Feedback: Assignment 4

Tutor Reports Assignment 4

Overall Comments

The orange has all the qualities needed to satisfy the four categories: Colour, texture, form and shape. As such it is a good choice for a subject. It has such a simple shape it needs some creativity to make the most of it. You have shown concern for your lack of professional lighting, yet this isn’t necessary for this assignment, in fact it is the variety of different lighting sources that can offer the creativity required. 

How many photography competitions are won with shots taken with daylight, or under ambient artificial lights, at dusk or at night? Each of these show that a lack of studio lights does not limit creativity. A longer exposure is required for weaker, household lights – requiring a firm surface (or a tripod) to place the camera on, plus the use of the camera’s self-timer, or a cable release. 

There are many sources that can add an extra area of light in the frame, such as torches, or a steady warm glow, such as candles, or a series of dim lights around a subject (led lights or xmas lights). The longer exposures required indoors can allow a moving light to be used during the time of the exposure, showing a trace of light or simply highlighting a specific area.

Another source of variety is the background. Careful use of light and shade, or selective focusing, can limit what is seen of the background, or accentuate it. I’ll comment on use of this in my feedback below. Placing objects (possibly transparent ones) between light source and subject will create shadows as well as light on the image area – see examples using slatted blinds, glass blocks, glass bowls or jugs, water in glass etc. Each of these makes the image more interesting just by altering the quality of the light.

Feedback on assignment 

Your notes show that you have experimented with various options of diffusers and reflectors as well as camera and lighting angles. There is a range of scale in these shots of the orange, which adds some variety. I would have liked to see more experimentation with backgrounds and possibly with props, e.g. cutting the orange into segments and shooting on a chopping board (with a knife, or with other oranges), or perhaps with the paper or plastic that oranges are packed in, or an orange crate? 

You have demonstrated that you understand each of the categories and that you recognize how your lighting affects these qualities. The form images show two methods of revealing the orange’s three-dimensional quality. The first shot could be cropped so that the top half remains, then the cloth would only be seen out of focus and the resultant curve would be a strong design element. The second shot needed a more careful use of background material so as not to detract from the subject.

Use of coloured backgrounds to contrast with the orange show an appreciation of the power of these effects (as in assignment 3). I also find the placing of the subject in the frame to be well executed in many shots, e.g. the final image where the green area is on the ‘thirds’.

The shape images show the orange as round, yet any shot would do that as long as the background was even. Lighting from behind would accentuate the outline, either lighting the background or shooting against the light showing rim lighting. You mention making the orange bright in colour for the first shot, yet also say you underexposed it – these contradict each other. Under-exposure won’t make lighting subtle or smooth as it only affects how light or dark it is. It is the contrast formed by variations of exposure – by size, distance and position of lighting, that creates contrast. I like the background in the first shot as it blends seamlessly from top to bottom. The choice of colour also contrasts well with the orange, without competing with its colour. 

The colour shots are always going to show strong colour with this subject! The first is an interesting close-up that makes the eye concentrate on the imperfections of the skin, noticing the brown colours as well as the orange. With direct lighting across the surface this could have made a great ‘texture’ shot. The second colour shot is similar to the very first image, but colours appear more saturated due to the harsher lighting.

Both texture shots have a colour balance that is far more green/cyan than the other images. It should still be possible to correct this in post-production software (e.g. with Elements or Gimp). The second shot has a good composition and is close enough to reveal much of the texture. It would be good to see the first ‘texture’ image shot similarly closely.

Learning Logs or Blogs

Don't forget to update your log with any activities, plans and thoughts about your work. Add also your research and thoughts on other photographer's work that you've read about or seen online or in exhibitions. In particular, relate your reflection and developing thoughts about what you see to your own work

Suggested reading/viewing

I recommend reading 'Dialogue with Photography' by Paul Hill & Thomas Cooper – interviews with photographers to see what goes on behind the camera. I also suggest that you look at the creative use of light and shade in the work of Brian Griffin and Fernand Fonssagrives.

Pointers for the next assignment

Assignment 5 draws on the skills you have developed during the previous four assignments: Using light, composition, concepts and colour. The assignment is a sequence of images that produce a narrative, telling a story in pictures. Your captions for these pictures provide further information, adding to the development of the story’s context. The style to be used for images and text is similar to what you might expect to find in a magazine.

The initial ‘cover’ image should be simple and striking; grabbing attention, persuading the viewer to look further into the sequence. It is good to have some variety of lighting, perspectives, camera height, scale etc. as these vary the pace of the sequence, helping to sustain the viewer’s interest in the story. What you leave in the final edit is just as important as what you cut out. This is a story best told directly, without any 'filler' images.

Reflection upon Assignment 4

Demonstration of technical and visual skills- Materials, techniques, observational skills, visual awareness, design and compositional skills
I used a lot of different material during this assignment, such as diffusers and tungsten and fluorescent lighting. I used them to the best of the ability that i possibly could under my given circumstances. However i did not have professional lighting, only what i had found round the house, which was in my opinion nowhere near strong enough. I did not have a proper diffuser but tracing paper instead. I didn't get the outcomes i had desired, however i did the best i could with what i had.
I always try to be visually aware, i hope this has shown through some of the exercises i have carried out.

Quality of outcome - Content, application of knowledge, presentation of work in a coherent manner, discernment, conceptualisation of thoughts, communication of ideas
I feel i have communicated my ideas well and written down exactly what was going on in my head at the time of photographing. I hope i have been logical in doing so. I have applied my knowledge of light and shadow where possible and tried to explain what i am doing along the way.

Demonstration of creativity - Imagination, experimentation,invention, development of a personal voice
The series of exercises i have carried i have seen more from a referential point of view. Using each photograph to see the different effects of different lighting at different times etc. and so perhaps haven't been as creative as i could have been as I've seen it more of a learning tool for future reference/ to widen my knowledge now but I'd like to think i have at least been slightly imaginative in doing so.

Content- reflection, research, critical thinking
I have carried out a few pieces of research on different photographers who use light during this assignment, however i can always do more. I'd like to think i have continually been reflective in my work as i have been going along.

Overall, I am perhaps slightly under satisfied with the work i have done here. Relying greatly on the weather/ time of day has been quite a hinderance. Limiting when certain tasks could be carried out.
My lack of quality equipment i have also found to be be a great hinderance, i do not feel i have always reach the outcome i probably should have if i was to have used professional equipment, or at least my results not as dramatic as i would have hoped. But i did the best that i could with what i had.
If i have time in the future i would certainly like to revisit a lot of this assignment.

Assignment 4 Applying Lighting Techniques

For this assignment, i had draw the different lighting techniques i have learned, and apply them to a subject , showing shape, form, colour and texture.

Form

I used a blue background here, a contrasting colour, the make the subject stand out more.  I lit the subject from above, the top of the subject is lit, and quite light in colour , the middle of the subject a slightly darker orange, and the bottom, not really getting any light, is darker again and shadowy, creating form and making this object look more 3 dimensional. 

I changed the background here to something white so a shadow would be more visible. 3 dimensional objects can always cast a shadow, and this is a good way of make making an object look more so. By casting a shadow. I lighted the subject from the side, but from quite a high angle, highlighting the top right of the orange. The direction of light and the highlights and shadows created by it make the subject look more 3 dimensional.
I tried this shot with and without a diffuser so there was still a shadow, which was the main aim i was looking for, but the lighting wouldn't be so harsh on the orange. However it made the orange look a bit flat and dull, even though there was still a shadow. So i settled for this picture, without a diffuser.

Shape

To create shape here, i wanted the orange to be quite bright in colour so the shape would stand out. I didn't really want to cast a shadow or have any bursts of light. I wanted it to be as plain and simple as possible so attention would be drawn to the shape only. I used a diffuser over the light so the lighting would be softer and so the effect i wanted would be a lot easier to create. I also when taking this picture under exposed to by an f-stop or two,  to help make the light more subtle and smoother again.

I used a contrasting background again here to make the subject stand out and the shape a lot more visible.  The subject was lit from above just to make it look slightly more spherical by the light hitting the top and spreading round the sides ever so slightly. I used a diffuser just to make the light a little more softer and subtle as i didn't want too much attention just to be drawn to the top of the subject, but the subject as a whole.I tried to experiment with backlighting as i really wanted a photograph with just the entire outline of the subject lit up, almost like an eclipse, however i did not have a light available that was big or strong enough to create this effect.

Colour

Here i took a close up of the surface of the orange so the colour would take up the entire frame, and your focus would not be taken or lost anywhere else. I used a diffuser over the light to keep it looking quite matte, and the same colour/shade all over.

The subject is against a contrasting background to make it more obvious, and to make it pop. Its lit brightly from above, the light quite close to the subject to make the colour look more dramatic.

Texture

This end of the fruit had the most texture, and so i wanted this to be my main focus.  I lit the subject diagonally from above, facing the front of the subject. The the light would hit all the bumps and grooves within the fruit. Making it look more textured.

I then took a photograph close up so the texture could be seen in a lot more detail. The subject was lit from the front to make the textures more visible again, and also so my camera would not create a shadow.

Exercise: Shiny Surfaces

For this exercise, i had to find a shiny object that was shiny enough to see my reflection in. I would be using tracing paper to form a cone around the object, and so i wanted something that was quite small and a bit more original than a kettle/ toaster. I decided to use the back of a CD.
I first took a photograph from above, looking directly down onto the CD, capturing my reflection too.

  

I then took another photograph, exactly the same but introduced a light and took two exposures

I then created a cone out of tracing paper, as stated, the top wrapped around my camera lens and the bottom around the CD.
I took a photograph without a light, the CD appeared very matte, and the reflection of my camera dulled to shadows, almost gone.

 I then introduced a light again, level with the surface the CD was on, from the side. Still fairly matte in appearance. There is a line of line across the CD, perhaps there was a slight gap at the bottom of the cone, as this does not appear on any other 'coned' photographs.

Side lighting again, but from a high angle. Perhaps the best shot of the CD i have taken in terms of losing the reflection of my camera. The lighting from a high angle means its further away from the tracing paper, and not as strong, resulting in this effect.

 The CD lit from above the camera, this has given the CD an orangey glow, and again the reflection is quite apparent.

Lit from above again, but with a different exposure. The orangey glow has been lost and so has some of the shine however the reflection is a lot more visible.

Another low lit exposure from the side but this time the light was quite close to the tracing and not surface level, a bit higher this time. This is my favourite exposure . I like the strip of light across the CD, and the colours in the photograph even though they are quite harsh.

Exercise: Concentrating Light

For this exercise, i experimented with concentrating the light. I set up a scene and fixed a light by camera facing the scene. with a piece of black card i held it between the light and the scene, the block the light from hitting certain areas. I was able to move this card a round so the light hit only different parts in each photograph.

Only the very slightest part of the left side of the light is covered, so the light stops at the edge of the table.

Here i placed the card in front of the laptop, so only what was behind it would be lit up

I then moved the card to the opposite side, so the contents behind the laptop was in the dark this time.

I cover the laptop again here, but moved the card further away from the light, so more of the scene would be hidden in shadows.

I covered all but the edge of the scene with the card here

Exercise: Contrast and Shadow Fill

I set up a simple still life shoot using a small eiffel tower. I kept the background plain, so any changes in shadow or light would be easier to see. I set up a light about 2/3 feet directly to the left of the object.

I then took a photograph using just the naked light. A slight shadow can be seen to the right of the object.

No diffuser

I then added a diffuser to my lamp, and took another photograph. The shadow to the right has disappeared a fair bit.

Diffuser

I then placed a piece of white car to the right of the object, the opposite side to the light, and placed it about 3 feet away. I then took another picture.

The shadows seem slightly bolder than the previous photograph.

White card

I then moved the white card closer to the object. It looked slightly duller to me, the shadow still fairly strong.

White card moved closer
I then introduced a piece of tin foil, with the shiny side facing the object, i took a photograph.  The shadow on the right has disappeared, as the light is reflected off the foil onto the right side of the object, lighting up both of the sides.

Shiny side of foil

I then turned the foil around so the dull side was facing the object. The shadow on the right then reappeared, as less light was reflected of this side of the foil.

Dull side of foil

With the shiny side facing the object again, i then scrunched the foil up and placed it in front of the white card again. The shadow here has disappeared from the right side, but seems to have appeared slightly on the left, towards the back.

Crumpled foil

Exercise: The Lighting Angle

For this exercise, i had to tie several photographs of an object that woad rounded with relief. I chose a glass head. I then had to take pictures using a light fitted with a diffuser. With the light in a different position in each photograph.

Due to using a diffuser, the lighting was soft, and so no harsh strong shadows were created.

Light in front
In this photograph, there are no real shadows, and the light is evenly distributed over the face.

Light right front diagonal
In this photograph the light was in front of the object, but towards the right facing the object diagonally. The start of a very subtle shadow can be seen at the back left. There are visible areas on the right side of the face; the neck, under and above the eye where the light hits.

Light behind
This was a bit tricky, trying to ensure the diffuser was not seen behind the object. You can see it very slightly. Perhaps an awkward object to photograph from behind, being see through, giving a different effect from what would usually be seen. the outline of the object is dark whilst the middle/inside is lit up. The is a slight shadow in front of the object.

Light back right diagonal 
There is a point of the top right of the object where the light hits. A shadow can be seen to the left of the front.

Light left
A shadow can be seen to the left of the object

Light front left diagonal
Slight shadow to the back right

light right
A shadow can be seen to the left of the object. The shadow on the cheekbone, jaw on the left side of the face i predominantly darker than the right side.
The light can be seen across the front of the face here.

Light back left diagonally
Very subtle shadows can be seen around the front of the object.

Light above
A slight green glow can be seen around the bottom of this object.

The photograph with the lighting in front is probably my favourite as the light is evenly distributed across the front of the object making it look more matte and defined.
There is no great difference between each shot apart from the shadows, as the diffuser softens the light and the shadows. I personally prefer working without a diffuser, as i prefer the harsh lighting and big bold shadows a naked light will create.
Some may argue the subject used wasn't the best for this task. However I would disagree. you can see where the light first hits, and the shadows cast. I took another photograph for each shot without a diffuser to see if there was any great difference in shadows/light within the face between each shot, and these can be seen a lot better under the strong naked light which is again softened by the diffuser. I've used solid objects in the past with a diffuser and have arrived at the same outcome.

Exercise: Softening the light

For this exercise, i had to take two pictures of an object.  The first with a naked lamp shining from above, and the second with a diffuser over the lamp.

I chose a matt green fabric as background for my object. The picture above is with the naked lamp. You can see where the light hits, in the middle of the hand by the thumb and fingers. The object appears very shiny and there are small highlights on bent fingers as well as the tops of the two upright fingers. There is a small shadow around the bottom of the object, towards the back left slightly, although not overly strong in visibility .

Below is the photograph with the diffuser of the naked lamp. I used a sheet of tracing paper as my diffuser.  Holding it between the light and the subject but out of shot.

The object in this picture looks a lot more matte than in the previous photograph. The highlights are still there ever so slightly, but are a lot softer and less visible. Due to the lighting being softened, the imperfections in the background fabric are a lot less visible, making it look smoother. The shadow around the base of the object has also disappeared with the use of the diffuser.

Overall, i think the diffuser has aided this photograph, the object look a lot better in the softer lighting  without the shadows and highlights looking so strong and harsh.

Exercise: Outdoors at night

For this exercise, i had to take a series of photographs outside at night making use of brightly lit buildings and streets to explore the effects and colour of artificial light.

I had to try and include; a floodlit building, a brightly lit store front, a large interior such as a shopping centre and a raised view of a busy road.

I ventured out into the night with my camera and tripod, for longer exposures due to the lack of light, and here is what i captured;

A brightly lit store front in the dark. The lighting from within the shop is very white in comparison to the lighting outside into the distance of the left corner which is quite orange.

An unusual colour of lighting used at night, purple. It looked very beautiful and created a nice effect/ atmosphere. It turned everything underneath it purple. and didn't appear to give off a great deal of light. It is a nice contrast however, to the green tree to the left of the frame.

Yellow lighting bursting out of doors/ windows on a dark street. I felt a bit awkward taking this kind of photograph outside of a building i was quite unfamiliar with. I felt like a bit of a stalker and so took one photograph and quickly left.

Light trails from cars on a road, I took this one facing a roundabout  from on top of a bridge, hoping the roundabout would cause some more unusual shaped trails, something a bit different from the average straight road.

I found quite a dingy, eerier looking alley way. I over exposed this photograph by a couple of f-stops, as i wanted the alley alley itself to be quite dark with the small burst of blueish light in the background to stand out, making it look creepier and adding more depth to the alley. I kept the outside of the alley in the frame slightly, as i wanted the comparison between the orange created from the street light, and the white/ blueish light in the alley.

A lit up cathedral at dusk. I love this photograph, as the sky is quite a strong, bright shade of blue whilst the cathedral is bright orange, a contrasting colour. Created by the lights around the building. The two contrasting colours again reflected in the river.

A hotel captured from a sky walk. The metal fencing makes it feel quite busy and from within an inner city, the high buildings add to this creating a sense of standing in the hustle and bustle, which was not the case at all. The burst of bright lights against the dark sky, and how perfectly the high rise building are lit up and to the big city vibe.

A fire station at night, the lights from with seem to get brighter and whiter as you move to the right of the frame, whilst the lighting outside seems to get more orange as you move to the right of the frame. The angle the photograph is taken from, and the right being more lit up than the left, adds a greater sense of distance from each end in the photograph.

The inside of a shop, captured from behind silhouetted shutters. The lighting in the shop again quite orange. I thought this photograph was a bit different, with all the silhouetted shapes and patterns against the shop lighting.

A lit up store front, with quite bright white lighting, probably the only store front i captured where the colours present look the same as they would in daylight.

This is an extremely eerie, ghostly looking photograph. A gated walk way with orange lighting in the very back, then extremely bright white lighting the front that almost looks as if it is glowing, trying to burst out from behind the gate. Orange light from the path i am standing on, reflected in the two posters on the front of the gate. I love the different lighting present here and the effects they have on the photograph. You almost expect to see a ghost walking by. It quite unusual.

More light trails on another road.

I wanted this photograph quite dark, with only the street lights creating small patches of light making this picture appear quite solitary and creepy. the lighting being quite far away also adds a greater sense of depth to the photograph.

Bright lights of all different colours on  buildings at night.

I revisited the bridge i previously took a photograph earlier and saw a lone person walking down and so decided to capture a picture when they reached the light. A lonely orange tinted figure. Quite eerie.