And, past overtime.........the real scull

After handing over assignment 4 to my tutor, I got the call. I could get access to a scull for a few hours.
The results:

Img.1 Shape

Img.2 Shape

Img. 3 form

Img.4 form

Img. 5 Structure

Img. 6. Structure

Img.7 Color

Img. 8 Color

Assignment 4: Applying lighting techniques

It was too difficult to get a real scull. I could get access to a laborotary if I had the time to wait a couple of  weeks.That was too long time for me to wait. They could however, lend me a copy of a scull in live size. I went for the copy.....

I have tried to use different lighting techniques to reveal shape, form, structure and colour.

The monochrome  images have been converted to have a TRI-X 400 look. I have always liked that film.

Shape

To light the scull in order to outline its shape, I wanted to show as little detail as possible. I chose to use one silhouette picture and one with a flat front light. The edges are more important then the detail in these images. The first photograph is lighted with a Speedlight and a small soft box.

The silhouette was created with a backlighted diffusion panel. The image was slightly underexposed in camera to get a dark enough shape.

Img.1

Flat, one source lighting

Img.2

Silhouette, back lit diffusion panel

Form

To show the form of the scull I tried to make it look as 3 dimensional as possible. I wanted to model the scull with light. I used One flash and mixed i with the ambient light. On one of the photographs I placed a small flash inside the scull to get a different kind of result.

Img.3

Balanced lighting, ambient light and flash with softbox.

Img. 4

Flash inside scull

Structure

To show the structure in the scull I decided to use side lighting. That will create shadows and highlights on the rough surface on the cranium. 

Img. 5

Side lighting, flash

Img. 6

Side lighting, flash

Colour

The color on the scull is not very saturated. To make the colour stand out a bit, I decided to place it on a blue backdrop. I warmed the scull slightly with a cto gel.  The white balance in the camera was set to 2500 K. The warm colour on the scull is complementary to the blue backdrop.

Img.7

Side lighting, warm flash

Img.8 

Side/front lighting, warm flash 

Assignment 5. Photography for a Magazine story

This is the photographs for assignment 5.
It is a story covering the medical emergency dispatchers in the second largest hospital in Norway.
I am NOT very good with text (certainly not in English)
so please have focus on my photography, not my writing skills :-)

Scetching for assignment 4

The cranium photography plan is coming along

The scull is now arranged for.

I have not killed anyone......and I have not been shopping on the Russian black marked.

I have just used my personal charm. (I have a lot.........)

That means a lot of studio photography and experimenting with light in near future...

Scetches......

Scetching for assignment 4

I have been doing some thinking about what object to use on this assignment. I am going to show shape, form, texture and color with various lightning techniques. After some thinking I have decided NOT to do it the easy way. I am going to use a human scull as a model.......
But sculls are not laying around in Norway. I guess that is a good thing, just not right now.
I will have to be creative:-)
For now scetches will have to do......

To be inspirited on the lightning I have read Light-Science and magic. By Fil Hunter, Steven Biver and Paul Fuqua.

It i a fantastic book I very much can recommend. It describes step by step how you light just about anything!

Art of photography-assignment 3

Color relationship

The use of colors in photography has always interested me, and I have been trying to use it as a part of the composition for many years. Colors are quite often bringing out feelings in humans, both happiness sorrow and anger. That means that you can get strong reactions by using colors clever in photography. I have spent so much time in the past using colors as a part of the composition, that I have included some archive photos I like in the assignment. I hope the photographs will show that I have had a clear focus on color combinations. 

About the photographs

Again, I have tried to use images that means something to me personal. I hope the images will give the viewer some of the feelings I have when I look at them. Some of the images are taken in New York in the Sandy aftermath where I worked as a volunteer after the storm struck. I found it more interesting to use images from this operation, rather then images from around the block.

I have also included some underwater photographs from a resent trip to the Red sea , where the colors are absolutely fantastic. I had this assignment in mind during the dives, and I tried to capture color combinations whenever I could. I like to travel, and most of the images are from travels around the world.

I have always loved the northern part of  Norway and have also included some images from this beautiful place. My family is from this area. 

Retouching and development

I use Adobe camera raw as my developer. I always shoot raw files to maintain the highest quality in the images. I have saturated some of the images slightly more than I normally do, to emphasize the point.

Although not more then 25 percent. I also do some adjustments to the contrasts. 

Equipment

I have mainly used a Nikon D800 and my spare camera Nikon D300. The underwater images was shot with the D300 in an Ikelite underwater housing. I also use two external flash strobes under water to capture the colors. 

What I have learned

I have enjoyed the assignment very much. It has taken some time, but in-between work, family and other photography assignments, it is natural. The assignment has given me the opportunity to learn more thoroughly about the color relationship. I am certain that I will have more focus on the subject in the future. I hope you will enjoy looking at my photographs

Complementary colors

Colors opposite of each other seems to work very nice together. You can say they have some sort of chemistry. They are pleasing to the eye and add some interest to the image.

  img.1

Img.2

Img.3

Img.4

Simular Colors

Colors next to ear other or near each other on the color wheel . You can call them similar colors if you like. They are relatively easy easy to find in nature. Setting sun, cool winter evenings, or blue-green tones in the ocean often gives this kind of color relationship. 

Img.5

Img.6

Img.7

Img.8

Contrasting colors

Contrasting colors du not necessarily match each other. It is a color that stand out

Img.9

Img.10

Img.11

Color accent

To capture color accent you can use any of the color combinations. A small object with a different color 

then the surroundings will get attention. 

Img.12

Img.13

Img.14

Feedback on assignment 2

I am quite happy with the feedback from my tutor, and I think it will move me in the right direction

Tutors feedback

Overall Comments

Thank you for your submission, which includes a series of 14 uploaded images to your blog and 14 associated prints. The images that you have submitted are very well observed and illustrate some experience and a keen eye for composition.

This is a very good submission - you have taken great care to produce work that is considered, stimulating to look at and that meets the criteria that is laid out in the assignment.

One point I would make is that you need to start expanding the vocabulary of the photography that you are looking at. Although your work is effective, if you want it to be taken seriously, it would benefit from a more contemporary conceptual approach. At the moment the ideas are a bit staid. I have recommended a few artists below for you to look at.

Feedback on assignment

One point

An effective composition that gives the viewer an idea of depth and scale. The image evokes a sense of calm and tranquility reflected in the still water. The rock is positioned well, slightly to the right of the frame so that it is not too obviously central, and this aids the ideas encapsulated in the image.

At the moment there is too much space in the foreground. Would it be worth moving the camera up slightly so that there is less water in the foreground? By shielding the lower ¼ of the image you will see that the composition becomes much stronger with the rock standing out more within the landscape.

Two points

This is a very similar composition to the above image. The sense of calm and tranquility are also in evidence here. The rocks are positioned well within the fame, using the space well with the foreground rock slightly to left of centre and the background rock slightly right of centre.

However in this case there may be not enough space in the foreground. Would it be worth either stepping back slightly or pointing the camera down slightly?

Several points in a deliberate shape

Again an effective composition with your use of space achieved by placing the foreground object well to the left of centre.

Although you have deliberately used a small aperture here it would be worth experimenting with a wider aperture so that you could try a different depth of field. Allowing the background to become softer can be a good way to try to experiment with shapes. Also would be worth placing object on the left slightly further in the frame.

A combination of vertical and horizontal lines

Wonderful photo with a great use of foreground detail. You have placed the sun in a good position and the exposure is finely balanced to capture some detail in the foreground. Well done.

Diagonals 1

Good use of lines in this image. The walkway acts as a good line to draw in the viewer to the image. The use of black and white is effective here and aids the highly geometrical nature of the image. Would recommend perhaps raising the camera slightly to see a bit more of the faces as the crop is a bit too pronounced.

Diagonals 2

An effective use of angles that gives the viewer a dynamic view of the spices. You have used depth of field to  good effect here too – as well as the diagonal lines leading the viewer into the frame, the plane of focus does the same.

Curves 1 and 2

Good use of colour and depth of field. The blue armbands and shorts are an effective echo of the blue water, contrasting well with the red. Again, we have an effective use of depth of field here too that allows the figure to stand out from the background, accentuating the curves.

The detail on the dragonfly is excellent – the head and legs are all in focus but the depth of field is soft enough to allow the leaf to fall gently out of focus to accentuate the curve. Excellent imaging well done.

Distinct, even if irregular, shapes

An obvious choice but it works well within the criteria on the brief.

Implied triangle 1

Great use of lighting and composition.

Implied triangle 2

The close focus works well to form a triangle

Rhythm

Interesting to see the sunflowers in black and white instead of colour – a brave choice that works well. It is worth experimenting more like this to challenge expectations.

Rhythm 2

Like you acknowledge in your blog, its not as strong as the previous sunflower image, but there is a theme that works.

Pattern

Effective use of space, and a well made photo but not sure it really is about pattern?

Learning logs/critical essays

Generally your comments are interesting to read and help inform the work. I would suggest that you try to evaluate your images more in depth – be more self critical and describe how you would improve them.