Complete Photographer March Assignment for April Meeting 1

The Complete Photographer! 2 New Assignment The assignment for the April meeting is “Water”: The assignment for the April meeting is “Water”: Oceans, BeachesOceans, Beaches Rivers, Lakes, WaterfallsRivers, Lakes, Waterfalls SwampsSwamps FountainsFountains Any of the above or in combinationAny of the above or in combination

The Complete Photographer! 3 Overlap with Landscapes There’ll be significant overlap with previous assignments There’ll be significant overlap with previous assignments However the emphasis will be on photographing water However the emphasis will be on photographing water Problem is: You can’t really see it…Problem is: You can’t really see it… Unless it’s churning Unless it’s churning It’s highly reflective It’s highly reflective And you can shoot through it And you can shoot through it Most photos will involve water in motion or reflections off calm waterMost photos will involve water in motion or reflections off calm water

The Complete Photographer! 4 So, You’ll Be Shooting… Water in motion Water in motion WaterfallsWaterfalls Waves at seaWaves at sea Flowing water in rivers, creeksFlowing water in rivers, creeks Fountains, even water from a sprinklerFountains, even water from a sprinkler Water drip or splashWater drip or splash Calm, with reflections Calm, with reflections Reflections of mountains, treesReflections of mountains, trees Sunrise or sunset reflectionsSunrise or sunset reflections Any other interesting reflectionsAny other interesting reflections

The Complete Photographer! 5 Shooting Water… Activities Related to Water Activities Related to Water Boats, Canoes, etcBoats, Canoes, etc BeachesBeaches People in the water or water skiing, surfingPeople in the water or water skiing, surfing Underwater shots Underwater shots Shooting through waterShooting through water Into Aquariums Into Aquariums SCUBA Diving SCUBA Diving

The Complete Photographer! 6 Water….. Water in motion Water in motion If raging waters / tall waterfallsIf raging waters / tall waterfalls Fast shutter speeds Fast shutter speeds freeze the actionfreeze the action Emphasize the energyEmphasize the energy If quiet river / streamIf quiet river / stream Slow shutter speeds Slow shutter speeds Emphasize the calm, peaceful moodEmphasize the calm, peaceful mood Shutter speed, along with lighting, will have a lot to do with the mood of the photograph Shutter speed, along with lighting, will have a lot to do with the mood of the photograph

The Complete Photographer! 7 Creativity You typically can’t change the scene You typically can’t change the scene But you can sure change how it will lookBut you can sure change how it will look Choice of shutter speed and lens focal length are major factors Choice of shutter speed and lens focal length are major factors Fast shutter = energy, actionFast shutter = energy, action Slow shutter = peace, tranquilitySlow shutter = peace, tranquility Considerable difference in appearance between use of wide-angle vs. telephotoConsiderable difference in appearance between use of wide-angle vs. telephoto

The Complete Photographer! 8 Lens….Summary Wide-Angle lens offers the greatest creative compositional opportunities Wide-Angle lens offers the greatest creative compositional opportunities However it’s the most difficult to use properlyHowever it’s the most difficult to use properly Telephoto is very useful for isolating a distant subject Telephoto is very useful for isolating a distant subject But, if you can walk closer to it, do it (i.e., zoom with your feet!)But, if you can walk closer to it, do it (i.e., zoom with your feet!) A Normal lens results in the most “normal” looking shot A Normal lens results in the most “normal” looking shot Very natural look to the imageVery natural look to the image

The Complete Photographer! 9 Creative Exposure & Lighting Use slower shutter speeds to blur water Use slower shutter speeds to blur water Avoid over or under-exposure Avoid over or under-exposure Select time-of-day and sky conditions for optimum lighting conditions Select time-of-day and sky conditions for optimum lighting conditions Night shots can be very dramatic Night shots can be very dramatic

The Complete Photographer! 10 Equipment Any camera that provides manual control over exposure Any camera that provides manual control over exposure Wide-angle, Normal, Telephoto lens Wide-angle, Normal, Telephoto lens Circular Polarizer Circular Polarizer Get bluer skies with more contrastGet bluer skies with more contrast Reduce reflections from foliageReduce reflections from foliage Use carefully to maximize water reflectionsUse carefully to maximize water reflections Neutral Density filter Neutral Density filter Allows us of slower shutter speedsAllows us of slower shutter speeds Tripod for low-light/slow shutter shots Tripod for low-light/slow shutter shots Waterproof enclosure for underwater shots Waterproof enclosure for underwater shots

The Complete Photographer! 11 Reflection Shot Examples…

The Complete Photographer! 12Seashore

The Complete Photographer! 13 Fountain + Reflection 1/8s, f/22, FL= 40mm, ISO100

The Complete Photographer! 14 Crashing Waves

The Complete Photographer! 15 Night Shot f/5.6, 1.5s, FL= 17mm, ISO200

The Complete Photographer! 16 Reflection, Canoes 1/13s, f/9, FL= 55mm ISO100

The Complete Photographer! 17 Underwater Shot (Aquarium) f/5.6, 1/20s, FL= 17mm, ISO800

The Complete Photographer! 18 Those were some Examples When it comes to water, most so-called rules of photography still apply When it comes to water, most so-called rules of photography still apply Success depends on Success depends on CompositionComposition ExposureExposure LightingLighting The photographer’s knowledge of his or her tools and how they interactThe photographer’s knowledge of his or her tools and how they interact Most of all, the outcome depends on the photographer’s creativity! Most of all, the outcome depends on the photographer’s creativity!

The Complete Photographer! 19 Submissions Select two of your best shots and upload them to our web page. Select two of your best shots and upload them to our web page. Do not post full resolution files! Do not post full resolution files! JPGs with no more than 2000 pixels width or heightJPGs with no more than 2000 pixels width or height 50% compression makes a 500k file50% compression makes a 500k file Enter the tag as: water10 Enter the tag as: water10 Include the EXIF data in the fileInclude the EXIF data in the file

The Complete Photographer! 20 Finally, Plan your shots….choose your lens Plan your shots….choose your lens Take test shots to verify exposure Take test shots to verify exposure Take several shots at different settings to learn what works best Take several shots at different settings to learn what works best Apply everything you know about photography Apply everything you know about photography Be creative, try different things Be creative, try different things As always, have FUN in the process! As always, have FUN in the process!