Levels - The Histogram

The Histogram is a graph that shows the range of tones, or values, from the darks (shadows) to the midtones, to the lights (highlights) in an image.

Below the histogram you’ll see three  sliders, one on each end and one in the middle. 

The slider on the far left is the black point slider. The black point slider darkens the shadow areas in the image by setting a new black point. 

The slider on the right is thewhite point slider. It brightens the highlights by setting a new white point. 

The slider in the middle is the midtone slider. It appears gray because it allows us to brighten or darken the brightness levels in between black and white:

Using Levels in Photoshop

Open one of your images in Photoshop. label it "Levels".

Desaturate it using Adjustment Layers.

Use the "Levels" Adjustment Layers to create 3 variations of contrast.

Here is my original color image

Here is the Desaturated (BW) Image

Here is the image adjusted for levels. 
Shadows 21, Midtones .91, highlights 231

Levesls adjusted toward the shadows
Shadows 156, Midtones .81, Highlights 171

Levels adjusted towards highlights
shadows 15, Midtones .16, Highlights 65

Intro to Photoshop - Using Adjustment Layers

Photoshop Adjustment Layers.

We will practice the following in class:

• Convert a picture from Color to Black and White using the Hue/Contrast Adjustment layer
• Adjust Levels using the Levels Adjustment layer

Creating adjustment layers

Do one of the following:
For Hue-Saturation (Converts to Black and White)

Last class we discussed using the Cropping Tool and I introduced the concept of Adjustment layers.

We use Adjustment Layers so that we do not 
1. Click the New Adjustment Layer button  at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Hue/Saturation

2. Move the Saturation slider all the way to the left

3. Click ok

Here is a video showing how to do it.

For Levels (Adjusts Contrast in your picture)

1. Click the New Adjustment Layer button  at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Levels

2. Move the Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights Sliders to adjust the range of contrast in your image

3. Click ok

Here is a video showing how to do it.

This link will take you to a description of using Levels in Photoshop. The photo in the example is in color but it works the same in black and white.

We will try this for ourselves in class and post the results on our blog

Perspective

Today we will talk about Perspective. 

When taking pictures, don't just shoot at Eye level. Take a look at the examples at the site below.

http://digital-photography-school.com/perspective-photography-dont-just-stand-move-feet/

Capture 2 Images of each of the following perspectives and Post them to your blog:

Birds eye Perspective

Bugs eye

Eye Level

Horizontal

Vertical

Diagonal

Combination of 2 of the various perspectives.

In your post briefly describe how each picture fulfills the required perspective.

Photographer Research

I will be out of class today so please respect Ms Whitworth.

Today you will create your first photographer research post. 

Please click the Photographer Research link above for detailed instructions.

Post Rule of Thirds

Post 2-4 examples of photos using the Rule of Thirds. 

For each image give a detailed explanation of how the composition utilizes the Rule of Thirds.

Composition - The Rule of Thirds

Today you will take pictures using the Rule of Thirds. You will need to post 3-5 examples of the Rule of Thirds to your blog. For each example write an explanation of how the rule of thirds was used in each picture.

The rule of thirds is probably the most often referenced photography rule of composition.  It is all about subject placement within the frame.

Imagine that your picture space is divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically, like a tic tac toe grid.

The photography rule of thirds tells us to align our subject with one of the points where those lines cross. That means our subject is one third of the way “into” the picture space – from either the top or bottom, and from either the left or right. And that means it’s not in the middle.



Here is an example of the rule of thirds for a landscape photo. The focus is on the land area rather than the sky so the bottom two-thirds of the photograph are filled with land and the top third is sky.

Here are additional links explaining and demonstrating the Rule of thirds.
http://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds
http://learnprophotography.com/rule-of-thirds
http://www.ultimate-photo-tips.com/photography-rule-of-thirds.html
http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/rule-of-thirds

Aperture - Depth of Field

Today you will experiment with capturing both shallow and deep Depth of Field.

Post your examples to your blog demonstrating both shallow and extended Depth of Field.

You should have 2 examples of both deep and shallow depth of Field.

 follow the format below for each picture:

This pic was shot at ISO 400, Shutter Speed 1/125, aperture f5.6. 
The DoF is very shallow:

This pic was shot at ISO 1600, Shutter Speed 1/60, Aperture f32. 
it has an extended Depth of Field.

ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture explained - The Big Picture

Here is a great video that explains how all of the Fundamentals of Exposure work together.

It can serve as a review of the past couple of weeks work.

ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, and Light Explained - Understanding Exposure and Camera Settings

Aperture and Depth of Field

Aperture is the opening in the lens that controls the AMOUNT of light that you allow to enter the camera. It is measured in a thing we call the F number.



As you decrease the size of the Aperture you increase the amount of the picture that is in focus. This is called Depth of field.

Watch the following video for a good explanation of how Aperture works. We'll began shooting in Aperture Priority and doing Depth of Field exercises later in class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUbjkMm_v-A


Aperture Priority is when you select the aperture and the camera chooses the corresponding shutter speed. Both modes have advantages, but aperture priority ultimately gives you more control over the overall quality and visual focus of your images. 

Depth of Field is the amount of the image that is in sharp focus

Here is the a link that describes how and when to use Aperture Priority

Here's link that descibes how to take better pictures using Aperture Priority.

Use the Nikons to experiment with Depth of Field around the building. Take pictures with both Shallow and Deep Depth of Field. We'll post them next class.

Capture Motion Using Shutter Speed

In 3 well exposed (not underexposed or overexposed) capture an example of the following:

• Freezing Action
• Motion Blur
• Tracking 

Label each picture with the shutter speed and ISO you used. 


See the examples below.....

Freezing Action
Shutter Speed 1/1250 seconds
ISO 3200

Motion Blur
Shutter speed 1.6 seconds
ISO 100

Tracking
Shutter Speed 1/3 seconds
ISO 400

Shutter Priority

The next fundamental of exposure we will explore is Shutter Speed.

Shutter Speed is measured in seconds or fractions of a second...

For example

1" = 1 second

1/2 = 1 half second

1/125 = 1 one hundred twenty fifth of a scond

By changing shutter speeds you not only control how long light enters the camera but also how motion is captured in your image.

Use the Thumb dial to set the Shutter Speed.

Follow this link for a description of how shutter speed works.

Today we will use various shutter speeds to:
1. Freeze motion (fast shutter speed of 1/125 or higher)
2. Create a Motion Blur (Shutter speed of 1/15 or slower)
3. Track motion (shutter speed of 1/60)