BOKEH PHOTOGRAPHY

Bokeh, also known as “Boke” is one of the most popular subjects in photography. The reason why it is so popular, is because Bokeh makes photographs visually appealing, forcing us to focus our attention on a particular area of the image. The word comes from Japanese language, which literally translates as “blur”.

Some shots:

JPEG vs. RAW

A Raw file is…

• not an image file per se (it will require special software to view, though this software is easy to get).
• typically a proprietary format (with the exception of Adobe’s DNG format that isn’t widely used yet).
• at least 8 bits per color – red, green, and blue (12-bits per X,Y location), though most DSLRs record 12-bit color (36-bits per location).
• uncompressed (an 8 megapixel camera will produce a 8 MB Raw file).
• the complete (lossless) data from the camera’s sensor.
• higher in dynamic range (ability to display highlights and shadows).
• lower in contrast (flatter, washed out looking).
• not as sharp.
• not suitable for printing directly from the camera or without post processing.
• read only (all changes are saved in an XMP “sidecar” file or to a JPEG or other image format).
• sometimes admissable in a court as evidence (as opposed to a changeable image format).
• waiting to be processed by your computer.

In comparison a JPEG is…

• a standard format readable by any image program on the market or available open source.
• exactly 8-bits per color (12-bits per location).
• compressed (by looking for redundancy in the data like a ZIP file or stripping out what human can’t perceive like a MP3).
• fairly small in file size (an 8 megapixel camera will produce JPEG between 1 and 3 MB’s in size).
• lower in dynamic range.
• higher in contrast.
• sharper.
• immediately suitable for printing, sharing, or posting on the Web.
• not in need of correction most of the time (75% in my experience).
• able to be manipulated, though not without losing data each time an edit is made – even if it’s just to rotate the image (the opposite of lossless).
• processed by your camera.

PRACTICE SHOTS

ALPHABET PHOTOGRAPHY

PATTERNS OF LIGHT

SPLIT LIGHTING

LOOP LIGHTING

BUTTERFLY LIGHTING

REMBRANDT LIGHTING

WHITE BALANCE SETTINGS

White Balance - setting the correct white balance in your DSLR camera is important to ensure that the objects are displayed white within the photograph.

• Auto white balance - you can use this setting as a default depending on the available light. Auto white balance works by evaluating the scene and deciding the most appropriate white balance for your photograph.

• Daylight - you can use this setting for direct sunlight. 

• Shade - it will help to give a warmer color to your photographs. Use shade white balance in shady areas.

• Cloudy - a good setting for cloudy days creating a very even diffuse light.

• Tungsten - one of the most extreme balance settings compare to the other white balances. You can use this balance if you want a blue touch to your images.

• Fluorescent - will help make indoor fluorescent house lighting. It looks like a bit better yellowy orange color you usually see.

• Flash - used mostly for studio work. You may use your camera's built-in flash.
• Custom white - allows the camera which area is supposed to be white.It can calculate the color shift required to make that surface white.

Practicing studio lights with Ms. Catherine Yong

BEST SHOTS

EXPOSURE TRIANGLE

Photography is drawing with lights.

Exposure Triangle controls light in different ways.There are three elements:

• SHUTTER SPEED
• APERTURE
• ISO

SHUTTER SPEED

Shutter speed is  about TIME, the amount of time it takes for light to enter your camera, how long it takes to let light through the camera.

Slower shutter speed,more light.Faster shutter speed,less light.

Example: 1/60-SLOW    1/250-FAST

FOCAL LENGTH is the size of the lens.

APERTURE

APERTURE is a hole within the lens,through which light travels into the camera.It controls the artifcial light and the depth of field.

The higher the number,the smaller the hole.(LESS LIGHT)

The lower the number,the bigger the hole.(MORE LIGHT)

ISO

ISO is the sensitivity to light.Basically, the more sensitive your camera is to light, the higher the ISO number, the more possible it is to shoot in low light situations.

Higher ISO number - higher sensitivity to light - better ability to shoot in low light

But higher ISO,more grains in the images.

Some shots with proper SHUTTER SPEED,APERTURE and ISO.

BEST SHOT

"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst"

-Henri Cartier Besson