The following is a direct copy and has been Pasted in for future reference from the Art of Photography coursework PDF Doc. (pasted in Maroon)
4 – 6 images for the first part; 3 for the second part; minimum 2 for the third part
For the first part of this exercise you will photograph the same view in sunlight and under cloud. You can do this at different times or on different days, but the easiest time is on a day when individual clouds are drifting across the sun. If it is windy, so much the better, as the light will change more rapidly. Choose two or three different subjects, such as a building, a person, and a street scene. Note the difference in exposures. Keep the white balance set to sunlight/daylight.
Put the pairs of images together. How many f-stops’ difference was there between the sunny and cloudy versions? Is there a colour difference? You should be able to see that the cloudy shots are very slightly bluer.
When clouds cover the sun, the shadows are softer and the shadow edges less distinct. So the subject is more evenly lit but not so definitely ‘modelled’ – it looks flatter, with a less obvious form. Which effect in each part looks better to you? Sometimes, hard shadows are distracting or confusing; at other times they bring out texture. Look at the portrait on the previous page; it was taken in diffused, cloudy light. Would it have been different if taken on a sunny day? Do you think sunlight would have been an improvement, or not? Look through your library of photographs to date and identify one or two taken on cloudy days that you can definitely say would not have been better in sunlight. Why not?
For the second part of the exercise take three photographs outdoors, on an overcast day, that make good use of the enveloping, shadowless light. Look for some detail that has pronounced relief, such as the gnarled roots of an old tree. Also, look for an object with a strong colour.
For the third part of the exercise, you will need rain. If most people feel that dull weather is less than ideal for photography, rain is normally thought to be quite unsuitable. This is when photography usually stops altogether. But why should it? Most cameras can stand a little wetting, and rain only means some discomfort. More to the point, rain can produce interesting visual effects: glistening pavements, lots of reflections, patterns of raindrops on glass, ringlets as rain strikes water, a misty appearance to landscapes, and so on. A rainbow is a special bonus.
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Equipment
Nikon D4
Canon G10
200 – F2 Prime lens
24/70 – f2.8 lens
80 / 400 – f4.5-5.6 lens
Tripod & Monopod
Method & Approach
Please see pictures and captions below.
Note – all pictures have been compressed hence there might be a quality reduction when enlarging.
Part 1
Photograph the same view in sunlight and under cloud.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Pictures 1 & 2 – A field of Dandy Lions
Picture 1 – Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera positioned on a tripod)
Speed 1/4 second
Aperture f22.0
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 200 Prime
Focal Length 200mm
Picture 2 – Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera positioned on a tripod)
Speed 1/15th second
Aperture f22.0
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 200 Prime
Focal Length 200mm
Comments – These two pictures are identical, their only difference is Picture one was taken with the sun behind cloud and picture two (taken slightly later) was taken in broad sunlight. To emphasise the colour and light difference, I took both pictures looking in the direction of the sun. With the camera facing this direction it creates an even greater difference in “f-stops” compared to the sun being behind the camera, this approach resulted in a difference of 2 stops.
Picture 3
Picture 4
Pictures 3 & 4 – Bluebells
Picture 3 – Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera handheld)
Speed 1/180 second
Aperture f4.0
ISO 640
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Picture 4 – Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera handheld)
Speed 1/500th second
Aperture f4.0
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – It was unfortunate and due to weather conditions that these two pictures were taken on different days and to be precise about a week later. The first picture was taken on a very overcast day and the second a very bright sunny spring afternoon. Although these two picture are not identical the difference between them is 4 stops.
Part 2
Take three photographs outdoors, on an overcast day, that make good use of the enveloping, shadowless light.
Picture 5
Picture 5 – Lakeside Tree Stumps
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera positioned on a monopod)
Speed 1/160th sec
Aperture f4.8
ISO 160
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 100mm
Comments – This picture was taken on a bright but overcast day which has produced an evenly lit picture with very slight shadow and depth. Although we can see texture and depth in the bark of the tree stubs the effect would have been greater under sunnier conditions creating a less flat look.
Picture 6
Picture 6 – Residential Houses at Windsor Castle
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera handheld)
Speed 1/160th sec
Aperture f5.0
ISO 320
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 24mm
Comments – This picture was taken inside the grounds of Windsor Castle on a very unpredictable day. At the time of capture the rain had just stopped and as we can see the light conditions are very flat and even creating a picture without shadow. These conditions have lent themselves towards capturing an image where we are able to see the details under the lower roof line. In the event of trying to capture the same picture from this angle in bright sunlight these areas would become very dark and difficult to photograph without supplementary light or reflectors.
Picture 7
Picture 7 – A newly flowered Magnolia
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera positioned on a monopod)
Speed 1/750th sec
Aperture f2.0
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 200 Prime
Focal Length 200mm
Comments – This picture was taken on one of those days that looked promising in the morning but after driving to the location (Westonbirt Arboretum) the weather turned from bright to overcast. In this picture the weather conditions have given opportunity to capture this magnolia flower with a somewhat flat but pleasing result. The subject lends itself to fairly strong colours where we see light pastels in the flower and sibling new bud with harder dark browns in the supporting tree branch. In the event of capturing this shot during brilliant sunlight the petals would almost certainly be blown out with very little opportunity to capture the visual detail we see here.
Part 3
Take two photographs in rainy conditions.
Picture 8
Picture 8 – Rain Drops
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (camera positioned on a mini tripod)
Speed 1/8th sec
Aperture f2.8
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – In this part of the exercise I tried hard to capture something simple with rain drops but at the same time something interesting. The picture was taken of a plant in my back garden and in doing so I did get very wet but I’m very happy with the result. I particularly like the large globules of water that have settled on the foliage
Picture 9
Picture 9 – Night time reflections
Camera Details
Camera Canon G10 (camera handheld)
Speed 1/250th sec
Aperture f8.0
ISO 200
White Balance Setting Tungsten (2850°K)
Lens 28/140mm
Focal Length 28mm
Comments – This picture was taken outside a shopping centre and fast food area after a sudden downpour. What I like in this picture is the reflected reds and yellows from the overhead shop lights, it has an even warmer appeal due to it being night time.
What have I learnt from this exercise
Having completed this exercise I have learnt to apply myself to conditions other than just sunny days and evenings. I did get soaked in my garden taking one of the above pictures but with a little thought and imagination I have managed to capture something outside of the ordinary box, and as the exercise states why should photography stop when it rains
Thoughts and Reflection
I have a new respect for rain and reflections on paving stones, its not everyday photography but this is exactly what keeps this art form alive. Once again, I have enjoyed this exercise and with it photographing subjects outside of fair weather is yet again another of my new approaches to photography and taking better, more interesting pictures.
To summarise, in the future I must not be afraid of taking the camera out in the wet (within reason) and with this … be more experimental!
stingray493 