ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

Photography and Saigon

It's my first day of Basic Photography at Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI). Started with lectures about photography, different types of camera, exposure, shutter speed, etc. Although, we went outside the class for a few minutes to demonstrate/practice taking pictures of special conditions like shooting a black subject, a white subject, etc.

These are the new things I've learned:

• Think like a camera and not what you like to see.


• When setting-up your equipment, just use your two fingers so as not to "force" locking or switching of mechanisms.


• Focal length of a lens determine the size of the image that is formed on the film or sensor. f/n where f=focal length, e.g. for 200mmm, an f/4 is 200/4 or 50mm opening.


• For digital camera, there is magnification. For film camera, using 200mm focal length is 200mm. For digital camera with 1.5 magnification, using 200mm focal length is actually 300mm (200mm x 1.5 magnification), that is, if lens is not for digital.


• If camera cannot focus using auto-focus, change to manual; or use an object to focus of same distance as subject.


• The slowest hand-held speed should be about the same fraction or smaller (faster) as the focal length in millimeters.


• To know if properly exposed: (a) Look at the brightest parts of the image and see if there are details; else, overexposed. (b) Look at the shadow and see if there are details; if not, underexposed.


• Meters indicate the "correct" exposure as one that will set the subject in a mid-tone (18% gray), between light and dark.


• For portraits: 85-135mm focal length at f/4 and f/5.6.


• For landscape: use smallest possible opening, e.g. f/22.


• Panning: When choosing a subject to pan, choose a background that is busy. Panning is successful if you choose a shutter speed of 1/30 of a second or slower. Tips: Focus on the subject, click, follow-thru.


• Waves are better taken with a fast shutter speed, falls with a slow shutter speed.


• For traffic at night, get the reading of the (background) buildings for exposure.


• For fireworks, use bulb, shutter cable release and lens with hood, click to close the shutter when fireworks explode.


• As you take a picture, "crop" it before taking the shot and not "crop" it after (post-processing).


• When using a tripod, be sure one leg is infront and the two legs are at the back as it would prevent tilting of the camera to the front (with the lens providing a bigger weight).

For contrasty situations:

• Subject against bright background, i.e., person against white wall, sand, sea, sky or snow. Solution: Increase exposure by 1 to 2 stops.


• Subject against dark background, i.e., person against a foliage in deep shadow or dark building. Solution: Decrease exposure by 1 to 2 stops.


• Bright subject, i.e., woman in a wedding dress. Solution: Increase exposure by 1 to 2 stops.


• Dark subject, i.e., a dark person or person in dark suit. Solution: Decrease exposure by 1 or 2 stops.


• When you include a lot of sky in the picture, i.e., landscape with grass. Solution: Take a reading of the ground and use it.


• When you include a bright light source in the frame, i.e., sunset. Solution: Take a reading of the sky without the sun and use that reading.


• When you shoot into the light source, i.e., backlit. Solution: Increase 2 to 3 stops.


• Shooting in bright summer day and mid-day with exposure range more than 7 stops. Solution: Decide which is important, the shadow or the highlights.

Black subject

White subject

Since I was wearing a black shirt, I have to endure having my picture taken... haayyyyy! (So I can also try my hand in taking a picture of a black subject, I took the picture of one of the students wearing black.) This is to demonstrate that you should underexpose when taking pictures of black subjects as the camera balances out the whole scene to gray. Thus, the black subject turns lighter. To get the correct color, one should underexpose.

As for a white subject, one should overexpose.

After class, went my way to Aberdeen at Makati Avenue, where our Christmas Party will be held. But first, stopped by Tropical Hut to eat their classic hamburger.

As usual, I am the unofficial-official videographer. Took videos of each competing unit's presentation.

The theme is Broadway. The first to present is the 5th floor for Oliver Twist. The second to present is the 7th floor for Miss Saigon. The third to present is the 6th floor for The Phantom of the Opera. And the last but not the least, is the 4th floor for Grease.

Although there are two ongoing competitions, the Belen-Making and the Christmas presentation, the highlight seems to be the Christmas presentation.

For the Belen-Making, the winners are (from winner to fourth place) 6th floor, 4th floor, 7th floor and 5th floor.

For the Christmas Presentation, the ranking are (from winner to fourth place) 7th floor (Miss Saigon), 4th floor (Grease), 6th floor (Phantom of the Opera) and 5th floor (Oliver Twist).

We won!!!! Yes!

posted by ~GFA~ @ 12/12/2006 10:58:00 PM