Workshop #6 - Close Up Photography

This workshop involved working close up with objects, learning the appropriate equations behind the calculations to then get a particular result in size ratio.

Due to faulty & unavailable equipment & time restriction after interruption of a fire drill we were only able to complete one of the set tasks being that of photographing a postage stamp at a scale of 1:1 life size.

Magnification Factor : m 1x or 1:1

Camera: Canon 5d

Sensor Size: 36 x 24mm

Lens Focal Length: 24 - 105mm (Zoomed to 50mm)

ISO Rating: 200

Extension tube: 50mm

Focal distance: v = v - f (1+1) 50 = 100

Bellows extension = v - f 100 - 50 = 50

Bellows extension factor

BF = (v/f)2 (100/50)2 = 4

= no. of stops increase 2 stops

Incident grey card reading: f8 @ 125th

Adjusted exposure: f4 @ 125th

SEMESTER ONE 2010 - Workshop #4 & #5

Workshop #4 - Glassware

Being lucky enough to have had Steve Lovegrove in as a guest speaker today, I feel I really benefited from todays workshop. Specialising in photographing glassware, Steve was able to show some helpful tips such as;

- creating a diffused surface for backlight on the back of a liquid filled glass by masking off the rear half & spraying it with adhesive.

- using a spirit level to make sure your liquid filled subject is level for desirable results.

- instead of having to keep interfering with your set, syphoning enough liquid from the glass to enable an un flattened top up with desirable head in the beer is a less painful way of handling the shoot.

- cut out a near enough copy of the beer bottles shape, cover in foil to aid in making liquid transparent, backlighting the liquid more naturally

- accompany that backlighting with silicone spray on the front of the bottle, then when dry follow by spraying Evian spring water mist to create a cold frost water beading effect which again diffuses all light reaching the inside of the bottle

- use nail polish remover for any expiry dates interfering with front labeling etc.

Our images are un-polished & under the lack of time & having missed out on getting in quick - being left with minimal equipment, these can be looked at as stepping stones to a desired result of an un-edited final shot.

Light Field Illumination

Dark Field Illumination

Workshop #5 - Chrome & Shiny Objects

This was quite a challenge!

My subject (duck - money box) was particularly difficult due to the many different grooves & shapes that make its form.

Mels subject (hairspray) we tried shooting from a low angle to tie in with its brand (Skyscraper)

I think we did well with both subjects seeing as we were very limited with time

If we were to shoot with full commitment to these subjects I think we'd get there with a little experimentation.

SEMESTER ONE 2010 - Workshop #3

Introduction to Hasselblads

Never having even held nor used a Hasselblad before, this task was quite daunting. So, Using the new digital hasselblad cameras we worked with tethered capture in the hassleblad's Phocus software. The set task was to approach two portraits (one full length & one head & shoulders) with a CEO of a particular industry in mind. Working with Joselyn Eling & Anthea Clarke we came up with the idea of someone involved within a gallery or similar.

For our portrait orientation we used Anthea, having her act as if she was an exhibitor. We attempted a full body shot but with minimal time, room & competing with her height we were not able to position the camera to get the ideal composition we wanted. Working as a group there seems to be much competitive talk of how an image should be composed, this we did run into. In the end not so much focusing of technique (exposure & composition could have been tweaked). Though this was our end result. Whilst exporting the software corrupted the image but it still gives an idea of our approach.

Our landscape orientation (double page spread) I was the subject, acting as an information guide type. When I think of an artsy information guide they're always whacky & unusual, as per the expression I had on my face. If I was to be composing the image myself I would have have the background frame more to the left of me to give impression that was what was being provided in the way of giving the viewer a taste of what my gallery provided.