Photography Practice

Activity Instructions:

For this activity you will be practicing photography with the equipment and resources you have available to you. You will need to conduct at least 3 to 6 photoshoots that show a variety of subject matter, locations, and techniques.

To conduct your shoot, you need to:

1. Use inspiration from your visual diary for ideas of what to shoot and/or seek further inspiration to continue to build your visual diary. You do not need to attempt to replicate anything in your visual diary, but rather draw inspiration from the techniques used.

2.  Plan your shoots:
Note: You might like to use the Photoshoot Checklist Template supplied in the resources section of this topic.

• Where will you conduct the photoshoots?

• What equipment do you need to have prepared?

• Do you need models?

• What are the safety considerations?

• Are there are legislative considerations?

3.    Conduct your shoots:

• Set up any equipment required in a safe manner

• Prepare the scenes such as models, props, etc (if required)

For each of the 3 to 6 photoshoots you are conducting, you need to take multiple shots of the same scene and make adjustments as you do (at least 4 variations each) to practice:

• Composition techniques (e.g. stand in a different position, position yourself at a height, position yourself low, use framing, etc)

• Lighting techniques (e.g. use a single hard light, add a diffuser or reflector, add an additional light, use natural light, etc)

• Camera techniques (e.g. use aperture to adjust depth of field, use shutter speed to play with motion)

Submission

1. Create a post to this forum.

2. Share all of the images from your 3 to 6 photoshoots with brief dot points outlining the initial set ups and the adjustments you made on the variations of each shoot. Include your Photoshoot Checklist in your post (if you used it).

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Photoshoot # 1 - Bedroom Art

For the first shoot I photographed the wall art above our bed.

Short depth of field (f 2.8) with focus on the bird in the wall art

Increased depth of field (f 11) which makes the cushions and side table in greater focus

Changed angle and composition from landscape to portrait

Changed angle and composition again to frame the bird pictured in the wall art in the reflection of the bedroom window blinds

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Photoshoot # 2 - Flower Vase

For the second shoot I photographed a flower vase in our living room.

Tending with exposure challenges - strong backlighting

Close up of the petals

Change of composition from landscape to portrait and framing the composition with the background divided between dark and light objects

Changing perspective - photographing from above

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Photoshoot # 3 - Outdoor Seat

For the third shoot I photographed an outdoor seat.

Correct exposure for the subject

Correct exposure for the background

Sat camera on table opposite, and photographed at slow shutter of 1/8 second with aperture and ISO compensated for correct exposure

Close up of the cushion, low f stop to produce blurred background