Digital Photography Examining EXIF data

Aperture: Allows light into sensor

What is EXIF? EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File, and the data provided can be stored to JPEG, RAW and TIFF image file formats. The data itself can reveal some pretty interesting stuff about your photos. As well as the exact time and date you pressed the shutter (provided your camera time and date was correct, of course), a lot of technical information regarding the photograph is captured as well.

What Kind of Data is Stored? Focal length Shutter speed White balance settings Whether the flash fired In-depth information about your camera and the exposure

Example Viewing data in Adobe Bridge  F stop 2.4 Shutter speed 1/30 ISO640 Make/Model of Camera: Apple iPhone 4S

Example Viewing data in Adobe Bridge  F stop 2.8 Shutter speed 1/60 ISO500 Flash fired Make/Model of Camera: Canon PowerShot G12

Example Viewing data in Adobe Bridge  F stop 14 Shutter speed 1/200 (very fast) ISO400 Flash fired Make/Model of Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i This is a fancy camera; it even tells which lens was used

Example Viewing data in Adobe Bridge  F stop 4.5 Shutter speed 1/40 ISO1000 Flash did not fire Make/Model of Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i This is a fancy camera; it even tells which lens was used

Comparison with manual Shallow DOF f 3.5 shutter 1/30 Deep DOF f 10 shutter 1/30

Portfolio Concepts Use of photography technical settings changes Shutter speed Aperture (affects DOP) ISO Exposure (adjust over or under) Flash Macro Use of design concepts Shape/silhouette Line Pattern and texture Rule of thirds Simplicity Angles Isolating or framing

Characteristics of a good photo Shape Line Pattern Texture Size and space

Shape Tends to be noticed first, before texture and pattern Easiest and most recognizable composition tool Shape helps create a mood/character for the picture Search for the unconventional or surprise shape in objects

Creating shape Common— use backlighting to create a silhouette Uncommon— side lighting with simple background underexpose to focus on shape vs. color or texture

Line Lines create Shape Pattern Depth Perspective Line leads the eye Focal point/subject Diagonals S-curves

Line creates perspective Lines into the horizon show depth and perspective for the viewer Vanishing point Point at which lines converge and vanish in to the horizon Place off-center Close-ups decrease perspective while wide-angles can exaggerate it

Pattern Orderly combination of shape, line, or color Pattern can help echo the character of a photo Catching attention Random patterns Slight variation in a pattern Pattern in common places

Texture Adds realism (sense of touch) to a photo Sharp (hard) light highlights texture Especially important for close-up and b/w shots Side lighting highlights texture Most portraits use front lighting to decrease texture on skin

Using light for depth Sometimes hard light is inappropriate for illustrating shape and depth Soft side lighting can give a sense of shape and depth without high contrast Portraits Still life When shape/depth is more important that texture

Size and space 2D pictures distort depth, relative size, and distances Include reference item Include parts of the fore- or background Use a frame Be creative—maybe you want to distort

Giving perspective Linear—Lines which converge into the distance Diminishing size—objects further away are smaller Aerial perspective—atmosphere creates haze, which lightens objects farther away

Depth and perspective Overlapping forms—overlapping objects in a picture create depth and distance Selective focusing—focusing on the foreground and blurring the background

Improving composition Rule of thirds Simplicity Angle and perspective Framing

Have a strong center of interest Take pictures at different angles with different compositions Work around the rule of thirds

Rule of Thirds

Golden Mean

Simplicity One strong center of interest Foreground or background should be simple or complimentary to center of interest Include foreground or background for sense of isolation, distance, depth, etc. Avoid mergers We don’t want things growing out of heads… Look around—remove trash, look for signs or posts, remove distractions Watch where you set up—look for power outlets, dirty dishes, etc.

Not simple

Sometimes… just try getting closer!

Cut offs Avoiding cutting out parts or wholes of people or main subjects Avoiding cutting out the path of a moving object

Give the object somewhere to go

Working with angles Low angles Clear sky backdrop Accentuate movement or action High angle Eliminate cloudy sky 45 degree angles will cut glare Avoid centered horizons

Framing Adds depth Should fit theme Helps subject fill the frame Can block unwanted subjects from view Watch focus on foreground Focus on foreground in landscape Focus on subject in portraits Auto-focus should be centered on main topic

Balance Balance color and weight in a picture Formal and informal Symmetrical and asymmetrical

Symmetrical Asymmetrical

Fill the frame Would this picture look better if I was closer? Focus on subject Detail Start far and move closer Fill the frame with objects that “fit” Long range shots provide depth and perspective