Week 9 : 15.4.2011 - Architectural Exteriors

Belconnen Mall Exterior

This week we focused on exteriors. We were again at Belconnen mall.

Abstract

The main problem i have found with architectural photography is converging lines. This is where the straight lines on a building for example appear to bend in an unusual direction. This can be fixed with the use of a tilt shift lens or it can be done simply in photoshop. This is something that is important to always take into consideration when photographing buildings as it can give you an unrealistic impression of reality.

Example of converging lines

Converging Lines fixed in Photoshop

This is a image where the effects of a Tilt Shift have been faked. The basic steps involve making a quick mask selection adding a blur filter and a bit of trial and error!

I found todays practical task to be very interesting and look forward to researching further into the theory behind it. I believe it is very important to have a strong base knowledge in all areas of photography if you wish to do well in any area. For example a fashion photographer may still need to address these issues if there is a building in the background of the scene for a fashion shoot.

I love looking at lines and textures within photography and architectural abstract imagery allows me to do this. I particularly love contrasting colours but often found the mall to be quite drab on the outside. There were plenty of textures though and I enjoyed finding new angles to explore them in contrast.

Week 8 : 8.4.2011 - Architectural Interiors

This week we took a range of different photographs at the newly redone Belconnen Mall. I've never really thought of the mall as much of a photographic opportunity but since its renewal it is looking a lot better. Bright colours have replaced a lot of dull greys with interesting shapes proving to be some nice abstract images.

Some key points to remember when photographing architectural interiors is;

• What available light is there?
• Artificial light? eg. lamps
• Use of artificial and mix of natural
• Use viewpoint to emphasis features
• Framing
• Animated gif.
• Converging lines
• Flare
• Symmetry
• Reflections - May need to do HDR with all the lights off take a photo of the windows to reduce reflections
• Panorama
• ALWAYS stick to the brief before you explore the assignment futher
• Tilt Shift


HDR of Glass Lift - Two different View points




I enjoyed the HDR images of the glass lift and used a wide angle lens to capture this. I used photoshop to do some minor adjustments of some converging lines.

Abstract Images










Travelator



Bus Interchange Panorama



Interior Auto WB

Interior Manual WB

Interior Auto Exposure

Interior Manual Exposure


I really enjoyed this week’s workshop and found it to be very beneficial. I now have new view on the Belconnen Mall and it was useful to test out the tilt shift. I found it interesting the difference between auto and manual exposure as well as auto and manual white balance. It just proves how important it is to know how to use your camera properly to get the most out of it and to get the best resulting photographs.

Week 7 : 1.4.2011 - Landscape Photography

I found this week’s task to be quite challenging. I really wanted to have a go with the tripod head specific to doing panoramas but as there was just the one it was hard to get it around the whole class. I think I spent too long on the panoramic shots doing them over and over again. I think that this is an area where I would like to do some more practise and will look at hiring out the tripod over the next few weeks. I did however love the scenery and although Mt Stromlo can get a little bit over used it was my first experience shooting there so I did enjoy the textures and tones of all the old buildings.


Abstract Images

I enjoyed doing the abstract images. I loved the contrasting textures and tones and the soft mountains you can see through the windows in comparison to the rough walls of the old buildings.

HDR

High Dynamic Range imagery is something I have found myself very interested in this semester after seeing specific examples where it has been greatly beneficial to creating a better photograph. I have found myself to be using it more and more in my own work, and it is very good practise for our upcoming major assignments.

Panorama



I would like to go back to this location and do some more work on panoramas and HDR's perhaps at a different time of day. I think there is a very strong basis for some amazing images but certainly it would be nice to experiment with different light.

Week 6 : 25.3.2011 - Industrial Photography

Today we had the great opportunity to experience what it is like to photograph in a real industrial environment at the Fyshwick CIT Trade Campus. After a discussion and powerpoint on how to get the best photographs I took strong not of the various points of what not to do in this style of photography. Most notable was to NEVER take photographs of people pointing.

What No To Do







(Even Cam got snapped!)











Now that we got that out of our system!!! Lets get down to the good stuff.

I found at first that there was just so much to look at it was hard to find where to start! I really enjoyed all the saturated colours and intricate details in the equipment and just started clicking away. I had a bit of trouble with the Chiaroscuro technique photograph as it was such a bright sunny day but did enjoy experiment with exposures and angles to find some interesting viewpoints. I would like to go back again one day or to another industrial location as I really enjoyed the challenge and look forward to more tasks like this one.


Images

Vertical Interior Space Including Ceiling and Floor

Horizontal Interior Space Including Ceiling and Floor

Overall View Exterior of Building

Detail Shot

I really enjoyed the detail shots. I loved playing with Depth of Field and contrasting Colours.

Person Completing a Task

I always feel a little bit awkward taking photographs of people when they don’t know it, but I really do love candid images of people doing something they enjoy.


Chiaroscuro Technique


Panorama



HDR