC48/0YrC8UZpx7I/DSC_31027_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3102" width="518" /></a><br />Watch points indicate that neither shadows or highlights are clipped:<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GNxuqj1snZ0/UfPb-3oPQwI/AAAAAAAAC5E/GvdCxVsIzpI/s1600-h/image27.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FGY4sFwX8m0/UfPb_6Om0tI/AAAAAAAAC5M/LF1JRCckWtM/image_thumb36.png?imgmax=800" height="240" title="image" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VXXRuRSnZVk/UfPcAAgF9MI/AAAAAAAAC5U/vkkmbC2QqFI/s1600-h/image22.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SEl01eU9s7w/UfPcAyZ6vxI/AAAAAAAAC5c/jhpeurnwvfc/image_thumb30.png?imgmax=800" height="240" title="image" width="224" /></a><br />However the contrast is still very high with a large portion of the image in shadow.<br />
<hr />
<br />(b) <strong>3103 1/125 f13</strong> <strong>26mm</strong> - with 2/3 of a stop more exposure, I zoomed in slightly, the highlight clipping warning on my camera indicated that the cloud across the top of the frame is clipped. However, from the watch points and the histogram it can be seen that these extreme points have values of 250 and 4 indicating that this is an acceptable compromise.<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DQ_KBtRQTh4/UfPcEslD82I/AAAAAAAAC5k/daPISadpkAA/s1600-h/image288.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QCUmPcK6ZrA/UfPcHd9E8ZI/AAAAAAAAC5s/BQYYQaAROIo/image28_thumb10.png?imgmax=800" height="381" title="image" width="519" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P0dxoDKnmSI/UfPcHxRQ37I/AAAAAAAAC50/6Auw0RWZxao/s1600-h/image38.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0tjaTV60f68/UfPcIlsSCfI/AAAAAAAAC58/m2i_BCSWzCQ/image_thumb51.png?imgmax=800" height="240" title="image" width="238" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qgOsWizmyvA/UfPcI-RSBOI/AAAAAAAAC6A/EJZem5-qibc/s1600-h/image43.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A_ryPYXWLzA/UfPcJccSFPI/AAAAAAAAC6M/vTsBoYE7-Yg/image_thumb57.png?imgmax=800" height="240" title="image" width="232" /></a><br />
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<br />(c) <strong>3104 </strong><strong>1/125 f13 29mm – </strong>I recomposed this image and used the same exposure setting. The highlight <br />warning still showed on the camera but again the watch point and double threshold display only indicate very small highlights from the car bodywork.<br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xiB5ek3y7Eo/UfPcNIdr4bI/AAAAAAAAC6U/LT0UK4nyFig/s1600-h/image633.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--rLj8aU0IlU/UfPcPhYBDYI/AAAAAAAAC6c/zPoGQ4wAidY/image63_thumb2.png?imgmax=800" height="385" title="image" width="519" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AAKPeQ_IKtM/UfPcQAcs15I/AAAAAAAAC6k/3xFGyY8yJjU/s1600-h/image73.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ChBS4AerAIE/UfPcRL9ytAI/AAAAAAAAC6w/QTTJa5TB6JE/image_thumb91.png?imgmax=800" height="235" title="image" width="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SP8IO7FiIrI/UfPcRejyzOI/AAAAAAAAC64/4MXpoTebYug/s1600-h/image59.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dZEKWj50wS0/UfPcR0GtGmI/AAAAAAAAC7A/tKV-2ukkFZw/image_thumb77.png?imgmax=800" height="240" title="image" width="224" /></a><br /><strong>*I will submit this image as one of the three for this category.</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><br />
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<strong> <br /></strong><strong>3108 1/125 f10</strong> Rather than bracket this shot, I spot metered the sky (f29) and the shadow under the trees (f5.6) to establish the range. I then switched to Matrix metering and decided that this value (f10) would produce an acceptable image. The watch points confirm that there are no blocked shadows and the only clipped highlight is the white shirt of the man in the middle ground.<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ixu7mfFWHUY/UfPcVSSRJqI/AAAAAAAAC7I/zfeOwdrrdw8/s1600-h/image21.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7jHxMQJfHxw/UfPcX1aANkI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/aPvxW4qnQcE/image_thumb23.png?imgmax=800" height="374" title="image" width="519" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zMQ6-Iw_q0U/UfPcYAik71I/AAAAAAAAC7Y/_2wNVer4zLw/s1600-h/image11.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7TcZklPt_5U/UfPcY6wBicI/AAAAAAAAC7g/NfOPLg6AlgY/image_thumb1511.png?imgmax=800" height="240" title="image" width="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2rrjvRpmBIg/UfPcZc7r9aI/AAAAAAAAC7o/7je-V9n9vno/s1600-h/image15.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KIG30gN6XTY/UfPcZ9NQbzI/AAAAAAAAC7w/WKqfPjZkiXQ/image_thumb20.png?imgmax=800" height="244" title="image" width="230" /></a><br />
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<strong><br /></strong><strong>3112 </strong><strong>1/125 f10</strong> I chose the same method for this shot of the veranda of the Theatre Royal. I spot metered the dark marble in the shadows (f4.8) and the lighter but shadowed areas of the building on the other side of the road (f8) but I realised that the area of sky at top left would burn out so I set the matrix metering option which gave a reading of f10. I have included the histogram and two watch points in this screenshot which show an average of 6 and 254 for the shadows and highlights respectively.<br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jAcL8FV4iZ4/UfPcdxvoyMI/AAAAAAAAC74/iwndkP8-qos/s1600-h/image6.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MMj-KMpBG3U/UfPcgGgz4rI/AAAAAAAAC8A/Q2OgQgtEyKc/image_thumb6.png?imgmax=800" height="474" title="image" width="519" /></a><br />
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<strong><br /></strong><strong>3153 </strong><strong>1/100s f16 </strong>I used a different approach for this image. Using the matrix setting for the meter, the exposure reading was as shown, rendering the sky its natural blue colour but the rest of the frame is underexposed. Histogram and the watch points are shown with the screen shot. (Highlights 236, shadows 1) <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VhrsUdFjI-k/UfPcjYJJNVI/AAAAAAAAC8I/7xKl1X71j8U/s1600-h/image61111%25255B1%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OMbKqg_uAVs/UfPclSZT66I/AAAAAAAAC8Q/pvK-OuEjBzQ/image_thumb611.png?imgmax=800" height="502" title="image" width="519" /></a> <hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>3157 </strong><strong>1/100s f9 </strong>Having taken note of the exposure from the matrix setting I then switched to the spot setting to measure the exposure for the darkest part of the scene, f9. This effectively burned out the sky but gave the correct exposure for the rest of the scene. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ieak4SSNKGM/UfPcpCYIAkI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/_fSD3OeZcNQ/s1600-h/image61111.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TWr0l_s_F58/UfPcrYMgqmI/AAAAAAAAC8g/sWgmAjKsx-c/image_thumb61.png?imgmax=800" height="495" title="image" width="519" /></a> I’ve added a third watch point here on the paving between the figures, just to check the values. Point 1 (sky) is 255, point 2 (shadow) is 7 and point three (paving) is 243. Again this exposure is an acceptable compromise. <hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>3129 </strong><strong>1/125s f13 </strong>Because this scene was lit by the sun directly behind me, I judged that a matrix setting exposure reading would give a good image. Apart from a couple of pinpoints where the highlights and shadows are burnt/blocked, the scene is well exposed.<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w8eM6Xl1J44/UfPcvlQ4MiI/AAAAAAAAC8o/1ufnhhpRr20/s1600-h/image1811.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nNY3nhlTNHw/UfPcyBwno7I/AAAAAAAAC8w/0C0Qqflk1ag/image_thumb201.png?imgmax=800" height="493" title="image" width="519" /></a> <hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>3167 </strong><strong>1/125s f10 </strong>This scene was particularly challenging with deep shadows and bright highlights. I used the matrix setting again for this initial exposure.<br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-efrtqMrIvpA/UfPc0_gs8_I/AAAAAAAAC84/J74CwG2BhvY/s1600-h/image34.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S_r8FHCkzNA/UfPc3bzw_fI/AAAAAAAAC9A/NUxDugP3Fms/image_thumb40.png?imgmax=800" height="681" title="image" width="519" /></a><br />I checked the camera’s highlight clipping warning and re-set the aperture to f13: <hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>3168 1/125s f13</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yR8rnFiL97o/UfPc6WTO4DI/AAAAAAAAC9I/r2iB0WohC5M/s1600-h/image45.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T41ni9g6-MA/UfPc88BsFEI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/VOhsvIkH4rY/image_thumb52.png?imgmax=800" height="673" title="image" width="519" /></a><br />This produced an acceptable image with some detail in the shadows and no clipped highlights.<br />For this category I will submit <strong>3104, 3129</strong> and <strong>3168</strong> as prints <hr />
<h3>
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<strong>Early morning or late evening landscapes with low angle incident light</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> I chose to photograph the same location (Hartley Mauditt Church and pond) first in the evening and again in the early morning. I have experimented with using light from different directions and I have chosen the three most successful images. My methods of exposure assessment have already been described so I have not bothered to include as much detail on this occasion, just a brief summary. <strong>3176 1/125s f10</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-R_Hn70KIrA0/UfPc-VlyDzI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/n2rZV8w0NgE/s1600-h/DSC_31762.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3176" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K8CP8Lstphs/UfPc_WPCk_I/AAAAAAAAC9g/5kx4JShYyXg/DSC_3176_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3176" width="519" /></a> For this image I kept the sun on my right shoulder so that the sky would not burn out. The histogram and the double threshold display show no clipping and one very small area of blocked shadow. <hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>3179</strong><strong> 1/125s f8</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bN45Dc8lnaM/UfPdBGxYXqI/AAAAAAAAC9s/MvSNRviq8mo/s1600-h/DSC_31792.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3179" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6PuCuUpf0Qg/UfPdCkKFxoI/AAAAAAAAC90/YNPhzgJZTjM/DSC_3179_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3179" width="519" /></a><br />The light here is from the right and the sky has burned out completely as well as the reflection of the sky at bottom right. I did try giving less exposure but the church, which is in shadow, is lost amongst the trees although there was some detail in the sky.<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EX2Shxw6AnU/UfPdEBaJYbI/AAAAAAAAC98/ErJhUvL_crA/s1600-h/DSC_31844.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3184" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KbtZOnF0HYs/UfPdEZ-xBcI/AAAAAAAAC-E/ss6Wl9QSTpU/DSC_3184_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="159" title="DSC_3184" width="240" /></a> <hr />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>3209 1/125s f11</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jj2bVimarys/UfPdFhv3DdI/AAAAAAAAC-M/CXIaSzdmqJI/s1600-h/DSC_32094.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3209" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7OOZUYGyxvo/UfPdGdaWRnI/AAAAAAAAC-U/qpOK8u87L8g/DSC_3209_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="519" title="DSC_3209" width="344" /></a><br />In order to get the church in sunlight, I returned the following morning when the sun was coming from the opposite direction. Even then, it was so bright that I was fortunate to get this exposure when cloud passed across the sun briefly. The double threshold display showed no clipped highlights or blocked shadows. <hr />
<strong><br /></strong><br /><strong>Indoor space with strong natural window light</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> I had difficulty choosing subjects for this section but I decided to go with everyday objects/activities in the hope that I would be able to produce something of interest. I started with the un-cleared breakfast able and worked my way around that as a theme. The exposures were made in manual mode using the highlight clipping tool for guidance and the double threshold and watch points (see above) to check for blocked shadows or blown highlights. I have used the smallest aperture and a tripod for maximum depth of field. <strong>3735 2.5s f32 ISO 400</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CP50aXMrTvs/UfPdHRfssCI/AAAAAAAAC-g/0f4OqJcivHA/s1600-h/DSC_373511.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3735" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KoZELp03XDY/UfPdIEYUfDI/AAAAAAAAC-o/kcPnLx2WP-c/DSC_3735_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" height="392" title="DSC_3735" width="591" /></a> This room has two windows opposite each other and gets even lighting. Despite strong sunlight to the left and north daylight to the right, there are no blocked shadows and only one small highlight in the pepper pot that is clipped. <hr />
I decided that my next image would be the same objects in a different setting. I tried a couple of compositions, with and without soap suds and came up with this arrangement. <strong>3795 1/2.5s f32 ISO 800</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1B_X7At675o/UfPdJA2vX_I/AAAAAAAAC-w/kqV2N9fIxBI/s1600-h/DSC_37958.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3795" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hSZG5PXx-O0/UfPdJn8nVSI/AAAAAAAAC-4/zwVEkJlXzE4/DSC_3795_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="519" title="DSC_3795" width="346" /></a> The sunlight here was from a window behind the objects – intense north daylight. The only highlights burnt out are some on the white china and the chrome rails. I had to frame carefully to avoid including the outside daylight in the frame which would have burned out at this exposure. <hr />
For the third image in the group, I wanted to include an introduction to the theme of morning routine with the preparation of coffee. I tried several points of view but the most interesting was captured with a macro lens.The streams of liquid from the espresso head were too blurred because of the slow shutter speed so I waited until the final drops had formed before making the final shot. <strong>3819 1/2.5s f25 ISO 800</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nn6CTuIbzFY/UfPdKu9PJbI/AAAAAAAAC_A/tzrsByEqKoU/s1600-h/DSC_38198.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3819" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3pbpIRmxQkw/UfPdLMz81ZI/AAAAAAAAC_I/xbQRTUsoY8Y/DSC_3819_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3819" width="519" /></a> Only the highlights on the froth are burned out. There are no blocked shadows. <hr />
<h5>
Part 2</h5>
<strong>Street scene in the middle of a clear sunny day</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> My original plan was to re-shoot the three images for this situation on an over cast day. Having travelled to the location on two consecutive days with the weather forecast predicting cloud cover for the morning I found that the scenes I had originally photographed still in contrasty sunlight. Rather than travel back on a third day I decided to see what I could do in the way of recomposing the shots to reduce the contrast. <strong>3104 </strong><strong>1/125 f13 29mm </strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> This was the original image. See above for details. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JUeg5E0QRRk/UfPdMp2XvbI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/vr_SFAGoBqs/s1600-h/DSC_31048.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3104" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gm6nBFV-5DY/UfPdNibYKhI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/DHz87boz55A/DSC_3104_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3104" width="519" /></a> <hr />
This area of Portsmouth was badly affected by bombing during WW2. Charter House (on the left, built 1889) is a listed building in the university area of the city. The image below was grabbed during a brief moment of lower intensity sunlight. <strong>3912 1/100s f22 ISO 400</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VMBWw9Lk408/UfPdPE7T3CI/AAAAAAAAC_g/LAUGmwHCK7Y/s1600-h/DSC_39129.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3912" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qlg7X5Xr1ws/UfPdQNL7EGI/AAAAAAAAC_o/vKJ-ZmiTXNY/DSC_3912_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3912" width="519" /></a> The only real problem seems to be that whatever the lighting conditions, the sky will burn out if it has any amount of cloud and exposing for the sky, deepens the shadows. Blue sky doesn’t seem to burn out. The double threshold tool in my software showed no clipped highlights and lost shadows only around the wheels of the car on the left. With this in mind, I recomposed the image to exclude as much of the sky as possible and to include more of the listed building (Charter House) <strong>3917 1/100s f18 ISO 400</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9LyjpoqvUxA/UfPdRiDucoI/AAAAAAAAC_w/-mTWsO8bUzs/s1600-h/DSC_39175.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3917" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fipfdtjqkgM/UfPdSi-O5mI/AAAAAAAAC_4/AEJniRK90EY/DSC_3917_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3917" width="519" /></a> This has lifted the shadows but the sky has clipped to the left and above the central gables. While I was waiting for more cloud to cover the sky, I looked back at an image I took from the traffic island as I crossed the road.<br /><strong>3910 1/160s f22 ISOP 400</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rBO4Vzx8-dE/UfPdTjjVLnI/AAAAAAAADAA/hucd6UVvBZI/s1600-h/DSC_391017.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3910" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y7-LyQB5iMg/UfPdUVUjFVI/AAAAAAAADAI/3RCHTdTTVVU/DSC_3910_thumb11.jpg?imgmax=800" height="519" title="DSC_3910" width="346" /></a><br />This image has no blocked shadows or clipped highlights. A third image from the other end of the building also has acceptable contrast with just a blocked shadow on the right which could be cropped out.<br /><strong>**3922 1/100s f22 ISO400 </strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XCaulBN-YWk/UfPdVzBimeI/AAAAAAAADAQ/qe8POZya7NM/s1600-h/DSC_392210.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3922" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D4yckWzamtU/UfPdWgmRlnI/AAAAAAAADAY/qyIUQTUj7_Y/DSC_3922_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" height="346" title="DSC_3922" width="519" /></a></strong> <hr />
<br />This is the second image that I re-photographed.<br /><strong>3129 </strong><strong>1/125s f13 </strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LEjEXBknc7s/UfPdXzmsYAI/AAAAAAAADAg/nENk2RyWfoo/s1600-h/DSC_31295.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3129" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G29D5efT_lg/UfPdYtWkzQI/AAAAAAAADAo/XR0yqqQLqMI/DSC_3129_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="519" title="DSC_3129" width="344" /></a><br />This original image had only one clipped highlight, the top of the lamp post.<br /><strong>**3903 1/125s f11 ISO 400</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fZzQOKNiDLY/UfPdaA1XQlI/AAAAAAAADAw/2uLqm_-qgSs/s1600-h/DSC_39035.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3903" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-A3UXPXj4swM/UfPdbOq0doI/AAAAAAAADA4/jD2tv4tEkjU/DSC_3903_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="519" title="DSC_3903" width="344" /></a><br />The lower contrast image was much easier to accomplish as the sky was still cloudy. However, the light coloured cloud was likely to burn out so I recomposed the image to exclude the sky. <hr />
<br />The third image that I re-photographed was this one:<br /><strong>3168 1/125s f13</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ttwH54QmWsQ/UfPdcAxOseI/AAAAAAAADBA/RCudurO7xCA/s1600-h/DSC_31685.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3168" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2wnkZVx80fo/UfPdcwdVfKI/AAAAAAAADBI/SgPnPFaYBgw/DSC_3168_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3168" width="519" /></a><br />This image had minimal clipped highlights and blocked shadows. (see above)<br />Again, this lower contrast image was easier to make with the cloud cover in place and no sky visible in the frame.<br /><strong>**3896 1/125s f11 ISO 400</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JeLosehl3HI/UfPddwFmsSI/AAAAAAAADBQ/eiFT_WCKeGQ/s1600-h/DSC_38965.jpg"><img alt="DSC_3896" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h1BGx_clnpI/UfPdevGakEI/AAAAAAAADBY/WyIRNtUkiXw/DSC_3896_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_3896" width="519" /></a><br />The difference in white balance is due to the camera settings. As I was shooting in and out of the sunlight for the low contrast image I left the WB on Auto, whereas for the high contrast image I use daylight (sunlight).<br /><strong>**These are the images I will submit for Part 2 of the assignment</strong> <br />
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<br />Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549986989286802401.post-79655684080340177692012-10-18T04:44:00.000-07:002014-02-19T03:19:13.775-08:00Assignment One Workflow<br />
<em>“Devise a themed assignment on a topic that interests you.”</em> <h6>
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Introduction and Notes</span></strong></h6>
For this assignment I have chosen to use the landscape of the Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve. My interest in this area extends back to my schooldays and time spent studying the plant species distribution as part of an ‘A’ level Biology project. Within the reserve there is a contrast between the salt marsh that forms the majority of the area and the shingle bank that forms the southern extremity and mouth of the harbour. At first sight, the landscape is fairly uninspiring. It is flat and has no prominent features. However, at this time of year (October) the low sun picks out and highlights a lot of textures in the plants, water, shingle and mud. I wanted to experiment with black and white images to emphasise these textures. Although this was the main theme for the assignment, I did also make other images which may inspire future projects. Neither area is entirely natural, over the centuries, attempts have been made to reclaim the land but the west-east coastal drift and storms over the same period have breached any attempt to close the harbour mouth. The shingle spits at Selsey and Pagham are constantly on the move which changes the landscape over decades rather than centuries. The area is quite large. I started photographing the salt marsh at Sidlesham Quay and then drove to Selsey and walked from the East Beach car park out along the shingle spit to the harbour mouth. I have included some images taken from a series I made in October 2009 at Church Norton as I didn’t have time to return there and re-photograph on this occasion. <h6>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Workflow</span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></h6>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I have standard settings for landscape. I adapt these as necessary but these form a checklist with which I start the day:</span></h6>
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<li> Clean the camera and lenses</li>
</ul>
<b>Camera Settings for Landscape</b> <ul>
<li>Command dial: <strong>manual</strong>
<li>Exposure compensation -<b>0.7</b>
<li>Exposure Meter <b>Matrix</b>
<li>ISO <strong>Select 200</strong>
<li>White Balance <b>Direct Sunlight</b>
<li>Image Quality <b>NEF + jpg basic</b>
<li>Image Size <b>Large</b>
<li>Picture Control<b> Standard</b>
<li>Active D-lighting <b>Auto</b>
<li>Colour Space <b>sRGB</b></li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<b>Lens Settings (18-200mm DX VR)</b> <ul>
<li>With Tripod: <strong>VR – off </strong>Hand held: <strong>VR –on</strong>
<li>Focusing<b> M/A</b></li>
</li>
</ul>
<em>Once theses checks were complete, I loaded the car and included camera bag, tripod and monopod.</em> <strong>At Location:</strong> <ul>
<li>Check lighting, adjust white balance/ISO as required <em>Set ISO to 200 and white balance to direct sunlight.</em>
<li>Continue with assignment, noting ideas and interpretations <em>I made notes on which areas to concentrate on, where to get the best viewpoints. I also included ideas about how to present the final images to emphasise the contrasts between the shingle bank and the salt marsh. I also recorded a lot of textures and looked for different colours to alleviate the monochromatic feel of the shingle beach.</em>
<li>Record memory card index and store SD cards securely</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<strong>At my PC</strong> <ul>
<li> Uploaded my images from two memory cards (263 in total) to View NX2. <em>My folder naming convention is: YYYYMMDD_Location. I then cross reference the location and assignment in my diary. I find this the easiest way to keep track of my image folders when archiving.</em><br />
<li> <strong>Technical edit</strong>. <em>I went through the images in both folders to select those that I like and deselect those that were not technically suitable. For this location, I was taking pictures for more than one theme. I had not decided what form the final project would take at his stage.</em> <em>I labelled each image I had selected with </em><em>1</em><strong></strong><br />
<li><strong>First Select</strong>. <em>Before deciding on which direction I want the project to take, I went through the first select images again to find those that go together. I had four ideas to start, the salt marsh, the shingle bank, a contrast between the two and an essay on the landscapes of the whole reserve.</em>
<li> <strong>Black and white conversion and Second Select</strong>. <em>Working through the best images I worked in Capture NX2 to perform any geometric corrections, initial retouching, tone, contrast, and colour correction before converting to black and white using <strong>*Silver FX Pro</strong>. At this stage I was looking for 6 – 8 images to encompass the whole nature reserve, salt marsh and shingle bank with emphasis on the big sky and textures in the plants, mud and shingle. Using high contrast and high grain structure I was able to exaggerate these textures. The sixteen converted images are labelled 2 </em></li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<strong>*Silver FX Pro</strong> Settings: <em>I used two pre-sets in the conversion of these images to black and white, 024 Full Contrast and Structure and 017 Full Dynamic (harsh) where the contrast on the shingle was too high. The Final selection images are labelled 4</em> <ul>
<li> Take a break from editing overnight.<br />
<li> Save the Second Select black and white images to a <strong>Final Select</strong> folder. I have eight images to prepare for printing.<br />
<li> <strong>Preparation for printing</strong>. <em>I have my assignment images printed onto lustre paper by an online lab, DSCL. In Silver FX Pro, the images are converted from NEF files to TIFF. My next task was to resize my images and convert them to high quality JPEG files. For assessment, I like to have my prints made on A4 with a border. To achieve this I keep the original 4:6 ratio and reduce the image size to 3312 pixels on the long side. In Photoshop I created a new A4 canvas and layered the image centrally leaving a border, wider at the long edges. The resolution was set at 300dpi. Once I have the JPEGs I soft proofed them using the paper profile supplied DSCL. As there was a barely perceptible difference visible on my calibrated monitor I saved and uploaded the files to DSCL’s server for printing.</em><br />
<li> <strong>Final selection from the prints </strong><em>Having received the prints and looked closely at them I have cut the final selection down to six. Two of the eight images were repeating the textures already shown form a different viewpoint so I have excluded them.</em></li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
Here is the final selection of six images from the prints, with exposure details. <strong>0074: <span style="color: red;">1/250s f8 18mm ISO 200</span></strong> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fZb6izI0i4I/UIBtmFkoFPI/AAAAAAAACZQ/QUHcIzsKzk8/s1600-h/DSC_007425.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0074" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yH531UcvUg8/UIBtnl3e51I/AAAAAAAACZU/rvcLrqTGVdc/DSC_0074_thumb19.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_0074" width="520" /></a> <hr />
<br />
<br /><strong>0109: <span style="color: red;">1/320s f9 40mm ISO 200</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-72uZVT7A9a0/UIBtpP61VMI/AAAAAAAACZg/Kun-VBrQLYc/s1600-h/DSC_01099.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0109" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tnPtuhV543c/UIBtqUnW6xI/AAAAAAAACZo/mrfpRCARuu0/DSC_0109_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_0109" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
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<br /><strong>1149: <span style="color: red;">1/80s f22 18mm ISO 200</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Utex_gbhSlw/UIBtsFvkcfI/AAAAAAAACaw/6BnDw2Vk0Mo/s1600-h/DSC_1149_1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_1149_1" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o2A5Nptlb3A/UIBttGgEBDI/AAAAAAAACa0/IdHs4TvkQv8/DSC_1149_1_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_1149_1" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
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<br /><strong>1207: <span style="color: red;">1/125s f22 18mm ISO 200</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sx2kBsGt5_M/UIBtuqBjo_I/AAAAAAAACaA/GbqT3sqgDB0/s1600-h/DSC_12078.jpg"><img alt="DSC_1207" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q6fOWKTJ1wY/UIBtvy7lSiI/AAAAAAAACaI/VThDhW0kCLs/DSC_1207_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_1207" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
<br />
<br /><strong>1250</strong>: <span style="color: red;"><strong>1/40s f29 35mm ISO 200</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong></strong><br /></span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c1x_eS6IlPI/UIBtxlOULpI/AAAAAAAACa4/VhUS6-o0f14/s1600-h/DSC_1250%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_1250" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dcnTtz4xL78/UIBtyxZjS6I/AAAAAAAACa8/HDbDtPFt1HY/DSC_1250_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_1250" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
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<br /><strong>1262 <span style="color: red;">1/50s f22 18mm ISO 200</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rCiZk3s0sCs/UIBt0G9UnwI/AAAAAAAACag/wZjI7bclsrc/s1600-h/DSC_12628.jpg"><img alt="DSC_1262" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CHvMZIiYp8o/UIBt1R4JsCI/AAAAAAAACao/kqWyFLZXA8Y/DSC_1262_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="344" title="DSC_1262" width="519" /></a><br />
<hr />
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<h6>
</h6>
<h6>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Reflection and self assessment:</span></h6>
<strong>Did I achieve my objective for the theme of the assignment? </strong>I started the assignment with an idea of shapes and textures in the landscape. As I worked both at the location and in the editing the form of the assignment emerged. I have presented six images showing form and texture both in the land and in the sky.<br /><strong>Have I made any changes to my established workflow? </strong>This is my sixth assignment for photography and I have worked at them all in a very similar way. As a result of the exercises in this section of the course I have made more use of the grading and filtering tools in my browser to sort images. In the past, I have included assignments as part of other activities i.e. sailing, holidays etc. and taken far too many images. The time limited assignment for exercise 1 was very useful and concentrated my mind. For this assignment I did not have a clear objective at the start of the day which resulted in a massive effort in the edit.<br /><strong>What else have I learned?</strong> <ul>
<li><strong></strong>I used this opportunity to process some images into black and white using a fairly sophisticated software. I also have Michael Freeman’s Guide to Black and White Digital Photography and am enjoying experimenting.
<li>I made the decision to have prints made for this assignment. I prefer the idea that both my tutor and I are looking at the same image presented in a standard way. This worked well for me at assessment for Art of Photography so I shall continue with it where appropriate. Under daylight balanced lighting they do seem to have a slight yellow cast. I will look at my soft proofing again to make sure the paper profile is right.</li>
</li>
</ul>
I have looked back at this assignment and feel confident that I have demonstrated that I can meet the majority of the assessment criteria. During the 22 months that I have been studying with OCA on my film and photography courses, I have improved my technical skills. I now have an almost instinctive feel for my camera and don’t spend a lot of time thinking about camera settings once I have an idea of the location and lighting. I use manual settings again like I did with film cameras in the past. I hope that with the theme of this assignment I have shown that I can find interesting, innovative images and compose them well. If there is a weakness in this area it is perhaps that I need to develop design skills to make the best use of groups of images and how to fit them together. Looking back over the submission, I have achieved what I set out to do and I was able to edit the images down to the minimum required. I soon realised that although there were twelve images suitable, six adequately expressed the idea of contrasting textures. This assignment has made me think about experimenting with image editing software and becoming more organised in my approach to workflow. Having a free reign over the assignment has made me think a lot about following a single idea to its logical conclusion. I tend to get side tracked and start thinking about new ideas and not wanting to miss any photographic opportunities. Hence I finished the day with 260+ images and enough material to start another two or three assignments. I have continued to make very detailed notes in this learning log and with two study visits in the next few weeks will be able to include research and critical thinking in the process. I am hoping that as this course progresses I will become a more creative and confident photographer. I am planning to display larger assignment images in my web gallery. Look out for a new page on <a href="http://www.orchardwind.talktalk.net/">www.orchardwind.talktalk.net/</a> <h5>
Assignment 1 – Feedback and reflection</h5>
I received very positive feedback from my tutor about my print submission. She liked the quality of the prints, my choice of subject and the effort I had put into the editing, planning and research to produce consistent work. I am pleased that I have progressed in my approach to editing. The feedback I got from my Art of Photography assessment report helped me in this respect. I shall continue to bear it mind as I progress through this course where there seems to be more emphasis on a free hand when choosing topics for assignments.<br />My tutor would like to see more evidence of background reading and book reviews in my learning log. I have recently finished reading “Art Photography Now” by Susan Bright and will include a review soon. I have read parts of “ The Photograph as Contemporary Art” by Charlotte Cotton and “Photography - a Critical introduction” by Liz Wells. I struggled a little with these two while I was studying TAoP. Perhaps now I’ve have some understanding (albeit very basic) of photographs as art, I will take them up again.<br />I’ll take a short break from this course for a few weeks while I work on DFP assignment 3. I find that working on one course at a time is more productive.<br />
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<br />Richard Downhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082396361446975106noreply@blogger.com0