COMM 3530 Digital Photo Journalism : Studio Lighting

This was my first time shooting in a studio. I enjoyed it, and learned a lot. As I went through my photos I noticed I had a much larger percent of usable photos compared to the outside project. When you remove some of the variables it helps makes one's photography more consistent ... Not easier, just more consistent.

Rembrandt
While I enjoy the Rembrandt look, I don't necessarily like shooting in the Rembrandt lighting. I think the lighting inhibits the models' personalities from coming through; probably because everyone's primary goal is to keep the triangle on the face. My opinion could be due to my lack luster photography skills, but I don't see or feel the Rembrandt bringing out personalities but rather leveling everyone to the same emotional level.

1/250 5.6 ISO 400

1/125 5.6 ISO 400

1/160 5.6 ISO 400

Glamour
I enjoyed shooting in Glamour lighting. I felt the subjects' personalities really come through. This lighting also gave a greater margin of error - which is appreciated with my limited camera skills. Since the photographer is not trying to keep a triangle on the face, or some other lighting feature, the photos seem to have more interest. As I become a better photographer, this feeling could likely change. Glamour lighting also makes people appear to look happier. The Rembrandt gives a more mysterious look. The Glamour lighting also allowed people to relax and move more freely while having their picture taken, allowing the results to reflect more happiness. The lack of darkness in the image could also be an attribute of the feeling of happiness compared to Rembrandt. (I believe the greater source of happiness comes from the model being more relaxed.)

1/80 6.3 ISO 400

1/100 5.6 ISO 400

1/200 5.6 ISO 400

High Key vs. Low Key

The difference in feel of High Key/ Low Key lighting was interesting. The darker background brings out the models face better but also creates a more sinister look. In the dark Low Key one is more drawn to the person compared to the High Key which draws one's eyes to the background. From a photography stand point, I prefer Low Key over High Key. I see more of the person compared to noticing the surroundings. I had more difficulty overexposing and capturing the image and story I wanted to tell with a High Key shot.

1/160 5.6 ISO 400

1/160 5.6 ISO 400

1/160 5.6 ISO 400

1/160 5.6 ISO 400

Outdoor I enjoyed shooting outside more than in the studio. Outside photography allows more options to play with in the background. This adds to shooting (with a camera) enjoyment because there are only so many ways you can frame a solid background when compared to the outdoors. Outside the slightest angle change can change your story. I also enjoyed having to adjust to lighting rather than have the lighting adjust to me. Outdoor images have more to look at and are overall more enjoyable - which makes photography more pleasant for my ADD brain. The added texture in the background does not take away from the person but rather makes the person pop from the image.

1/640 5.6 ISO 100

Portrait of Myself

I have never liked being in front of a camera. While I have had photos taken of me in studio before, having multiple cameras to look at was nerve-racking - where am I supposed to look? They can't all be getting my good side can they? It was nice to see may face in an image, other than a selfie on a cell phone camera. I most enjoyed seeing how light makes a huge difference in the framing of the person in front of the camera.
Being in front of a camera is important because of the reminder how the person on the other side feels.

Annette Frazier

Andrew J. Pinckney

Lindsey's Photo Edit
As a musician, I am comfortable with the critiquing of subjective art. While editing the photos, I found that editing someone else's work felt less like critiquing and more like changing it. My goal was to keep the original emotion behind each image; hopefully improving on the quality so that the viewer was given a greater ability to enjoy each photo. I discovered that many of Lindsey's shots were slightly overexposed. I have also learned, over the course of this semester, that I prefer underexposed images. Because of my personal bias, I tend to darkening everything up when editing.

I hope I was able to bring out the message and emotion that Lindsey wanted in her photos - as a third party editor. That was my goal.

I also decided to edit an image of myself (by Annette Frazier ) to see how my bias comes into play when editing a very familiar image. Aside from using red eye removal (due to pink eye or allergies - not sure which), I did not do anything differently from other classmates. I did notice that I prefer the underexposed look which makes my skin tone darker.