Introduction to Lighting,
Design Elements,
& Photographic Techniques
CUVPHI302A
Capture Photographic Images
Session 2 of 8 [email protected]
Housekeeping
Session 1 REVIEW
1. Prepare to capture digital images
1.1. Discuss photographic project with
relevant people and select appropriate camera
and accessories
1.2. Assess digital camera features to
ensure that outcomes meet project
requirements
Camera Technology
Digital Camera Features
CAMERA CHECKLIST:
• Manual mode
• Quality & Compression
• Sensitivity / Film Speed (ISO)
• White Balance (WB)
• Light Meter / Exposure
– Aperture (e.g. f5.6)
– Shutter Speed (e.g.1/125th)
Useful Accessories
Session 2 Plan
1. Prepare to capture digital images
1.3. Plan shots for the project taking
into account digital camera features,
lighting, photographic design elements
and photographic techniques
Session 2 Plan
1. Prepare to capture digital images
Lighting
Photographic Design Elements
Photographic Techniques
LIGHTING
Quality:
(1) Colour
(2) Intensity
(3) Size
(4) Direction Trent Parke
LIGHTING
Quality:
(1) Colour
(2) Intensity
(3) Size
(4) Direction Trent Parke
White Balance
White Balance
White Balance
LIGHTING
Quality:
(1) Colour
(2) Intensity
(3) Size
(4) Direction
ISO - Film Speed / Sensitivity
LIGHTING
Quality:
(1) Colour
(2) Intensity
(3) Size
(4) Direction
Light Size
• Soft Light
– Soft shadows
– Low contrast
– Soften edges
– “Beautiful”
• Shade
• Cloud
• Dusk/Dawn
• Window
Light Size
• Hard Light
– Hard shadows
– High contrast
– Emphasize edges
– “Dramatic”
• Direct sun
• Direct light bulb/flash
LIGHTING
Quality:
(1) Colour
(2) Intensity
(3) Size
(4) Direction
Lighting Direction
Lighting Direction
Lighting Direction
Lighting Direction
"Rembrandt lighting" – position main light 45° from subject
Lighting Direction Three Point Lighting
• Hard direct light
• Difficult to soften i.e.
bounce or reflect
• Head-on position has
no shadows - no
volume
• Foreground often
blown out - difficult to
vary flash intensity
• Only use for ‘fill’
On-Camera Flash
On-Camera Flash
Reflectors & Diffusers
Windows & Shade
Golden Hour
DESIGN ELEMENTS
(1) Proportions
(2) Balance
(3) Brightness & Contrast
DESIGN ELEMENTS
(1) Proportions
(2) Balance
(3) Brightness & Contrast
Proportions
Horizontal
• Left to right
• Stability
• Landscapes
• TV / Computer
James Nachtwey New York, 2001 - Searching for survivors.
Proportions
Horizontal
• Left to right
• Stability
• Landscapes
• TV / Computer
Elliot Erwitt New York, 1974
Proportions
Horizontal
• Left to right
• Stability
• Landscapes
• TV / Computer
Walter Looss Jr, Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii, 1990
Proportions
Vertical
• ‘Pull' effect
• Top and bottom
• Vertical lines
Walter Looss Jr, Greg Louganis, 1984
Proportions
Vertical
• ‘Pull' effect
• Top and bottom
• Vertical lines
Benoit Gysembergh, Bamako, Mali
Proportions
Vertical
• ‘Pull' effect
• Top and bottom
• Vertical lines
Carolina Salguero, New York, September 11, 2001
Proportions
Vertical
• ‘Pull' effect
• Top and bottom
• Vertical lines
Dennis Stock, Tokyo, Japan, 1974
Proportions
Square
• Symmetrical
• Diagonals
Diane Arbus, Child with Toy Hand Grenade, Central Park, NYC, 1962
Proportions
Square
• Symmetrical
• Diagonals
Walter Looss, Tiger Woods, 2002
Proportions
Square
• Symmetrical
• Diagonals
Nick Brandt
Proportions
Square
• Symmetrical
• Diagonals
Brent Stirton, fetching water, 2003
Rule of Thirds
• Divide frame
in 3 sections
• Points of
emphasis
Sebastião Salgado Refugees in the Korem camp Ethiopia, 1984
Rule of Thirds
Stefano Rellandini, Kashmir earthquake, 2006
• Divide frame
in 3 sections
• Points of
emphasis
DESIGN ELEMENTS
(1) Proportions
(2) Balance
(3) Brightness & Contrast
Balance
• Weight
• Tone
• Colour
• Texture
• Space
Mary Ellen Mark Falkland Road, Bombay
Balance
• Weight
• Tone
• Colour
• Texture
• Space
Jonas Bendisken, Satellites, Russia, 2000
Balance
• Weight
• Tone
• Colour
• Texture
• Space
Walter Looss Jr, Michael Jordan, 1987
Balance
• Weight
• Tone
• Colour
• Texture
• Space
Shehza Noorani, carbon dust, Dhaka, Bangladesh
DESIGN ELEMENTS
(1) Proportions
(2) Balance
(3) Brightness & Contrast
Brightness & Contrast
Brightness & Contrast
PHOTO – TECHNIQUE
(1) Focus
(2) Depth of Field
(3) Motion
(4) Lens & Perspective
PHOTO – TECHNIQUE
(1) Focus
(2) Depth of Field
(3) Motion
(4) Lens & Perspective
Focus
Focus
Focus
• Title: "Afghan Girl" (detail)
• Photographer: Steve McCurry
• Subject: Sharbat Gula
• Camera: Nikon FM2
• Film: Kodachrome 64
• Lens: Nikkor 105mm f/2.5
• "Afghan Girl" was featured on
the front cover of the June
1985 issue of National
Geographic Magazine.
Tip: Make sure the eyes are sharp
PHOTO – TECHNIQUE
(1) Focus
(2) Depth of Field
(3) Motion
(4) Lens & Perspective
Depth of Field
• Aperture
• Lens focal length
• Subject distance
Depth of Field
Wide DOF
• Small Aperture
• Wide angle lens
• Far subject distance
Shallow DOF
• Large Aperture
• Long lens
• Close subject distance
Depth of Field
• Aperture
• Lens focal length
• Subject distance
Depth of Field
Lauren Greenfield, Prom in the OC
Jonas Bendiksen, Satellites, 1999-2005, Abkhazia
Jonas Bendiksen, Satellites, 1999-2005, Russia
Eddie Adams, Mother Theresa
PHOTO – TECHNIQUE
(1) Focus
(2) Depth of Field
(3) Motion
(4) Lens & Perspective
Motion
Motion
Shutter Speed
1 sec 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60
1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000
Tip: To prevent camera shake set the shutter speed above the focal length of the lens i.e.
use at least 1/500 sec shutter speed with a 300mm lens or 1/60 sec with a 50mm lens
John Mabanglo, Diver Chelsea Davis at Fina World Championships, 2006
Vincent Larofet, Beijing Olympics, 2008
Vincent Larofet, Beijing Olympics, 2008
Sydney Seshibedi
Shutter Speed
• Fast paced sports require at least 1/500 sec for sharp images often 1/1000 or 1/2000 sec
• Slow shutter useful for panning
• Slow shutter for night shoots
• Slower than 1/30 sec will almost certainly result in camera shake - use tripod/monopod
Tip: 1/125 sec a good starting point
Motion
Panning - follow the subject while pressing the shutter so the
subject remains sharp and the background is blurred
Ronald Modra, Ben Johnson, Olympics, 1988
PHOTO – TECHNIQUE
(1) Focus
(2) Depth of Field
(3) Motion
(4) Lens & Perspective
35mm Lens Focal Lengths
• Wide-angle (short lens) – 18mm - 100º | 20mm - 94º | 28mm - 74º | 35mm - 62º
• Normal / Standard (similar to vision) – 50mm - 46º
• Telephoto (long lens) – 85mm - 28º | 135mm - 18º | 300mm - 8.5º | 500mm - 6º
• Zoom
Lens & Perspective
Lens & Perspective
Charlie Cole, The Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989
Lens & Perspective
Charlie Cole, The Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989
Lens & Perspective
James Nachtwey, Nicaragua, 1984
Lens & Perspective
Steepening Perspective
• Close to subject
• Wide angle lens
Flattening Perspective
• Large subject distance
• Telephoto lens
Lens & Perspective
Thomas Hoepker, Muhammad Ali, Chicago, 1966
LIGHTING
Quality:
(1) Colour
(2) Intensity
(3) Size
(4) Direction
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
(1) Proportions
(2) Balance
(3) Brightness
& Contrast
PHOTO –
TECHNIQUE
(1) Focus
(2) Depth of Field
(3) Motion
(4) Lens
& Perspective
Session 2
1. Prepare to capture digital images
1.3. Plan shots for the project taking into account digital
camera features, lighting, photographic design
elements and photographic techniques
Session 3 – NEXT WEEK
2. Preview and experiment with image capture
2.1. Operate digital camera according to
manufacturer specifications
2.2. Set digital camera preferences and use
photographic techniques to achieve desired
results
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