Shutter Speeds

''In photography, shutter speed or exposure time is the length of time a camera's shutter is open when taking a photograph. The amount of light that reaches the film or image sensor is proportional to the exposure time.'' - wikipedia

Movement
If you are trying to create the impression of movement in an image, a slower shutter speed is used. A faster shutter speed is needed to achieve a more static, lifeless image. 

The light levels you are working in will also have an impact on the image. The light levels combined with the shutter speed will determine how much blur is captured. 

Below are images I have captured using a mixture of different shutter speeds, blur and flash.

1/500 second f/4.8 ISO 500  

A fast shutter speed. No camera shake

 1/125 second f/5.6 ISO 400
Slightly slower shutter speed, there is no camera shake but there is some motion blur coming from the vehicles.

1/8 second f/25 ISO 400
Slow shutter speed, visible camera shake, this could be caused by movement coming from myself or the camera mirror that can sometimes wobble when the image is captured.

3.0 second f/14 ISO 200
Image captured with camera movement.

 3.0 second f/29 ISO 200
Image captured with camera movement.

3.0 second f/18 ISO 200 

Image captured with camera movement.

1.0 second with flash f/10 ISO 200 

Image captured with camera movement, using the flash. 

Chris Friel

Chris Friel is an abstract landscape photographer. Originally an artist (painter), he bought is first camera in the 90's. Experimenting with his camera he ended up producing abstract photographs. Even though his images have been taken with a camera, they still give the impression of a painting.

Below are two examples of Freil's work;

Example 1 - Chris Friel

Example 2 - Chris Friel 

I tried to create my own abstract images that have been modified in Photoshop, to enhance the images. My aim was to try and produce painting like photographs similar to Friel's work. Below are the results:

Image 1

I am very pleased with this image. I captured the image using a 3 second shutter speed, but kept the camera as still as I could whilst it captured the image. There was enough shake on the camera to blur the image, but not so much that it completely distorted the image so the tree shapes could no longer be seen. In Photoshop I darkened the barks of the trees and enhanced the greens so you can see the contrasting colours clearly. There are still flecks of blue from the sky in the background which also keeps the shapes of the trees at the top.

Image 2

This image was also captured on a 3 second shutter speed, holding the camera still and letting any natural movement from myself or the camera create the blur. I've used bright contrasting colours to try and give the impression of a painting rather than a photograph. I think the downfall to this image are the markings on the middle tree and a small pink dot to the right. I would have preferred this image if I had been able to darken the tree barks whilst keeping the rest of the colour vibrant and bold.

Unit 1 - Editing Images

Adding different types of media onto an image

We looked briefly at John Rankin and how he asked a group of celebrities to take a self portrait, and, though self expression, ruin it by ripping it up, drawing on it, adding stickers to it and so on. We were asked to use our own self portraits to do something similar. Below are my examples.

Image 1

On image one I used google+ lightbox. I didn't use the effects in any particular order, I just played with all the different options available to change the photograph until I ended up with something I liked. 

Image 2

On image 2 I used Picasa. As with image 1, I experimented with the different effects available. The main effect I used is called 'Comic Book'. I also made the dots in the background slightly larger. 

Looking at both images, i realised image one looks old and worn, yet image two looks quite futuristic. I like the contrast between the two images and how using different media can change the same photograph to make two different styles. 

If I was asked how these images represent me through self expression, I would say the image that looks worn (image 1) represents the old me, and the futuristic image (image 2) represents the new me.  Even though my daughter is present in image 1, i'd say this is accurate as i feel shes always been a part of me, even before she existed.

Unit 1 - Depth of Field

Depth of field

I was asked to look at three different photographers and their images using depth of field. Looking at three images using short depth of field and three using full depth of field.

Image 1 -Vivian Maier 

Full depth of field
NY 1959

This photograph shows part of a street with lots of different subject areas. Because there is so much activity, I think Vivian wanted to show this by using full depth of field, rather that using short depth of field which would only concentrate on one part of the image. From this image, five different stories stand out. I don't think there's any particular class of person, to me it feels like a working class area where everyone feels comfortable with each other. When I looked at this image I started asking myself lots of different questions. What is the woman in the window to the left talking about to the couple stood outside? What are they looking at? The two women walking down the street, have they been shopping together or have they just bumped into each other? The two children to the right of image looking out the window, are they watching the other children play, wishing they could join them? The man to the left, is he waiting for someone? Or is he making sure the kids don't get into any mischief?! 

Image 2 - Vivian Maier
Short depth of field

NewYork (undated)

Vivian has used short depth of field on this image as she is focusing on the young child. Looking at the car to the left, this is also in view. Maybe she is trying to show that this is an upper class area? The boy doesn't seem to be that well dressed, is he being noisy or does he plan to take something?  Perhaps somebody is moving into/out of the property, or maybe someone has left it there for people to take if they see something they like. The box could contain the boys things, his parents may have asked him to wait with the box until they return. Whatever the reason, Vivian knew the inquisitiveness of this little boy was a great image to capture.   

Image 3 - Garry Winogrand 
Short Depth of field

Park Avenue NY 1959

Looking at this image, I definitely think its the monkey has caught the photographers eye. This is why he has used short depth of field. Its not every day you see a monkey going for a drive! I also noticed that the two people in the car look very relaxed and like its the norm to have a monkey in their company!

Image 4 - Garry Winogrand 

LA 1954

Full depth of field

This image has been taken in a supermarket. It almost looks like the Tesco of the 1950's as it seems you can buy everything you need in there. Garry has used full depth of field so the supermarket can be seen as a whole, right back to the shoe section. I noticed how the children are all sat round watching the television, I tried to investigate when the first colour TV's came out and if my source is correct, it was in January 1954. Maybe this is a colour television they are watching? Maybe it was easier for the kids to sit and watch the tv's whilst the parents did their shopping.

Image 5 - Lee Friedlander 

Full depth of field

NY 1964

The man in this photograph first caught my attention. It shows the man inside to be under a lot of stress or very tired. Its strange how the white covering covers the bottom half of the windows yet just that once small piece has been cut out. Maybe an employee did that so they could see out of the window or let more light into the room. Or even to see into the building opposite. Whilst the man did catch my attention, Lee used full depth of field so you could still see everything in the photograph, including the building opposite reflecting off the building in view.

Image 6

Martin Parr
Short depth of field

Unknown place/date

I had to do a double take when i first looked at this image as it looks like the dog is a part of the woman's coat! I think that's why Martin Parr took this photograph as it looks so surreal. The woman looks like shes probably got a lot of money. I wonder if hes trying to show the contrast of the fur coat (a dead animal) against the live animal she is holding. Using short depth of field really magnifies this woman and how bizarre the dog looks against her coat.

My own photographs using Depth of field

Image 1

Nicola Pass

Short Depth of field

Cheshire 2013

(dimensions)

In this image I am focusing on the angel. Even thought the background is out of focus, you can still see that its a picture of two people smiling. To the person viewing the image, I am trying to draw their eyes to the angel first, then to the background so they can see what the angel represents - A happy family home. 

Image 2

Nicola Pass

Full Depth of field

Tesco Cheadle 2013

(Dimensions)

I decided to use an example of full depth of field in Tesco on a busy Saturday as like Garry Winogrand's image (4), it shows a great amount of detail. You can see the shoppers at the front of the image, right down to the back of the store where the wines and beers are. It shows lots of different subject areas, from the woman in black stopping to think if she needs to go down that isle to the man in the blue t-shirt, casually walking to where he needs to be.

Links to images:

Image 1 -       http://www.vivianmaier.com/portfolios/new-york-1/?pid=212
Image 2 -       http://www.vivianmaier.com/portfolios/new-york-1/?pid=216
Images 3/4 -  http://gu.com/p/3fpef
Image 5 -      http://www.pacemacgill.com/selected_works/artist_page.php?artist=Lee%20Friedlander
Image 6 -      www.martinparr.com 

Photoshop - Levels

Uploading/Nondestructive Editing

To upload an image: File/Open/Select image

Nondestructive Editing:

Nondestructive editing enables you to make changes to an image without damaging the original image image.

The Tarn - Ulverston 

To create an adjustment layer, on the right hand side of the screen click on then drag and drop background copy to 'create new layer'. 

Levels

The levels tools allows you to adjust the contrast levels on the image. Holding the alt key down, start by moving the white slider, the screen will turn white, as the slider is moved to the left, the image will slowly come into view. The more white that comes through, the whiter the image will look. If too much white comes though, parts of the image will look washed out.

An example of what happens to the image when too much white has come through by moving the white slider too far to the left.

The same applies when using the black slider, by moving it to the right. Use the same principle as the white. Clicking on the middle eye dropper and clicking on the image will change the colour balance, clicking on different parts of the image will change the balance each time.

Levels and colour balance altered

Curves tool

Ensuring the background copy of the image is selected, go to image, adjustments, curves. It can also be accessed to the right of Photoshop (it has a square symbol with a line going through the middle). Once the background copy has been selected, the image becomes destructive. The image cannot be reverted back to its original form once the background copy has been edited. However, If a mistake is made, go to window at the top of the screen  and click on history. This will bring up a box containing all the actions that have been made to edit the image. You can drag the action and drop it onto the bin symbol at the bottom of the box to erase that action. 

The basic rule to remember when using the curves tool is, when moving the line that runs though the middle of the box to the lower half of the square will darken the image, moving the line to the top of the box will make the image lighter.

The most commonly used shape used on the curves tool is an S shape. The steeper the S curve the more contrast in the image. Tip - when you click on the image, a little circle will flash up on the curve line, this is telling you which part of the image is on that point, so for instance, if i wanted to darken the water i click on the water and i will be able to see at which point to move the line.

Using the curves tool gives more control over which parts of the image you want to lighten or darken. 

Making some adjustments to the vibrance/saturation 

When editing is complete it is always best to flatten the image. Flattening the image ensures all the layers are saved so parts of the image aren't lost when its saved.

The result - Before and after. 

This photograph was taken by myself at Alderly Edge. Using the levels and curves tools has dramatically increased the green tones to make the image look much brighter and less washed out. You could almost describe it as a 'healthier' image.

Image before and after

Unit 1 Digital - Photography

Self Portraits

I was asked to take two self portraits, one that features myself and one using only objects that creates an image of the person I am. 

The first image is of myself and my daughter, Ellie. This was taken on my laptop using Cyberlink YouCam. I used the timer as my aim was to take a natural shot of us both together, that gave the impression somebody else was behind the camera. 

The image was originally taken in colour, but because of light and camera quality, it did not look very clear. I used Fotor (an app on windows 8) and Windows Live Photo Gallery to edit the image making it clearer. I decided to changed the colour to black and white as not only did it improve the image quality but also changed the mood of the photo dramatically. 

Self Portrait 1 

I chose this as a self portrait as I think it shows the bond between my daughter and I. We are both unaware of anything else going on around us (including the camera), in our own little world, having some precious quiet time together, which I believe is becoming increasingly difficult for any parent in the fast paced world we live in today.


The second image I took using my iPhone. I was asked to use a series of personal objects that best describes me as a person.  After much thought, I decided to use one element that has had a big impact on my life recently. 

Self Portrait 2

I started running about 8 months ago, initially to raise money for charity, but caught what is commonly known as 'the running bug'. I believe that running strongly contributes to overall health in so many ways, mentally as well as physically. The path in the background is also connected to the image. To the person that is viewing the image, I am trying to raise the question, does the path symbolise where she has come from, or what is leading to the future?