25.01.2017
& 26.01.2017 (Week 2)
Adrian Charles Chee Yew Chen (300666425)
Introduction to Photography
Adrian Charles Chee Yew Chen (300666425)
Introduction to Photography
Exercise
2: Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed
Lecture:
At the
start of the second class, Mr Vinod opened almost all of our blogs one by one
to briefly go through the images they had selected for the first exercise
given. He asked the students to give a short explanation on why they chose the
photos. Mr Vinod taught us about the 'holy trinity' of photography which were
the aperture, ISO and shutter speed. He also mentioned that there is a 4th
element in photography that is not entirely in our control which is light
(natural light). Aperture controls the amount of light entering the lens and
the main stops for aperture are 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 and 22. These stops
are called the f-stops. The smaller the f-stop, the wider the hole of the lens.
This can bring about two effects which are the darkening or lightening of the
image, and the depth of field of the image. The lower the f-spot, the more
shallow the depth of field of the image and vice versa. We conducted two
exercises in class to prove that the aperture does affect the amount of light
entering the lens and also the depth of field. Next, Mr Vinod explained about
the ISO which is the number indicating a digital camera sensor's sensitivity to
light. Lower ISO would require more light to capture a proper photo than high
ISO. Lower ISO would also result in images with the least visible noise (black
spots in the image), which is more desirable. The main stops for ISO are 50,
100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400. We did an exercise in class to prove
that ISO affects exposure and sensitivity to light. Last but not least, Mr
Vinod taught us on shutter speed which is the duration of time the shutter
remains open to allow light to reach a digital camera's sensor. Higher shutter
speed will result in the 'freezing' of fast-moving objects. Mr Vinod informed
us that 1/30th of a second is the last 'non-tripod' shutter speed to get a
clear image. In addition to that, we also performed a class activity together to create a Chinese New Year 2017 greetings through light trails as well as a solo shot of one of our classmates, Asif.
For the CNY 17
greetings, we had the camera on the tripod. The camera's settings were
(-------). The most important element at play for this shot was the shutter
speed as well as good timing by those trying to form the alphabets and shapes.
They needed to time it so that it takes them exactly 2 seconds from start to
finish to draw out their alphabet or shape. This is because the camera's
shutter speed was set to 2 seconds.
For
Asif's solo shot, we offed all of the lights in the classroom and used 5 phone
flashlights to create the affect seen in the image above. 3 flashlights to
shine on Asif and the other 2 flashlights to create the light trails behind
him. The camera's settings were (--------). Once again, the most important
element for this shot was the shutter speed. The 3 flashlights were required to
'paint' Asif's sides throughout the entire 10 seconds (shutter speed was set to
10 seconds). This is to create the effect that he had lights shining on the
sides of his face while the centre part remains dark and mysterious. It was not
easy trying to create the perfect shot for this as it requires some trial and
error in order to achieve the right balance of light shining upon him.
Instructions:
- a) Aperture (in-class) Exercise Instruction:
Upon reading, viewing and discussing the material on aperture, we
have come to agree that aperture affects exposure (Exercise 2a.1) and controls
depth of field (Exercise 2a.2).
Your problem task today is to prove the theory as fact that
aperture does effect exposure (Exercise 2a.1) and control depth of field
(Exercise 2a.2) by devising a plan and acting on it.
When updating your ePortfolio ensure you describe your plan before
showcasing the evidence that proves the theory.
All images must be in black and white, you can make the adjustment
in the camera (if the feature is available) or make the adjustment later in an
approprite software or Photoshop (directions: Image > Adjust > Black
& White)
- Exercise 2c: ISO
Upon discussing the material on ISO, we have come to agree that
ISO effects exposure (Exercise 2c.1) and effects the quality of an image
(Exercise 2c.2).
Your in-class task today, requires you to prove
that:
2c.1) ISO effects exposure
2c.2) ISO effects the quality of an image by increasing the noise
and grain of a picture.
---
Exercise 2b
Upon discussing the material on Shutter Speed in along with the
discussions and exercises on Aperture and ISO, we have come to understand that
Shutter Speed affects exposure and effects visibility of moving objects. While
the evidence of shutter speeds affect on exposure is already evident in the
Aperture and ISO exercise, the evidence of Shutter Speeds affect on moving
objects has yet to be proven.
Your task in Exercise 2b is to showcase evidence of Shutter Speeds
ability to freeze fast moving objects or blur moving objects.
Exercise 2a.1 Aperture affects exposure
Shutter Speed : 1/8 sec
Aperture : 5.6
ISO : 3200
Shutter Speed : 1/8 sec
Aperture : 22
ISO : 3200
ISO : 3200
Exercise
2a.2 Aperture controls depth of field
Shutter Speed : 1/15 sec
Aperture : 5.6
ISO : 6400
ISO : 6400
Shutter Speed : 1 sec
Aperture
: 22
ISO :
6400
Exercise 2c.1 ISO affects exposure
Shutter
Speed : 1/2 sec
Aperture
: 16
Shutter
Speed : 1/2 sec
Aperture
: 16
Shutter
Speed : 1/2 sec
Aperture
: 16
ISO :
100
Exercise
2c.2 ISO
effects the quality of an image by increasing the noise and grain of a picture.
Shutter
Speed : 2 secs
Aperture
: 5.6
Shutter
Speed : 1/60 sec
Aperture
: 5.6
ISO :
12800
Exercise 2b Showcase evidence of Shutter Speeds ability to freeze fast moving objects or blur moving objects.
Shutter Speed : 1/30 sec Aperture : 4 ISO : 200 |
Shutter Speed : 1/800 sec Aperture : 4 ISO : 6400 |
Feedback:
There are no feedback
yet for this week's exercise.
Reflection:
Experience:
Working
on this task made me appreciate a photographer's efforts much more. It has made
me realize that taking a proper photograph is not as easy as just by a click of
a button. It requires thorough knowledge and understanding of the basics of
photography, patience, steady hands and a great sense of instinct and timing.
It has also made me appreciate shots to freeze a moving object as I had the
most difficulty with that exercise. It was not easy to get the right settings,
lightings and timing while also trying to keep the main object focused by the
camera for that very moment.
Observations:
Observations:
While
working on this task, I came to notice that all three of the main elements in
photography (ISO, Aperture & Shutter Speed) are inter-related and
interdependent. Altering one of these elements would require us to adjust the
others to ensure the proper exposure for a perfect photograph.
Findings:
Findings:
When I
was doing exercise 2a, I found that aperture does in fact exposure and controls
the depth of field. When my aperture was at 5.6, the picture had the right
exposure but when I increased it to 22, the exposure was incorrect which
resulted in a darkened image. As for exercise 2c, I found out that ISO too
affects the exposure as well as the level of noise in an image. I presented 3
images for exercise 2c.1, one with the right ISO, one with high ISO and another
with low ISO. The pictures turned out to be in perfect exposure, too bright and
too dark respectively. Through exercise 2b, I found that shutter speed can
freeze or blur moving objects. The first image had a pretty low shutter speed
which resulted in a blurry image of the moving object whereas the second image
had very high shutter speed which managed to freeze the moving object in
mid-air.