Tag Archives: ISO

A picture is worth a thousand words

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My final project is due next Sunday for my photography class. I need to tell a story in six to 10 photos. Above is photo one and I’ll let you have a look at the final project that wasn’t.

I spent most of a week working on it. Then I got my prior week’s assignment graded with comments. That was the assignment about composition and aesthetics. I thought I had done really well. The instructor liked my work, but offered one suggestion:

“Change the ISO to 200 or 400 and use a faster shutter speed.”

He said he could detect movement in my photos. The photos I had worked on all week to tell a story for my final project are all shot at the same ISO and shutter speed as last week’s assignment — which he said I should change. I could have said, “Hey, I’m done” and turned in the final project as is. But then I would be ignoring the instructor’s advice, which doesn’t seem smart. He wants me to get better and offered a solid tip on how to do so. He was very encouraging and said he saw improvement in my work.

I’m starting over and took a bunch of photos today with the suggested settings. And darn, if the guy isn’t correct. My new photos are sharper. Thankfully, he gave us an extra week to complete this assignment along with a research report, which will be posted online tomorrow.

Here’s the story I’m not turning in — without words:

Are you able to follow my storyline through pictures without words?

Would you feel discouraged to start over after completing a project — or view it as a new opportunity and why?

Seeing Red

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1.

My dear friend Red.

I was walking outside to photograph cacti on the side of our driveway when Red called. I was focusing on the cacti when I realized that Red was singing to me! I looked up at him in the tree and said, “Hey Red!”

He took off in flight for the backyard. I ran into the house, grabbed the bag of bird seed and found him waiting for me on the fence by our Bird Buddy feeder. I filled it with birdseed and stepped away, but not too far. Red wasn’t scared. He cocked his head this way and that, watching me. I sat on a bench close by, ready to take more photos.

Darn! I thought looking down at my camera strapped around my neck. I wish I had my telephoto lens.

I stood up slowly, walked back into the house to switch my lens to telephoto. When I returned, Red was still there. I was closer to Red than I had ever been before to take photos.

Here are some of the better pics of Red:

2.

3.

4.

5. A series of three photos

6.

7.

I can’t tell you what an ethereal feeling it was to be so close to Red for yesterday’s photo session. I was shooting cacti and plants at different ISOs for this week’s photography assignment. Then Red showed up and I used him for my subject.

Do you have a bird or wildlife friend who you see often?

Which are your favorite photos of Red and why?

Photography Update

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I’ve named my favorite bird “Red.” Very appropriate don’t you think?

I’m struggling with my photography class this week. There was a ton of reading and the professor made a note to be sure to take notes, because the instructions for this week’s assignment would be found throughout the module.

This week’s topic is Shutter Speed. Last week was ISO. I have a prediction that next week’s topic will be aperture.

I have to turn in three photos this week. One is to be panned. I’m supposed to capture something moving by panning at the same speed of the moving object. That object is supposed to be clear while the background will be blurred.

I’ve tried with quails and doves, but they aren’t cooperating. Red is too flighty. I can’t pan fast enough. I’m going to have to rely on my husband walking, riding a bike or driving the car. Not too exciting. And the professor wants us to be creative.

Then the other two photos are to be creative using a fast shutter speed and a slow shutter speed. But I’m finding contrary instructions in different parts of the module.

Here are the photos from my first assignment:

We were told how to set the camera’s ISO and Aperture and to use auto focus. I liked the crocodile because of the shadows from our pergola.

I thought this cactus in our front yard was interesting.

I think this photography class is way more work than what I expected. It continues through May. I have to remind myself not to worry about grades. I’m doing this to gain knowledge. But old habits of worrying about grades are still with me from my school days!

UPDATE ON UPDATE:

I reread the module. Printed it out and highlighted all parts referring to the assignment. I referred back to my camera’s manual. All of a sudden it clicked. I had my husband ride his bike up and down our driveway while I took the “panning” shot. I got the other two shots I liked during the last two days.

My husband wanted to know who the old man was on the bike!

What classes or activities have you taken on to gain knowledge?

Do you worry about how well you’ve done?

Or are you content to learn something new and not worried about the outcome?