A2: Depth of Field + Motion (due 10/12)

Assignment #2: Depth of Field and Motion

Assigned: Week #5 10/5/11

Due Date: Week #6 10/12/11 - For Part A
Due Date: Week #7 10/19/11 - For Part B with PRINTS!

Details:  20 Digital Images (10 for each Part)

Shoot as Large Resolution and Low Compression JPEGs, Auto WB, and in Manual Exposure Mode using your in-camera light meter to find the proper exposures for your scene and composition.
Shoot outside only during the day with an ISO of 100 to start with, but change ISO if necessary to achieve the desired exposure settings.

Part A - Depth of Field:  To illustrate the concepts of depth of field, choose a subject with a distinct foreground(s) and background(s). Always focus on just your foreground subject and do not change focus.  Then follow the below steps:

1. Set your lens at its widest aperture (lowest f-stop # such as f5.6 for less D of F) and a long zoom
2. Compose your photograph and focus on a foreground object that is no more than 5 feet away
3. Use your in-camera light meter to find the shutter speed for proper exposure, and shoot a frame
4. Now, close down your aperture at least 3 stops (to an f-stop such as f16 for greater D of F)
5. Compose the same exact shot as your first frame and focus again on the foreground object
6. Use your in-camera light meter to again find the proper exposure (you’ll have to use a slower SS!) and shoot another frame

Repeat this exercise with other subjects illustrating both limited and greater depth of field following the above steps.  Shoot different foreground subjects and compositions, for a total of 5 subjects (10 shots at the very least).

Part B - Motion (HW for NEXT WEEK!):  For the second half of the assignment, I want you to illustrate the concepts of motion.  Find a subject with motion and capture the same motion with both a slow shutter speed in one frame (to show blurred movement) and a fast shutter speed in another frame (to show a stopped, crisp action).

Try to find interesting subjects and compositions and make the most appealing photograph you can!  (In other words, cars driving down the road are not the most interesting subjects!).  Some better subject ideas include waterfalls or quick moving rivers, people moving (runners, children on swings, skateboarders).   Remember subject distance is important as well so do not have your main subject too far away from you - Fill the frame with the motion!  Follow the below steps:

1. Set your lens to 1/30s to capture blurred motion (or slower if you have a tripod)
2. Compose your photograph filling the frame with the motion and focus on the object
3. Use your in-camera light meter to find the aperture for proper exposure, and shoot a frame
4. Now, close down your shutter speed at least 3 stops to freeze motion (such as a SS of 1/250s)
5. Compose the same exact shot as your first frame and focus again on the foreground object
6. Use your in-camera light meter to again find the proper exposure (you’ll have to use a wider aperture!) and shoot another frame

Repeat this exercise with other subjects illustrating both blurred and frozen motion following the above steps.  Shoot different moving subjects and compositions, for a total of 5 subjects (10 shots at the very least). 

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                        

Download the images from your storage card to the class server before next week’s class! 

Once downloaded, rename the files (ex. = A2_LastName_001.jpg) and rank the images.