Thursday, February 12, 2009
compression: wide vs tight
These two pictures demonstrate the differences between wide and tight, especially compression. This is the same house, the same sign, same everything. But - at least to me - they are quite different. 
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Shoot Tight: Keeping up with the Joneses
I chose this first pic - not because it is so spectacular... it isn't - but to show me the range of my camera. This is the point where telephoto lens meets digital zoom.
Although these pics complete the essay assignment of telling a story, I found that I much prefer to use my zoom to shoot close up, almost like a macro. I do like the compression that tight shooting gives me. When I tried to shoot this series wide, I couldn't get all three signs into the picture and have them remain legible. Tight shooting was a much better choice in this particular context.
My apologies go out to anyone who recognizes the subject.
Although these pics complete the essay assignment of telling a story, I found that I much prefer to use my zoom to shoot close up, almost like a macro. I do like the compression that tight shooting gives me. When I tried to shoot this series wide, I couldn't get all three signs into the picture and have them remain legible. Tight shooting was a much better choice in this particular context.
My apologies go out to anyone who recognizes the subject.
To be honest, I cheated a little on this assignment. My focal lengths starting from the top at "Jones" are: 72 mm, 6 mm, 50 mm, 31 mm, & 25 mm.
I have additional "shoot tight" pics - just for fun - and I'll post them soon.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Assignment: Post Wide
All of my shots are taken using my Cannon PowerShot S31S.
In my initial posting, tight & wide, I establish the breadth of my camera. Its capabilities range from a wide open focal length of 6 mm to a "zoomed in" tight at 72 mm.
Next is my photo essay: Parade of Homes
There are roughly two hundred shots in all; I selected twelve to showcase. In all of them, my lens is wide open at 6 mm and the only variable is my proximity to my subject. This made for an interesting shoot. Most of these people were quite suspicious of why I was out there shooting, and you will see that I made sure not to cross into any of their yards. I did not trespass.
As a result, I did feel constricted by the "shoot wide" assignment and its limitations. Without the compression of a tight shot, many of my pics came back with too much visual noise. They appeared messy rather than artfully stacked. As a result, I had to choose my angles and distances carefully. I felt frustrated by the lack of depth.
With the lens wide open, I had virtually no depth of field to work with and felt hampered by the resulting flat aspect of these shots. While fitting it all into the frame, I found that often I was too far away for any of it to maintain the desired effect. The details had vanished in the distance.
That being said, I may have chosen poorly. In hindsight, I do believe that I would have done greater service if I had shot this at a safer distance, using my telephoto. I cannot tell you how many eyes were on me as I wandered these neighborhoods. Often I glanced up to see only the swaying of a curtain where a watcher once stood. I could almost taste the grating deadbolt as the unseen slid it home. The crosshairs that tickled my back as I crept closer for just one more shot. These are private people.
As you scroll through my most recent work, you may actually hear the sound of banjos - I did...
In my initial posting, tight & wide, I establish the breadth of my camera. Its capabilities range from a wide open focal length of 6 mm to a "zoomed in" tight at 72 mm.
Next is my photo essay: Parade of Homes
There are roughly two hundred shots in all; I selected twelve to showcase. In all of them, my lens is wide open at 6 mm and the only variable is my proximity to my subject. This made for an interesting shoot. Most of these people were quite suspicious of why I was out there shooting, and you will see that I made sure not to cross into any of their yards. I did not trespass.
As a result, I did feel constricted by the "shoot wide" assignment and its limitations. Without the compression of a tight shot, many of my pics came back with too much visual noise. They appeared messy rather than artfully stacked. As a result, I had to choose my angles and distances carefully. I felt frustrated by the lack of depth.
With the lens wide open, I had virtually no depth of field to work with and felt hampered by the resulting flat aspect of these shots. While fitting it all into the frame, I found that often I was too far away for any of it to maintain the desired effect. The details had vanished in the distance.
That being said, I may have chosen poorly. In hindsight, I do believe that I would have done greater service if I had shot this at a safer distance, using my telephoto. I cannot tell you how many eyes were on me as I wandered these neighborhoods. Often I glanced up to see only the swaying of a curtain where a watcher once stood. I could almost taste the grating deadbolt as the unseen slid it home. The crosshairs that tickled my back as I crept closer for just one more shot. These are private people.
As you scroll through my most recent work, you may actually hear the sound of banjos - I did...
Parade of Homes
While shooting Parade of Homes, I was emotionally eviscerated when I finally realized that this wasn't just some simple exercise in capturing the local poverty and depravity by showcasing a handful of run down houses. For me, the most hearbreaking aspect of this essay - this experience - is that these houses are occupied.
This isn't a far-off slum in some newly emerging industrialized nation. This is next door and around the corner from you and I. I knew these people. I watched a friend emerge from the house I was shooting, walk across the filth laden courtyard, and enter the horror of a home I had just finished with. I do not think she recognized me. She did not meet my gaze.
tight & wide
tight:
f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 72 mm
wide:
f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 21 mm
These shots are consecutive and have not been altered in any way. I took these from exactly the same spot in the bracken. I wanted a visual representation of the range my Cannon PowerShot S31S was capable of before I began the "shoot wide" assignment. Choosing only two shots from this night was the most difficult part.
f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 72 mm
wide:f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 21 mm
These shots are consecutive and have not been altered in any way. I took these from exactly the same spot in the bracken. I wanted a visual representation of the range my Cannon PowerShot S31S was capable of before I began the "shoot wide" assignment. Choosing only two shots from this night was the most difficult part.
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