Jenni8 Loc: Oceanside, CA

4.0 sec at f/16, 400 ISO, 29mm
Canon T2i, EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS

Lighting used was a small table lamp, no flash.

I found some basic photography assignments I will start doing at least 2 - 3 times a week.

Assignment #1

Pick a mundane object and make it look interesting. (Their was a little more to it, but that was the basic concept. Basicly it was vague in the PP part, so I went beyond my comfort zone, which is WHY I am doing assignments I can find.)

So this is what I did:

I set my camera for Exposure bracketing on a tripod with stabilizer set to off. I used the 3 shots and ran them through PS5 HDR Pro . . . I wasn't looking to make it "look" HDR, I just wanted to experiment. The final I cropped to 8x10.

My brother-in-law said it looks like something he'd see on a big sign in a hardware store. :)

I am curious as to any professional observations. I will be soon getting a basic studio lighting kit to set up a studio as I plan shoot people and objects. My current setup is nothing, or anything. So I'm trying things now in small steps to achieve something similar to that environment.

This is my result:

Screwdriver Kissing Shadow

Dave K

Nice image, Jenni, in my opinion. I even like the title - I must admit I've never thought of my screwdrivers kissing anything. I don't think I'll ever look at them in the same way again. :P

I gather you've not been in photography for very long, so I would advise you to save the money you'd spend on studio lighting equipment and, instead, spend your time going out and shooting lots and lots of different things, from tiny bugs to huge mountains. I don't mean to discourage you, but you very well could find your true passion lies in nature or scenics or urbanscapes - none of which are very easy to get into a studio.

If you do want to photograph humans, that's great. Just don't rush into studio settings just yet. Spend a great deal of time learning to use ambient light of all types. One of the most beautiful portraits of an older woman I can recall seeing was taken with her seated next to a window. The only light used was the sunlight coming in through that window - no artificial light of any sort. The shadows etched the wrinkles on her face and pointed up the kindness and love in her eyes, and the sad tiredness on her lips. A studio lighting set-up would, in my opinion, have turned a work of art into just another cheap imitation of life.

I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Dave K

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

the result is good. What caught my attention was the simplicity - no clutter.

I'd recommend a trip to the friendly art store - where you buy white gator board maybe some black (to take light out) you can also get gold/silver reflective sheets of paper that make excellent secondary light sources (fill or bounce). If you on the cheap - you can buy tin can spots at Home Depot or Lowes for like 10 bucks a pop give or take and use tungsten light.

Processing in HDR might be something I'd put off a bit or at least not make it my primary method of working with light. I think Dave was correct in advising you to just notice light - it's effect on things, its color its tone its directionality etc........that said GO GIRL!!!

English_Wolf Loc: Near Pensacola, FL

The hallow effect is due to the hdr tweak.

Jenni8 Loc: Oceanside, CA

Thank you all for all the input!

Dave K - As far as the studio setup, I've already got my heart set on a basic beginner set online. My husband is on board, I can't turn back. I completely understand about taking shots outside. I do that too as I'm still learning the basics, although I feel that I now UNDERSTAND the basics much better, as I just need to get more experience and create more self focus. One of my favorite shots I've done was of my father-in-law with the light coming in from the window on him. I converted into B&W and realized what I did. At the time I'll be honest, it was completely by accident. The original wasn't that great either until I converted it. I've always been told I have the "eye" as my father-in-law was really the first one to tell me I have real talent and need to just harness it and make it grow into something I can make a living at. Coming from him this is big, who also has photography experience, but in the dark room days. Now I need to not see with my eye as much as I need to see it as the camera does and use my eye in a technical way instead of stumbling onto things only by accident. Although I will always have the metadata as reference.

I suddenly have a lot more space in my garage to set-up a studio and it's something I've been wanting to set up for a little while now but didn't have the room before. Also, I've been bored or uninspired, for many outside reasons, and as a Gemini I have to keep things fresh and new, otherwise I loose interest or focus. I love having options but I think also I've been overwhelmed. Which is also Why I've been having problems getting a portfolio together; I've been lacking focus. I plan to work with different "assignments" to create some focus, and help me find a great theme for me. I feel working "simply" in a sense will help me focus which is why I appeal to a studio. I can pick 1 object or person, and focus on that for a while, create a theme of some sort. Then I can add another person too or object and work on that Then when I get 'bored' or loose focus I will take those same people and objects and see what I can do outside. I bet my perspective shifts. :-D I have had ideas, and plans of certain things that require some sort of studio. The outside can overwhelm me a lot sometimes as my self focus isn't trained yet.

You are right, I've only been at this for a few years with my DSLR and in the last 6 months I think I've learned the most. For me I learn best when I take a not so straight path. The easiest path for me is always the longest when it comes to me learning, whereas most seem to prefer the common route to do things. Be that my you give great advice and I like your story about the lady in the window. Especially that it made me think of my shot with the same lighting style. I'll post that here below. The background is a bit distracting though and I created some artificial background blur. It would be easy enough to photoshop the main distracting objects if I were to print it out.

My assignments I do are going to vary in location and style of many sorts, I already have my next one lined up to do I will prepare for tonight.

Jenni8 Loc: Oceanside, CA

docrob - I like your suggestions. I've thought of that as I was originally planning doing that exactly, especially since I work at Lowe's and I have many things I've bought and made into certain projects I've been working on. But I did the math, and it's actually more affordable to get this kit I found( Their are 2 I'm deciding between.) Which is not pro to any standard I'd bet, but good for starting out. Being that the drop cloths are the most of the cost even in finding some for $35 pretty easy online. The kit is a bargain in buying the cheap gear separate. And I can grow from their. I want something to look in the more professional without spending too much straight out.

I haven't thought of reflective paper as I've seen some portable reflectors I'd like to try out.. So starting out with reflective paper, I HADN'T thought of that one.

Jenni8 Loc: Oceanside, CA

Is that a good thing or bad thing:?:

Jenni8 Loc: Oceanside, CA

I've only used HDR Pro a handful of times actually. When I learned to do the ABE when I had overlooked it for so long I tried out a few test shots. I backed away being that I wasn't really thrilled with Photoshop's HDR tool or I just haven't figured out how to use it properly. Or maybe the over processed look isn't for me, I dunno. I'm not going to go HDR too much, rather than throw it in the mix or if I get a good idea for something HDR specific. This particular setting called for me to use it this time. Taking ABE's isn't my main flow for sure, it's definitely outside my box.

Dave K

First, I *like* that photo of your father-in-law. True, the background is distracting and tends to overwhelm the main subject, but that lighting on your father-in-law is spot on. It's just what I was referring to in my original post. If this is typical of your work, you do have an eye. I will take issue with something you said, though, and that is "Now I need to not see with my eye as much as I need to see it as the camera does and use my eye in a technical way instead of stumbling onto things only by accident." I think I understand what you mean, but, while "seeing" as the camera will is important, it is of even more necessity is to see with the eyes of your soul and heart. True, you absolutely do need to know the technical stuff - to "see" like your camera will - but photography is much more than that. Like all art, it's leavened and enriched and ennobled by the artist's own eye and mind and heart. It's not so much as seeing as your camera does instead of your eye as it is seeing with *both* your eye and the camera. They cannot be separated - not and still to create beauty - but must learn to work unconsciously together, as one being, as it were.

I understand about your wanting a studio so badly, and I certainly have no objections to it. Just don't forget that there is so much to photograph outside of the studio, of things that simply cannot be brought into the studio. At the risk of sounding a bit like some old guru-guy sitting atop some distant and lonely peak, be not afraid to go where you've not been, to attempt new things, to learn and experience life's differences. 'Tis far better to live a short but fulfilled llife than it is to lie there on you deathbed, an old woman, and realize you were too afraid to have really lived.

Dave K

Jenni8 Loc: Oceanside, CA

Awesome response. Overall, you must be full of insight, and have good experience. So I am pleased and grateful in your thoughts.

The background is something I've been bad about paying attention to before. It's easy to overlook what your not "looking" at. Now I've gotten to the point where I'll look through some of my newbie shots and it's so easy to pick out flaws I never saw or understood before. I'm still making a ton of mistakes, but a lot less than before, so I must be learning a lot. LOL.

Be back in a day or two with my next assignment. Happy shooting!

Dave K

Well, I, at least, will 'fess up to having made literally thousands of "stupid" mistakes when I first began punching shutters. Not paying attention to the background was just one of them. Frankly, I'd wager to say that, if they're honest, everyone here will admit to the same. That's part of learning, y'see. Hang in there, Jenni. It'll begin to come more and more naturally to you as you progress - just avoid the trap of impatience and be gentle with yourself. Remember, you're not trying to save the world, just to save memories of it as it is now and as seen through *your* eyes.

Thank you for the compliment. I deeply appreciate it.

I look forward to seeing your next assignment.

Dave K

MarkDG

My advice, go with your heart. I would rather be wrong for trying, than never sure if I could have been good at something I didn't even attempt. I could see if you were new and looking at buying a studio, but it's just a "basic: studio lighting kit.

Good for you, go for it, and Good Luck!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

For lighting, http://strobist.blogspot.com/ is a must-see site. Lots of good ideas.

neil43

Dedicated HDR programs, I've read, work better than PS. I use Photomatix, which has an unlimited free trial if you are interested in testing it.

English_Wolf Loc: Near Pensacola, FL

Both as it is up to you to decide.