Elements of Composition

Image:	Principle of Design/Definition:	Rationale:
	Asymmetrical Balance: Subject matter appears to be different in size, shape, weight, tone, or placement.	The placement of the tree appears to be off in the picture and it looks abnormal.
	Bird's Eye View: The photograph is taken from above the subject.	The viewer is looking down on the city.
	Curved Lines: The lines within the image are curved.	The waves on the ocean are curved lines
	Diagonal Lines: The lines in the photograph are diagonal.	The power lines are diagonally placed in relation to the clouds.
	Emphasis: Separating the subject of the photo from its background.	This photo represents emphasis because the background is made black and white so that the bright fish can stand out from its surroundings.
	Framing: Using other objects in a photograph to frame the subject.	The hole through which the picture is being taken naturally frames the landscape outside.
	Horizon Line: The horizon line determines where the viewer is looking from and where the viewer looking to. It makes it seem like the photograph is endless.	All lines in the photo lead to a point; the point being the horizon line.
	Horizontal Lines: The lines in the picture are horizontal. This usually evokes a sense of calmness in the viewer.	The shadows all show horizontal lines.
	Leading Lines: Lines in the photograph lead the viewer to look at the subject.	The lines in the photograph (the guardrail, the arrow signs, and even the trees) lead the viewer to look at the woman walking.
	Movement/Rhythm: The goal is to have the viewers attention move all around the photograph.	The lines in the photo force the viewer to look at everything in the photograph.
	Proportion/Scale: Using the size of an object to give it more or less importance.	The dog is made larger in this photograph to give it the most importance.
	Pattern: Repeating a pattern in such a manner that it captures the viewer's attention.	The pattern in the kiwi not only grabs the attention of an onlooker, but it also keeps a person looking at it.
	Rule of Thirds: If you were to draw a tic-tac toe board on the photograph, the subject should be located on one of the places where the lines intersect.	The subject (the sailboat) is in the upper corner of the photograph.
	Simplicity: Simple subject, simple background.	The vase is simple and is separated form the simple background.
	Symmetry: The subject of the photograph is symmetrical.	Everything in the room is perfectly symmetrical.
	Texture: If a photographer uses texture correctly, the viewer can sense what the photograph feels like.	You can see how the leaf feels.
	Unity: Different subjects are put together to unite a photo and make it whole.	The two elephants are united and make an amazing photograph.
	Variety: The photograph has a variety of elements.	The photograph representing variety shows many differing Christmas ornaments.
	Vertical Lines: Most lines shown in a photograph are vertical and attention grabbing.	The lines in this photo are all vertical and it is not distracting, but it certainly captures attention.
	Worm's Eye View: A photograph taken from below or from a humble position.	This picture is taken from below looking up at the buildings.

Camera Basics Quiz Group B

Large Depth of Field:

Camera Data:

ISO: 1600                                            Aperture: f/32.0                                Shutter Speed: 1.0

I achieved this shot by setting a high shutter speed. I did that because the shutter takes longer to close, therefore taking in more information and making the entire picture clear.

Moving Subject with Blur and Background in Focus:

Camera Data:

ISO: 1600                                               Aperture: f/7.1                                   Shutter Speed: 1/13

I achieved this shot by setting a fast shutter speed. The subject remained in focus, but the shutter closed too fast to be able to stop motion. 

Photograph with Noise/Grain:

Camera Data:

ISO: 1600                                                  Aperture: f/5.0                                Shutter Speed: 1/125

This shot was achieved by taking a picture in a low light situation at a very high ISO.

Portrait-Style Selfie with Av and a Small Depth of Field:

Camera Data:

ISO: 800                                                   Aperture: f/4.5                                  Shutter Speed: 1/13

This shot was achieved by setting the self-timer on the camera and hopping in front of it. Before I did that, I set the dial on the camera to the Av setting (Aperture Priority/Value) and zoomed in on my dog.

Summary:
Throughout this unit, I have learned the basic functions of a camera and how to take a neat and balanced photograph.

What Is Composition?

What is composition?
Composition is the arrangement of visual elements within the frame of a photograph.

Why is composition important?
It is important to utilize composition when taking photographs so that the picture conveys meaning. When taking a snapshot, the photo is made specifically to keep a memory. It can be poorly cropped or out of focus, but it serves its purpose by saving a memory. A photograph not only shows a moment in time, it shows how the subject felt in that moment in time, or it shows a feeling the photographer felt when they made the photograph. This is why composition is important. It gives the photo meaning.

What is a "snapshot?"
As stated above, a snapshot is taken to preserve a memory of a specific subject at a certain. The photo could be taken quickly to capture a specific moment in time. It is not thought out or planned, it is meant to save the memory of what the subject was doing at that specific moment.

What is a "photograph?"
Contrary to the previous question, a photograph is a well planned out image made to convey a feeling of the photographer or the subject at a specific moment in time. A photograph will likely be planned out and convey much meaning to the viewer.

~Quote~
"Photography is the art of discovery."



All notes taken from The Photographic Eye, chapter three, pages 51 and 52.

Understanding White Balance

                                 Automatic:                                         ISO:             Aperture:          Shutter Speed:

 

   3200                f/10                       1/30

                                  Daylight:

     3200                f/10                       1/30

                                 
                                     Shade:

      3200                f/10                       1/30

                                    Cloudy:

      3200                f/10                       1/30

                              Tungsten Light:

      3200                f/10                       1/30

                        White Fluorescent Light:

      3200                f/10                       1/30

                                       Flash:

      3200                f/10                       1/30

 
                                    Custom:

      3200                f/10                       1/30

 

 

What is White Balance?

White Balance is used to compensate for the light situation in whatever setting you are in.

 

Why is it important to set your White Balance?

It is important to set your white balance so that your picture looks correct based on the lighting situation. For example, all of the pictures above are set at different white balance settings. The photo took place in a white fluorescent lit room, so either that or the automatic setting made the photograph come out looking good.

Understanding Shutter Speed

1. Slow Shutter Speed (Blurry Subject):

2. Fast Shutter Speed (Frozen Subject):

            

                                ISO                                Aperture                         Shutter Speed

Photo 1:                  3200                                 f/10.0                                    1/10

Photo 2:                  3200                                 f/4.0                                      1/60

What is Shutter Speed?

Shutter Speed is the amount of time the shutter is open when a picture is taken.

How does Shutter Speed work technically (in the camera):
The shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second. The shutter can be compared to a window. The longer the shutter is left open the more light that gets in.

How does Shutter Speed work visually (in the photo):
The longer the shutter speed (the longer the amount of time the shutter is open), the more blurry the subject is. The shorter the shutter speed (the shorter the amount of time the shutter is open), the less blurry the subject of the photo is.

What is the relationship of Shutter Speed to the exposure triangle?
With a fast shutter speed, the aperture must be at the lowest setting and the ISO at a very high setting to take a balanced photo. A slow shutter speed allows more wiggle room with the other settings; although, I decided to keep the same ISO. 

Understanding ISO

           100 

        

                                                                              200   

       400

         800

         1600

________________________________________________________________________________

Photo:                             ISO:                                 Aperture:                           Shutter Speed:

Low ISO:                       100                                      f/3.5                                       1"3

1                                     200                                      f/4.0                                       0"8

2                                     400                                      f/4.5                                       0"5

3                                     800                                      f/5.0                                       0"3

High ISO:                      1600                                     f/5.6                                      1/5
_________________________________________________________________________________


Questions:

What is ISO?
ISO is the measure of a digital camera sensor's sensitivity.

How does ISO work in the camera (technically)?
ISO controls the light of the photo. ISO is set manually, and is usually shot around 800.

How does ISO work in the photo?
All of the photos I used for this blog post are balanced photos. The ISO controls the pixels in the shot up close, pretty much. At a shot with a high ISO, the photo will come out grainy and pixelated (better seen when examined close up). A shot with a low ISO will be much more clear up close.

How does ISO relate to the exposure triangle?
When ISO and Aperture increase at a steady rate, the shutter speed decreases.

Understanding Aperture

1. Small Depth of Field, Lowest f/stop:

2. Large Depth of Field, Highest f/stop:

                                 ISO:                             Aperture:                        Shutter Speed:

Photo 1:                   1600                                f/4.0                                    1/160

Photo 2:                   1600                                f/22.0                                  1/6

What is Aperture?

Aperture is the size of the opening in the lens when a picture is being taken. 

How does Aperture work technically (in the camera)?

Based on the settings, the opening in the lens stays opening as long, or as short, as the operator wants it. The longer the lens is open, the more light that is let in. 

How does Aperture work visually (in the picture)?

When a picture is taken with a low f/stop, there is a shallow depth of field, and the subject will come out separated from the background, as shown in photo one. The background is more blurry. If there is a high f/stop, less light enters, and there is a larger depth of field. The whole photo will come out entirely clear. 

What is the relationship to the exposure triangle?

The exposure triangle compares the three settings aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. After this shooting assignment, it is evident that, with a set ISO, as aperture decreases, shutter speed increases; furthermore, as aperture increases, shutter speed decreases.  

Peer Portrait

Dear friends,

I have been bestowed with the great honor of introducing you to Carina Saffron. She is a great photographer and loves it! She took photography class in order to get more into taking photographs. She definitely lets her loud personality show through her photos. She does do other things than photography, though. She spends some of her time on her phone either talking to friends or on Twitter. She loves twitter. The place to find Carina would be in the dance studio, despite the above. She enjoys to dance and move which explains her bad habit of tapping her feet. What it does not explain is her biggest fear of being stabbed to death… In a new, much brighter light, she hopes to be married and holding a stable job in ten years. She also hopes that Kim Kardashian will be removed from pop culture in ten years.  If she could choose to have a super power, she would choose to fly because then she could go anywhere! Specifically, she would love to go photograph Italy. Not only is she a great photographer, though, she is a great model for photos. In our little mini photo-shoot I picked the picture that I thought best suited her personality. She is smiling and laughing, and she had a really great time. She shows off her nose in this picture even though she thinks that it is her biggest flaw.  She can be best described as outgoing and charismatic. This is Carina!