Task 2 - Film Photography

So after discovering how shutter speed creates different effects, we was introduced to contemporary photography (film) and how to use one suitably.

For this unit, we used the Vivitar V3800N on our trip to capture movements on 3 subjects: Nature, People and Transport. From these, the hardest to capture was definitely nature because there wasn't much to capture. We had to set our cameras to ISO 400 for the day. After changing the shutter speed to what we choose, we had to change the aperture by slightly pressing the shutter to see if there's a green dot; while avoiding any red+ or red-. Then we had to focus our frame. Now this was rather struggling at times with these manual cameras. Sometimes it looks as though it's in focus but may not be. I just had to take the risk and just hope for the best. Long as my images are exposed correctly.

On the trip:

In some shots, i have used bulb to see how they may outcome. But because we was in natural lighting outside, it just made that row of images in the middle of the strip all fogged. I don't remember setting apertures up for them because clicking the shutter with bulb showed nothing. So it was all a risk on how long you hold the shutter for considering how much light is passing in.

The outcome:

I am really happy with the outcome of my images. Nearly all my images have perfect exposure except the images I've mentioned when i used bulb. The only minor flaw would be to get the perfect focus. Some images were blurred very slightly. However it isn't so bad that the whole image is unclear. Now that i have my prints, we'll be using the dark room to print our images. 

Painting With Light

Background research:

Painting with light is a cool, fun way to use long exposure to capture some drawings. Using a small light source such as a torch or glow sticks, you can capture movement of the light direction as you draw with the light source. All you need is a dark room and a manual exposure camera and you're ready to go! 

source: tumblr

This is an example of what you can create with using a torch. Set your camera to a long exposure and the biggest aperture to let the least amount of light in (depending on how bright your light source is)

Contact sheets:

Additional pictures done at home:

This image was shot at f/8 at 30 secs. I like this image because beside it being fun, the concept of having images of you with lights drawn around you is not something you see everyday. It was actually hard doing these images because you can't see what you're drawing and you can only imagine how they would turn out. I think the light in the image is indeed rather bright and that's because we had to change the settings each time we used the glow sticks because they weren't that bright.

This image was taken on f/6.3 for 30 secs. This makes the lights rather muted compared to the previous image. However, i like how the colours are present clearly and you can see this blurry movement of the glow sticks. Perhaps increasing the aperture would make it a better picture as more light is let in.

Here's one I made at home by placing the camera on a table and setting up a timer. We decided to created a heartbeat with pulses however it turned out very deformed. This image is very different compared to the ones we took in college because this room was just as dark but using the settings at f/16 for 30 seconds, it looks a lot brighter. 

Another example taken at home. This image is very cool because the lights look very mystical and the hands gives it this evil element. This can be related to certain films and fairy tales of the evil witch where they also use this sort of image with lights. In this particular image, the lighting of the image is a lot darker than the previous one and the lights on the image is very bright. Settings were f/16 for 30 seconds just as before.

Task 1b - Research (Practical)

For this task, we had to explore shutter speed and apertures ourselves. So we took this task to see what effects each range of shutter speed has on movements. We even experimented with different ways of placing the camera as we took shots.

Contact Sheets

Additional images with my group

As I took so many pictures individually and we took so many as a group, I didn't write all the information for each file at the time because of the numbers. However, these images are digital so it helps when all the information can be found on the computer. So i will note some factors down on each image i analyse below.

These images have been taken on a tripod, It was set at f-stop f/9 with a 100 ISO and has been exposed for 2 seconds. It has been exposed slow because we wanted the movement to be visible. Now we have two examples that are set on the same settings but the movements vary due to how fast the model moves for that exposure.

This image has been taken on a tripod. It has been set at f/22 and exposed for 1/2 sec to capture this blur effect as she's running. I like how you can tell which way she's heading as it blurs in that direction. Also one of the legs is more in focus than the other which gives it this starting point. I think the composure is well with lines because of the double yellow lines on the right side that is parallel in this shot. 

I took this image while i had inspiration from my previous unit on texture. This image was just focusing on hair and I wanted to give it this new texture by using long exposure. Just like with water as a subject, you can use different exposures to capture water splashes or capture water at a long shutter speed; which makes it look like steam. This was basically the idea of making the hair look silky and soft. This image was set at f/22 at 1/2 second just like the previous image. This was because we was outdoors so the lighting was natural and bright, and the ISO was set on ISO 100.

This image was taken at 1/10 secs at f/14. This image is taken on a tripod, with some panning. I like how the image gave it this motion blur. It would be very useful to use when capturing sport or action. It would be better if the background was in focus but i had to pan the camera due to the model not moving very much. So hence why the background is blurred. It just comes to show that panning with the model doesn't necessarily work if there's not much movement however, making the model move and capturing it in one position is a better output.

Task 1a - Research

Library Resource

Contemporary Images

This image is a view of Manhattan. There is a representation of movement on the roads which has been created using long exposure. This image has been taken digitally with the use of a tripod i presume as the image is very clear and still. The use of using a long shutter speed gave the image this nice effect of car lights on the road to be ongoing. Gives the image a meaning as though the city is always busy, even at night.

This image is also another example with the use of a long exposure. It has been created digitally however, i do think it has been taken free handed with a long exposure because the background is not still and everything in the image has the same effect. Contextually, it is used differently compared to the previous example. This time it's been used at a party. I think the techniques have influenced the image because it shows the movements of people and gives this ghostly effect.

Library Images

Historical Images

This image was by Annie G. This image was made up of 16 frames of a horse galloping. The image is created by multiple shots/continuous shots which influenced the outcome of showing the movement of the horse as he makes a run. The image was taken black and white with film cameras. It was created in 1884 and printed in 1887.

12 frames of a lioness walking to a lion that's laying. This is another historical image which shows movements of a lioness walking towards a lion. This has been taken using film, and the outcome has been via continuous shoots. I think the technique has influenced the image because it clearly shows the steps of transformation from one side to another.

Internet Images

Contemporary Images

This is a painting with light image. Using the long shutter speed, it has influenced the image to capture the movement of the light as you move it around. It makes movement look very sophisticated and fun. All it requires is a camera and a tripod. This image was created digitally with a single shot. 

The streets of London. This image uses long exposures to capture the city life. Similarly to my first example of Manhattan, it is set up on a tripod and captured on a digital camera. I like this image because of the low angle and the muted colours makes the red, blurred lights stand out.

Here's an example of fast shutter speed. With the use of fast exposure, this has influenced this image to show details of water as it drips. It has been taken digitally with a single shot and that made the effect of the water looking like diamonds and jewels.

Internet Images

Historical Images

This image is of a vulture flying, 3 times. Each row shows a different angle. It's created using film and has been shot continuously. The top row is the most effective in my opinion because you can see how the vulture is moving it's wings and you can see it rising from the ground. I like this image because it shows each stage consistently because of the technique of capturing each stage quickly.

 One of Eadweard Muybridge's images of a woman jumping over a chair. This was taken in 1867. It was taken with black and white conventional photography. I think it was taken as continuous shots however, i think there was cameras set up to capture as the woman walks along as it looks like the same angle. Or the photographer was also moving along as the woman jumped. Either way, the technique has influenced the image to show the stages of a jump movement.

Some references
http://hyperallergic.com/83974/bright-nights-weird-city-photographs-from-the-new-nyc-underground/
http://sillydragon.com/muybridge/Plate_0727.html