New Building Photographer

Use of light, perspective and focal point is extremely well defined.

http://www.paulwhite.co.uk/exteriors.htm

Black Swan

This chap appeared as I was leaving. Very curious and interested in what I was doing. Took several pics of him before found one I liked. Pleased with the detail and the colour. Image could have been sharper but then he wouldnt stand still.

Lichfield Cathedral

Spotted this picture opportunity on our walk round Lichfield last week. Originally tried to take the shot last Sunday but too dark. Returned Wed 20th as the sky was clear and the sun was setting. Had very little time to take  the pic as I wanted the sun on the cathedral spires and the light was disappearing. Liked the way the street leads the eye into the picture and announces the focal point as the Cathedral. The shadows on the spire highlights the detail. Shame about the transit van in the centre !!!

Early One Morning.

Back at College now (21st Oct 2010) and time to upload the pics from the shoot yesterday morning. As I said in the plan, managed to get to the site just before dawn and got myself set with camera, tripod and lenses. The results are not quite what I had hoped but then a week or so further into Autumn and the colours of the leaves had deteriorated. Nevertheless some are good.

The first is before dawn with relatively still water and good reflections. I like the colours of the sky and leaves. The uniformity of the building adds depth to the picture. 

In this pic the sun is rising and shows as the gold reflection on the water. Again plenty of depth to the pic but the wind sock does spoil the image.

All the photos were taken at intervals as the sun was coming up. Borne out by the change in the colour of the sky. In most I have used the water to reflect the detail and colour to add interest to the picture. I have also tried to express the depth using near detail and keeping distant detail in view.

Cornwall Sunset

Taken with my 75-300 lens, f/36 with 1/25 sec exposure. ISO 100

Recent trip to Cornwall found this interesting site to photo the sunset. Took several pictures with different lenses and settings to try out different results. This one worked the best as the time was just right. A good amount of interest in the foreground ( could have been brighter) and the sun disappearing over the hill between the two trees. The thirds rule looks good. The colour of the sky made the pic even more natural. 

Ansells Sports Centre, Birm City Uni.

Taken with my 10-24 lens, f/18 and 1/80 sutter speed.

Realised we had no publicity material for this building which we finished last year. So on Wed ( a very bright and sunny day) armed with my camera, lenses and tripod I set off to take some publicity material.
Took several shots and liked this one. Fortunatly the sky was clear and the light was good. The perspective works and the kerb line draws the eye into the centre of the picture ie the main entrance. I think the shadows add to the depth and certainly exagerate the cantilever section towards the end of the building.Spoilt slightly by the drain pipes and lamp posts. Not the prettiest building in the world but I think the pic works.

Nature Assignment

Whilst taking my daughter to school the other day, I noticed the fantastic array of colour and wildlife on the lakes outside the JCB factory, in Uttoxeter. The sun was just rising and the colour on the trees was spectacular. Shame I did not have my camera with me but it served to provide another opportunity to photograph.
I will returnearly one morning with camera to capture and record the scene. But need to make sure the sun rise is clear so will carefully watch the weather forecast over the next few days.
Will take my tripod as the light will be low, my wide angle lens for the panorama shot of the lakes and trees and my 75-300 zoom to try to capture the wildlife. Interesting tip on the entry below to put the focus on Al-servo to maintain the focus even if the object moves.
Will also take the H&S precaution as noted on the earlier assignment as the "good" shots will be taken near water and the adjacent road. High Viz vest, torch and wellies for the long grass shots. 

Basic Tip for Nature Photos

A good tip I have read off the internet today

"The first tip I will provide is not original - it is the old addage of " f8 and be there". This is pretty sound advice as setting the camera to f8 is usually a good compromise aperture to obtain reasonable depth of field without forcing the camera to set too low a shutter speed to compensate. If you are not there, i.e. have not researched your subject, travelled miles, got up at the crack of dawn, or whatever else your subject demands - you won't be there to get the shot !

I would go further to say have your camera ready set in "Action Mode". By this I mean set to motordrive, programme mode (or aperture priority - with the aperture set to f8 or even wider for birds and other fast-moving subjects), evaluative metering selected (matrix in Nikon speak). If you have AI servo (predictive autofocus) then set this too. Now you have the camera set ready for anything. If you suddenly round a corner and an eagle snatches a rabbit off the path in front of you you will stand your best chance of capturing the image in point and shoot.
Once you are at your location and you have time to change settings to something more suitable - you can do this at your leisure"

Assignment 208 – Task 1a - Statement of Intent

PRINCIPLES OF LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY

STATEMENT OF INTENT

THEME 2

Candidates Name:  A. S Rundle                                                 Theme: Nature and Wildlife

Title of the theme: The living breathing world

1. Intentions/purpose of the photography to be undertaken

My intention with this section of the course is to gain a better understanding of the techniques and use of location in taking better pictures of nature and wildlife.

It is a fairly simple task to take an average picture of the world outside and living creatures but to take a good photo requires a combination of several different factors. Light, composition, background, depth of field, colour to name but a few. My aim is to identify the factors effecting the choice of each to create great pictures.  

2. Reasons for selection of the theme (including inspiration from the work of others)

We all live in the “breathing world”. And we share that world with other living creatures – be they plants or animals. Having spent most of my life in rural settings, either at home or for periods living abroad, I have always observed the living world and hence have an interest in producing quality photos.

For inspiration I have undertaken some research and have found the following web sites particularly interesting and packed with really stunning images. Hopefully by the end of this session I can be some way towards capturing similar images.

http://www.theuklandscape.com/Workshops.htm

http://www.ophrysphotography.co.uk/pages/bio.htm

http://www.wildsight.co.uk/pfolios/pfolios.html

3. The photo Imaging equipment and medium that will be used.

For my shoot I will use my own equipment viz:-

Canon 400 d Digital SLR camera

Canon 18-55mm lens

Canon 75-300mm zoom lens

Tamron 10-24mm Wide Angle Lens

Jessops 360AFDC flash

Camlink Tripod

Various batteries and memory cards

4. Techniques that will be used and how they will help convey the visual message

I will attempt to use the various lenses that I have to create different images and emulate the style of shots taken by the photographers I have noted on the web sites above.

 These, hopefully, will range from wide aperture, minimal field in detail shots to small aperture long field with shots for greater perspective. The subject will very much govern the choice of lens and setting.

I will also use the tripod to capture images in low light and darkness to enable me to allow the light, either natural or artificial, to enhance or highlight the particular aesthetic qualities of the scene.

I will not rule out the option of black and white shots but feel they are best suited to particular styles of situations where mood is all important.

The intention at the end is to produce images that convey the beauty of the breathing world.

5. How light quality can be used to convey the visual message

Light is fundamentally important in any image.

Even the dullest subject can look attractive in good light but conversely the most attractive subject can look drab in bad light. (unless that is the wish !)

It seems to me that most images of quality have either clear or partly cloudy skies and very few – other than in black and white – images are taken with our typical October/ November grey skies.

The time of day, clarity of the sky and height of the sun are all principles to consider in detail when taking shots.

 The cameras ISO setting will help, but getting the light right in the first place should be the aim.

I will attempt most light settings but feel that the time if year may well lead to late evening/artificial shots will be most appropriate.

6. Safety considerations

Be mindful of your safety and the safety of others !!!  Has to be the message.

 Always a good idea to visit the area to shoot and “plan” well to avoid any hazards or problems.

 Points to consider:-

Location. Any dangers to yourself ? Traffic ? Steps ? Falling?

Location. Are you a danger to others ? Obstruction ?

Equipment. Too heavy to handle ? Precarious to stabilise ?

Communication. Keep in touch with relatives ?

Tips for better photos - Ex Heritage BC WebSite

PHOTOGRAPHING BUILDINGS

Tips for better photos

Getting Your Sharpest Shot

Sharp lenses and accurate films need your help if they're to deliver optimum results. Using a tripod will result in much sharper pictures than almost any handheld camera can produce. A tripod also helps you compose the picture carefully – you can make the fine adjustments to place the subject just right. With a tripod you can take indoor pictures without needing a flash.

Compose a Margin

If you're photographing a building to get an overall view, any outlines or features that are too close to the edge of your viewfinder may be cut off in the final photo. Use a wider angle lens or move back enough from the subject to give it some "breathing room". Sometimes it is easier to get a good building photo by moving a long ways away and using a short telephoto lens (be sure to use a tripod for any telephoto work). Compared to working closer with a wide lens, the telephoto will be less likely to distort the appearance of vertical lines.

Use the Right Light

If your subject is a building, it will look best in a picture if the brightest light is on the face or main entrance side. Compare early morning and late afternoon lighting. Strong mid-day shadows may obscure a lot of the architectural detail.

Direct sunlight may also cause the details of transportation machinery to be obscured. It's a good idea to use fill flash for these subjects, or try to reflect some light into shaded areas by holding a piece of 30" x 40" white matt board or a sheet of foamboard at an effective angle. A hazy sun often provides the best light for artifacts displayed outdoors, and this softer light is also recommended for photos of a building if its entrance faces north or trees cast "busy" shadows on it.

Try a Better Point of View

In photographs, the shape of buildings and artifacts is easier to see if the camera is aimed at a corner, rather than flat-on. A corner view provides twice as much information in one picture.

Convergence occurs in many building photos when the camera has been aimed upward, often from street level. The lens makes the vertical lines of the building tilt inward, much more than you would see just looking from that angle without a camera.
To achieve a less distorted effect in your pictures, try to set up your camera where it won't have to be tilted up too much to include the whole structure. See if you can aim from an upper level of a neighboring building, from a balcony, a stairway – any platform that brings your lens height closer to the mid-point of the subject will help.

Assignment Results

In the event managed to get out on Sunday but it was late. After the sun had gone. So rather than waste the opportunity took some pics of "street scenes" in the dark. Took the opportunity to use the "bulb" setting and capture some interesting scenes
Particularly liked the "glow" from the street lights as this gave the pics a very warm feel - even though it was freezing !!
Used the principle of single and double points of perspective with good composition

Did manage to use all the equipment set out in the plan (inc the high vis vest) 

Dam Street - ISO 100, f13 with 30 sec exposure

Bore Street - ISO 100, f14 with 15sec exposure

Note the red tail lights from a passing car.

Dam Street 2 - ISO 100, f9 with 20 sec exposure

Note the two point perspective.

Assignment planning

Got home fairly early Friday pm and decided to take a stroll into Lichfield to look for possible photo opportunities around the Cathedral. Lichfield is a very historical city with many well preserved old buildings. Not least of which is the Cathedral and the numerous tudor buildings which surround it. Taking due note of the "light" and "perspective" which I have been reading about, managed to indentlfy several keys shot areas to revisit when time permitted. Needs to be on a clear evening just as the sun is setting when the light is at its most interesting.

That time of day requires my tripod and remote so as to maintain the stabliity of the camera in the slow shutter speed setting which the light will dictate. Also I will need my 10-24mm lens to capture the width and depth needed for the shot. Will also take my 75-300 zoom to capture the detail.

Will try and take the shot on Sunday evening to minimise the vehicular and pedestrian traffic and hence reduce tha risk from a health and safety view point. But will be mindful of the lack of light and the potential for hazards so will keep a torch and high visibility vest with me.