Photography and Light

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EXERCISE Bracketing Select a subject with a wide range of values —from black through various grays to white —and shoot it several times, at one shutter speed, but sev- eral apertures. Before shooting, take a light reading of some part of the subject that is in the mid-range of grays (or meter off your palm). Shoot one frame at the setting recommended by your meter, then shoot another at each f-stop above it, while keeping the same shutter speed. Then shoot one frame at each f-stop below the one selected by the light meter. For the most interesting range of lighting effects, try to shoot in lighting that is just a bit less than broad daylight. Your meter reading should be around f/8 at a shutter speed between 250 and 60. You should produce at least two different exposures of a single subject to be critiqued. However, you may want to try the same procedure on several subjects to find one that pro- duces the most interesting variations. If you use only one subject, try to find several angles to shoot it from, so you can compare effects. Different angles will produce the most variety when the subject is dramatically lit. This means that your subject needs to receive some direct light, and that you'll want to shoot early or late in the day. Student photographs by Marc McCoy. Light 127

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Exercises

Transcript of Photography and Light

  • EXERCISEBracketingSelect a subject with a wide range ofvalues from black through variousgrays to white and shoot it severaltimes, at one shutter speed, but sev-eral apertures.

    Before shooting, take a lightreading of some part of the subjectthat is in the mid-range of grays (ormeter off your palm).

    Shoot one frame at the settingrecommended by your meter, thenshoot another at each f-stop above it,while keeping the same shutter speed.

    Then shoot one frame at each f-stopbelow the one selected by the lightmeter.

    For the most interesting range oflighting effects, try to shoot inlighting that is just a bit less thanbroad daylight. Your meter readingshould be around f/8 at a shutterspeed between 250 and 60.

    You should produce at least twodifferent exposures of a single subjectto be critiqued. However, you maywant to try the same procedure on

    several subjects to find one that pro-duces the most interesting variations.If you use only one subject, try tofind several angles to shoot it from,so you can compare effects. Differentangles will produce the most varietywhen the subject is dramatically lit.This means that your subject needsto receive some direct light, and thatyou'll want to shoot early or late inthe day.

    Student photographs by MarcMcCoy.

    Light 127

  • A skillfully handled blurred motion shot can convey a sense of being caught up in the action. (Student photographby Sheri Allen.)

    128 The Photographic Eye