Rebekah Day - Location: 2013

Sunday, 1 September 2013

UN Water Cooperation Images

Water Cooperation

My image for water cooperation is about connection and support, the individuals represent the intention of the UN and their attempt to provide clean water to places that are less fortunate. Natural light was chosen to create a soft, natural look to the subjects and the positioning of the hands created balance in the image and laid more emphasis to the subject matter of water being transfered.

Water Is The Future

My approach to "water is the future" is emphasising the importance and role that water itself plays on the natural world. Water allows plants to grow and without water there are simply no plants, meaning no food for animals and people. My image explains the importance and potential water has in effecting out future and the impact water has for the future of the natural world.

Water Is Life

The concept behind the image "water is life" is expressing how water is essential to the lives of all organisms of the world, to the extent that water itself gives life, it controls our very being. The human brain is made up of 85% water and without water, consciousness would not exist, we would not exist.
My image shows the conceptual idea of water giving birth to life.

Saturday, 31 August 2013

Location Research and Proposal

Corporate Group Portrait

For my group corporate shoot, I'll be photography a handful of managers from the Dendy Premium Lounge.

The shoot will be taken within the lounge and feature the lounge room. the head manager has agreed to allow me to photograph 4 of the managers, including himself.

A date is still yet to be discussed as managers work different work hours.

The managers will be situated in in a line lengthways (i will most likely try a few different formations) with a simple light set up with 2 portable flashes, situated 45 degrees and 135 degrees from both the end managers.

(the lighting and formation may change because it is ver vague-sounding)

Example of formation

Corporate Single Portrait

For my single corporate i will be using one of the managers from the group portrait and photograph them most likely in the Premium lounge.

the individual who will be photographed will most likely be either the head manager Ryan or Katheryn, one of the other mangers.
I have decided to use only a single light source for my single portrait as it will be indoors with ambient lights.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Creative Editorial

While searching images from VanityFair magazine, there was a certain theme that occurred through many of the 'Hollywood' spreads. Women were represented in a very vintage and classical style which i have decided to attempt to recreate in my creative editorial.

I have decided to have a vintage 40s shoot outdoors of an 'upcoming celebrity who is being featured in Vanity Fair as a modern role model for sexy and confident women.'

I have organised with a friend who is a Makeup artist to model in exchange for images towards her own portfolio.

A dark blue satin gown and mink coat will be worn, the model is providing her own makeup and hair-styling.

The location of the shoot is going to be at Old Parliament Gardens and will be shot in the morning, my first shoot has been planned for this Friday 13th September.

Examples of Vanity fair's 'vintage style shoots'

(image above is very close to my idea)

(images above show the style of vintage hollywood glamour)

Environmental Editorial

Drag Queen

A friend of mine knows a drag performer Named Frangelina Jolie (awesome name) for Cube nightclub.

I've contacted him and he has agreed to be photographed. I'm planning to call up CUBE Nightclub to organisepossibly a quiet period of time where i can photography Frangelina in the nightclub before it is crouded, with all the stobes and use my own flash to wok as an above hollywood lighting. the idea is to create the a sense of performance where you know that the person is there to perform.

Roller Derby

My old photography teacher from college has agreed to let me photography her during one of her roller derby training sessions in costume or training gear to show her love for the sport.

The shoot will be at the training place where they also do tournaments in Tuggeranong.

Lighting wise for shooting I will have 2 flashes, one main light and one flash illuminating from behind.

Date to shoot is yet to be discussed.

------------------------

Wednesday, 14 August 2013

Bounce Flash Exercise

E-TTL Mode on a Canon 430 ex II

Direct Flash

f/11, @1/125s, ISO100, 32mm on flash and lens.

Bounced Off White Wall

f/5.6, 1/125s, ISO100 32mm on flash and lens.

Bounce Flash Off Ceiling

f/5.6, 1/125s, ISO100 32mm on flash and lens.

Bounce Off Colour Wall

f/8, 1/125s, ISO100 32mm on both flash and lens.

--------------

And some non-related extra shooting and developing!

---------------------------------------------

Monday, 5 August 2013

Portable Flash Research!

For choosing my very first portable flash, I would like a flash that is "mid-range." In terms of mid-range, a flash that is beyond a basic or beginners flash as i would feel limited to it's functions, and also not a flash that is high-end as i am limited by price and for a first portable flash, I do not think I would use it to its fullest extent and would be more valuable in the future.

The aspects I would like for my first flash would be:
-Affordability, something within my low budget, I would consider no more than $300.

-A decent G/N, between 24-41.

-A TTL function to assist with determining proper exposure.

-Zoom head, as it would help to compensate for the crop factor of my 1100D.

-AF assist beam, so I have the option of auto focus in low light.

-Easy to recharge and has a reasonably fast recycle time.

-Canon brand, as I'm not yet comfortable in purchasing brand alternatives.

Portable Flash 1:

Canon 430EX II

The Canon 430EX II, considered to be "one of the most popular DSLR accessories available" (the-digital-picture.com). Released in 2008, the 430EX II is a mid-range flash of the canon ex series and an improved model from the Canon 430EX, with more features.

Online, the flash unit's price ranges from $300-$370 brand new and $180-$250 second hand (used).

---------------------

Portable Flash 2:

Canon 320EX

Another flash included in the Canon EX series "Offering additional functionality, the new Speedlite 320EX is the ideal flash unit for amateurs and professionals looking for a secondary flash." (dpreview.com)

Canon 320EX was released in 2011 as a new addition to the EX series without exceeding any previous model (e.g. the 580EX, 580 EX II and 430EX, 430EX II).

The flash was designed for beginners to be able to be more creative with light without the limited functions of entry-level flash such as the 270EX II. The flash unit's price ranges from $210-$330 brand new and $175-$260 second hand (used).

Specs

Model information
Brand	Canon	Canon
Model	320EX	430EX II
Class	mid-range	mid-range
First introduction	2011	2008
Successor	none yet	none yet
Available new?	yes	yes
Output specs
Guide number spec (35mm, ISO 100, in meters)	24	31
Guide number test result	27.9	34
Flash duration spec (full power)	unspecified	unspecified
Recycle time spec (full power)	2.3 sec	3.0 sec alkaline, 2.0 sec NiMH
Recycle time test result	3.3 sec alkaline, 2.3 sec NiMH	3.3 sec alkaline, 2.0 sec NiMH
Wireless Flash (OCF)
Manual power settings	no manual mode	1/1 – 1/2 – 1/4 – 1/8 – 1/16 – 1/32 – 1/64
PC sync port	no	no
Optical slave	no	no
Other trigger	wireless TTL slave mode	wireless TTL slave mode
Trigger voltage	4.45 V	4.5 V (measured)
Standby mode	configurable (C.Fn-01)	can be deactivated
Flash features
Swivel flash head	-180 to +90 degrees	-180 to +90 degrees
Flash head tilt	0 to +90 degrees	0 to +90 degrees
Manual zoom head	24 + 50	(14) 24 – 105
Auto zoom	24 + 50 (no auto zoom)	(14) 24 – 105
Bounce card / 2nd reflector	no / no	no / no
LCD display	no	yes
Flash foot material, type	metal, standard ISO (Canon)	metal, standard ISO (Canon)
Power supply
Batteries used	4 x AA	4 x AA
External power source	no	no
Nikon TTL
D-TTL	na	na
i-TTL	na	na
CLS wireless slave	na	na

Canon TTL
E-TTL(II)	yes	yes
E-TTL(II) wireless slave	yes	yes
E-TTL(II) wireless master	no	no
TTL features
AF assist beam	yes (flash tube / LED in live view)	yes (dual beam LED)
Stroboscopic mode	no	no (only in wireless slave mode)
Exposure compensation on the flash	no	-3 to +3 EV
Sensor size detection	no	yes
Modeling light	yes	yes
High speed sync	yes	yes

Comparisons

when both flash models are sided, the Canon 430EX II is ultimately the higher-end model;

With a guide number of 31 (at 35mm), larger than the 320EX's GN of 24, which means it is capable of covering more distance. The 430EX II also has a manual mode on the flash unit which can control the output of the flash. As the 320EX has only two options of focal length (24-50mm), the latter has a focal range from 24-105mm with 14 points inbetween to allow better flash compatibility with various types of lenses. the 430EX II also has a LCD display screen to view settings and a sensor detection.
Though the 430EX II may have its advantages, the 320EX is still a quality flash unit, weighing slightlty less an d more affordable if considering buying brand new as the starting price is $90 less than the 430EX II.

the 320EX I would say is an upgrade from the 270EX, without diving straight towards 430EX II.

After all the comparisons, I would have to consider the Canon 430EX II, not that 320EX is any less good, but the 430EX II would be more suited to my camera as the sensor size detector would help with my current camera body and it's crop factor, and the flexibility for future purchase of a full framed body. though more expensive at full price, purchasing second hand is virtually similar in price (possibly due to the 430EX II being a slightly older model).

Canon 430EX II would be my portable flash unit of choice.

Bibliography:
-http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/02/07/canonspeedlights Copyright © 1998 - 2013 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, 28 July 2013

Semester 2!

Portrait task!

Portrait 1:

Model: Amelia

Location: ANU courtyard

As my model has a very romantic appearance, I chose to photograph her around ANU campus as they have nice, open, greenery (and because she attends there and it became a convenient place).

I wanted a soft and feminine image and trees to diffuse the midday light with bokeh effect to separate her from the backdrop.

50mm, ISO 100, f/1.8 @ 1/2500.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portrait2:
Model: Bianca
Location: L1 Balcony, Canberra Centre

Bianca has a very warm, bright & energetic personality, and I wanted to express
those aspects in her portrait. I found a balcony where sunset light fell directly on the balcony area, so I decided to shoot Bianca there to have lovely, bright rim lighting.
-Unfortunately on the day, the shoot began later on during sunset and there wasn't a lot of bright, warm light. That said, the shoot turned out just as well, eve without the intend light.

50mm, ISO400, f/2.8 @ 1/125.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 20 April 2013

Documentary Project, More Refined!

For My Documentary Assignment I will be photographing Civic nightlife.

The Ideas is to capture different sections of an evening, throughout multiple evenings and narrow the images down to form a small series, structured as one evening.

The Nightlife of almost every city or bustled area have the good, the bad and the ugly, which can be very entertaining seen from an outwardly perspective, but most of the time, it can be very nostalgic.

There are many aspects of civic nightlife; there are bars and pubs, people dine out, bands perform, clubs and there's also a large social benefit within the experience of nightlife.

Based on my experience of the nightlife, I chose to photograph areas around civic area based on it's own quirks. To mention some would be; multicultural restaurant places, the bazaar people outside of Cube night club, crowds of police along city walk, food stands that sell the most horrible looking food and all the garbage in the interchange that seems to disappear the very next day. I want to photograph all aspects of an evening; from sunset to early evening and from late evening to sunrise.

I have also chosen to shoot from outside the facilities, one being that there is more that occurs in the streets than within facilities (also because I don't trust my camera gear near intoxicated people and I don't want my gear to be confiscated).

The sections are of the different periods of the evening; part 1 being the section of the evening that begins with sunset and peak hour for public workers.

And the final section, part 6, being the final stage of the evening where the streets are cleared of people and cleaners clear the chaos of the evening to start a whole new day.

The days I have chosen to shoot are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Some days are more suited for different sections of an evening e.g. Thursdays are considered Uni night, where most places such as bars and pubs cater for Uni students with reduced drinks, which results in a lot of binge drinking. There are lots of Public Servants who go out after work on Fridays, Saturdays have the most populated streets and Sunday mornings are the most quiet of the whole week.

Shooting different days for different sections also allows me to narrow my focus to that specific section and also to not spend long hours out within the the possible chaos.

-----------------------------------------------

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Recreation Task!

For my recreation task, I chose two black and white images;
One that is old and well know, and another more modern image that I cannot even source the original photographers name.

----------------------------------

Sunbaker by Max Dupain -1937

1/800, f8, ISO200

My friend Lucas, shot at Commonwealth Park.

The original image was shot at a beach, within midday-early afternoon light an as
there are some differences that have occurred, my aim was to match subject matter.

I was quite happy with the main subject though, highlights are featured in similar sections and the position of the subject closely matches the original.

-------------------------------------

Sourced this image from a flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/funky64/3657474763/

The name the the image was given was 'Blue Eyes -The Ring' -what ever that means (everything else is written in Spanish) and was also photographed in 2009, so the Flickr person claims.

1/200s, f11, ISO200

My Sister Gabby, shot in the kiddy pool at Civic's Aquatic Centre.

The original image is shot at what appears to be a pool with one frontal light created from flash.

I was also happy with my final result, the image isn't exact as the angle is lower and the backdrop is much softer with less highlights in the original. be as it may, the contrast and mood of both the images are quite similar.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Documentary Task: Kings Ave Bridge

----------------------------------------------------------------------------