Lighting II

Diary Entry:
Sadly this wasn't one of my best times in the darkroom. Well the problems started outside of the darkroom. My camera started acting wierd with the battery, it would say I had no more battery when two seconds ago I did! And even when I put a bran new battery it would tell me it was empty. So, Ms.Dele took it to take a look at it and lend me this pretty old camera that I really don't like. It is very hard to focus with it, there is no zoom and it doesn't exactly tell you when you have no more film left. Then the timer of my enlarger got changed, that wasn't too bad but I have to admit I was a bit fustrated. After that I had to change enlarger because a new enlarger got brought in and put in the place where my original enlarger stood.
The new enlarger I moved to was the same type as my old one but the bulb wasn't as strong and it didn't have the numbers on the aperture to see, so then we had to change that. My prints gave my headaches, I think it was because it was so hard to focus with this camera I'm using now that a lot of my pictures came out blurry and they also came out grainy, very very grainy. I was baffeled by the fact that we needed 9 prints but I guess its a live and learn situation and hopefully I will soon have my camera back.

Theory Notes (Shooting in low and sun light):
Low light:

• When shooting landscape or portrait use tripod, it will allow for better results when using a longer shutter speed.
  
• Necessary to raise ISO speed.
• Simply try to lean against something sturdy.
• For more info click here.

Sun Light:

• Try to shoot when the sun is low in the sky. When the sun is up high it causes shadows on the peoples eyes or makes the people squint.
  
• Try to make the sunlight hit the model from the side.
  
• For more info click here.

Examples:
1) Low light
Here are examples of which shutter speeds and apertures to use when shooting with low light.














2)Sunlight

There kids here were photographed with the sun way up high causing shadows underneath their eyes, and some squinting.














Here the sun is on the side of the subjects face and the late sun gives warmer colours.














Printing Compositions:
Contact sheet:
Ap:4
Time:15
Filter: -














Clothing #1:
Test strips:
Ap: 4
Time:
15



17



19



21




Print with problem:
I didn't have a copy that was bad of this print.

Final print:

Ap: 4
Time:23
F:-

I think this picture is alright. Not my favourite. I would have liked it more if maybe I would have angeled myself more to be facing more directly at him











Clothing #2:
Test strips:
I don't have any test strips for this one because I was really hurring to do this print and I did it mostly by eye.

Print with problem:
Ap: 4
Time: 30
Filter:-

Since I was doing this by eye this print turned out too dark. Also I was starting to loose the white of the wall and her face was too dark. It's a bit hard to see electronically. Since I was loosing my whites I close my aperture.











Final print:
Ap:5.6
Time:33
Filter:-

When one compares this print to the previous one, you can see the difference of the white tiles. I'm pretty proud that I was able to figure it out, cause usually I'm not confident enough to change the aperture myself but I had to do that with many other prints so I sort of learned.










Clothing #3:
Unfortunatly, I ran out of time and I wasn't able to produce a third clothes shot.


Shoes #1:
Test strips:
Ap:4
Filter:-


21 19 17 15

Print with problem:
I didn't have a copy that was bad of this print.

Final print:
Ap:4
Time:25
Filter:-

This is one of the few prints of this part of the project that I actually like. It's not grainy and the whites are just right. I really like how there are other random shoes in the background but how the focus is set on Fabrizio's shoe.





Shoes #2:
Test strips:
Ap:5.6
Filter:-


35 30 25 20


Ap:4
Filter:-

40 35 30 25 20


Print with problem:
I didn't have a copy that was bad of this print.

Final print:
Ap: 4
Time:45
Filter:-

I like how this picture turned out. I think it could have been that the developer was changed and it was stronger there for it was quicker and darker. Some people had this same shot but to make it a bit different what I did was I cropped most of Shani's face out thus changing the picture from others and also focusing more on the shoes.




Shoes #3:
Test strips:
I sadly lost all the test strip for this print but usually my test strips where aperture 4 and starting at 15 seconds going up by 2s.

Print with problem:
I didn't have a copy that was bad of this print.

Final print:

Ap:4
Time:23

I like how this picture is taken in motion. This picture wasn't as grainy as the ones that I tried to develope after this. It's not my favourite picture, seems a bit bland.













Accessories #1:
Test strips:
Ap: 4
Filter:-


28 26 24 22 20

Print with problem:
I didn't have a copy that was bad of this print.

Final print:

Ap:4
Time:27
Filter:-

I like the contrast of this pictyre and how I didn't fully crop the models face off but left a little bit of it. I think the lighting worked out pretty nicely, it might be because of her shirt but it makes it seem as if the light is concentrated on her shirt/scarf area.



Accessories #2:
Test strips:
Ap:8
Filter:-

4



6





8





Print with problem:
I had a couple prints with problems but once again they were no where to be seen. What was wrong with the picture was that it was grainy and I was loosing the whites. This is when all my pictures started being grainy.

Final print:

Ap:8
Time:12
Filter: 2.5

I actually like this print. I think the usage of the light is very good but looking at it now I would have liked to have the light a bit more upwards because it seems as if it gets cut off to close the actual accessories.










Accessories #3:
Test strips:
I sadly lost all the test strip for this print but usually my test strips where aperture 4 and starting at 15 seconds going up by 2s.


Print with problem:
I had a couple prints with problems but once again they were no where to be seen. But basically it was really grainy and just needed more time.

Final print:

Ap: 5.6
Time:30
Filter:-

This was another print in which I had to change the aperture because I was loosing the whites. This picture was a full lenght picture but to focus more on the accessories I cropped it so only half of her body was showing.










Image Bank:
Fashion:
I really like the angle of this picture and how the photographer was able to use the sunlight (or what seems to be sunlight) to creat a halo on the left side of the model and it gives it a warmer touch.
This picture was taken by Jason Christopher. He is a fashion photographer based in Los Angeles California. He first started with photography at the age of 14 when he had saved up money to buy his own camera. He later assisted a celebrity photographer called Jerry Avenaim.
Further info click here .









What I really like about this picutre is the contrast between her jacket and everything else in the picture. Everything else isr ather white or gray but her dark jackey really stands out making her the main focus of the picture.
This photograph was taken by Trevor Brady based in Vancouver, Canada.
Further info click here.





To be completley honest I chose this picture mainly because of the colours and the movement in it. I like how there is this light behind her and also even though this picture is in colour, the tourquoise is a nice contrast against the bland background making her stand out.
The photographer of this picture is Richard Reinsdorf. He is a photographer also based in L.A that takes pictures for leading advertising campaings and magazines.
Further info click here.
















Shoes:
I find this picture very comedic. I don't know if it totally 100% is advertising shoes, but I think it depends in the way that one looks at it and I think it adds a very interesting wist than just two feet, just there with shoes on. The one thing that I noticed of the lighting is how in the bottom right hand corner there seems to be more concentrated light and as one goes diagonally up it gets darker.
This picture was taken by Stephane Bourson, a French photographer located in Paris. I couldn't find too much information but I did find that he specializes in photographin women.
Further info click here.










Since most colours in this picture are around the pinkish tone, the right blue shoes really stand out.
Also the model isn't exactly trying to show off her clothes and seems to be putting the shoes in display for easy viewing. There really isn't a very specific lighting type here, it all seems to be pretty even.
This picture was taken my Javier Vallhonrat, a Spanish photographer from Madrid. He has contributed with his picutres on magazines such as; French Vogue, Italian Vogue, Japanese Vogue, Mixte, Big and others.
Further info click here.


There are a couple things to make it clear that this is a picture for the shoes (and the handbag). One because the model isnt wearing anything but the shoes and the handbag. Another thing is that it is an advertisment for Jimmy Choo which does shoes and hangbags. I really like the colour scheme though I'm not too sure if that colour is appreciated in this picture because of the sort of gloomy lighting there is.
This picture was taken by David Slijper, a photographer based in London. He is very diverse with the fashion photography he can acquire.
Further info click here.


Accessories:
I really like the whole idea of this picture. The bare back with that single necklace. The curves of the body are very nice and make this picture very sensual. Regarding the lighting I noticed that on the extremities (mostly the shoulders) there is some hard light, if not some reflection of something but towards the center there is no specific lighting.
This picture was taken by Michael David Adams, who is a photographer based in New York City. He does a lot of portraits, fashion and beautiy shots. He started off by painting and his love of art later on developed into him choosing photography as his way to show his art.
Further info click here.






I think there is a lot of different accessories in this picture. You have the pretty big necklace, the earings and the pretty extravagant head piece. It's a nice simple looking photograph clearly advertising the necklace. I think it was a smart idea to match the lipstick of the model to the colours of the accessories there for attention wouldn't be taken away from the objects being advertised. I do like the shadow on her left side, it deffently gives her a sharper look.
This picture was taken by Victor de Mello. He is a Portuguese photographer based in London. He pays a lot of attention to the shapes within beauty. He is very influenced by the whole Latin culture.
Further info click here.










Again for this picture I find the idea very interesting, the having more than one watch and braclette on at once. Also the fact that the model isn't wearing anythin but the accessories draws the eyes to the hand on her head. There's some nice hard lighting in parts of her body, mostly the inside part, that really gives her an edge.
This was taken my Salvador Pozo, he is a photographer based in Ridderkerk, The Netherlands. He specifices in bridal & evening fashion, jewelry & wathes, make-up and beauty, editorial & commercial.
Further info click here.

Lighting I

Diary Entry:

It was very exciting to get back into the developing room and get back into all the routines of photo developing. I found it a lot easier this year coming into Photo 2. It wasn't like I was starting a new class, it was like I came back after a long break into what I was doing so there wasn't a huge change there, nothing to adapt to.

I loved how we got to work with all the lights and really put into use everything that we had learned in London the pervious school year. I also really liked how our shooting time isn't always during class time but it's a lot more independent and the requirements for the prints aren't as specific leaving more to the imagination of each of us and let us interpret it ourselves. All in all it was a good start to Photo 2, nothing that stressed me out.

Theory Notes (Hard-light, Soft-light, Three-point lighting):

Hard Light:

• Is when light comes from a single source and falls directly on the object without reflecting on any other subject.
• It casts dark shadows, bright highlights and makes high contrast pictures.
• All details on the object are more accentuated.
• Can be used to do effects of texture.

Soft Light:

• Mostly used for portraits.
• Comes from multiple sources and multiple directions, or from a single very very light source.
• Reflected light is soft light.
• Easiest way to create soft light is by reflecting light onto the object.

Three-Point Lighting:

• Standard lighting method.
• Using three separate light positions the photographer can light the object and control the shadows.
• Key light: principle light, determines the pictures over all lighting.
• Fill light: put at an angle, usually at a lower angle than the key light, usually softer and less bright than the key light.
• Back Light: usually shines for behind, gives a sort of halo to the object and separates them from the background.

Examples:

1) Hard Light and Soft Light

<----------Hard Light

<------------- Soft Light.

2) Three-point light

Printing Compositions:

Contact Sheet-Hard Light:

Ap: 8 Time: 8s Filter:-

Test Strips-Hard Light:

1)

Ap: 8, Time: 8s,10s,12s,14s Filter:-

2) Ap: 8, Time: 13 , Filter: -

Problem Print:
Ap: 8, Time: 30s and 40s, Filter: 5

For this print I added a filter of 5 because the picture was slightly blurry and the filter would help sharpen it and bring out more texture in the print.
I had to burn the picture because the left side of her face (the side that was lit) was too light and if I was to expose it more the right side would get too dark. It was sort of a hard to burn because the burning was obvious to see because the line because of the strong contrast. Also the shape wasn't easy because her nose seemed to be sticking out every time I burned it.

Final Print- Hard Light:
Ap: 8, Time: 35s , Filter: 5

I really like this print, it was tricky to get right and as you can see there was no burning here. I settled for 35 seconds of exposure so it was between the 30 and 40 of the burning and it still turned out rather nicely.

I think its an obvious "hard-light" print because on the left side of her face the light bleaches most of her features expect for her eye that is also sort of hard to see.

Contact Sheet- Soft Light

Ap: 5.6, Time: 10s , Filter:-
















Test Strips- Soft Light
1)
Ap: 5.6, Time: 20s, Filter: 5
For this print I only have 1 test strip because sadly I lost the other test strips I had. Unlike the previous print this one was not blurry but the 5 filter helped bring out texture and contrast.

Problem Print- Soft Light
Ap: 5.6, Time: 20s, Filter: 5

For this print I don't have a problem with the time or the filter. Something I had a problem with was how it got strached up top on the head of my brother, therefore making me do another print.


Final Print- Soft Light:
Ap:5.6, Time: 20s , Filter:5
Even though the features on my brother's left side aren't easy to see they are still more defined than the hard light picture. Also it is easy to see how the light sort of glazes over his face.
What I really like about this picture is the sort of halo that is was able to great behind him.








Contact Sheet- Landscape
Ap: 5.6, Time: 8s, Filter:-










Test strips- Landscape 1
1)
Ap: 5.6
Times: 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s
Filter: -

Final Print- Landscape 1
Ap: 5.6, Time: 14s, Filter:-

Out of the two landscape prints I did this is my favourite one. I really like the contrast between the trees and the sky. I also like how there is a lighter part of the water.
Thankfully I don't have a copy of this print in where something was wrong.

Test Strips- Landscape 2
1)
Ap: 5.6, Times: 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s, Filter: -

Problem Print- Landscape 2
Ap: 5.6, Time: 14, Filter:-
The problem with this print was that it was too light. The sky was too white and the trees against the white sky were too grey therefore there wasn't that much of a good contrast.













Final Print- Landscape 2
Ap: 5.6, Time: 20s, Filter:-

This isn't my outmost favourite picture but I like how on the left side there are the trees, all big and tall. But then again on the other side it's pretty plain.
Taking another look at it, I would have maybe lowered the time a bit because the sky was starting to get grey.








Contact Sheet- Still Life
Ap: 5.6, Time: 8s, Filter:-










Test Strips- Still Life 1
1)
Ap: 5.6, Times: 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s, Filter: -
My test-strip went missing.

Final Print- Still Life 1
Ap: 5.6, Time: 16, Filter:-

I adore this print. I think the way that I managed to position the shoes is very nice and also i just really like the blacks in this and how the picture is a lot darker. I also like how it seems to gradually get darker the further down one looks at the picture. Also thankfully with this print I got it right on the first full print.

Test Strips- Still Life 2
1)
Ap: 5.6 , Times: 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, Filter:-





Final Print- Still Life 2
Ap: 5.6, Time: 14s, Filter:-

What I like the most is how I was able to take this picture with natural light so the light is pretty even and it gives really like results when it comes to contrast. Also with this one I was lucky enough not to have to do more than one print. I think the reason for that is because of the natural light it makes it easier to spot the times since it's clearer.





Image Bank:
Hard Light Portrait:

This is a great example of hard light. There is a very harsh shadow towards the left side of his face and his shape is very defined. I really like this picture because most of the time when you think of hard light one thinks of a sad or serious picture but here the man is smiling and looks very nice and the lighting adds and extra touch.

I did not find out what the name of this photographer but I did find out that he is a London photographer based in Hanwell, Ealing.

Soft-light Portrait:

This picture falls under the category of soft-light because there is no really harsh or defined shadows created from one source of light. The light sort of glides across the whole image and really creates a very soft and nice texture .

And also I just really liked the baby.

This picture was taken by Kimberly Peck.

Still Life 1:

I really like the lighting of this picture because it doesn't gradually get darker, it's like all of a sudden there is this shadow that pretty much cuts off a part of the pear. Also there is a lot of texture in this picture because of the lighting.

This picture was taken by a person that goes by KY-Photography on flickr.

Still Life 2:

Even though this picture is also hard-light I really like how at the left side the cups merge with the black background. I also really like the angle in which the cups are leaning towards.

I think this picture was taken by a man called John Watson.

Landscape 1:

I really like the contrast that this picture has. I'm not too sure what it is to be honest but I like how, what I assume are rocks or land, are really dark and there is a clear difference between the water and the land.

This is a landscape photograph of Ireland taken by Patrick Donald. Patrick Donald travels around the world for different photography projects and he just recently went to Cuba to take street pictures.

Landscape 2:

I think that this picture looks so peaceful and inviting. There are a lot of blacks on this photo but they aren't as dark as the picture before. Like you can actually see that there are rocks.

This picture was taken by Gary Heald. He started getting into photography in 1980 and he loves shooting landscape, specially in black and white.