- Aperture is the size of the opening in the lens. Small Aperture produces a longer depth of field. Wide aperture produces shorter depth of field.
- Shutter speed is used to describe exposure time, the length of time a camera's shutter is open. Very short shutter speeds can be used to freeze fast moving objects. Very long shutter speeds can be used to blur a moving object for artistic effect.
- Film exposure is the length of time film is exposed to light. If you under expose, you lose shadow detail. If you over expose, you gain shadow detail.
- Contrast is the difference between lights & darks in a photo. If a photo has little contrast, it is usually very subdued. If a photo has a lot of contrast, it is vivid, with lights becoming lighter, and darks becoming darker.
- Density is a measure for darkness of a tone in photographs. If a photo has a high level of density, it is darker. If it has a low level of density, it is lighter.
- Burning and dodging is the lightening or darkening of specific parts of a print.
2] Understanding
Of all the amazing photographers we studied and learned about in Photography class, I feel Annie Leibovitz is the most influential in the field. Leibovitz is famous for her unique portrait photography of very famous celebrities. She has shot everyone from John Lennon, to Michael Jackson, to Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II. Leibovitz started her career at Rolling Stone Magazine in 1973 when it was first launched. She held the job for 10 years, and her portraits truly helped define the look of Rolling Stone.
In the 1980's Leibovitz's new use of lighting and bold style and poses landed her a job at Vanity Fair magazine. It is because of her work at this magazine that she has most influenced me. As a young female in today's media crazed society, Vanity Fair is a magazine I subscribe to and love. I have alway thought her portraits were beautiful, and admired her individuality and risk taking.
One of Leibovitz's most controversial shots was of Miley Cyrus in 2007, where she posed with her back bare and a sheet covering her front. Leibovitz received a ton of criticism for it, but stood by her photos for the artistic beauty that they were. Although I don't even like Miley Cyrus, I thought that the portraits Leibovitz shot of her were beautiful and innocent, I never understood what was so "controversial" about them.
Ultimately, it is because of Annie Leibovitz's creative thinking and will to take risks, such as with the Cyrus portraits, that I admire her so much. Her work with Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair, both magazines I buy, is what connects her to me, her photography is most relevant to my life. Out of all the photographers we learned about, it is Leibovitz that I would say has been most influential on me as an 18 year old female.
3] Performance
1. Portraiture
These 3 photos are my examples of portraiture. I liked the last two because I re-printed them on the new photo paper, and they came out much better and more clear. In the first photo I used butterfly light, the second I used broad light, and the third I used rembrandt.
2. Abstract
This photo is an example of abstract. I took it early in the morning in my dining room, I thought the lighting and contrast from it was very cool. I love chandeliers and how light effects them, which is why I chose this photo.
This photo is also an example of abstract. It is a photo of my piano with the light from the window creating cool shadows and contrast. I love my piano, and I love the window you see at the right of the photo because I can play piano and look out at the lake. I also like the angle of the shot, but mainly it is because of my love for piano that I really like this photo!
3. Cyanotype
This photo is an example of a Cyanotype. I really really enjoyed doing cyanotypes, I had never heard of the process before this class. I thought it was so cool how some chemicals, sunlight, and a piece of paper can give you this awesome blue photo. I chose this cyanotype because I thought it was neat that it almost looked like a painting!! All in all cyanotypes are rad
4. Documentary
This photo is one of my favorite ones I shot in the whole semester. It is an example of documentary, it shows the demise of a cute little bird. The picture was taken on my back porch where we have a glass fence. Unfortunately tons of birds, just like this one, hit it and die. Usually there is some blood and mangled feathers, but not with this one. That is why I took a photo of it, it is kind of serene in a creepy way. I'd like to think the bird was just taking a nap!!
5. Landscape
This photo is an example of Landscape. It was taken in my backyard at about 4 pm when the sun is very intense. I liked how the shadow of the trees reflected on the snow, and the contrast between the dark shadows and bright sun.
6. Still Life
This photo is an example of still life. I really enjoyed shooting still life photos and experimenting with different lighting and shadow techniques. In the photo is crystal, I loved how the light reflected off all the little facets of it.
