Week 2
The Artistry of the Lens
Photographic example of pattern.
Stairs at Fort Worden State Park.
Welcome to Week 2. This week you will be learning "the artistry of the lens," creating compositions that use design elements and principles to hold the viewer's attention. You will explore balance, framing, pattern, and reflection. Before you begin, be sure to review the examples in the course presentation. As with every assignment, be sure to take a lot of photographs for each shot, and then pick the best images from the pool. This is called editing. A good rule of thumb is to take 10 frames of each composition.
As you explore the art of the lens, narrow down the best images for submission and check for characteristics of strong images, including proper and intentional focus and exposure, a clear focal point, and intentional framing. The more you photograph, the easier this will become.
Additionally, you will perform another type of editing, called image editing, in which you resize the images for the discussion and Dropbox. You may do slight color balance adjustments, or convert your image to black and white, but avoid cropping or using dramatic post-processing edits, such as filters. Focus instead on controlling the camera and using the art of the lens to lead your work.
Weekly Objectives
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Learn proper digital camera operation.
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Learn proper resample techniques.
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Present digital photographs using basic design principles.
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Identify the fundamental design elements and know how to use them effectively.
Activities
Readings
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A Short Course in Digital Photography
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Chapter 2: Lens
Activities
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Discussion 2
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Shooting Assignment 2
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Quiz 2
Relationship Between the Objects and Photographers
Example of the importance of spatial arrangements in photography. Barn with blackberry brambles overgrowing it.
Consider spatial relationships of objects as you take photographs this week. Photographers are often asked to take photographs of subjects in a variety of locations. In some circumstances, the photographer can only document the action that is taking place from a fixed position. There are assignments, however, that allow the photographer to control all the various aspects of the photographic session. The subjects can be moved and various lenses can be used to record the scene and produce an image.
As a photographer, consider the relationship between the subject and the environment. When photographing, try to define the subject of the photograph by having a point of view or focal point. Consider what objects are fixed and what can be moved. If you cannot move the object, move your camera around the object. Consider how changes in camera settings, such as zooming the lens in and out, will alter the spatial relationship between objects in the photograph.
Five Basic Composition Techniques
Select the play icon, or use the Enter key to watch the video.
This video will help you to learn the artistry of the lens. It gives you an opportunity to explore the art of the camera lens through composition studies.
Conclusion
This week helped you start building a foundation in design. Through the process of editing your images and choosing the best ones for submission, you helped develop your eye as a photographer. This is the heart of learning lens-based arts. Using your camera, you learned the basics of photographic design, making photographs that extract design from the natural world. Anytime you feel like you need a creativity pick-me-up, you can turn to your camera to explore design. Even professional photographers practice isolating design. This is an essential step in learning to produce strong images and cannot be replaced by post-processing edits.