Category Archives: Reading Assignment 8am

Practice 2: Light and Shadow Response

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I usually think of photography as a fairly modern invention, but it was interesting to go back to the basics of light and shadow that have been around for centuries. Techniques have certainly changed. I like the idea of cinematographers learning to “glamorize starlets by practicing their craft on oranges” (139).  I have done some basic lighting practice before, but it was interesting learning how projectors work to get the right ratio for an image when the light is coming from an angle. It makes so much sense, I can’t believe I had never thought about it before! I’m interested in experimenting with the color temperature of light. It would be interesting to see how that could really change a scene. I also love how this book shows inexpensive ways to get the same effects as professional equipment. Using pantyhose as a way to diffuse light from a flash is brilliant! I’m definitely going to try that one. I also like the idea of using several different light filters in the same image. The example in the book by Sarah Buckius is great.

Light and Shadow Response

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Obviously this was a helpful reading to do before we start studio shooting. It’s something I don’t have a lot of experience with and I’m excited to work with it, but I’m also technically challenged so there was a lot of information in the book that I’m sure I’ll be referencing. Mixed light and natural light is more of my thing, but the ability to manipulate so much in the studio is also intriguing.

#2 light and shadow

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This reading really got me thinking about the use of different kinds of lighting.  I am very new to the photography world and so I felt I learned a lot from this information about all the different types of light and light sources.  It is true that light is very mysterious, and I am glad that the book gave a very thorough explanation of the science of light.  Lighting is one of if not the most important aspects of solid photography, as I am noticing with my current night/day photos.  I especially enjoyed the part of the text where it talked about various sources of artificial lighting such as the projector.  It got me thinking of what else could possibly be used as an artificial light that I might have access to.

#1 Light and Shadow

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Although the text was very informative and interesting, I found myself drawn in especially by the pictures in this chapter.  It contained several images that left me wondering how in the world these photographers got some of the effects they did, which got me even more interested to learn about light and shadow.  The photos on page 122 by Anna Gaskell and Gregory Crewdson especially intrigued me, as well as the photo on page 110 by Henry Peach Robinson.  All of them seemed to portray an almost otherworldly scene as the text suggests with the use of cinema-inspired lighting and compiling multiple negatives together.  I definitely want to experiment now with lighting and its effects, such as that of these photos.

Reading Response #2 Lighting

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Good overview of all the types of light and light sources whether natural or artificial. I especially appreciated the section on different types of natural light. Personally, I hate shooting in direct sunlight. It’s way to harsh and the hard shadows just aint my thang. Open shade is a lot more appealing to me. I also thought the idea of using a projector as a lighting source was so odd, but it makes a lot of sense with being able to focus and soften the light. The color of light scale, figure 2.54 pg. 147, definitely is something i’ll keep in mind while shooting now; I think it would be interesting to see how the color of light transfers into black and white photography.

Response #2

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I liked that the reading led up to the technical aspects of lighting with a history of sorts. I enjoyed that many different examples of light and shadow are given, and how they can be applied to photography. The passage “Symbolism of Light and Dark” was cool to read. After reading that I felt like it was possible to achieve a more emotional connection to lighting then just using it as a technical thing. The technical part of the reading was informative and is good information to look back on or reference. This complimented the projects we have been working on nicely.

Reading Response 1

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I think it’s pretty sweet that we’re constantly producing tears. It makes sense, but I never thought too hard on it before… After learning the basic parts of an SLR camera, the way light is handled by our eyes is a bit easier to grasp.

I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that the orientation of a camera will actually reorder information.

Personal Horizon lines are ridiculous, Camera obscuras and Pinhole cams are dope and YAY for Objective Distortion!

Reading Assignment 1 (8 am)

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I HOPE I am doing this right since I am useless at blogging…

I know I am not the first to say that the reading was very informal and helpful especially for a rookie like me! I’m pretty satisfied with how much is covered in the book, and so much in addition besides cameras. I honestly did not know that you could turn a watermelon into a pinhole camera, or I suppose anything that is hollow could be turned into a pinhole camera…

I was planning on looking at instructional videos to make sure I was loading my film correctly but the book pretty much covers all I need to know.

It also helps to get a grasp of aperture and shudder speed in visuals, so you have an idea on what to expect. I have seen other examples when my father photographs moving waterfalls and streams. Its when the camera is set on a tripod and the shudder speed is very slow, so the motion of the water is very slow and the water has a smooth texture.

Reading Assignment 1

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I’d have to say that I found this first reading to be very helpful. I am new to the realm of photography and I have always wanted to know about how the fancy SLR cameras worked. I especially enjoyed how the book used examples of the human eye to explain the different controls on the SLR. It helped me to understand and remember them better. It was also fascinating to read about and compare digital point-and-shoot cameras with SLRs and DSLRs. I always wondered what all of the differences were and I found the information to be very helpful.

Reading Response: Practice 1

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Wow. There was definitely a lot of pertinent information to take in and mull over with this reading. I’m not going to lie, I feel a bit overwhelmed and a little intimidated by the wealth of knowledge and this just solidified the fact that I still have much to learn. But this is an exciting prospect; I look forward to gaining this knowledge and finding insight into the elusive creature known as my camera. I especially appreciated the section on 35mm SLR cameras; setting film speed, loading film, what all those little buttons and levers and knobs do, et al. The 35mm camera I will using is my Dad’s, one that he’s had from before I was born, so I definitely feel responsible for making sure it arrives back into his hands in one piece. This reading was a great jumping-off point to get us all familiarized with photography language and techniques or a terrific review for those already familiar with camera jargon.