Week 4- Focal Points

Really quick, here are my assignments for this week:

f/4.9
1/80
ISO-200
40 mm




f/1.4
1/250
ISO-400
50 mm
(I took this with my NEW lens! Yippee! 50 mm 1.4--check out that awesome background blur!)

Week 3- Manual Mode

I have to say I was completely overwhelmed this week...I had to read the lesson on Manual Mode about 3 times before I got brave enough to even switch the dial on my camera to M. But I finally did. And I started taking pictures. And now I think I am in love with Manual mode.

Here is my assignment picture....


1/80
f/4.5
ISO-400
34 mm

For our creative assignment we were supposed to try to illustrate an emotion or feeling. I love having peace in my home and life, so I cleared off my kitchen table, grabbed a little jelly jar with some lavender hyacinths in it and started snapping away (in manual mode). This was my favorite of the bunch:


1/50
f/4.5
ISO-800
28 mm

And this is what my teacher thought...

My teacher, Candice, left me the nicest comment about my open aperture pencil picture (see below)! Here is what she said:

candice*stringham

[Mar 20, 2009 at 11:37 PM]

I think this image is lovely! All the tones work so well together and there is just something about new pencils that is almost romantic isn't there? Anyway, you did a good job picking out the apertures. I think the reason on the closed aperture you were having a hard time is because when the aperture is so closed you have to let in light other ways and that means a really slow shutter speed. And as you know from lesson one a slow shutter speed equals camera shake. I think that was probably what was happening. If you turn up you iso it will help or if you open your aperture a little or if you moved to brighter light or use a tripod. Any of those things will help. But I must say I think you have an eye for this!

I am very proud! I feel like I just got a gold star on my forehead!

Assignment #2

This week's lesson was on aperture...a good thing, since this is something that has always confused me. An open (large) aperture lets in more light, and usually uses a faster shutter speed, resulting in a blurred background...
1/50
f/3.5
ISO-400
22 mm

A closed (small) aperture is a smaller opening, meaning less light and longer shutter speed, things are more in focus, even in the background...1/6
f/10
ISO-400
24 mm

This is not the best example...see how the background is still a little blurred? But there is a difference between the two.

The confusing this is that a large aperture is a smaller number and a small aperture is a big number. Less is more.

Right now I only have the kit lens for my camera (I just ordered a new lens...I am excited!). It doesn't allow for a very large aperture, so in low light it doesn't do very well. Which is too bad, because I take a lot of pictures inside. I took this picture outside in the middle of the day and I love how it turned out...my baby didn't really want me taking her picture. She wanted me to push her on the swing.

1/1600
f/5.6
ISO-400
50 mm

Photography class assignment #1

I started taking an online photography class this week and am already learning so much! Here are the pictures I posted for assignment 1. This week's lesson is on shutter speed. The first picture is a slow shutter speed:

f/36
1/50
ISO-400
46mm

The second is with a high shutter speed:


f/10
1/500
ISO-400
52mm

Both were taken in natural light with a Canon Digital Rebel Xti. See the difference? A few days ago I could not have told you how to do this. Hee hee. Learning is sooo fun!