Assignment 2

The objective of this assignment is to understand basic on-camera techniques such as aperture and shutter speed settings. My task is to produce two photographs from each of the two main categories below:

1. Aperture:
1.1. Shallow depth of field with a clear focus of the foreground

1.2. Deep depth of field

2. Shutter:

2.1. Freeze Action

2.2. Motion Blur


1.1 Shallow depth of field with a clear focus of the foreground

The picture below shows a shallow depth of field with a clear focus of the foreground (the flower) with a blur background (the leaves). To achieve this blur effect, a lower aperture stop of 5.6 is used by adjusting the F-stops in the Av mode on my Canon 450D camera. This picture is taken behind a toilet of the Pasir Ris Beach. Tempted by the beauty of the flowers, I decided to take a close up shot of one of the flowers as the focal point in the photo.

This photo: f5.6, 1/100, ISO 200

2.1 Deep depth of field

My stroll along the beach is rewarded when I spotted a secluded spot at the far end of the beach, which paints a lovely scene of the elements on the beach. Thus, the following photo was taken. To attain a deep depth of field (a clear focus of both the background and foreground), a higher aperture stop of 8.0 is used to capture the scenery below. This is also done by adjusting the F-stops in the Av mode on my camera.

This photo: f8.0, 1/400, ISO 200

2.1 Freeze Action

This picture is taken when a friend of mine was jumping for joy. To capture the moment of the action, a higher shutter speed is required. In order to freeze this action, I have adjusted to a higher shutter speed of 1/500 by adjusting the F-stops in the Tv mode of my camera.

This photo: f 4, 1/500, ISO 320

2.2 Motion Blur

On one hand, a higher shutter speed can freeze an action. On the other hand, a lower shutter speed can capture the blur motion of a moving object. While walking along Pasir Ris beach, I come across a family swinging a baby in the playground. The baby is smiling happily and he seems to be having a fun time with the swing. I decided to take a shot of his happy face while he is moving on the swing.

This photo: f9.0, 1/25, ISO 200

After Tutorial

During tutoiral, my classmates and my tutor, Jing commented that some of my photos such as the flower for shallow depth of field and the baby for motion blur are not sharp enough. In addition, the photo on freeze action has a shutter speed that is so high that I had freezed the muscles of the subject. The only acceptable photo was the photo on deep depth of field. Based on these comments, I have re-worked on the three categories of photos: shallow depth of field, freeze action and blur motion. Here's an update on the latest photos I have decided or am considering on.

1. Shallow Depth of Field

I have decided to retake my photo and replaced my previous photo with the one below.

This Photo: 1/200, f5.0, ISO 400

2. Deep Depth of Field

This photo will be the same as the one shown on top, since it is acceptable.

This photo: f8.0, 1/400, ISO 200

3. Freeze Action

I have re-taken the photo for this category. I am currently considering the following 4 photos below.

This Photo: 1/800, f9.0, ISO400

This Photo: 1/800, f5.6, ISO 400

This Photo: 1/250, f20, ISO400

This Photo: 1/250, f20, ISO 400

4. Blur Motion

Since the photo above for blur motion is not sharp enough, I have decided to replace it with another subject. I am currently, considering the 4 photos as shown below.

This Photo: 1/50, f6.3, ISO 800

This Photo: 0"3, f14, ISO 800

This Photo: 1", f7.1, ISO 800

This Photo: 1/200, f6.3, ISO 400

Final Artwork

After consulting my tutor Ms Chiang, I have managed to select my final photos for each category. These photos are as shown below. They have been edited with Photoshop.

1. Shallow Depth of Field

 

This Photo: 1/200, f 5, ISO 400

2. Deep Depth of Field

This Photo: 1/400, f 8, ISO200

  

3. Freeze Action

This Photo: 1/800, f 5.6, ISO 400

4. Blur Motion

This Photo: 0"3, f 20, ISO 800

Assignment 1: Objects as subjects

The aim of this individual assignment is to apply visual elements on ordinary objects. I have used the technique of straight photography without digital manipulation. My task is to express the following visual qualities via photography with a picture each:

1. Line

2. Shape

3. Form

4. Pattern

5. Texture


1. Line

The following photo is taken from a restaurant in the Esplande. The dinning setting is enclosed with wooden lines as design.

2. Shape

The photo below is the design of a pond outside the Esplande. The design consists of shapes, for instance, circles. The clear water of the pond shows the reflection of the Esplande.

3. Form

I have taken a photo of a sculpture in the Esplande to illustrate form. It is a three-dimensional sculpture with an interesting design.

4. Pattern

I have taken two photos for this section. I am still thinking which is better. The first photo is the design of a common lamp found in classrooms. The second photo is a top view of a brick-line reflective design of a protruding shelter outside a restaurant at the Esplande.

5. Texture

The picture below shows a rock with a coarse texture.

After Tutorial

During  the class critique, many of our classmates and my tutor, Jing, feed backed that my photos are blur and the photos don't look interesting enough due to the angle, which they are taken. The blur photos were a result of my carelessness of not switching the lenses mode from manual focus to auto focus. Some of the photos like those under the category of shapes, form, patterns are not good subjects to begin with. Based on the feedback given, I have re-taken all of my photos under the five categories. Some of the categories have more photos, which I am still considering on. They are as follows:

1. Line

The feeback for the photo above: it is blur and the angle of the photo did not capture the audience's attention. Thus, I have re-taken it with a different subject as shown below.

This Photo: 1/80, f20, ISO 200

2. Shape

The previous subject I took for the category shape was irrelevant and I have replaced it with the following photo.

This Photo: 1/8, f4.0, ISO 800

3. Form

The subject I have taken previously was blur and not appropriate. Hence, I have replaced it with the photo below. I will crop this photo later.

This Photo: 1/60, f5.6, ISO 400

4. Pattern

The subject I took for pattern, is not relevant. Thus, I have decided to change the subject to a durian. I am thinking between the 2 following photos and I am wondering which is a better fit.

This Photo: 1/60, f5.6, ISO 400

This Photo: 1/60, f5.6, ISO 400

5. Texture

Although the rock is a good subject, the photo is pretty blur due to the shallow depth of field. Since it is a common subject, I have decided to replace it with another subject a raw crystal.

This Photo: 1/60, f4.0, ISO 400

Final Artwork

After consulting my tutor Ms Chiang, I have finally selected the final photos for each category. The photos shown below have been edited with Photoshop.


1. Line

This Photo: 1/80, f 20, ISO 200

2. Shape

This Photo: 1/8, f 4, ISO 800

3. Form

This Photo: 1/50, f 10, ISO 400

4. Pattern

This Photo: 1/60, f 5.6, ISO 400

5. Texture

This Photo: 8", f 22, ISO 400

Blog Exercise 1

In this blog exercise, I am supposed to browse through these photography competition websites: World Press Photo of the Year, International Photographic Art Prize “Arte Laguna” International Photography Contest (National Geographic Magazine), Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest, The Art of Photography Show and Digital Camera Photographer of the Year, and do the following tasks:

1. Select one winner and state briefly his/ her winning strategies
2. If I were one of the judges, state which picture I will select as an overall winner.
3. Give my comment to defend my judgement for the chosen winning photograph.


1. The Winner’s Winning Strategies

One of the winners I have selected from the above mentioned websites is Mr. Michael Kai, the winner of the First International Photographic Art Prize "Arte Laguna". He won because of his creative use of optical illusions, designed alternatives, the manipulation of room perceptions and objects as reference points to challenge viewers’ perspective on the construction of our perceived environment. In addition, his innovative way of using people’s interpretation of two-dimensional into three-dimensional images presents a different perceptive in visualizing our environment.


2. The Overall Winner

After browsing through the above mentioned websites, I felt that the overall winner is Mr. Tan Choon Wee from the site, Digital Camera Photographer of The Year 2009 with the photograph titled, Fun Bathing.


3. My Comments For The Winning Photograph

The photo illustrates the culture and the way of life led by the villagers in Bali, Indonesia. The photograph captures the movement of the children bathing and the water beautifully. The composition and colour is wonderful. I love the dark waterfall background because it serves as a good contrast for all the children and it brought out the movement of the children distinctly. The shot brought out the feelings of joy and magic, which were very refreshing to me.