RAW versus JPEG Format in photography

Overview: We will begin shooting all of our photos in this class in RAW format starting in the Second Six weeks. Before we do, we need to understand the advantages of shooting in RAW format.

Directions: Create a new blog entry titled "RAW vs. JPEG" and complete parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 below.

Part 1: 

Check the following link to read a discussion about the differences between a RAW file format and a JPEG file format.

http://digital-photography-school.com/raw-vs-jpeg

Find the list of characteristics for each file type and answer the following questions:

What are three advantages of a RAW file:

What is one disadvantage of a RAW file: 

What are three advantages of a JPEG file:

What is one disadvantage of a JPEG file:

Part 2: 

Now that you have read about both file types:

1. Write your own one sentence definition of what a JPEG file is.

2. Write your own one sentence definition of what a RAW file is.


Part 3:

Read the following explanation about why photographers would shoot using RAW file format at the link below and answer the following questions:

http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/post-processing-articles/quick-tip-what-is-raw-and-why-might-you-need-it/

1. Under the first heading "Capturing the Images," how much of the data does a RAW file retain after it is captured by the camera?

2. Under the second heading "Processing the Files," what are some of the things that a RAW file enables a photographer to edit after the image is taken?

3. Under the third heading "Practicalities," what are some of the factors that photographers must consider when deciding to shoot in RAW?

4. Under the fourth heading "Which one is for you?" why would an aspiring professional photographer need to know how to work with RAW files?

Part 4: 

1. Make a list of three occasions it would be better to shoot in RAW.

2. Make a list of three occasions it would be better to shoot in JPEG.

Lightroom Video Link:

We are going to watch a video about how Raw works on the front screen.

Here is a link to the video: http://easy-exposure.com/photography-lessons/lesson14-raw-vs-jpeg/

Post your Sunny 16

Overview: Time to post your Sunny 16 photos.

Directions: Post all 16 of your  Sunny 16 photos on you blog. Please make sure they posted in order so that it matches the Tracking Sheet.

Label each photo like the Example below:

Shot 1
Lighting Pattern: Front Lighting Sunny 16
Lighting Condition: Mostly Sunny
ISO: 100
F/Stop: F16
Shutter Speed: 1/125

Image goes under label


Shot 2
Lighting Pattern: Front Lighting Equivalent Exposure 1
Lighting Condition: Mostly Sunny
ISO: 100
F/Stop: F11
Shutter Speed: 1/250

Image goes under label

College Plans Survey

Help out The Eagle's Eye by completing a quick 10-question survey about your college plans. The results are anonymous and will be included in the next issue of The Eagle's Eye.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GJD325G

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT: 1st Six Weeks Free Shoot

Overview: Once a six weeks, you will have a major grade assignment to do a photo shoot that helps you reach your goal to become a professional commercial photographer.

Think back to the type of photography that you said you wanted to learn how to do at the beginning of this six weeks. Make a list of the equipment you will need to achieve this. Make a plan on how you can achieve this photo.

Directions: For this assignment you can change your mind if you want to do something else, but you must answer the following questions before you do your shoot.

In a new blog post titled "Free Shoot Planning" answer these questions:

1. Post an example of the type of photography that you want to emulate?
2. What is your subject? 
3. Where will you shoot it?
4. Indoors or outdoors?
5. What time of day?
6. What type of lighting?
7. What equipment will you need?
8. How many photos will your shoot result in (minimum 3)?

Grading Criteria:

1. All images maximally support the idea or concept of the shoot. Images have a clear subject and communicate a story.

2. The work utilizes the camera in a way that seeks to reveal or discover the nature of the subject at hand by using point-of-view (interesting angles), depth-of-field, shutter speed, etc.

3. The work demonstrates mastery over image composition (clean backgrounds, balance, patterns, etc.).

4. Utilizes light effectively in creating mood or meaning in the photographs.

5. Work contains evidence of inventive conceptual and/or technical problem-solving in support of the artistic concept.

6. Work is free of unintentional technical mistakes in exposure, mergers and other distracting objects in frame.

Flipwork: Sunny 16 or Basic Exposure Constant (BEC)

Overview:
Read and view the examples at the links provided below. We will discuss each as a class and then take a few notes before we get started with our assignment today.

Directions: 
Create a new blog entry titled "Sunny 16 Rule and Basic Exposure Constant."

Read the blog post about Why you should learn the Sunny 16 rule:
http://naturephotographyblog.squarespace.com/journal/2010/1/12/basic-exposure-theory-the-sunny-f16-rule-explained.html

Explain: in your own words why you should learn the Sunny 16 rule:

Watch: the tutorial video about the Sunny 16 rule:
http://easy-exposure.com/photography-lessons/lesson-13-sunny-16-rule/

What is the ISO setting you should start with when using the Sunny16 rule.

Read: about the "Universal Stop" and define the term "Stop."
http://www.photonhead.com/beginners/stops.php

Answer: How many stops brighter is a room if you start with one lightbulb and then add another?

Read: about F-Stop scales:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number#Fractional_stops

We are going to be dealing with F-Stop aperture scales in terms of WHOLE STOPS, but our cameras are designed to offer other options, including ONE-HALF and ONE-THIRD stop intervals. So when we are out shooting and you want to increase or decrease the amount of light by a "full stop" you need to know the aperture settings that represent a full stop worth of light.

Answer: 
Using the "Standard full-stop f-number scale" what aperture settings represent a full stop worth of light?

List: all of the settings that represent a "full stop" of light.

Exposure Calculator Apps for your phone:

Check out these Exposure Calculator apps to help you with your calculations:

iPhone: 
Expositor Lite
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/expositor-lite/id318847685?mt=8

Android:
Exposure Calculator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.quicosoft.exposurecalculator.app&hl=en

Photo Tools:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=be.hcpl.android.phototools&hl=en


Stop Scales Handout
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzZkxyYnN2Zm83RGs/edit?usp=sharing

Basic Exposure Constant Assignment
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzS1FFeUVvTjIyZVU/edit?usp=sharing


BEC Tracker Handout
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzSXgxRHFad0hNMzQ/edit?usp=sharing

Aperture and Shutter Speed Simulation and Quiz

Overview: Now that we have a basic understanding of the three pillars, let's look at some direct examples of what happens when you change Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO settings. Go to the following website:

PART I:

Make a New blog entry titled "Aperture and Shutter Speed Practice."

Aperture and Shutter Speed Camera Simulator

I would like you to experiment with all the settings so go through them step by step.

Start with F2.8 and see what happens at EACH shutter speed.

On your blog list the exposure that looks best to you for EACH F-stop.

I will help you with the first one here:

• F2.8 – looks the best at 1/250th of a second shutter speed.

SET 1: Now its your turn - tell me which ones look the best for F4, F5.6 F8, F11, F16, F22.

• F4  – looks the best at _____ of a second shutter speed.
• F5.6 – looks the best at _____ of a second shutter speed.
• F8  – looks the best at _____ of a second shutter speed.
• F11  – looks the best at _____ of a second shutter speed.
• F16  – looks the best at _____ of a second shutter speed.
• F22  – looks the best at _____ of a second shutter speed.

Also please tell me what is happening with the backgrounds at each F-stop. Again here is the first answer:

• At F2.8 there is no background visible. It is very blurry and all you can really see is the couple.

SET 2: Now its your turn at each F-stop tell me what the background looks like.

• At F4 how much background is visible? Is it blurry or in focus? How much?
• At F5.6how much background is visible? Is it blurry or in focus? How much?
• At F8 how much background is visible? Is it blurry or in focus? How much?
• At F11 how much background is visible? Is it blurry or in focus? How much?
• At F16 how much background is visible? Is it blurry or in focus? How much?
• At F22 how much background is visible? Is it blurry or in focus? How much?

SET 3: Reflection Questions:

1. Consider what is happening to the people themselves at slow Shutter Speeds.

2. In a real shooting situation, what should the photographer do to lessen this problem?

3. What combination of aperture and shutter speed do you think produces the best portrait? Why?

PART II: Major Grade

Click on the links below to take the two quizzes. Each of them are major grade assignments so take it seriously. Your results will be e-mailed to you after you take the quiz.

Aperture and Depth of Field Quiz

Shutter Speed and Motion Quiz

Flipwork: Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO Review

Overview: Before we begin learning new material, we need to review Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO, which are known as the "Three Pillars of Photography."

Directions: Make a new blog entry titled "Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO Review." Click on the links below and answer the following questions in this blog entry.

PART 1: Click on link below and read about Aperture:

APERTURE

Let's start with Aperture as it is probably the hardest of the three to full understand.

Once you are done reading - I want you to use Google and find an example of a photo taken at aperture setting F2.8 and an example of a photo taken at F16 or higher. DO NOT USE the photos on the website I sent you to. Find different ones. Post those photos on your blog and label them.

Then answer the following questions:

1. What part of the body should we closely relate aperture?

2. Finish this sentence: The smaller the Aperture _____________, the higher the Aperture ________________.

3. In your own words tell me how aperture impacts Depth of Field?

4. Using a class camera, list ALL of the F stops available on the lens currently attached.
5. What is the highest and smallest aperture numbers available on the kit lens?

PART II:

Now lets move on to Shutter Speed. This is a little easier to understand but we should read about it here:

SHUTTER SPEED

Once you are finished reading about Shutter Speed, I want you to use google and find me an example of a photo taken with a high shutter speed and one taken at a slow shutter speed (you do not have to show blur unless you want but I still need to see an example of a photo that COULD have been taken at a slow shutter speed). Post them both on your blog and label them.

Then answer the following questions:

1. If you were assigned to shoot at Blue and Gold night, which will be next month, what shutter speeds do you think you would have to shoot at the following events that night I would like you to answer the question for the following two situations.

Simply write: slow, medium, fast next to each item below:

At the beginning while the sun is still partially up and the courtyard has reasonable light

a.) the dunking booth

b.) the food eating contest

c.) the rock climbing wall

d.) someone working at a booth

e.) the DJ/MC working at the middle of the circle

f.) the Diamonds performance.

Towards the end when there is no sun and has gotten dark enough that you can't see from one end of the courtyard to the other.

a.) the dunking booth

b.) the food eating contest

c.) the rock climbing wall

d.) someone working at a booth

e.) the DJ/MC working at the middle of the circle

f.) the Diamonds performance.

2. List the three manual Presets your camera that allow you to affect shutter speed (these are found at #5 on the Shutter Speed website.

Explain how each works. DO NOT COPY AND PASTE, use your own words.

3. With a class camera, what are the shutter speeds available to you on that camera? You will have to turn the camera on to determine this. Hopefully you can figure out what setting to put the camera on to determine the answer to this question.

Now for the last of the pillars, ISO. Lets go read some more at this website:

PART III:

ISO

Once you are finished, please go to Google and find an example of a photo taken at ISO 200 and a photo taken at ISO 3200 or 6400. Post both on your blog and label them.

Then answer the following questions:

1. What are the advantages of shooting at a higher ISO at a sporting event like basketball or a night football game?

2. What suggestions did the author make about using a low ISO?

3. What suggestions did the author make about using a high ISO?

4. At the camera near you, please tell me what ISO's are available on your camera?

Composition Review Shoot and Posting Directions

Overview: After you post your review of the Composition Rules, you will go out for a shoot to practice your skills.

Directions:

With a partner, you will check out a camera and do your best to shoot all 10 composition rules in about 1 hour. Your partner will be your subject in your photo if you need one.

If you can't remember the 10 rules, write them down before you leave on your shoot.

Here they are, again:

1. Rule of thirds

2. Balancing Elements

3. Leading Lines

4. Symmetry and Patterns (repetition)

5. Viewpoint

6. Background

7. Create depth

8. Framing

9. Cropping (Filling the frame)
10. Mergers (on purpose or by mistake).

Posting your work: When you are done shooting, it's time to post your work. Post one photo that exemplifies each of the Composition Rules listed above.

Make a new blog post: Title it "Composition Review Shoot" and add a label for each Rule of Composition on top of each of the photos that you post.