Photo-J Week 5-Depth of Field

When I first picked up a camera my initial struggle was to make sure all my pictures were in focus. The challenge my class was presented with this week was only having part of our photos in focus. By adjusting the aperture, we were able to blur the background and foreground of the image while keeping one of the subjects in focus. This created a shallow depth of field. The trouble with setting up this shot was that objects don't always appear in a row in everyday life. I set out to take the picture along with my roommate on her morning walk. I figured it would be easy to create a foreground and background with other bikers and walkers along the Trinity trail. Unfortunately, I had neglected to adjust my white balance and had left it on Tungsten lighting. This made the majority of my pictures very washed out, even with a very low ISO. In addition to that, it was hard to find the right aperture setting to drop off the vast amount of background scenery. Luckily, I was able to get some help from a friend on adjusting my settings to expose the correct amount of light. It was then easier to focus in on Lara's face for the photo below.  

Lara Branaman, a senior communication studies major peeks up from behind the front desk at Sherley residence hall on the campus of Texas Christian University. Branaman is a residential assistant in Sherley and greets students as they return to their dorms. 

Natural Habitat: Photo J Week III

Capturing people in their "natural habitat" or in a place where they regularly perform an activity seems like an easy task. What often complicates the matter is introducing a camera to someone else's sacred space. Getting the subject to ignore its presence is the real challenge. My friend Michelle is a fellow photographer, and even after I explained to her what I needed, she still had trouble relaxing when the lens cap came off. I tried having her move around on the stage, and once I found the perfectly lit spot, I took a lot of photos. With the ISO on the highest setting and a very slow shudder speed, I managed to capture Michelle in a light which highlighted her complexion. The stage light was soft and white which helped to combat any tungsten light. 

Michelle Hoey poses with her microphone at Mckinney Memorial Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday September 22, 2013.  Hoey sings in the church's worship band on Sunday mornings. 

Michelle Hoey looks up as she poses on stage inside the Mckinney Memorial Bible Church's student ministry building in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday September 22, 2013. 

Compose Yourself: Photography week IV

This week we were given very simple criteria for our photo assignment. While using the rule of thirds, we were to compose a picture with a simple foreground and background. It was more difficult than I had thought to find a space which had a simple backdrop, but still provided an interesting scene to capture. My model a friend who has dark skin, which made finding the proper lighting a challenge. After adjusting my ISO between 800 and 1600, I came out with several usable images.

Christie Holland, a senior religion major, sits at Union Grounds on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2013. (TCU/Sarah Greufe)

Although I don't have photoshop, I was able to do some postproduction work using iphoto to adjust the exposure, color saturation, and lighting temperature. It was difficult to make some of the images sharp. I hadn't given her any specific instructions so she would appear more at ease in front of the lens. This came at the expense of the subtle movements which reduced the sharpness of the images. In the end, I think she made a good subject to photograph and the pictures proved to be easily edited to improve the lighting. 

The Dark Night: Photography Week III

A couple stands on the sidewalk near the AMC Palace 9 movie theater in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday Sept. 7, 2013.



In class we've learned that ironically the time when the photographer has the most control over light-is when it's dark. We were shown stunning images taken in remote locations using a flashlight and prolonged exposure. While I didn't have the time or skill to wait over 6 hours for the stars to move, I was excited to get started on my own image.

I once again explored the downtown area which has a lot of artificial light. After many attempts at trying to shot moving objects such as the horse drawn carriages, I began to explore other areas. The way the light from the bridge cast shadows on the wall with the movie posters, I thought gave the picture a more romantic feel. I did not focus in on the couple walking, but instead tried to capture the whole scene. Again finding the right shutter speed and ISO which wouldn't completely whiten or blur the picture was a challenge. I was also at a loss in positioning my subjects because I was on the other side of the street.

Overall, it was fun to explore the streets at night with a camera in attempt to control the light. One day I would like to attempt some of the photos we saw in class.

In a Different Light: Photography Challenge II

I found out the hard way during this week's photography assignment that lighting can both make and break your photograph. Shooting pictures in natural, artificial and diffuse lighting each came with their own challenges. I felt like I had plenty of opportunities to make a great picture at the Dallas Arboretum on Friday. Their was plenty of sunshine and scenery, but what I struggled with was staying out of the shadows. My model also had her own ideas on how to pose.

Kristy Ordonez, a senior communications major at the University of Oklahoma, poses at the Dallas Arboretum in Dallas, Texas on Friday,[ Aug. 30, 2013. 

The next day I had her pose next to a window in my apartment. I found it difficult to make the shadows and highlights fall on the right parts of the face. After experimenting with the blinds, the final product leaves some shadows on her left cheek, but highlights her eyes and steady gaze.

Kristy Ordonez looks out the window onto the streets of Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. 

The next night I explored the downtown area of Fort Worth where I thought I would be able to find plenty of opportunities for artificial light photos. This challenge proved to be the most difficult without using flash or automatic focus. After adjusting my ISO and shutter speed I was able to take some visible shots, the struggle was putting them in focus. I tried several times to capture the lit carriages on the streets, but in the end got a spontaneous photo of a couple watching a live band. 

A couple watches a live band play in downtown Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013.