Photographic equipment x
LIGHTING
Lighting is used to highlight the key points in a photo and as there are so many and that they all do different things it can sometimes be hard to choose the best lighting.
There is something called 3 point lighting.
Key lighting – this is the main light, the hard light source that is on the side of the camera. It is the like the sun and is there to highlight and emphasise.
This image only has the the hard source that the camera gives and highlights the pale parts than the darker parts.
Back lighting – This is lighting that comes from behind the subject. This type of lighting creates a siholette. There are many different types of back lighting you can use the sun, sky or un natural lights for example spotlights. The lights have to be just right as when the camera reads the brightness of the light it changes the setting to accompany it to best ability to create the best possible photo. Back lighting would be good to highlight the subject and maybe give them a sense of mystery. Some problems that can occur are shadows but there are ways to fill in the shadows. – full lighting
Full lighting – This is soft lighting that highlights the shadows and lowers the contrast between light and dark. This can fill in shadows that may appear when using back lighting. This comes from about the same height as the camera.
For example THE subtle lighting/ full lighting gives a shadow under the chin highlights the place of interest.
There are more advanced lighting that below, As well a them you get all round lighting, full frontal lighting, top heavy lighting and more.
For example below is an image i created with full frontal lighting with a dark shadow behind.
diffused lighting – This is a very simple thing that allows you to have more natural lighting instead of the full harshness of flash or a bright sun light which in no photo every flatters the subject, this can be created easily. for example just waiting for a cloud to move over the sun can create a gorgeous image. If this is not possible you could use an umbrella to create shade. Diffused lighting is all about create a shadow to enhance the photo with still having the colours filter in.
artificial lighting – This is when you create the light your self. Anything from the flash on the camera to a lamp from above. you are creating the light that is visible in the photo. Through this is a simple way of creating images when indoors you can create a yellow shade which makes the images look un clear and dirty.
The artificial light in this image is a torch shinning on to the image to create an old looking image. The other light is of course the candle.
side lighting – Is a good effect to use on images to create depth and drastic effect without having to do so much work.
Side lighting is lighting that comes from the left or the right hand side to create a dark shadow on one half of a subject. Side lighting enhances the mood of the image. Side lighting can sometimes be to harsh and over shadow the subject instead of highlighting. This can easily be dealt with by softening the light that appears on one side by reflecting the light on to the darkened side of the face to give off a more natural photo.
The lighting is coming from the right and does create a very dark shadow and shows a difference between light and dark.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FILM AND DIGITAL CAMERAS.
Film and digital cameras are two totally different things and in different ways but to create the same thing an image that captivates the audience.
Film is where you use a manual SLR camera. This is ever so difficult as you have to rely on your eye. The only hint that you get is by the light dial in the camera. The light dial tells you if you have to much light, not enough light or just the right amount.
You develop the film yourself you get that magical feeling as you see the image appear before you face. The thing that can be a problem is that you cant see your photo straight after you have taken it. Black and white are the best to take when using a manual camera.
Digital cameras are more convenient they are easy to use as they do everything for you, no thinking is needed for a basic photo. They take in the correct light in natural lighting. Digital cameras able you to see your photo straight away and decide if you like it. Digital cameras do take better photos as any one can do it.
FILM Vs DIGITALIS
You have to completely do everything to take a photo. Before a photo can even be taken you have to load the film and roll it backwards, then making sure no light has hit it and that the number dial is at 1. Where as using a digital camera all you have to do it press a button, you dont have to remember to do anything.
The sensor is also different in each camera and this is important as it creates the depth of field. In a Film camera as the film is light sensitive the sensor is placed behind the lens and when the a photo is taken for a certain amount of time the light hits the film and therefore puts an image on the negatives. Digital is difference there is a fixed electronic sensor behind the lense, when the photo is taken a pixel is given and it gets its value they are then saved on a sd card.
Once a photo has been taken on a Manual camera you cannot correct it, of course once the photo has been developed you can crop it and add filters to get a better contrast theres also the possibility of scratching back in and making photograms but the photo its self cannot be changed. Whereas on a digital camera you can do anything you can change the colour of the image, you can blur you can re touch anything, you can add anything and do anything that you wish.
People believe that the quality of the photo is determined by what camera you use and as much as this is true a photo can be bad either way. The problem that has now occurred is
that digital cameras are evolving and film is fading. Which means the fight is slowly going as people wanna make it as easy as possible to create a photo.
Below is a digital image from the same subject, I was able to darken everything that i didn’t want to highlight and exposure what i did. This makes the photo look better and is why digital cameras can be very positive.
And below is the same idea but in a black and white film, its very crackly but that is to do with the scanner and the overall image that has been produced, i have added a sepia tone whilst i was in the developing stage. I like the image but you can see some of the disadvantages when using film.
FLASH
Flash is artificial light that is with in the camera. This is typically the auto on the camera which most people use as this is what the dial is set to most off the time.
Flashes can be used for a number of reasons one reason to be able to catch things moving quickly. But the main reason is to normal illuminate the scene, this could because there is not enough of natural in the photo. Flash can brighten up the image and give it more oomph allowing the photo to be to its best standard.
The flash tends to be electronic as they have moved on from single use bulbs.
As i said before flash tends to be built in, but cameras do have a possibility of adding more flashes on.
As of everything there are draw backs and of course positives.
The main drawback is that built in flashes tend to be well lame, they have no real power behind them.
Another problem that occurs is the whole red eye effect and through this can be removed it tends to be a hassle.
Over all flash has evolved from something quite simple to a modern masterpiece that every one from a child with plain digital camera to Mario Testino.
Below are two images one with flash and one with without, this shows the difference flash has on an image.
Below is what can happen sometimes when flash is used—- red eye.
TRIPOD
Tripods are a simple device that photographers use to stop camera shake and keep the images clear. They are mainly used when slow exposure is in motion to keep the image as sharp as possible.
Tripods are also good for framing images as they are set in one place, you get to choose the height and the place you set it, to get the best possible image and best optical view. This enables the photographer to in a way plan before hand and give them the chance of a more thoughtful and better approach to the image. Personally when i use a tripod which is in a rare occasion its because the image i am trying to capture is that of a hard subject. For example i used a tripod with a manual camera instead of a digital as i had a slow shutter speed and a horse moving and i did not want a blur.
By the word tripod to understand that its got three legs that can moved and changed to the height you wish.
LENSES
Lenses are semi attached, you can change them to suite your needs. Called an optical lens.
There are many different lenses each one bringing something new and interesting to a photo and each are better for certain photo scenes.
Firstly there is the wide angle lens. A wide-angle lens can focus on the foreground and background. Wide-angle camera lenses are best for large, dynamic landscapes where they both background and foreground catch the eyes attention. A wide angle is 21mm to 35mm.
zoom lens.
This allows the photographer to widen or shorten the lens focal length to increase or decrease the magnification of the subject. you can use it ranging from landscape to portrait photography.
TELEPHOTO LENS
This is my favorite lens its so good and does everything. I have one myself and find it great for portraits. Its really good for depth of field. What you focus on it what is clear everything else is a blur. The difference between zoom and telephoto is very subtle. Telephoto can go in very far , This allows a telephoto lens to show greater detail.
There are so many other lenses you have the macro lens which is used to take extreme close ups. Without the images being distorted.
There is also the fisheye lense which is now mainly used for landscape photography. Good for wide range.
Other lenses fixed focal lens, standard/normal lens.
Technical Aspects of a camera
Aperture
Aperture refers to the amount of light that is let in. This is done by the diaphragm opening the lens during the the exposure process. The diameter of the lens opening is usually controlled by the iris.
In the lens there are blades that open and shut, the longer that they are open the more light that is let in.
You control the amount of light that is let in by moving the lens. On the lens there are F numbers, each of these numbers refers back to the amount of time that the iris is left open. Basic f numbers – 1.4 , 2 , 2.8 , 4 , 5.6 , 8 . your bascially doubling it.
first image = f/4
second image = f/5.6
if the Aperture was 30, the diaphragm was open for a very long time and alot of light was let in, so much that it takes away from the subject.
As you can see the aperture has a big effect on the the overall photo.
Below are images showing different shutter speads, and the effects that they have on images.
As you can see as the lens stays open for longer the images become blured and lighter and are harder to see hardly any detail can be found.
SHUTTER SPEED..
shutter speed does come into aperture as its still about the the amount of time that the lens is open for. Its not so much about the light coming though.
The Shutter speed can be anything from 1 second to 30 seconds. People tend to have a quick shutter speed so that it picks everything up in an instant. I find using instant shutter speed is good for portraits as there is normal nothing you want to pick up.
Below is an image where i used a quick shutter speed of a portrait.
I used auto to create an instant photo with natural lighting the shutter speed was down within a second causing no blur.
When you plan on using slow shutter speed or long exposure its best to use a tripod to limit the camera shake as much and possible and to also keep the image in place.
I like using long exposures when i want pick up movement. I find it looks really good to give a sense of mystery.
Below is an image that i created to with a shutter speed of 15 seconds and got my subjects to move in and out and in a red toned room.
You can use slow and fast shutter speeds on both digital and manual SLR cameras. When you use manual cameras it tend to never come out as great as its hard to expose the image for the correct amount of time.
FOCAL POINT
FOCUS POINT. The reason the focal point is so important is because thats where the eye is drawn to. See the eye needs somewhere to rest once looking at an image.
There are many points and ideas of how to keep the focus point simple.
The position is important you want the focus point to be the most prominent. Using depth of field to blur out backgrounds is a great way of shifting the focus to the part that you want. This is called bokeh, is the blur, in out of focus area in the photos.
At the end of the day the image you take will normally have a focal point, but an idea is to really make it stand out.
Below are a few of examples that i took, see if you can guess where the focal point is.
DID YOU GUESS???
the flower bud is the focal point the raw bright colour against the dull background.Draws you towards it.
DID YOU GUESS???
The eyes are the focal point they are strong and on a pale background with a darker background.
Colour is a major part in finding and creating an image.
FOCAL LENGTH
Focal length relays back to lenses, its about how much you can see in an image. Its hard to describe so firstly i have a diagram to show what i mean.
Below are images taken with different lenses all with a different length, below you will be able to see how they differ, and how it has a change on an image.
= 18mm
=24mm
=35mm
=45mm
=55mm
70mm
=85mm
=105mm
=135mm
=210mm
Manipulating images.
Manipulating images is when you change an original image to create a better or even a new one. Using photoshop is a great way of doing all different things to create a brilliant photo. thought of course there are many different programs that allow to do this though photoshop is the best one.
I manipulated this image by selecting each person separately and changing the colour balance to create individual colors.
I also brightened the photos by heightening the exposure time.
Both these images have been turned to black and white. The top one has been done to exposure and i heightened the black and the contrast to create a cartoon looking image.
For the bottom one i blurred it to create more of a 50s vibe, more romantic.
You can also crop images, for example below is an image, i then cropped the part that i wanted.
ISO
The ISO in film photography refers back to how sensitive the film is where as digital photography refers to the sensitivity of the image sensor.
The ISO refers to the numbers on the camera, 100,200,400,800,1600 and then hi 1 which normally means 3200.
The lower the number the less sensitive your camera is to light. Higher the ISO settings means its normally a darker situation.
Lower than 50 ISO means that the images get more saturated, normally cameras dont go below 100.
The standard ISO is 100 it creates fine, nice and colorful images that are very balanced.
Over 400 ISO means that the colour gets a good boost and it reduces any noise that might have been picked up.
Remember when choosing the ISO Think of depth of field, the subject, Grain and the surroundings.
Below is the same image but i took it with different ISOs to show the diiferneces.
=100
=200
=400
=800
=1600
=hi 1
