Shutter Speed

This week we learned about shutter speed and how it affects an image and the many techniques you can do with it. Shutter speed is one of the 3 elements in the exposure triangle.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed refers to the time the shutter in the camera opens and closes allowing light to pass through. A fast shutter speed lets in less light as it is open for less time. With a sufficient light source, it allows images to freeze.

Shutter Speed is measured in seconds

• 10″
• 2″
• 1″
• 1/50
• 1/100
• 1/1000

Camara Shake

Slower shutter speeds can get camera shake because the shutter is open for longer meaning the photographer’s hand cannot hold it still enough. A tripod or something to keep the camera still may need to be used when shooting on a slow shutter speed.

Shutter Speed Shooting Techniques

Planning

This is shot on a slow shutter speed and the camera tracks a moving object. This is to keep the subject in focus and the background is blurry.

Zoom Blur

This is created when a lens zooms in or out while taking the shot. It is a very old school technique that is now “out of fashion.” But is it still a good skill to learn.

Multiple Flash Exposure

This is taken on a very long shutter speed (around 5 – 10 seconds) in a very dark room. Multiple flashes are taken to create the ghost-like an image that looks as if it is photoshopped.

Light Painting

Similar to the multiple flash exposure this technique is taken on a very slow shutter speed to the light can be “painted” in the image.

Bulb Mode

Bulb mode allows images to be taken on a very slow shutter speed to let in lots of light for night time/ dark photography. The camera must be stable so a tripod or something alike must be used. It is used for star trails, fireworks and light painting.

Weekly Activitie

This week was all about playing with different shutter speeds and doing the different techniques we learned about.

Experimenting with different shutter speeds

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It is clear to see how a fast shutter speed lets in less light and a long one lets in much more light. It was very hard to not get camera shake on the slow shutter speeds.

Freezing Motion

I was very pound of being able to capture this image. My camera is very old and not very fast when it comes to taking freezing shots. To get this perfect free I had to shoot on manual mode and us manual focus too. As you can see from the watermarks on my friend’s shirt it took many goes to get right. But it was a very fun challenge!

Panning

These panning shots where very fun to take! I felt so happy when I got them right. I have always wondered how people do them and know I know. I would lobe to take some surfing shots like this next time I go down to the beach.

Zoom Blur

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Even though this technique is very old school and out of date it was very fun to learn and do. It was very exciting when you got one right!

Light Painting

About it

This was the first time I have ever done light painting and I really enjoyed it! It is a skill I have always wanted to learn and I want to do future shots with it.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this week and learning about shutter speed. It has opened up a whole new world of photography and the way things can now be shot. I am very excited to use the techniques i learned in future shoots.

Composition and Image File Formats

Composition

Photography is all about creativity and there are no limits to how a photo can be shot! It is all up to the artist and left in the eye of the beholder. But there are some techniques that help make a good photo become a great photo. Today in class we learned about composition, the rule of thirds, symmetry, leading lines, framing, and Negative space. Using techniques like this can tell a story and make the image more interesting.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is one of the most common techniques used by the artist when it comes to all from work. It is a very simple guideline as it breaks the image up into 2 horizontal lines and 2 verticals lines that are evenly spaced. So becomes a box of 9 squares in total. Then the most important parts of the image are placed on those lines to guide the viewers eye.

Symmetry

Symmetry is often referred to as one of the most aesthetic rules as it is so pleasing to the eye. Symmetry is when half of the image is reflected. This can be both horizontal or landscape.

Leading Lines

A line in will always draw the human eye to follow. Whether it is in nature, the urban landscape or in artwork lines will always guide the eye. The is a very useful rule to use has it helps to tell a story and create focus to a subject.

Framing

Like leading lines framing an image is a really good technique to guide the views eye. Good framing will make the viewer focus on a subject and help create depth in an image. It also makes an image much more interesting to look at.

Negative Space

Negative space or breathing room is used in all forms of art. It uses the opposite teaching to leading lines and framing to draw the viewers eye. By having a lot of “white space” around a subject the audience immediately looks at it.

File Formates

Today in class we also learned about the different file formats and why they are important and when and why to use each type. The two most commonly used formats for photography is JPEG and RAW.

JPEG – Advantages

• Smaller file size
• Quite to load
• Fast to view
• Can be read by any devices
• Sharper colours that need less editing

JPEG – Disadvantages

• Not the highest quality file format
• Losses quality over time
• Colours can not be edited as much as a RAW file

RAW – Advantages

• High quality file
• Colours can easily be edited
• No loss in image quality over time

RAW – Disadvantages

• Larger file size takes up more room to be stored
• Slower to open and load
• Can not be read on all devices

Weekly Activitie

This week’s activity was to shoot using the photography guideline we learned. We shot in monochrome to practice for the final assessment. Shooting in monochrome really makes you focus on the composition and tones of the photo as you are not worrying about the colours.

Rule of Thirds

I used a 3 x 3 grid for this and really liked how blurry the background id. It really makes you focus on the bars.

Framing

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These subjects have both been framed in these two shots to draw attention to them. The image on the left was done with a fence and the image on the right was done with leaves.

Symmetry

I love the perfect symmetry of this white fence and how it stands out from the dark background.

Negative Space

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The light white skies in these two images draw attention to the two objects in the shots. You can see how the use of negative space can make the subject stand out.

Leading Lines

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leading lines is a really interesting way to draw the viewers eye in the shot. With my new 50mm lens I enjoyed playing with the different aperture settings because you can really see how the focal point changes with the different setting you use.

Overall, I really enjoyed this challenge and it really made me think about the composition of the shot. By following the different guidelines it really makes a photograph interesting. I learned a lot from the challenge and had fun playing with my new lens. I can not wait for next weeks one!

Week 1- Introduction to Photography

I am Shona Griffen a Graphic Designer from Darwin and I have recently fallen in love with the art of photography. I have been working in the industry for 6 years now while doing uni part-time in the last few years.

At the end of last year, my brother got given a 50mm lens for a birthday present and from there with both feel in love with the art of bokeh and beautiful night photography. We visited Tokyo and shot the stunning nightlife with the 50mm lens. Looking through a lens changes the way you look at the world.

My Set Up

I currently shoot on a Canon 700D and have 2 kit lenses and one 50mm lens that I am in love with! I shoot almost everything on that lens now. I got my own 50mm lens when I started this class and it was one of the best thing I have ever bought.

Weekly Activitie

This weeks activity was to take shots around a theme. It could be a colour, shape, or a word. I chose to focus on yellow as my colour. I never notice how much yellow was around my street until I started looking for it.

I wanted my shots to be interesting so I looked for unique ways crop my shots. I also held yellow leaves up to the lens to create a dreamy, soft, haze in the shot.

I love how the yellow and green leaves cross over in this shot. I also like how I created a nice yellow blur by putting a yellow left up to the leans.

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I looked how how beautiful yellow can be in the urban landscape. I created interesting crops to make the photos look exciting and apart of the same collection. I was loving the blurriness from my new 50mm lens. It makes the photos look so interesting and professional.

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I looked at the beautiful yellows in nature. I thought it was going to be hard to find but as soon as I started looking I saw the colour was everywhere! I love the close-up shots because you can see all the detailing in the leaves.

I enjoyed the challenge as it was one of the first shoots I have done on my new 50mm lens. I was fun shooting still objects because it really allows for me to play with the camera settings. When shooting people or animals I found it challenging as they more around too much.

I am really happy with the collection of photos I took to the theme of yellow. I am looking forward to next weeks challenge!