Unit 41

Unit 41: Undertake the Photographic Assignment

1.1: Identify the types and purpose of photography required

There are many different types of photography that we can explore to our advantage. Some of the main types of photography are landscape, wildlife, macro and event photography. Landscape photography involves photographing nature but can also focus on the disturbances of beautiful landscapes by man made features. The purpose of photographing the most beautiful places in the world is so they can be sold to tourism companies which they can then use to showcase that countries breathtaking scenery. Wildlife photography is what you'd expect it to be; capturing animals in their environment. This is considered one of the hardest types of photography ever because animals don't always co operate with you so a great deal of patience is needed in order to get the perfect shot. You also need to have a good camera and lens. These photos are normally captured by journalists to be sold as news articles. Macro photography is where shots are taken from close range to showcase the detail of the subject. Common subjects include flowers and insects. One purpose for macro photography can be to advertise a product. Flowers taken at close proximity can be used for selling bouquets of flowers on a companies website. The vibrant colours of the petals will entice customers to buy them. As for event photography this includes wedding, family etc. The purpose of this type of photography is to record the memory of a specific time. A bride and groom hire photographers on their wedding day to remind them of a happy and special occasion. Parents take photos of their children so in the future they can look back at them and so how much they've changed.

                                                                    

1.2: Justify a selection of a conventional or digital approach

Conventional photography is impractical for my project because it involves using chemicals to develop the images which are not available to me. This is also know as traditional photography where images are captured on a camera and enlarged using special paper and equipment. This type of approach is very time consuming. There would also be no point of using this technique, despite its popularity, because I will be producing my final product for a digital display. Digital photography uses sensors on a memory card which can be transferred onto a computer for download or printing. Memory cards can hold much more photos and much higher file sizes. You can also playback the photos straight after you've taken them, something conventional photography doesn't allow. One disadvantage for using digital photography would be the low battery life of the camera.

1.3: Identify file formats for digital images, the differences between them and the reasons for using them

JPG, PNG and GIF are the main types of file format used for digital images. JPG's are commonly used to reduce file sizes. They are a great file format for sending an image on email or text but the resolution is poor when you zoom into a JPG converted image. Unlike JPG's, GIF files force all the colours of an image into a 256 colour palette to keep the image size down however this often leads to colour correction issues. On the other hand PNG files are a lossless format meaning the quality of the image does not change when you compress it. Unlike JPG's and GIF's, a PNG file will always look sharp and focused. Unfortunately, because of this, PNG files tend to be large which could make it difficult to send them to friends and family via email. The reason for using a JPG file format would be to create a small file size after compression at the cost of the quality. They can be sent via email and throughout the Web with ease. PNG files are better for capturing lossless images and in situations where smaller file sizes are not crucial. Finally, a GIF format is commonly used whenever an image needs to be animated.

1.4: Identify appropriate camera settings and colour space

Understanding the relevant camera settings and colour space is necessary for this assignment. First, I need to know what modes will be suitable for the assignment. Modes allow the photographer to manually control the shutter speed, aperture and ISO. The four main camera modes are Program (P), Shutter Priority (Tv), Aperture Priority (Av) and Manual (M). Program mode automatically chooses the aperture and the shutter speed for you, based on the amount of light that passes through the lens. Shutter priority is used when motion needs to be frozen or intentionally blurred. If there is to much light the camera will increase the lens aperture to a higher number which will decreases the amount of light that passes through the lens. This mode also works the other way around. Aperture priority allows you to manually adjust the lens aperture making it easy for you to play with depth of field. Manual mode allows you to set the aperture and shutter speed to whatever you want as the camera lets you take over the exposure controls. 

Whenever you take a photo, the sensor captures information about the colour coming in from the outside world. There are loads of colour space and the user has the ability to decide which one they want to use. Obviously, the bigger the colour space the more colours the camera captures. Colour spaces are named by their primary colours, so RGB (Red-Green-Blue), sRGB and CMYK (Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black). The colour space sRGB is used in most cameras, computer monitors and printers which is why it is the most appropriate colour space for this project. 

sRGB colour space.

1.5: Identify the subject, composition and lighting required

Subject

The subject is the focus of the image. For this assignment there are a few things I need to consider. The first thing that I need to consider is where to position the subject in the frame or, if the subject can not be moved, physically move to change the angle. Second, to make the image stand out many professional photographers blur the background so the viewer can only see the subject and is not distracted by anything else. The background however could improve or develop the story further that you want to tell from the image. Most professional photographers want their work to be thought provoking as it is remembered more than a random photo. Below is a thought provoking photo:

Turjoy Chowdhury, Bangladesh  

Why is this young boy caring for another young boy? How can they live like this? Why does death and destruction surround them? These questions and more stem from this solitary image. The reason why it raises so many questions is because it tells a story of tragedy and loss. The background is partly blurred intentionally by the photographer and the subject (the two boys) is still to provide a static portrait shot. Photos like this leave a bigger impact on you than those that don't tell a story.

Composition

Like the subject, image composition describes how different visual elements are arranged inside of the image frame to create a visually compelling image. This can therefore evoke the interest of the viewer. Visual elements that a photographer uses include textures, lines, scales and lighting (which I will move onto in a minute). An image's composition is just as important, if not more important than the subject as even the dullest photo could be massively improved by the right composition creating a truly compelling and unique image.

Lighting

Artificial lighting is used on the subject and background to illuminate them. Because a digital camera records patterns of light, colour and shade, it is important to control the lighting on an image. Photographers can not control natural light and if you require a specific light level for a macro shot you might be disappointed. Artificial lighting can be relied on to create multiple images that look the same. Furthermore, their intensity levels can easily be controlled if they become to dark or dim which enables us to choose the exposure settings that work best for our desired composition. The subject, composition, and lighting interlink with one another as these 3 factors make up an image. Obviously, lighting is an advanced piece of equipment and I and my group have only got a access to a limited amount of kit. LED lighting is relatively cheep and growing in popularity in the photography and video market. Softbox lighting is also a popular way of lighting subjects and backgrounds that is usually done in doors as they require constant power. For best results 2 soft box lights (one on either side of the subject) behind the camera give you an even light level so they are great for us.

Softbox used on location.

    

1.6: Check that permissions or permits have been acquired in advance as necessary

Location permits will be acquired long before we shoot on private land. When we are on the land a copy of the legal document will be brought with us in case anyone asks to see it.

1.7: Amend the agreed approach to take account of the circumstances of the assignment as required

This question is about changing well laid plans on the spot when things get out of your control. On the day of the practice shoot I had to amend the approach which had otherwise been agreed in the planning stage; it's about having a plan B. Things like weather conditions, obstructions and camera faults could not be predicted beforehand. The photos below show unedited pictures of shooting at Saltburn on the sea front.

Practice run of a photo shoot.   

The weather was sunny but very windy. I was anticipating a warm
day but I took a jumper in case of cold breezes/rain.

I had to be careful not to photograph anyone else so I waited
until non personnel were out of the frame.

To capture this shot I used the Canon 75-300mm zoom lens. It was
essential that I brought a specific lens that captures a specific shot.  

1.8: Comply with the relevant organisations dress code, behaviour and language

My daily job role involves me being in an office environment so I am required to wear smart casual (shirt and trousers) clothing. On occasions I am involved in handling heavy equipment. In this scenario I would be accepted to wear old clothes that are loose on the body so I can bend my joints with ease. This will prevent injury. On the other hand there are times where I need to dress formal including wearing a suit and tie when attending our important events. This is because I am representing the organisation and first impressions count a lot. Having a professional attitude at all times is important as well as respecting the people around me. Inappropriate or vulgar language is not acceptable in the workplace and I always comply with the policies.    

1.9: Maintain a professional manner when undertaking photographic assignments

Professionalism is always a priority in my working life. I do feel however, that having fun with what you are doing is just as important to the assignment. This is because a positive attitude helps to drive team motivation which increases work performance, creating a better end product. This question essentially echoes what has been said before. Liaising with team members, models and employers in an individual and appropriate way. You wouldn't speak to an employer the same way you would speak to a team member so using different terminology and language depending on who you are speaking to is vital.

2.1: Assemble, secure, position and set up the equipment safely

The equipment for the shoot was minimal as I didn't have the budget for expensive lenses or artificial lighting. What I did have available though was a DSLR camera body, 2 different lenses and a tripod. Because of this, each shot had to be tampered with in the editing process, adjusting the saturation, manually control the exposure and so forth. The ISO needed to be altered because the light levels changed a lot. Below are pictures of me setting up, maintaining, assembling and positioning the equipment for a shoot at the specified location.

Tripod secured in suitable bag during
transportation.

I am closing the leg brackets so the tripod is secure and stable.

This is the tripod completely set up and positioned in the
appropriate place.

Camera bag completely packed with
suitable amount of equipment.

Attaching the standard 18-55mm lens to the
Canon 1200D body.

In this photo I am aligning the camera to the subject I want to focus
on. I am also locking the camera on place using the bracket underneath
the tripod head

Video shows how to enable the flash if the light levels get to low.

Pop up flash is ready.

Referring back to the unit requirements, I position the tripod head
to the angle that I want in order to get the best shot possible.

2.2: Connect lights correctly to their power sources as required

As I have previously stated I do not have access to professional lighting equipment for this course. I do however have the knowledge and ability to speak hypothetically of how they would be used in my situation.

Studio lights are to only be used in an indoor location because they require constant power to work. The lights would brighten up the subject, requiring less work in post production to adjust the saturation and temperature. Something that you have to be careful with is to not plug to many lights into one circuit. Studio lights have Halogen bulbs in them which use a lot of power. If you were to plug several of those bulbs into a single circuit they might trip the circuit which basically means the circuit has reached thermal overload. To avoid this it's recommended that you use a generator which copes with heat intensity far better than plug sockets. Alternatively, use could use different plug sockets which is not a great solution but will at least spread apart the heat. This question is also talking heavily about health and safety. Cables can become a big problem when working around a confined studio. They should be taped down by strong tape if they are restricting someone's exit or are in the way when people are working.    

2.3: Adjust camera settings and lighting to meet the requirements of the assignment

Adjusting the mode dial to "Manual Exposure" so
I have complete control of how the photo will look.

I am altering the camera's internal settings. 

Setting the focus mode.

The higher the ISO number the more sensitive the
camera is to the light while a lower ISO number reduces sensitivity
of the camera. I was shooting in dark and subdued conditions so I needed
to increase the sensitivity of the amount of light the passes through the sensor.

Customising the White Balance.

The feature "White Balance" is one of the most important features on a camera but many people don't take advantage of it or even know it exits. The reason we adjust White Balance in our images is to make them as accurate as possible to the actual subject. The options found on most modern cameras, especially mine, for White Balance are Auto, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Flash and Custom. Auto is where the camera makes a "best guess" on a shot per shot basis. This is the best option for beginners and novices. The Tungsten option is used mainly indoors, cooling down the colours in the photos. Fluorescent light is the opposite of Tungsten, it warms up the shot. Daylight is the most common option for shooting outdoors during the day but not all cameras have this feature because it's a very standard White Balance option. The light in Shade is generally cooler than shooting in direct sunlight. The Cloudy option warms the image up a touch more than Daylight does.  The Flash option for White Balance creates a warmer feeling than the flash on your camera which is generally more of a cooler colour. Finally Custom allows you to manually control the White Balance so you know exactly what the end shot will look like.     

2.4: Resolve identified problems with equipment where possible

Halfway through the shoot, a thunderstorm hit the shooting location. The equipment that was already set up had to be quickly dismantled and placed in their appropriate bags. They were then moved inside a suitable location (Lewis' car) until the storm passed. I then inspected the location to make sure the water damage was not to series so we could continue with the shoot. The reason I moved all the equipment out of the rain was for obvious reasons; the camera and lens could be severely damaged costing hundreds to repair. Minor water damage occurred to the zoom lens causing condensation inside the lens. I solved this problem by using a camera cloth to clean the inside of the glass.

Another small problem that was easily resolved was the fact that one of the tripods we had available was too light and thin and struggled to hold the camera's weight, especially when we attached the zoom lens. Subsequently, the sturdy and more durable tripod was used for the remainder of the shoot. If we continued using the other tripod, the camera could topple over and break so it was important we acted quickly. 

2.5: Compose the images to fulfil the assignment

Before I even thought about pressing the shutter button I needed to consider how I was going to compose my images. First of all I need to contemplate where the subject would be positioned. If it can be moved then I needed to place it somewhere where it is in clear sight and there are no obstructions so it doesn't blocks the focal point. If the subject cannot be moved then I had to decide on which is the best angle to shoot from. Secondly, composing an image is just another way of saying how do you "frame" an image.

To further my explanation about composition, I have included a video below entitled "9 Photo Composition Tips" in which it talks about rule of thirds, framing, patterns and repetitions and many more features that will help compose my images.

(Disclaimer: This video was not made by myself but has been included under the Fair Use Act and is only used to aid my explanation. No copyright infringement intended.)

2.6: Take appropriate and sufficient photographs

Using the chosen camera settings I mentioned previously I was ready to start shooting. It's a good idea to take multiple shots of the same subject but at different angles to get the best possible shot. Below show the photos taken at the location.

Close up of a bright flower surrounded by
vibrant green leaves. The exposure (Daylight) is just
right for this image.

I am reviewing the photograph to make certain it's focused
and the image is sharp before moving onto another subject.

Focusing entirely on the subject, blurring out
the unimportant background.

Zoom lens was used to capture this image.

Close up shot at angle #1.

Close up shot at angle #2.

This is my favourite shot because the focusing and exposure was on point. 

2.7: Unload film safely or download digital images, as
appropriate

After the shoot was over I removed the SD card from the bottom of the camera body.  

Location of the stored memory card.

Removing the SD card.

Then, it was time to import the images onto my computer by placing the memory card in the back of the monitor.

After the memory card was installed on my computer I chose to import my photos as a JPG format so I can easily view them and upload them to this blog. 

Using iPhoto, I downloaded the photos which I then edited, altering the saturation and the temperature of the image. 

2.8: Store images safely and securely

A lot of hard work and preparation went into this assignment so I did two things to make sure the images were stored safely and securely. The first thing I did was I saved the images in a separate folder entitled "Photographic Assignment Pics". I could then find the photos easily and avoid the risk of accidentally deleting them later down the line. Secondly, I created multiple copies of each photo just in case I misplaced or deleted the originals. The copies were saved on my hard drive as well as on a USB stick.  

Files have been managed so "My Documents" don't become overcrowded
and I can easily find what I am looking for.

2.9: Record supporting information for the photographs as required

I recorded supporting information (name, location etc.) for the photographs on a "Photographic Record Sheet" as instructed by my trainer, John Stockton. This would then be safely archived in case I ever need to refer back to it.

Photography record sheet for "Garden" photographic
assignment.

2.10: Dismantle the equipment safely

 Once the photo shoot was over and I had captured all the images I needed it was time to pack up all my equipment. The process was just a reverse of how I set it up. Dismantling the equipment however, required me to be more safety conscious with regards to not damaging the equipment. 

Removing the camera body from the tripod by turning it anticlockwise
 with both hands to carefully detach it from the tripod.

By holding down the release button I have
detached the lens from the camera.

After lens has been removed I clipped the caps on either
side of the lens to keep it safe during transport.

I am unclipping the leg brackets so the
tripod will fit in the bag. 

Closing the extended tripod legs.

Tripod is now ready for storage.

3.1: Obtain feedback from the client about the product and services

My client, John Stockton, remarked that my images were of good quality. He said the planning part of my project was well thought out and practical. I made it clear to John what equipment I had available because that would determine the scale of the shot. He said I made the most out of what I had available and showed competent camera skills when on location. He did make one small critique however and that was to of shot more images. I was so conscientious about the quality side of the project that I didn't concentrate on the quantity side. If I was to redo the assignment again I would definitely set a specific number of photos that I need to take before I turn off the camera. John did say that my final photos were fit for purpose and were expertly shot.   

3.2: Identify relevant sources of information to update knowledge and skills relevant to own work

There are many sources of information available to me which can update my knowledge and skills in photography. A big source would be the Internet, specifically YouTube. There are many tutorials on YouTube that speak in depth about how to undertake various photographic projects such as landscape, sport and event photography. YouTube is a visually medium which is helpful to a lot of people (including me) because they prefer to see it explained to them while the person in the video is showing you how to learn a new skill. Not everyone learns the same way, some people may prefer to read their information which is great source as well. There are a huge range of books out there that cater to photography, appealing to beginners, semi professional and experts. No photographer knows everything about their craft so even they can learn new skills. 

4.1: Identify key aspects of legislation relevant to undertaking photographic assignments

The shooting location was not private property as it was my garden so in a way my parents are the owner's of the land. This is why I didn't require a location release form for the shoot. Current legislation was adhered to on this shoot because I had permission to take photographs on location and I didn't photograph anyone who didn't give me their consent to use their image. There are of course many aspects of legislation that don't need to be followed in my case because they did not concern me on this particular occasion.   

4.2: Identify aspects of codes of ethics/conduct relevant to completing the photographic assignment

This question is talking about law vs morals. As I have stated before it is perfectly legal to take pictures of anyone or anything in a public place. However, that doesn't mean it's right for you to do that. For example, how would you feel if a man with a camera was taking pictures of your children in a play park? While there is no law that prohibits you from doing such things it can be very rude and offensive nonetheless. Another example could be taking pictures of private property while on public land. Legally, there is nothing to stop you doing this as journalists do this all the time but you have to consider the people you might be disturbing when taking these photos. Situations like this can trigger a fair amount of aggression from the land owners so it is wise to only take photos of things that you have permission to take photos of.       

4.3: Comply with own organisations business requirements

We have to abide by the organisations business requirements which include the handling of relevant paperwork. Important documents like equipment hire or purchase receipts as well as confirmation emails from online suppliers need to be printed out so we have a physical copy of the transaction in case we ever need it in the future. Tees Valley Music Service were very lenient when we agreed the timescale with Alan. He said he would allow us to have as much time as was needed to complete the assignment.  

5.1: Identify aspects of health and safety legislation and regulations relevant to work environment

Health and safety has been explored quite a lot in this unit and Unit 40 and nothing much has changed. We still followed appropriate regulations when shooting on all of our camera based projects. Trip and fall hazards, electrical risks and so forth were talked about and we discuss how we can prevent injuries way before shooting takes place. 

5.2: Take appropriate action to minimise potential risks and hazards involved in the assignments

I cleared the area that I was going to be operating around so I did not trip and injure myself. I also waited until the grass was relatively dry before setting up my tripod. If the ground was wet there is a high possibility the tripod could become unstable and fall over. 

Furthermore, I completed a risk assessment just to make sure I had covered all potential risks or hazards. I did not uncover many but nevertheless, here is the official form.

Risk assessment for "Garden" shoot.