Exercise 2.2 – Capturing the moment

The decisive moment is: What is it, capture it / capture it, what is it

for this exercise there was no guidance, only to try to capture a good moment from a fluid action. We can shot methodically or more freely and decide the frame later.

capturing the moment involve some luck but also quick reflex from the photographer

This is the kind of exercise that I like. It involve a lots of shooting to capture the good moment.

This first set as a second difference in time but the second one is so much better. The fact that I shot lightly higher and capture more of the sun change the balance of the white and the management of the light in the camera. The action look very different and more attractive while determinative.

This first set are pretty much the same with the only difference of the couple walking on the beach. On the second picture the couple seams more close to each others.

Here on the first picture the action wasn’t capture properly.   The walk is not fluid. the walk pattern look better on the second shot (witch was actually the first of the set)

I captured this set in a mall where there is a couple kissing. I prefer the second picture because we can see a little bit of the woman’s face. I also prefer the arm of the woman around the man’s neck on the second picture, it is more romantic and loving position than the first one.

This set for me has no real “good” moment. Depending on the subject. On the first shot, I prefer the posture of the man, where we see him working on the motor to turn the boat. and we also can see his glass from reflection. On the second picture, it is more flatting for the woman but the man become almost not present.

Songkran festival ! where everyone shooting water at eachother. SPLASH !!

The brief for this exercise is quite easy and free of direction. It was said to simply take as many picture in one session / day.

I took a lot of pictures during the day.  I was not 100% confortable as I wish, always a little bit shy and scare of the negative reactions. I never know how Thai will reacts and since I don’t speak to much Thai, It make thing complicated. This is the reason why I always have my card with an explanation of what I do and why in Thai. Other than that, I’m always a little bit uncomfortable with the privacy of life of other and the right of people that I take picture off and being in there “bubble” without asking of permission. But I know it always make the greatest “on the moment” picture.

Especially for this exercise my husband drive me to Pattaya where it would be easy for me to take plenty of picture without been to hard for my physical. It is a very touristic place of Thailand where everyone takes picture so I wasn’t as freighted of the repercussion BUT there was no way I would bring my D7000 over there. Tourist trap also mean thief trap ! Instead I used the camera that my husband got me especially for the beach / pool (olympus TG-1) . No matter what it never leave my neck. Unfortunately the quality is not quite the same especially in low light and manual shooting is not possible. It was also my first week with the camera so I had to test it.

Here few of my favourite shots. Sadly it get cloudy in mid-day so some of the picture are too dark.

it’s been too long

It’s already been a month since my last surgery and I decided to try to work a little bit. It’s hard, I’m all over and I have to redo my Assignment one since I’m not able to do more auto portrait 😦 at least for quite a while, but I don’t have much extra time.

I still kept going with the Part 2 hoping to get better and keep going with my first idea.

Anyway you should hear about me quite a lot in the next few week before the next surgery ( may 30th ).

I wish all my follower the best

Mell

 

Here’s few picture I took while my recovery with my new Olympus TG-1 (great for the beach)

Assignment 1 – preparation 2

my second part was a high key self photoshoot.

I shoot with some similar equipment but I also add a flash ring that I was holding in front of me. I boosted the strength of the flash by +2.0 and let all the natural light coming in front two large window.

The raw result is very nice but the edited ones are over all my expectation.

The first picture is an not edited picture

The second picture is the one who I will use for the assignment

 

Assignment 1 – Preparation

This first assignment is not submitted for formal assessment but it is not a reason to take it easy. It is mainly an introduction of me and my work to my new tutor. I need to produce five to seven photographs from different photo session. They must vary in type and style.

The brief is to take one person as subject… I pick someone who I really have no difficulties to communicate and who is available anytime I want and need… me 😀

I do understand the difficulties of a nice self-portrait. Not a phone shot from an higher point of view or a webcam pose.You must think about everything much in advance. Even if I can go back to look at the replay, it can breakup  a good flow but it is really necessary mostly to adjust the setting as I only shot in manual mode. So adjust the exposure, depth of field, ISO, focal length etc ….. The basic setting process takes a lot more time as you take 2-3 shots, looks for adjustment in the camera, lighting equipment, more also adjusting the pose so it looks good in the camera.

Ouff … am I doing it too hard for the first assignment … nahhh it is going to be fun 😀 Hard … but very rewarding.

Since I had my accident in 2008, I haven’t been much in front of a camera… So it is something that I’m trying to go thru at the same time.

Anyway there is some good chance you maybe know by now ( as it is pretty obvious lol ), english is not my first language, I learnt it few years ago while I was still in the military. So just to make sure I clearly understand the brief, I’ve look the definition of type and style because in my mind, it is relativly the same 🙂

• Type: a person, thing, or event considered as a representative of such a category
• Style: a manner of doing something

First of all the idea of a self-portrait came from my past research on Cindy Sherman. Also a little bit by obligation since I don’t have many people around me to shot as I just move in Thailand. I could hire someone but … having that person for five to seven different photo sessions …. and honestly, I don’t think that I’m quite ready for that 🙂

 

Updated: I’m halfway thru this assignment and quite happy of what I have pull-up so far. I’m not decided yet of the medium for the assignment. I will have to discuss this with my tutor if she agree with mixing black and white / color in the same assignment or not. My previous tutor though it was not very well receive from our assessor but we agree that there are some exception. One thing is for sure, I will wait until the end before I take my final decision.

Here are some unedited or lightly worked photographs from my first photoshoot, with the different version that I’m working on. Some of them need to be adjust like the third one wich is still raw, untouched from the camera. I really like the fourth one, with only the feather in color. But I’m still very confuse… If you have ideas, suggestions, or comments, go for it I would love to read it!!

I took these photographs of myself in my bedroom at night, with a black fabric taped to the wall. I used two speedlight, one in a softbox very close to me on the my right. The second speedlight was on the camera, cover with a double diffusor. I also had a white reflector  aim on me at my left. I used a Nikon 18-105mm lens on my Nikon D7000. I have some prime lens but in this case it was much easier to adjust the zoom little by little when I look at the result. To triggered the camera I simply used a remote.

The last picture is a superposition of two exposure; I had the idea of my own version from Evan Sharboneau.

I really enjoyed this first low key photoshoot ! I’m very please with this first experience and I’m looking forward for the second photoshoot tomorrow… High key!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise 1.8 – Varying the pose

For this exercise I did some extensive research on the web, looking for some clear and structured posing guide suitable for everyone.

I found a wonderful guide from Lynn Herrick on google. Here is the link to buy the pdf version directly from her studio for a little $3.00 it really worth it ! It included 400 poses from woman, man and couple with different cropping, position, props etc…

a website that really worth to stop by is Digital Photography School

I found many different post for different situations. Wedding, Groups, Glamour, Woman I, Woman II, Man, Children, Couple

A very helpful goodies that I also found on this website is the posing app for phone / pad Here

I also found this Australian photographer Sue Bryce. I add her to my reference Here.

I end up on this great trick and tips tutorial blog from Jodee Ball. Nice posing advice, very simple. The only thing is the fonts of her website … sadly, very hard to read.

MANY more great guide on my reference blog.

more to be add……

Exercise 1.7 – Focal length

For this exercise I had to used different focal length so I went with two of my telezoom starting with the 18-105mm and I finish my little beast the 70-200mm.

I had to take at least three different shots with adjustment in the focal length. The picture will be at different distance from my subject to keep the same composition, head and shoulder, for each shots.

From 200mm to 18mm the only one that is very very bad is the 18mm. There is still a little bit of  “swelling” at 58mm. In this case I have some difficulties to say that the best result will be with the longer focal range. I believe the best shot would be 70mm or 105mm. The reason for that is quite simple. My husband is not a small person and he’s got a rather large neck. With these results I found the neck to be quite flat, similar with the cheeks, wich doesn’t help with the wideness. I prefer a smaller focal length such 70 and 105mm as there is still some depth in the pictures. In this case I didn’t took the time to set the exposure but it also allowed me to observe the difference of the amount of light that goes thru the captor vs the focal length of these lenses. I can also observe an obvious vignetting with my 18-105mm with the lens uv protector something I don’t see on the 70-200mm.

18mm… It didn’t took us very long and we were having difficulties to remain serious. I was so close to him that my camera couldn’t focus by itself. The result is very awkward like a fisheye lens.

200mm

130mm

 

105mm

 

70mm

 

58mm

 

18mm

 

 

Exercise 1.6 – Review a portrait sequence

A normal portrait shoot will generally produce a sequence photographs which will differ by the expression or the pose.

For this exercise I had to create a portrait session where the setting and framing would be consistant. With a child it is a little bit harder to achieve but I took the occasion while my son and I were at the zoo. The green space are vaste so it make the task much easier to capture something coherent with a very similar background at every shot.  I know it can sound weird but I believe in real life portrait more than studio setting. It is just important to separate the background from the subject to really capture the viewer attention on the main subject. The result is three distinct sequence.

Check list to review a portrait sequence:

• Is the general composition satisfactory?
• Is there anything behind the subject that appears to emerge from the head?
• Is there anything that can be left out of the frame to make it simple?
• Is the lighting balance about right?
• How is the angle of the head?
• How is the facial expression?
• Does the body language communicate ease, tension, alertness, or what?

As soon that I come back home I wrote few comment about the shooting. I was not expecting much as William was not into taking picture today. I was trying to capture some shot but Will was keep eating some popcorn all the time. Looking all around etc…

I open the browser and was quite happy with the result. I had a lots of expression of all kind. I started to rate the shot out 56 pictures, I had 24 pictures rated 3 stars+ and 10 4 stars+.

Here is one of my favorite shot, I simply love the natural lighting effect. Also the position of the head and expression suit very well together. The depth of field in my opinion is just right as it highlight the face very much. I would consider remove the red spot over his hat and burn his seat a little bit. I believe both are a little bit distracting.

 

This is an other but more formal portrait sequence that my husband and I shoot for the preview exercise. I though it wouldn’t be to much to add more of what I had experiment.

 

I adjust the color curve a little bit on the background to produce a more “holywood interview” scenario.

 

 

Exercise 1.5 – Eye contact and expression

For this exercise I had to set a portrait session in which the face was prominent ( and so perhaps head-and-shoulders or torso). Direct your subject so at some point she would look away partially / completely in differents directions.

This time, I worked with a new friend of my son (with the parent approval) just because it is much easier as I don’t know much the parent yet. I have been lucky to meet them yesterday at the lake . The little French girl was very interesting by the camera, starting to pose etc…  I always have my camera and my note book so I look thru the brief of the exercise before I start the photoshoot.

She was very in the mood to be a star that day. I used her dad to walk around me to get her to look something else than the camera. I think it work pretty well.

 

Exercise 1.4 – An active portrait

For this exercise, I didn’t saw any problem in using my little 2yrs old boy for an active portrait. It is obviously going to make the job a little bit harder but I’m gaining confidence in action shooting.

For the exercise I wanted to catch him while he was playing with a beach ball. It was pretty easy to have him to participate.

The thing I need to keep in mind is to focus on my son’s expression and not so much on the action.

I shoot quite a lot of image (241) but I kept (123) good shot with a final choice of 17 great portrait from different sizes.

 

Here is 4 of them that I believe are some great active portrait. One the first one, it’s is special because he look so old, it is the first time we saw this expression. I think this first shot is the one that full filed the brief the best. I got some action going one but with a very nice and static look portrait.