CameraCaptureBlog

JASON PASQUAL

CAMERA + CAPTURE

STUDENT BLOG

JASON PASQUAL

CAMERA + CAPTURE

STUDENT BLOG

PORTFOLIO

WEEK 1: Introduction

Very excited to be here and to have met all of this week! My name is Jason Pasqual, I am an Architect with a keen passion for Photography and Architecture.

We are drawn to photography because it tells us a story, it visually connects us to a place, deliver's an emotion, capture's a moment in time, and create's memories.

It's these special attributes of photography which I love, and part of what has encouraged me to learn more with Billy Blue.

Looking forward to the journey ahead!!

WEEK 1: COLOUR ACTIVITY

Begin to get to know your camera by completing this simple task: take a walk, pick a colour and capture a series of images using that colour as your theme.

For this exercise, select Program (P) on your camera’s mode dial and set your camera’s image quality to JPEG.

Historically, during the colder months the streets of Melbourne are filled with pedestrians clothed in black. Naturally these influences of colour often sub consciously extend beyond our wardrobe's and into the colour choice of the everyday items which we surrounds ourselves with. Hence the following photos are based on a selection of street and household items in VICTORIAN BLACK, taken during the Melbourne Covid lockdown 2020.

The following images were captured on a Sigma Wide Angle 10-20mm lens and a detailed Nikon 105mm 2 macro lens.

ABOUT US

WEEK 2: UNDERSTANDING OUR LENS

In Module 2, we identified the features and detail of our lens, covered the basics of how to categorise a lens for purpose, i.e Prime, Standard, Macro, Wide Angle and Telephoto. Additionally we learnt about detailed features of our cameras. A sketch summary of some of items discussed can be seen illustrated in the sketch notes below.

Putting Theory to Practice, each lens was used to take a series of photos, using the same frame size in each image, the results were as follows.

50mm Prime/Standard Lens

Focal Length 50mm

Mode:P

10-20mm Wide Angle Lens

Focal Length 10mm

Mode:P

105mm Telephoto/ Macro Lens

Focal Length 105mm

Mode:P

Camera and Capture Week 2 -50MM STANDARD

Camera and Capture Week 2 -105MM MACRO..

A Lens can help us to determine

- Focal Length (Range can be useful for varying ranges and Prime lens are made for specific range)

- Aperture and allow us to control the amounts of light we let into the camera

-A lens can allow a user to understand distance to a subject

-Manual settings on a lens can allow its user to manually select our point of focus

In conclusion

"IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LENS"

WEEK 3: EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

During our Module 3 session, we explored how to control light in our images through exposure and more specifically via exposure compensation, commonly accessed via the "+/-" button on a DSLR.

The series of exercises this week involved taking a collection of photos using a mostly black and most white background, and taking a total of 7 shots per colour, changing the Exposure Compensation -3, -2, -1, +1, +2, +3 ( exposure altered via the the +/- button.)

The following images were taken shooting on Program (P) mode and to a fixed ISO

EXPOSURE COMPSENATION

BLACK VS WHITE

+3

+2

+1

0 -1

-2

-3

LANDSCAPE/ ARCHITECTURAL IMAGES

+3

+2

+1

0 -1

-2

-3

Conclusion

Controlling exposure, allows the photographer to control light. Leading the scene, by controlling brightness and darkness within the image, hence allowing the photographer to choose and select the detail to be viewed.

FEATURE PROJECT

CONTACT

WEEK 4: APERTURE

Activity 4.1 + 4.2

This week we tested the effects aperture has on the depth of field within our images. In Activity 4.1 we shot multiple images throughout the aperture range, whilst keeping the camera in the same position. The results demonstrating the wider/ higher the Aperture/ F Setting the more of the background was in focus, effectively altering the depth of field.

In Activity 4.2 we set our camera to aperture priority mode and selected the widest aperture possible. We then got our subject to stand as close to the camera as possible and moved the subject a few steps backward for each new shot whilst maintaining the same aperture setting. The results showed that as we moved the subject backward and the subject became closer to the background. The camera recognised both background and subject to be on the same plan and the background was more in focused as compared to when the subject was close to the camera and the subject was in focus, however the background was out of focus.

Conclusion

With a Wider aperture, we let more light, into the camera. In this instance if there is a focused subject the subject will be clearer than the background. Imaging a similar situation when having a task light over a selected artwork... i.e the artwork becomes our focus.

Smaller Aperture, is comparable to a general light and creates a better outcome when we want to see the entire scene.

WEEK 5: SHUTTER SPEED

Activity 5.1 Freezing Motion ( Icon Construction Site Melbourne)

For this activity a series of images were captured whilst cycling through slower to faster shutter speeds. The outcome from this activity demonstrating the faster the shutter speed, the more ability the camera has to freeze the motion of the moving object.

FLAG MOVEMENT IMAGES

Activity 5.2 Panning (Food Delivery Melbourne )

The Panning technique freezes a moving object whilst blurring the background. This is achieved by reducing shutter speed technique whilst

tracking your subject’s movement, either horizontally or vertically.

In the following two shutter speeds were used with varying results which had an effect on both the background and the subject. The image on the left at a slow shutter speed maintains greater blur in the background, however the subject is slightly out of focused. In the second image a faster speed of 1/200 provides a clearer image of the subject, however the background has less movement. Both higher and slower shutters have their benefits, and will vary depending on the conditions at hand.

Activity 5.3 Light Painting (Trams and Cars at Flinders St Station, Melbourne)

To create this Light painting, the technique used was to leave shutter open for 1 to 2 seconds, allowing a vehicle and tram top pass by as the shutter was open, essentially "painting" the image with light.

Activity 5.4 Long exposure photography (Le Louvre South Yarra, Melbourne)

This image captures and image using a long exposure of 4 seconds. To maintain a still photo, the mirror up function with used as well as a tripod. Have to say that using "mirror up" helped reduced shake and can be useful for future shoots.

Conclusion

Shutter speed has the potential to allow a photographer to select the subject and point of focus. Essentially shutter speed can allow a photographer to selectively focus and highlight or create blur and movement within image. Deliberately informing the viewer what the subject matter is and isn't.

WEEK 6: ISO

Activity 6.1

This week our first activity for this module is to experiment with different ISO settings in order to test your camera’s limitations and assess image quality.

Capture a scene or subject of your choice in good, even lighting with your ISO set at its lowest value. Take a series of images, each time increasing the ISO by one stop (e.g. 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600).

Repeat the activity in different lighting conditions, using different scenes and subjects, and compare the results.

At which ISO setting did quality begin to noticeably suffer? Was digital noise more obvious in certain images or in specific lighting? How would you describe your camera’s high ISO capabilities?

EVENING IMAGES ( SCROLL THROUGH AND CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE)