Using studio lights

Helpful video.

Sharing photos

If you'd like to share your work so far with fellow classmates, we have a DMACC Photo group on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/976394@N20/

You can join the group, then go to a photo you want to share. Click "Actions," then "add to a group."

Studio #1

Studio #1 25 points

One photo, Due September 30

Camera settings:
ISO: 200
Camera mode: Shutter priority
Shutter speed: 200
File Size: RAW
Color 8 1/2" by 11"

You are a photographer for Food magazine.

It's a great gig. However, this week things have been a bit rushed. Your editor tells you they need a cover photo QUICK and they don't care what the food item is. It just has to look GOOD.

Your task: photograph a studio shot of food. Any kind of food. Your choice. It just has to look appealing, appetizing, and aesthetically pleasing. After all, your photo needs to sell magazines.

You'll be graded on:
• Creativity
• Arrangement
• Technical (focus, exposure, etc.)
• Appropriate Photoshop work

Crop to 8 1/2" wide by 11" tall in Camera RAW or Photoshop. (Remember, when framing it up in your camera leave a little extra room so you can crop later)

Using the studio:
The studio is free during our class period. You will need to sign up for studio time if you want to use it outside of our class time.

I'll give you more info on using the lights.

Neon Signs

Neon Signs 25 points
Two photos, Due September 30

Camera settings:
ISO: 100
Camera mode: Manual
File Size: RAW
Also, you'll probably need a tripod

For this assignment you'll be photographing two neon signs. Catchy, cool, interesting, eye-catching signs at night. They should have some kind of relationship to each other -- contrasting signs, opposites in some way, or two signs that work well together or play off each other.

Use your spot meter mode to get an exposure reading of the brightest part of the sign. At ISO 100, your sensor sensitivity will be very low, which means a slow shutter speed, even at a low f-stop number. You'll probably need to steady the camera with a tripod.

Then, frame up your shot (remember, you'll crop to 5x7 so give it a little more room than you think you need).

You might be up close or across the street and zoomed in. The neon sign should be the main focus of the shot, but it doesn't have to be the only thing in the fame

It might be a good idea to bracket your shots (get a few different exposure settings just in case). Try plus 1 stop, minus 1 stop, etc.

Import your photos and edit.

Crop your shots to 5x7 and upload to Flickr. Title, Neon Sign.

You'll be graded on…
• If the photograph is in sharp focus
• Proper exposure
• Composition and crop
• The creativity of your signs and composition

Studio lights

This week I'll hand out our first simple studio assignment.

Please read this article as an introduction to using studio lights.

Workflow handout

Import workflow
1. Memory card in reader
2. Open Adobe Bridge
3. File menu ➔ Get photos from camera
4. Check convert to DNG and sRGB
5. Title subfolder with description
6. Click get photos

Edit workflow
1. Hold command ( ) and 1-5 to assign rating value
2. Double click on image to open in Camera RAW application (if it opens in regular Photoshop, you have a .JPG file -- right click/control click to open in Camera Raw)
3. +50 Brightness, +50 Contrast, +50 Clarity, +12 Vibrance, +12 Saturation
for basic adjustment -- suit to your own tastes
4. Adjust exposure and crop
5. Click done

Export workflow (Bridge)
1. Select all files to export hold down the command () key to select more than one at a time -- this is where ratings come in handy)
2. Tools ➔ Photoshop ➔ Image Processor
3. Click convert profile to sRGB, include ICC profile, quality 10*
4. Click Run
(optional: select desktop folder as destination to find it a little easier)

*If you are uploading to Flickr, you can select quality 5.