A "Light" Snack

Well,

College again tonight, so I decided to compose a still life image using fruit, and shoot it using a torch.

I find still life somewhat boring (well sometimes anyway), so I thought I would try and liven it up by producing an image for my photo book.

Entitled A "Light" snack I composed the image from fresh fruit, a fruit bowl, plate and knife.

The first shot below is of the initial composition set up, it is not meant to be a finished shot, I was just organising the composition. It was taken under standard strip lighting.

 

 

Once I was happy with the composition (above) I then set about taking a series of shots (13 in total) in the studio, with all the lights off. Using a 10 second exposure and small (mag light type) torch, the contact sheet below is of all the shots I have used to complete the final image.

 

Hopefully you can see from the contact sheet, one area of the composition was lit at a time for 10 seconds.

 



As you can also see from the contact sheet, the difference in appearance is obvious. The colours are much more vibrant in the series of images above.

 

 

Once I was happy with the shots above, they were converted from Raw format to jpg, so that they could be loaded as layers into Photoshop.

 

 

Once loaded as individual layers, all but the 1st shot was turned off using the eye, icon.

 

Each layer was then turned back on, in turn, changing the blending mode from normal to lighten as each one was activated.

 

This has the effect of allowing the light areas from the layer below to shine through, hence building up a final image once all layers have been activated and turned to lighten.





The final image below is made up of the 13 images above. There has been now adjustments to the image from this point on.

 

I believe the image above is far superior to the initial image because the colours are much more vibrant and there are much better shadows. I think this makes the image much more interesting.

 

 

Image specifics.

 

Combination of 13 separate, 10 second images, taken at an ISO of 100, f14 and 10 seconds.

 

Camera specifics.

 

Nikon D7000, Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-f5.6 lens, tripod and wired remote release.

Beach at Light

Whilst away in Spain, not only did I take the opportunity to do some long exposure, but I also did some night photography and some light painting......

I thought about utilising the lights on the beach front as well as supplementing it with some torch light along the lagoon edge, where it meets the sand.

I took 11 shots in all, (see above) and finally settled on image 7202 as the best exposed.

 

 

Above is the final image. I like this image because of it's true colours, although obviously I did use torch light along the lagoon edge and some around the start of the jetty.

 

 

This image was shot at f/14, ISO 100 and a shutter speed of 30 seconds to enable me to light up the waters edge etc.

 

 

I used my Nikon 7000 with the 18-200mm lens set at 40mm.

 

 

This shot may even make it into my photobook, as I do like it....

More experimental Long Exposure

Whilst on holidays in Spain, I decided to continue with some long exposure photography, as milky water is an effect I really love.

There was a jetty in the town we were staying in that I had decided that the next time I visited the town I would photograph.

 

Google. (2014). Google Maps. Available: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/San+Javier/@37.8041974,-0.827884,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd6311fc3f05284b:0xafa501058347886a. Last accessed 28th April 2014.

Above is an image taken from Google Earth an on it I have identified two jetty's that I wanted to take, or had already taken.

Jetty 1, I have already shown in a previous post, but here it is again (below)

The jetty numbered 2, in the Google image above, was the other Jetty I had wanted to do, so on my return to Santiago I made it my number one priority to get the shot. As you can see from the overhead image, the Jetty has a distinct shape.

I got up at 5 in the morning, as I not only wanted to get a Sunrise shot over the sea, but early in the morning would mean less people and more importantly less light. This would help with the slow shutter speed, as I also wanted to record any movement there was in any cloud that was available.

I took several images at various exposure lengths (see contact sheet below) and finally chose image number 7245.

After a few tweek's in Photoshop, the final image can be seen above.

I would have liked to get a more red sunrise, but unfortunately due to the time of year the sun wasn't rising over the sea, but farther to the left of the image.

I will be returning in the Summer, so maybe another opportunity will present itself for another try.

Having said that, I am very happy with the image and it appears to have done well on a number of Photograph sites that I have uploaded it to.

Camera specifics are f/13, ISO 100, and a shutter speed of 240 seconds.

Some Light Refreshment

During my spell in the college studio, I decided to try another setup for a light painting.

Using some of the props I had brought for the typewritter setup, I decide to set up a couple of bottles of Desperados, a glass and some water mixed with gelatine to make droplets on the glass surfaces.

I then proceeded to light up the scene in a clockwise motion, I try and keep to the same method.

I tool a total of 33 shots, each of about 3 seconds duration at 100 ISO and F11.

The image below is of the contact sheet and the images used.

 

As with the Typewritter image, all 33 photographs were assembled in Photoshop as layers and blended using either the "Lighten" or "screen" selection in the blend mode for each layer.

 

 

The final image can be seen below.

 



I think this image works well, as you can see the water droplets on both the bottle and glass, with everything in focus.

There are some nice shadows cast by the bottle and glass, as well as separation from the background, as there is light behind, fading into the distance.

I think if the water had been a little more viscous, then the water droplets would have showed up more, but all in all, I think the light painting on this image was a success..

Writting Light-riture

I decided to utilise the college studio this week to come up with a light painted still life.

After racking my brains for a while I decided to set up a mock book writer set up, utilising an old typewriter, some paper, a pair of glasses, a glass of beer, the only thing missing was a smoking cigarette and an ash tray.

After setting up the camera using an ISO of 100 and a shutter speed of 3 seconds, I took a series of images. 35 in total, working my way around the still life in a clock wise motion.

Below is a contact sheet of all 35 images used.

Once all 35 images had been converted from Raw to Jpeg, each was loaded into Photoshop as separate layers and the blend mode changed from normal to lighten.

Once I was happy with the overall look of the image, slight changes were made to the brightness, shadows and contrast, a little glamour glow was also added to the image.

Below is the final image.

 

Overall I am happy with the final result, I like the shadows cast from the beer glass and the way in which the print is distorted through the lens of the reading glasses.

 

There is good detail in the typewriter and I think that using the torch light has made what could be a boring still life into something that is a little more interesting.

 



The Americans Book Review

The Americans by Robert Frank is probably one of the most famous photobooks there is, it also contains probably one of the lengthiest introductions I have also come across, written by Jack Kerouac.

 

 

There are some great lines in the introduction, although, I have to admit, I thought it rambled on a bit.

I do like the introductory line however, "That crazy feeling in America when the sun is hot on the streets and music comes out of the jukebox or from a nearby funeral". Kerouac, J (2008). The Americans. Germany: Steidl. pg1.

Shot entirely in black and white, the book contains images that capture American life as it was during the period 1955 – 1956.

Although I don’t like every image the book contains, there are a number of images that really stand out. The image of US 285, New Mexico is one such image, it has for me, perfect composition, the horizon is above the top third of the image and the road leads you into the image, with what looks like a vehicle heading towards you in the distance.

Robert Frank toured a total of 48 States in America in an old car, taking many images that catalogue not only all walks of life, but many occasions, good and bad, from parades to funerals, from the high life of Hollywood to the poverty of the ghettos. It’s a startling reminder of the vast gaps that we have in society where wealth and status are concerned.

There are some great candid shots and another image that I find striking is the image of an African American Nurse holding a Caucasian Baby. As I’m sure most of us would agree, this is as it should be, I do believe that this image was taken at a time where racial segregation was still in existence in America so this image is quite poignant.

Another image which I find is this one of a bar in Las Vegas, Nevada. Again, a simple image, but the effect that the lighting has to emphasise the image is great. The light coming through the windows and door, lighting up the subject and flooring is excellent, but doesn’t detract from the main subject of the photograph. The light only serves to heighten the main subject. The only criticism I would level at this image would be the slight burnout of the light through the round windows of the doors, it adds impact but is a little too bright. All in All though, a great shot.

The image entitled Los Angeles is also a well seen shot, quite simple but humorous. You have an arrow on the building pointing to the right with a person walking along the pavement in the same direction, oblivious to the sign.

The layout of the book is also perfect. Having reviewed the book and the layout and a discussion with my tutor, I will say that it is a style that I will be adopting.

Each image has a blank page to the left, with only the title as a distraction. Therefore when viewing the image you only concentrate on the image before you and nothing else.

Frank, R & Kerouac, J (2008). The Americans. Germany: Steidl. p1-p174.