This is a cactus in bloom that I spotted on my morning walk. I walked back home, grabbed my camera and beelined to the blooming cactus with my Macro lens. I’m using this for week nine’s photography assignment, which is called “Seeing the Light.”
This week we are going full manual mode. That means that we are adjusting the aperture, shutter speed and setting the ISO. Part of this week’s assignment was to choose a subject and bracket the photos. Yes, you and me both. I was stumped at “bracket.”
I learned it means to take a photo with settings I like. Then take a photo of the same subject with the f stop up one stop and then take a third photo with the f stop down one stop. Hence making “brackets” around the original photo. That way we’re supposed to get an exposure that we like.
Here’s an example:
This photo is taken at f 11, which is lets in more light than the first photo which was taken at f 16 — one stop higher. I prefer the first photo which is darker, because I like the way the flowers pop.
That’s half of my assignment. I’m also supposed to take a photo of another subject — inside with light coming in from a window — or in varied light like a tree backlit from the sun.
Last week, the photography professor told me I’d see dramatic improvement in my photos by investing in higher quality lenses. He said the kit lenses that came with my camera are poor quality. The Macro lens I used for the two photos above is higher quality. It was a Christmas present and this is the first time I’ve used it for an assignment. I can see the difference in these two photos already.
Here are a few other photos I took this week:
This may make it into my assignment this week. The day after I took the cactus flower photos, I was on my walk and spotted this yucca in bloom. Once again, I had to hightail it home, grab my camera and walk back. Maybe I should walk with my camera?
This scene fits the assignment criteria by having varied lighting. A tip the instructor offered was to include shadows. This was taken at f 11. The following photo is f 8, one stop lower and brighter.
Which do you like better? I like the composition better in the first yucca photo, but the light in the second one better.
Here are two photos I took for fun with my telephoto lens:
I’m learning how to use it. It’s a higher quality lens than the one that came with the camera. However, my hands are NOT very steady and I need to use a tripod or the photos come out blurry. I like the light in my Bird Buddy feeder and the sharp focus of the birds. The photo above I used a tripod. Photo below handheld. But in the second photo — featuring Mrs. Red — I was sitting inside the casita balancing my camera on the kitchen table.
Which photos do you like best and why?
I don’t know much about photography, so I can only tell you what draws me, not why. Lol. But I like the lines and flowers on your bird buddy photo. They’re all really interesting and such beautiful work!
Thank you. I have to write each week as part of my assignment what I like and also what I think I can improve on each photo. Writing about it on the blog helps my assignment!
I am just continuing to be impressed with how much you’re learning in this class EA! I don’t remember the background on this course- offered by a local educational entity (college), a community class, ?? and how did you find it to begin with?
2 favs this time:
the up close cactus bloom- brilliant colors in the blooms, the softness of the flower against the texture of the spines and the play of light on the flowers.
the close up of the yucca with sunlight shining through and the shadows cast on the ground in monotone. I bet people who know what a yucca is would know right away what plant that shadow represents even if the plant itself wasn’t in the photo.
Thank you so much. I signed up for a photography class at our community college in Palm Springs. Then COVID hit and they cancelled the class, and we moved. After staring at my camera case in my closet for a few years, I googled community colleges in the area and stumbled on this class. I read the backgrounds of the instructors and reviews by students. I picked this instructor because of his reputation as a photographer and the outstanding reviews by students. I went from using my iphone, using my Nikon on auto, to understanding the basics of manual mode. The closeup of the cactus flowers is my favorite too. You described exactly why I like it perfectly!
I like the first one the best. It focuses on the flowers only. The one of the bird feeder is lovely too.
My favorite one is the first one, too. It’s always surprising to view the photos on Adobe Bridge to see what I captured. Sometimes it’s nothing and other times I’m excited.
I think this course is very good. You’re learning so many new techniques
I took photo journalism at the UW decades ago, but I forgot all about f stops, etc. This instructor is excellent.
That’s cool. A refresher course, if you will
So interesting, Elizabeth. I learn so much with each of your posts. I had no idea what bracketing was. And I like the darker photos though I couldn’t say why. And Mrs. Red is so cute!
I like the darker ones too. I think they add mood to the photos rather than just snapshots. I am learning so much. Mrs. Red has been hanging out this week. Red is being flighty and won’t pose for me!
I like the second yucca photo better. I like light and color so it calls to me. Ditto what Wynne said, I’m learning more about photography from your posts. Thank you.
Like I said, I like the composition of the first yucca, but the lightness of the second photo. I didn’t get the “perfect shot.” I can’t believe how much I have learned so far. The class goes through May. I may sign up for another class in the Fall or Winter.
Full manual. That would scare me. When I’ve tried that, I realize how poor my eye sight really is. I love your pics though. They look outstanding.
Thanks! I have poor eyes and shaky hands! I’m excited I pulled these off.
You’ve got amazing talent Elizabeth. Your photos are amazing.
Thanks! I appreciate your kind words.
WHAT you are NOT carrying your camera with you 24/7. You have assignments. I too like the first cacti picture for the same reason. Might I offer another view of the entire plant. Get down on the ground and look horizontally across the flowers. Then you can enjoy DOF and light. Light is everything. I’ve been photographing gates and door ways. Walked past one this morning, WOW the light, the shadows and me without a camera. Doing an excellent job, enjoy it.
That’s a great idea to get on the ground. Yes, it’s the light I’m trying to capture and the depth of field would be interesting. But I’m not sure I could get back up! 😅
Getting back up is your husband’s job.
I’ll let him know 😉
Cactus are so lovely when they bloom.
My vote is for the first photo.
I was so surprised to see that cactus in bloom. It’s the only one I’ve seen so far! The blossoms don’t last long so I think I will carry my camera with me now that Spring is here.
I see what you mean about the two yucca photos…I like each for different reasons but lean toward composition if I had to choose. Great photos!!! 🥰
Thanks! I just got some great photos of Red. I’m so excited that he finally settled down enough for photos.
🥰❤️🥰
I’ll post them next week! 💕
Yay! 🥰
😊
It sounds like you are learning a lot, and you have such great subject matter around your home! I have tried full manual but (probably because I don’t practice 🙂 ) I’ve never gotten comfortable with it. I either revert to auto or aperture priority. I’m curious, when you bracketed those shots, did you try to take the exact shot (distance, angle, etc.) each time? It seems like that would give you a good idea of which f-stop is best.
I like aperture priority best. It’s easier than manual to get good shots. I did take the bracketed shots at the same exact spot, but then also moved around a bit. I think it was a good exercise.
The first photo and the one with your Bird Buddy feeder. They really have nice color contrast.
Yes, I like the color contrast of the first cactus flower plus the light coming through the Bird Buddy. The morning light is something else and a great time to take photos.
Good job! Love the cactus bloom.
Thanks! That’s my favorite, too.
Love the blooming flowers and great close up of the birds.
Thanks! I got the Macro lens as a Christmas present, but I haven’t used it much. I found it difficult until taking this class and learning how the camera works.
I can tell you are improving. I mean, able to take so many different types of shots now.
It’s amazing what getting out of auto mode can do! Also, I used to use my iphone for all my photography and it’s a dated one.
beautiful picture
Thank you!
Nice shots!
Thanks!