Independent Shoot: Colour

Independent Shoot: Colour
I chose to re-shoot my images for colour, paying more attention to the coloured cups I used the first time.

Contact sheet:

Camera Settings:

I used a Nikon D7200 with a 18-55mm lens, the camera was set to aperture priority. I set it to F/8 to keep the focus on the coffee not the table cloth, with 1/60 seconds exposure and ISO 100 for sharp images. Even though I had the camera on a tripod and a remote release the camera still shook, blurring the image. I could have lowered the exposure but that would have darkened the image when I'd already set it to the brightness. Instead of changing the exposure I forced the flash as the subject was too far away to be effected and the exposure too long to be altered by the flash. Thus eliminating camera shake. 

Images that need improvement:

D723482:

The cup in this image is too far away, next time I will look at the feedback on the camera and improve the framing by hand. I will do this either by moving the camera or the tripod. 

D723541:

The framing in this image is also poor, I purposely experimented with changing the framing as I wanted to see the best angle for these shots. 

My Best Images:

I improved my images with Photoshop:

First applied a warm filter as the image was too cool:

Next, as the image was still too dark I changed the exposure level slightly, I was happy with how this image looked.

However, for some of my other shots I also changed the curves to change the contrast. 

My Final Edited Images:

Landscape Portfolio

Landscape Portfolio:

Independent Shoot: Tone

Independent Shoot: Tone 
I wanted to look at flowers and the effects that different camera setting created.
I looked at Imogen Cunningham to influence this shoot.
Here are some examples of her work:



Contact Sheets:

Camera Settings:

I used a Nikon D7200 with a Tamron 60mm Macro lens on a tripod, with a white-light torch and a cup to put the flowers in. For the first few images I spritzed the flowers with a water spray bottle to create little droplets that looked like morning dew. I kept my camera setting manual on all shots. 

For the first flowers I used a 1/200 shutter speed as a direct stream of light from the torch was ampel. I used F/10 to keep the depth of field wide as to keep all the droplets in focus and  ISO 160 to minimize grain. I changed the camera settings for the second flower as I wanted to achieve different effects.

As these flowers were very soft, almost velvety, I wanted to capture their texture and their beautiful imperial purple. I had my exposure at 15 seconds and swept the light over the flower to disperse the light, I chose F/32 to keep all the petals in focus. The camera decided an ISO of 160. 

Images that need improvement:

DSC_5021.NEF: 

This image is over-exposed as the exposure of 1/4 seconds was too long. I was using a macro lens on a tripod and I kept experimenting with the camera settings, the camera determined the ISO and so set it at ISO 159, Which I kept as it would lower the risk of taking grainy images. I had the exposure at 1/5 of a second which was too high, I looked at all the images after taking them and I was able to adjust the camera settings accordingly. 

Here is the improved image:

 Only though experimenting with the camera settings was I able to find the best settings to capture the image I had in my minds eye.

DSC_5046.NEF:

This image is underexposed. The exposure was too short for this image and didn't let enough light in. The settings were f/10, 1/15 exposure and an ISO 160. 

My best images: 

To edit my images I used Photoshop:

As I shot my images in RAW format I was able to edit them more subtly than if I'd have shot them in JPEG. I raised the exposure to lighten the details, then I raised the contrast to define the flowers edges and the water droplets. I very subtly changed the highlights as the image was rather bright as it was and then I raised the shadows so the centre of the flower was more visible. I raised the whites to create a glowing effect. I didn't change the vibrancy or saturation as I was happy with the colour of the image. The only variation between the first image and the others, is I changed the vibrancy and saturation in the other images.

Here are my final images: