STAGE ONE : UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM
1) Statement of Intent (what do you need to do for this project?) :
- Creative Process documented on a Behance Page
- 2 Final Photographic Prints
- One staged or created composition – you create and control the light, scene, scenario.
-One found & composed image – using a pursued location, and light source you create a scene controlling the exposure but using the light and environment that is available to you.
- Low Light situation
- A lot of planning
2) Define and Clarify the Assignment and Goals (in detail) :
- The environment itself starts with small amount of light
- A non ideal situation for a picture
- A situation not suitable for photo 1 students.
- Interpretation of light
3) State what needs to researched
- Exposure, light, ISO, shutter speed and aperture, BULB setting
- How to have the lowest amount of movement (of the camera)
- Skills for capturing low light situations
STAGE 2: Research and Investigate
1) What types of light could be ideal for low light photography?
- colored lights - street lamps . - moonlight - lightning - stars
- city lights - signs . - fire - bedside lamp - traffic lights
- headlights - candles - electronics -flashlight - off camera flash
- lighters or matches
2) What is Ambient Light?
- The soft light is available and already exists
3) What techniques are there beyond exposure control?
- Bokeh (depth of field)
- the effect you get with a shallow depth of field, where the lights in the background turns into any shape
- Merging and masking multiple exposures
- Taking multiple exposures of the same picture
- HDR (high dynamic range)
- Small Strobes/ Flash
-
- Light Painting (Not words/ light trails)
- Astrophotography
- High vs. Low ISO
- Unique light sources
Experimental shots :
Experimental Proofsheet :
STAGE THREE : GENERATE IDEAS
Picture inspiration from the web :
Links to photographers and websites :
https://www.thephotoargus.com/35-awesome-examples-of-night-photography/
https://www.thephotoargus.com/35-awesome-examples-of-night-photography/
Subjects to photograph :
- reflections
- streaking lights
- skylines
- monuments
- faces
- fireworks
- street lights
How could you compose the light?
- light can be composed using flashlights, camera flashes, fire (matches candle) or any other kind of light source.
STAGE 4 : SELECT AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS
When
Where
What light: source, direction,intensity
Exposure use: Shutter speed and ISO
Composition: Layout, Angles
Who will assist you
STAGE 5 : CREATE YOUR ARTWORK
ORIGINAL
ISO : 500
50 MM
F/1.8
1/60 SEC
B&W VERSION 1 WITH HEAVY VIGNETTING
EDITING IN LIGHTROOM :
TEMP : -10
TINT : -6
EXPOSURE : -0.05
CONTRAST : +97
HIGHLIGHTS : -100
SHADOWS : +100
WHITES : - 48
BLACKS : - 9
CLARITY : +40
B&W VERSION 2 WITH NO VIGNETTING
EDITING IN LIGHTROOM :
TEMP : -10
TINT : -6
EXPOSURE : -0.05
CONTRAST : +97
HIGHLIGHTS : -100
SHADOWS : +100
WHITES : - 48
BLACKS : - 9
CLARITY : +40
COLORED VERSION 1 WITH NO VIGNETTING
EDITING IN LIGHTROOM :
TEMP : -10
TINT : -6
EXPOSURE : -0.50
CONTRAST : +62
HIGHLIGHTS : -100
SHADOWS : +100
SATURATION : -15
COLORED VERSION 2 WITH HEAVY VIGNETTING
EDITING IN LIGHTROOM :
TEMP : -10
TINT : -6
EXPOSURE : -0.50
CONTRAST : +62
HIGHLIGHTS : -100
SHADOWS : +100
SATURATION : -15
ORIGINAL
ISO: 100
50 MM
F/8.0
15.0 SEC
PICTURE 2 VERSION 1
EDITING IN LIGHTROOM :
CONTRAST: +56
PICTURE 2 VERSION 2
EDITING IN LIGHTROOM:
EXPOSURE : +0.35
CONTRAST: +42
B&W SPLIT TONE PRESET
Picture 1 :
What worked?
- The ambient light is very apparent and adding heavy vignette helps draw focus the the main subject (the guy working) even with a lot of object in the background. The use of a low aperture also helps disguise any distractions.
- rule of thirds
What didn't?
- the composition could've been (maybe more action, rather than him just looking down at the register)
Picture 2 :
What worked?
- The black and white preset with blue tone helps with the mood of the picture, turning it from bright and colorful to dark and gloomy.
- good contrast with the white shirt and black background
What didn't?
- I tried to get rid of any distractions so it would just be a black background, but since I used the brush tool in Lightroom, you can see the streaks of blacks if you increase the brightness on the computer. You can't notice when the picture is printed though.
- the motion on each side isn't equivalent. one side has more movement than the other
since I turned the picture black and white, it takes away from the purpose, which was supposed to be the use of composed colored lights.
RESHOOT? NO
STAGE 6 : EVALUATE AND REFLECT
How did you create it?
- This picture was created through the help of a tripod and two people (excluding the model) holding up colored lights on their phones on different sides of the model. That is how I was able to create a gradient effect with the lights, although you can't see it in the final product since it's black and white. This was taken at the underground parking lot at target because I needed a place that was dark enough for this picture to work since it was still light out. The target parking lot also had many plain dark walls which made the process easier.
What is successful?
- The most successful part of this picture is the mood the final product reflects. It was a smart idea to go with the black and white version because the overall composition looks better. It also adds more meaning to the picture whereas the colored version looks more experimental.
What did you learn?
- I learned how to incorporate movement of a person with long exposure. I've taken many long exposures of the sky, streets and cars, but this was my first time using a person to create movement. It took many tries and we spent an hour and a half trying to get a good shot. At first it wasn't working out because there was too much light, then I realized that the exposure needed to be decreased in order for the movement to show.
How did you create it?
- I took this picture after I was already done taking my experimental shots. This was taken at a sandwich place called Snarfs in Denver. I had to ask the workers if any of the were willing to be in my shot, and the guy above agreed to it. It was already very bright at Snarfs but I still used the lowest aperture because I wanted the background to be blurry.
What is successful?
- Me taking a risk and asking the workers if I was allowed to take pictures was the most successful part of this picture and the picture portrays it. I'm also glad that I shot using portrait mode because it gets rid of a lot of unnecessary space from the background. I would've had to change the composition by cropping the picture.
What did you learn?
- I learned how to take risks and be able to take pictures in public even though I was already comfortable with that.
STAGE 7 : PRODUCE
