Week 4 - Flash

The assignment: To demonstrate how flash can be used in situations other than just darkness, the actual assignment was actually three parts, but due to uncooperative weather, I couldn't really do all three, so I just did one... use fill flash to combat a backlit subject.
It's pouring down rain here this morning, and Max is napping, so I set up this little toy still life instead... it's under the overhang in our backyard, with decent light outside, but raining... not usually good, but great for creating a backlit situation! LOL

This was shot with the camera on "Auto" mode: f/4.5, ISO 560, 18-70mm @ 70mm


Shot at f/4.5, ISO 800, 18-70mm @ 70mm


And then here I left the settings the same as above, but forced the flash to go off, brightening up the dark foreground and filling in the shadows.
Image shot at f/4.5, ISO 800, 17-70mm @ 70mm

"The Little Things"

The challenge was for "The Little Things" so I chose to shoot Max's "collection" of Chuck Taylor's. Jamie and I decided a long time ago that Max would always have a pair of Chucks in his closet, starting with his first pair, crib shoes that he had at about 6 months old! Now he's only weeks away from outgrowing his most recent pair... time to start shopping for new ones! Maybe for Christmas...
Image shot at f/4.5, ISO 400, 18-70mm @ 56mm

"On Your Feet"

The challenge subject is "On Your Feet" and since it's World Series time, here's a shot of what's on Jamie's feet! We bought the shoes a few years ago, and I found a couple of old Giants hat patches on eBay for about $6. I sewed them on and voila! Custom Giants Chuck Taylors!
Image shot at f/1.8, ISO 200, 85mm

Playing with RAW

I've always known that RAW existed as a way to shoot digital; I knew my camera could do it. I was also totally intimidated. I read an article once that said that National Geographic photographers shoot in RAW because you can't create a RAW file, so it was a way of proving ownership of an image (or something. It was a long time ago) I knew it allowed a greater level of control in post-processing, but I was only shooting snapshots, so I was fine with the occassional playing around in Photoshop, and I didn't feel the need to switch.
Now that I've switched (to RAW) I can't imagine going back to JPG!

I took Max to a pumpkin patch near my parents house today; it was just the 2 of us, which was nice, but I'd wanted to stop and steal (I mean borrow; I had permission!) one of my dad's nice lenses... as I dug through his camera bag, I saw his 85mm 1.8 and snagged it.

Here's an example of what RAW can do for you! :) (SOOC means Straight Out Of Camera)




Images shot at f/2.2, ISO 400, 85mm

"A Special Object"

The challenge was to shoot a "special object" and I chose Max's Blue Dog. Blue Dog was one of the first gifts Jamie's mom gave Max when he was born; Blue Dog lived in his isolette in the NICU, rode in his car seat when he finally came home, and now lives in Max's crib and he can't sleep without his Blue Dog.

f/5.6, ISO 400, 18-55mm lens @ 35mm

Week 3 - Light

The Assignment: Take a photo of a specific object using a variety of preset white balance options and then set a custom white balance and shoot using that.

All photos shot at ISO 800, f/5.6, using my 18-55mm lens at 32mm

Auto WB


Tungsten WB (On my D50, it's labeled as "Incandescent")


Flourescent WB


Custom WB (Created by shooting a piece of white paper and setting it based on that image)


For me, the interesting thing is how close the flourescent and custom white balances are... the light fixture in my dining room (where I shot these) has CFL bulbs in it; I'm going to reshoot this tomorrow in my living room to see if I get different results.

In thinking more about these, I decided that maybe it's weird because the pumpkin isn't a bright white, it's more a pale beige... so I reshot, using a white Apple mug I have. The results:
Auto WB

Incandescent WB

Flourescent WB

Custom WB

Week 2 - ISO & Shutter Speed

I know it hasn't really been a week, but I'm trying to get caught up with a group that's been at this since the beginning of the month! LOL Bear with me!

The assignment: The Kitchen Sink Test. Photograph running water at a high shutter speed and a low one to see the difference effect it has on the moving water.

Both photos shot using "S" (Shutter Priority) mode, at 55mm, ISO 1600

Shutter speed: 1/320 s (f/5.6)


Shutter speed: 1/13 s (f/13)