Mr. B Concert Link

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Register at the link above with email or Facebook and help Mr. B meet his favorite band!
I used about 5 emails to help him out

Final Review

SLR- Single lens reflex... uses one mirror to relfelct image into the LCD so whatever is seen through           the SLR will show up on the screen.

JPEG- Joint Photographic Experts Group.. compresses an image file

RAW- A digital image that has a minimal amount of processed data

DPI- Aka PPI or Pixel per inch.. basically its how many pixels that will be in your image

AE- Automatic exposure.. this automatically sets your aperture and shutter speed

AF- Automatic focus.. focuses on an image for you

CCD- Charge coupled device.. this is basically like film but instead it is digitally based.

CPU- Central processing unit.. this allows the lens to communicate with the camera itself

F/STOP- The measurement of the lens speed in a camera

ISO- The sensitivity in an image sensor

KB- Kilo byte.. small image size

MB- Mega byte.. the average image size that is very defined

PIXEL- An element of a picture that is minuscule and can be controlled (edited)

TTL- Through the lens.. automatic system that tells what type of flash to use and uses it

USB- Universal serial bus.. connects to computers and transfers data over or back to the serial bus                 port

VR- Vibration reduction.. helps make sure the image doesn't blur too much if the camera is shaken             slightly

What size photos are due each week?  Large photos that fit the screen

Who was the best photographer in your class? Alexa Gil

What is art?  Art to me can be just about anything. Anything written, anything musical or any type of                      photo or video. Overall art can be just about anything that is created.

Name three basic adobe tools- cropping, text, and erase

What grade do you feel you EARNED in this class? I think I earned the grade I have now. I get all my work done and it is quality work. If it is turned in late for any reason, I still try to make it quality but much better since I spent more time working on it than I was supposed to.

Nikon.com

Nikon is a Japanese company that was founded in 1917 and specializes in optics and imaging products. They manufacture cameras, lenses, and several types of scopes for long distance visualization. In the present and modern day, you can find many of their products in stores, but all can be found online at Nikon.com.

Nikon.com is a website store as well as a website that provides tips for new photographers.
They hold many deals for cameras and lenses. There deals are especially present during the holidays. Some deals include camera and lens packages that are over $100 off or free battery packs when you purchase a type of camera. There deals on lens are especially great with savings of over $150. Let me tell you, lens are expensive. Some lens are thousands of dollars and Nikon does their best to help their customers save a little money.

On top of offering camera and lens deals, they offer classes and DVD's for upcoming photographers to help them improve and learn photography skills.

To also help those who are new and interested in photography, they have pages dedicated to the history of their company and it's cameras. They have pages on the basics of cameras and lens, what their name means and what the they do.

Nikon even warns its customers of Gray Market products that are sold by others. They inform them on the sign to look for to tell if the product is meant to be sold for another Nikon market and if the characteristics are met, then they will get not warranty, are not eligible for service, software that is false, and parts that may not even go to the camera. If the deal is too good, it's probably too good to be true, so don't trust it. They urge that before you buy a camera, look up the characteristics of Grey Market products and make sure the one you want, isn't a part of that because ultimately, you'll get jipped.

Their numerous tools dedicated to their customers shows the dedication and care they have for them. They welcome those who are new to photography with open arms. All their pages are dedicated to assisting their customers with their camera and lens needs, whether it be buying new lens or cameras repairing them, or even warnings to products that may rip you off. Their customer service is dedicated to assisting all camera and lens questions and needs.

On top of their awesome customer support coverage, they offer apps to assist photographers in storing, editing, and sharing their images. The app is called "Nikon Image Space." The app allows you to upload and store all your favorite images in a secure spot that you can browse and access from anywhere you are. The app even gives detailed data from your photo such as aperture, shutters speed, focal length, and ISO. It's just like your camera! Not only does it provide detailed information on your image stored, but it even allows the comparison between other cameras and equipment that are used by other photographers. Nikon wanted to make the app very convenient for photographers, and they sure did!

My overall rating on this website is very good. I wouldn't do a number rating because I don't prefer that, so I will just say that the website is very reliable and perfect for photographers.

How to Get the Most from Your New DSLR

WHAT DOES DSLR STAND FOR?
Digital Single Reflex Lens. A DSLR allows you to create amazing images and gives you more control when shooting. You can shoot in auto and/or adjust setting to enhance your image.

APERTURE
Aperture is the circular opening in the camera lens that allows light to come in. Setting the size/ opening allows you to decide how much light will enter the lens. Openings are called f-stops. A small f-stop = a larger amount of light coming in. A large f-stop = smaller amount of light coming in. This is due to shutter speed. Slow speed = more light and fast speed = less light. Sunny day = high aperture to minimize exposure. A small aperture also allows you to focus on deeper spaces. With the front subject clear and the background hazy, this is called bokeh. Light meters on your camera allow you to set the f-stop. This is a basic necessity in photography.

SHUTTER SPEED
Shutter speed and aperture work hand in hand. Small f-stop = more light = slower speed. Large f-stop = less light = faster shutter speed. Slow shutter speed allows motion in a shot whereas a fast speed does not allow motion as much. In fact, it tries to minimize it. A tripod comes in handy in low light settings where you will use a slow shutter speed to get more light into the lens. A wide aperture creates very sharp images with shallow depth, which is perfect for portraits.

ISO
ISO refers to light sensitivity of the film or sensor. After you take a shot you can adjust the sensitivity (exposure) of an image. High ISO allows light to strike more sensitively, capturing image with less available light, capturing the image without a blur. The downside of high ISO is it makes the photo more grainy by allowing more noise.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
If it is sunny, set a low ISO. If it is darker, set a high ISO. Next set the aperture and shutter speed. Play with it. Take a few shots to find the light that is just right. The "A" setting on your DSLR allows you to adjust the aperture and it adjusts the shutter speed for you. The "S" setting allows you to set the shutter speed and adjusts the aperture for you. Compensation adjustment is a last minute exposre adjustment.

WHITE BALANCE
White balance in a camera adjusts the relation of the color you are shooting. White balance is controlled through the use of filters. The coloring is up to you.

FOCUS
Play with the auto and manual focus. Sometimes one is better than the other. Using the AF button will lock onto the center of the image/ subject you are shooting and allow you to readjust yourself while still being focused on the subject.

"Keep on shooting."

Introduction to Studio Lighting

What is an indoor studio set up? According to Geofflawrence.com, an indoor studio set up can be a few lamps, a colored sheet as a background and a multi flash system. The author recommends that if you are going to get serious with indoor studio photography, you should invest in a few studio flash heads. The author says this because studio flash heads are far more powerful than a little portable flash. "With great power comes great responsibility," said Ben Parker when discussing powerful flash. You can control the flash far more better than you would be able to with a portable flash. You can manipulate areas of light and make them brighter or darker. You can soften shadows and increase depth in your subject field. Ultimately you can create phenomenal images by manipulating light. The use of flash also helps sharpen the image tremendously rather than with a continuous light. Also flash heads recycle much faster and allow for rapid shooting rather than with a battery powered flash. Overall investing in a studio flash is a smart idea if you are going to shoot inside often.

Shutterfly.com

Shutterfly.com is a photo publishing website that is used to edit photos and make photo booklets and other festive/ creative photo projects. Shutterfly allows you to make gifts for others or just gifts of memories for yourself and your family. It also allows you to save an unlimited amount of photos that you can go back to at any time for FREE. Shutterfly is a perfect website to capture and emphasize memories in a fun and  creative way.

It doesn't end there. Shutterfly even offers exclusive discounts to its customers in ordering prints, calendars, holiday cards, photo books, and so on. All you have to do is sign up and start your journey on the photo site by creating memories.

Shutterfly doesn't just focus on profit like all other photo companies. It mainly focuses on the satisfaction of their customers. Sounds like a typical way to draw in customers. I know. But their mission is done and exemplified through their discounts and easy ways to share, create, and save memories. Unlike Dropbox where you have to upgrade your storage when you reach a certain amount. The same thing goes with Google Photos. Shutterfly is the only photo website that guarantees free AND unlimited storage of photos.

Shutterfly even offers tips on how to decorate your home. So in a way, this website is sort of like Pinterest except with more features and not everyone has to see your work. You decide who sees your work when you create it, buy it, and share it with all who you wish to see, have, and share those memories with you forever. They say the Internet is forever, but certain things can be erased and hard to find later on. Photos, are always forever. You can store it in a box and take them out whenever you want to see and share them. Unlike the Internet where you need service in order to view images online and  no virus so it isn't slow. You don't need service or no virus to view photos in your hand. All you need is some light and a few people to share those memories with and Shutterfly is a perfect way to start and share.

Ultimately, I'd give this website a 9.999999/10 because not everything is perfect. It would be unrealistic to say it is perfect because I'm sure like all other sites on the Internet, there are some bugs.

10 Easy Steps to Advanced Photography Skills

In the article "10 Easy Steps to Advanced Photography Skilles," Trey Ratcliff, an HDR photographer on Fickr, gives some helpful photography tips that he collected in the time he has spent being a photographer.

1. THINK ABOUT THE BRAIN
In this tip he explains that a camera and its lens do not work the same as an eye. He explains how as we grow up, we have triggers that help us remember certain images. He then describes that a camera take the photo to tell the tale. He also says that an eye automatically focuses and adjusts to light where as a camera has to be manually adjusted to light that comes in the lens.

2. ENGAGE IN THE NEW GLOBAL SALON
In this tip he says that you, whether you are a viewer or photographer should engage themselves into online salons such as Flickr, VSCO, etc. This allows you to explore other people art and admire them as well as inspire you to go take and try new things for your pictures.

3. GET RID OF YOUR TOY CAMERA
In this tip he explains that you should invest in a DSLR. He explains that with a DSLR you will be able to improve your photography skills unlike with the small, slim digital camera. He explains there will be an improved precision in the images you take.

4. CARRY A TRIPOD FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS AND SUNRISES
In this tip he explains the usefulness of a tripod due to its steadiness. If you try take a time lapse with your hand, it will be shaky and you wont get the same images. You will get some with more of the subject on the top or more of the subject on the bottom. Then your time lapse would be ruined. A tripod stay in one spot unless moved on purpose and it allows you to take steady images.

5. ADMIRE IMPRESSIONISM
In this tip he explains that impressionist art captures the feelings one felt in a particular place with color. He also says you should question and try to recreate similar art through photography.

6.  PRACTICE WITH HDR
He explains how HDR experiments with light levels and causes a trigger in emotions allowing us to make a connection with them even if it does look ridiculous at times.

7. TAKE YOUR CAMERA EVERYWHERE
In this tip he explains that you can get inspired to take a a photo at any time and you should always carry it just in case. You never know when you will see something wonderful.

8. UNDERSTAND THE FANTASY/REALITY MEMBRANE
In this tip he explains that photography should be taken seriously and not lightly. That it is in fact about reality not fantasy.

9. LEARN TO DRAW
In this tip he explains that knowing how to draw can help you "draw out" your inspirations for a pictures before you carry it out.

10. MAKE MISTAKES
In this tip he explains the necessity for mistakes in your road of photography because mistakes help us better and understand more. He explains the importance in honest feedback and how it can help tremendously.

Photo class so far -

     So far, this year, a quarter into the first semester, this photo class has needed a lot of work but it is not too much. It is just the right amount. So far it has taught me the basic components of photography and I have noticed a slight improvement in my photo skills since the beginning. I have gotten used to using Photoshop to help me post-process my photos and apply effect to my photos to make them appeal more to the eye and my viewers. I have used a Nikon or Canon for a majority of my weekly photos and projects we have had. I would like to say that I am getting better at using them and have grown more comfortable holding one and using it to take photos rather than with my phone. Ultimately I prefer a Nikon or Canon over my phone. No doubt about that.
     This class has helped me expand myself in this world. I have put myself out there more. I have met new people, made new friends, and grew closer to existing friends. But most importantly, it has allowed me to do my favorite thing in the entire world, which is explore. I have been able to go out to new places and take photos I never thought I would take. It has allowed me to visit places I never thought I would visit and I appreciate this class for allowing me to do this.
     I don't really have negative feedback for this class. So far it has surpassed my expectations. Nor do I have any advice to make it better. This class is smoothly.

Vanity Fair article - Bruce Springsteen

     Bruce Springsteen is an American musician (rock artist) who recently published an autobiography that tells his acceptance with "life out on the wire." He takes his music very seriously and uses song writing to describe his struggles and uses performances as an outlet to let out all the negative emotions he is holding within and in the songs he has written. His signature song includes "Born to Run." He believes that "Born to Run" is the climax of all songs and with the older it gets, the more meaningful it becomes. It is so meaningful to him, that he even named his autobiography after the song he holds so dearly to his heart. To him, it is a shorthand of lifelong unrest.
     Within his book, he inserted a piece where he speaks about preforming at the Super Bowl with the E Street Band. Here he writes about the dramatic pre-show jitters that were like no other. This event led to his discovery that he enjoyed writing and that he felt pretty good at it. So he continued and it transformed into his own book; an autobiography.
     Springsteen, according to a lifelong friend has always been focused on his future. He has always been focused on Rock and not hitting a dead end in his life. In his autobiography he explains how all the cars, girls, the Shore, workingman's struggles, broken dreams and disillusioned vets all led to his upbringing. He emphasizes that "whoever you've been and wherever you've been, it never leaves you," which basically says that your past creates you. That because of your past is who you are today. In his autobiography he tells stories from his past with his family. He tells and describes these stories so his fans know his roots, and the reasons why he is the person he is today.
     In his book, he acknowledges that his struggles are ongoing and will never quit and that no matter what, he still has to go on with his life and work. He even writes about is overcoming with certain issues of not only his past, but the present issues he faces today. It is quite influential. His overcomings show strength and courage and inspires many of us out here dealing with issues of our own, giving us hope that it is all going to be okay in the end. That yes, there are struggles in life, but we can overcome them.
     To Springsteen, Rock has been his own self-prescribed medication. His music has allowed him to grow as a person. Playing shows and making music is like therapy to him. It brings euphoria.
Gearing the end of his autobiography, Springsteen describes in depth what "Born to Run" means to him. To him, "Born to Run" is the feeling of feeling trapped internally within one's mind.
Bruce Springsteen's autobiography "Born to Run' describes the important events in his life that dealt with hardship and unforgettable and inspiring moments.

Masters of Photography - Jerry Uelsmann

Symbolic Mutation

1961

Jerry Uelsmann is a surrealist American photographer who was born in Detroit. His complex work often tells a story in a poetic sense. He studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He then later received his masters in the degree of science at Indiana University and again, another but at the Rochester Institute, where he originally began, with a masters in fine arts. A lot of his work include extreme material. For example, the image above, "Symbolic Mutation" (1961), shows a woman's face faded behind a man's fist. This image shows the effect of domestic violence. The woman's image faded can be seen as her being silenced and unable to ask for help. Ultimately, hopeless. While the man's hand, the most prominent image in this whole picture shows the dominance and control he has over her. His overall surreal image is able to tell a story what many people, men or women, go thought in an everyday life living with someone abusive in a poetic sense. A lot of his images utilize juxtaposition; the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. For example, this image places a gentle image with an aggressive image in order to get his point across on the effects of domestic violence. Overall, Jerry Uelsmann is a surrealist American photographer who through his complex work tells a story in a poetic sense. 

Alphabet soup

 1. f/stop: f - the size of the aperture or diaphragm opening of lens
 2. ISO: g - indicates the relative light sensitivity of the recorded medium
 3. Jpeg: a - a lossy compression file format that works with any computer and photo software
 4. LCD: i - light crystal display, which is a flat screen wuth clear polarizing sheets on either side of
                  a liquid crystal solution
 5. LED:  k - light emitting diode, is a single often employed as an indicator on cameras as well as
                  on other electronic equipment
 6. GB: d - just over one billion bytes
 7. AF: e - camera automatically focuses on subject
 8. SLR: j - single lens reflex, a camera with a mirror that reflects the image entering the lens
                 through a pentaprism or pentamirror onto the view finder screen
 9. MF: c- is one in which the user has to adjust the focus of lens by hand
10. VR: h - vibration detection, a technology used in such photographic accessories
11. DSLR: l - digital single-lens reflex camera
12. MB: b - a million pixels

YouTube notes: Aperture, shutter speed, ISO

In the YouTube video, posted by CamCrunch tells and exemplifies the basic tools in photography that are a necessity.

He first introduces aperture, which is the wideness and width of the lens. The wideness and width of the  lens tells and allows how much light is allowed to/will be brought into a shot. A wide aperture accepts more light, making the shot brighter. All while a small aperture lets hardly any light in, making the shot darker. Not only does aperture add light or subtract light from a picture, but it also shows and tells the depth of a photo. A lower f, the subject in front will be focused while the background will be blurry and unfocused.

Aperture is not the only thing that affects exposure. So does shutter speed. Shutter speed is how fast the lens opens and closes or how long the photo is exposed. A shorter exposure space is caused by fast shutter speed. Meaning, you get less light into the photo whereas with a longer shutter speed, more light is brought into the photo and the bigger chance for a blurry shot.

ISO also deals with exposure. ISO is the sensitivity of an image. A low ISO means you will need more light to expose an image. Whereas a high ISO means you will need to lower and lessen the light to expose the image you are trying to capture. Higher ISO also causes more grain to show up, which is not wanted because it may give an image too much color or not enough (noise). A low ISO creates no noise.

Rule of Thirds

It is common for photographers, especially new ones, to put their photo subject in the middle. While that is not wrong, considering how we view the world is in the center rather than the sides or peripheral, it is better to take photos in thirds. Imagine a tic tac toe game with the boxes and lines. 

Now, instead of using the boxes as a place to put your subjects, use the vertical lines on the left and right side as a guideline for your subjects. 

When it comes to scenery like the sky, you would want to place the ground in the bottom 2/3 of the shot view and the sky in the top 1/3 shot view. Or, you can also do the opposite and put the sky as the top 2/3 and the ground as the bottom 1/3. Either way makes the photo more dramatic and tantalizing. 

With close up portraits, use your subjects eyes as a sort of guideline on the vertical third lines and the top 1/3 lines. The rest of the face falls below to the 2/3 lines. 

With full length portraits, align your subjects body with either the left or right lines on the sides. Putting the head on the bottom/ center line (where the vertical and horizontal lines cross and meet) of the 1/3 and the rest of the body in the lower 2/3. This allows more room of the background scenery to find its way in the photo, providing more context, and thus making the photo more interesting. 

While you can easily go in and edit your photos to make it look like it was taken using the rule of thirds, it is much more challenging and exciting to consciously re-frame the scene in which you are taking the photo to match the rule. 

Be careful when you choose to use the rule because sometimes it is not applicable and a different photography technique may need to be used. Be meticulous. 

10 Tips from Kodak

- Aim the camera at the subjects eye in order to capture emotion and as well as evoking the viewers interest.
- To help the view focus on the foreground (the main topic of the picture) use a simple background.
- To make sure that the sun doesn't show any unwanted and unattractive facial shadows, use the flash feature outdoors.
- Fill the picture area with the subject to help expose important physical details.
- Move the subject away from the middle and to the sides of the picture area.
- Focus on the main subject (a person) in the middle. Then pan out into the outside subjects like the background to make the subject move away from the middle.
- Know how far your camera's flash expands so pictures taken too far away are too dark and pictures taken too close aren't too bright.
- Light is a very vital variable in photography. Make sure you play with it.
- Don't be boring and only take horizontal pictures. Play around and take some vertical shots.
- Arrange your shot the way you want it. Choose creative spots to take pictures and use props. Take action in your shots.

Vocabulary II

Mood - Emotion in a work of art

Organic - Structure with unusual ends and/or foreground that reestablish into the preexisting piece of art

Pattern - Duplicates of a certain combination of light and shapes

Perspective - How something is presented in a three dimensional sense in a a two dimensional space

Point of View - Position that an item is viewed at

Portfolio - Work that is organized and collected

Primary Colors - All colors are created from the three basic colors (Red, Yellow and Blue)

Principles of Design - Order in which characteristics in art is presented and organized

Proportion - Association between a part of something in a work of art with the whole work of art

Reflection - An artist's concern for the entire piece of art they are working on

Texture - Condition of the work of art's foreground

Vocabulary I

Abstract - Any form of art that is portrayed to be unrealistic or distorted to add emotion and effect

Background - Towards the end/back of the picture that adds depth

Content - What the artist wishes to get out of the artwork

Elements of art - Physical features in art such as color, shape, form, etc.

Hue - Color in a picture

Intensity - How bright a photo is

Line - Differentiating in shape, size and placement, it is a point that looks like its being moved

Middle ground - Between the front and back of a picture taken

Monochromatic - Only one color is used in a picture