Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Exposure



Exposure in the photography world is the amount of light that comes through the focal lens and is captured when a photo is taken. Depending on how much light is around, you can change your exposure in order to get either less light or more light. This can give a different aspect to any picture, The amount of light that is available is one of the most crucial aspects to photography. Depending on what kind of camera you have depends on how much control you will have over it. Most camera's have an automatic exposure setting that determines how much light is needed for a picture. The two biggest things that are used to measure light and exposure is the Aperture setting and the shutter speed. Aperture censors how much the lens opens which depends on how much light is brought in. If you want a picture that draws to one single thing, then Aperture is what you would want to use. For instance if you want to blur the background of a picture you would then set the aperture setting to low which is a wide setting. If you want to focus on everything then you would just do the opposite and use a high setting so that everything is focused and this is a narrow setting. Now the shutter speed can be very important, especially if you are working with action shots. If you are using it on sport shots what you would most likely want is a high shutter speed, this freezes the subject in midair, if you want to blur water or something like that you want a low shutter speed. Some other aspects that affect aperture are the ISO speed, if this is set on low then ISO responds slower to light, if it is set on high then it responds faster to light. This setting is good for something like a sunny day when there is a lot of light you would want to use a lower ISO speed, this allows you to have greater depth if you are hand holding the camera and am trying to reduce shaking. Another aspects that helps is the focal length, this is the distance from the middle of the lens to its focal point. A focal point is the parallel rays of light that strike the lens. Well that is about all I have to say about Exposure, I hope you have learned something from my little explanation.

Flips





I decided to try something new and do a serious with flip pictures that I have taken. I like taking action pictures because it shows the human body in a different aspect then how it is usually perceived. Action pictures, I have found are a lot harder to take as can be imagined but to me that is what makes them so authentic and unique. In this serious I did both indoor and outdoor pictures, using both water and ground. I personally liked the water photos the best because the people seemed more daring with flips and letting their bodies take control when in the water. For example look at the difference in the way the body moves in the first picture when he is doing a back flip, then look at the last picture, it is the same boy, only he is doing a front flip but look at the difference in the body movement. It is more compact when on the ground. Also I liked the contrast of the water against the body. This serious was one of my favorite ones because I had a lot of fun shooting these photos and hope to do more soon.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Running

For me running has always been a huge passion and being that I am currently on the Cross Country team for Rocky I decided to take pictures of the half marathon that took place last Friday. The race was moved 2 days ahead of schedule due to bad weather, unfortunately for us runners we did not escape the driving snow on Friday morning. Although it made picture taking a little more difficult than usual I found the contrast between the falling snow and the runners as being of interest. Not often do you see pictures like these so used the opportunity to try something just a little different.
I personally really like this series, maybe because as a runner myself looking at photos like these made me really cherish both the good and bad days that come with such a harsh sport. This project for me was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it to the full extent. It was hard to shoot in the snow and try and keep my lense clean, it posted a lot of problems but it was a very good experience for me.
















Monday, January 18, 2010

A Perfect Day



























































































On a sunny day in January I happened to have my camera on a
ride my friend and I took on a horses up past Airport road. The sun was beating down, it was 3:00 in the afternoon and the lighting couldn't have been better. I tried to capture the essence of how happy both the horse and the rider seemed to be. There seemed to be such a sense of peace in both my friend and the horse.

David Stoecklein

I chose to write about the photographer David Stoecklein because his pictures have always inspired me both in my degree as an equestrian major and as a photographer. He does mostly old western photography focusing mainly on the cowboy way of life. David started as a sports photographer for 15 years and then changed to western 20 years ago. Whenever I look at David's pictures I can feel the passion of his work coming through the pictures he takes.
I think he captures the raw essence of a time and culture that is almost gone in the world we now live in. In David's own words he says "What I found was truth, honesty, courage and a way of life, a culture that was first built on age-old principles. It is a culture where the people lived by a code where people relied on each other for help, support, and friendship, where people gave respect and people learned respect. This is a culture where you help your neighbor do his work and helps you. You watch his cattle and he watches yours".
I truly feel he wants to show the cowboy way of life to the rest of the world and that is why he strives so hard to capture this lost culture in the photos he takes.

My Model Release Form

Model Release

Adult

In consideration of my engagement as a model, upon the terms herewith stated, I hereby give to photographer’s name goes here his/her heirs, legal representatives and assigns, those for whom photographer’s name goes here is acting, and those acting with his/her authority and permission:

a) the unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use, re-use, publish, and republish photographic portraits or pictures of me or in which I may be included intact or in part, composite or distorted in character or form, without restriction as to changes or transformations in conjunction with my own or a fictitious name, or reproduction hereof in color or otherwise, made through any and all media now or hereafter known for illustration, art, promotion, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever.

b) I also permit the use of any printed material in connection therewith.

c) I hereby relinquish any right that I may have to examine or approve the completed product or products or the advertising copy or printed matter that may be used in conjunction therewith or the use to which it may be applied.

d) I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless [photographer], his/her heirs, legal representatives or assigns, and all persons functioning under his/her permission or authority, or those for whom he/she is functioning, from any liability by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of said picture or in any subsequent processing thereof, as well as any publication thereof, including without limitation any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.

  1. I hereby affirm that I am over the age of majority and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read the above authorization, release and agreement, prior to its execution; I fully understand the contents thereof. This agreement shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

Name:________________________________________________________________________________________


Signature: _________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ___________________________ E-mail address:_______________________________________________

Photographer’s name: __________________________________________________________________________

Photographer’s signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ______________________



PROPERTY RELEASE FORM

For valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned, being the legal owner of, or

having full legal rights to permit use commercial use of photographs of, property designated at

_____________________________________________________________________________________________,

hereby grant the undersigned photographer ("Photographer") , his/her legal representatives and successors, as well as persons and companies, acting with his/her permission, the irrevocable right and permission, throughout the world, in connection with the photographs he/she has taken of the property described above, or in which the property may be included with others, the following: (a) the right to use and reuse and publish, in any

manner at all, said photographs, in whole or in part, modified or altered, either by themselves or in conjunction with

other photographs, in any medium or form of distribution, and for any purposes whatsoever, including, without

limitation, all promotional and advertising uses, non-commercial or commercial display, broadcast, exhibition of the

final production, and other trade purposes, as well as using my name in connection therewith, if he/she so desires; and

(b) the right to copyright said photographs in his/her own name or in any other name that he/she may select.

I waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product or copy and any use thereof.

I agree that the photographs, reproductions, and negatives thereof shall constitute the photographer's sole property, and that the photographer has the full right to dispose of any or all of them in any manner whatsoever.

I hereby forever release and discharge Photographer and his/her respective representatives, licensees, and successors.

I acknowledge that this release document was signed by me willingly and I certify that I am not a minor, and I am free

and able of giving such consent. If an undersigned is signing this form on behalf of, or as an agent or employee of

company/organization, the undersigned warrants that he/she has full authorization to do so.

Name:________________________________________________________________________________________


Signature: _________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ___________________________ E-mail address:_______________________________________________

Photographer’s name: __________________________________________________________________________

Photographer’s signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ______________________


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Model Release Forms

A model release form gives the photographer the right to publish pictures he/she has taken in for commercial use in any form of advertisement. The model release forms lets the photographer use any picture he wishes without the possibility of being sued by the model. A photographer doesn't need a model release form for every advertisement he does. If the picture is going to be used in any form of commercial use it definitely needs a release form but if you are only selling the picture to a newspaper then it isn't really necessary to have the model sign a release form, this also is the same for magazine articles as well. This is a very simple example of a model release form. A model release form can be simple or more complex depending on how much the photographer wishes to have covered by the form. Although it is said that you need a model release form in order to publish a picture if a photographer takes a picture of a person and the face is not visible or the person is turned so as you cannot make out who it is then a model release is not really needed when used for advertisement.

Example of a Model Release Form

In exchange for consideration received, I hereby give permission to [ your name here ] to use my name and photographic likeness in all forms and media for advertising, trade, and any other lawful purposes.

Print Name:

Signature:

Date:

If Model is under 18:
I, , am the parent/legal guardian of the individual named above, I have read this release and approve of its terms.

Print Name:

Signature:

Date: