The Year of the Lori Goal #2: Starting a New Career Path

I started a pre-course of Basic Photography, which will lead into a 3 year photography program at the Foto Factory in Amsterdam. So far I've had two classes and am really enjoying it. The first class was just camera mechanics; aperture, shutter speed, exposure, ISO, etc. The second day we were given old analogue cameras and black and white film and sent to the Nieuwmarkt in Amsterdam to take some assigned photos. I had a Nikon F1 camera and I LOVED it. I'm going out this weekend to find an old Nikon or canon film camera.

After shooting for a few hours we went into the dark room and developed the negatives from the rolls of film. It was fantastic! Next class (April 11th) we will be developing the prints. Most look over/underexposed and blurry, but I think I got a few good shots out of them. I'll post them here.

Assignment 1

Our first assignment was an aperture assignment: Set up a shot of a still object (such as a statue), on a tripod and take the same photo with the lowest aperture setting, medium aperture and highest aperture. I wasn't completely happy with the composition and I really need to learn how to use the leveller on my tripod, but here are my photos:

Photo 1

Aperture f1.4

shutter speed 1/2500

ISO 100

Photo 2

Aperture f11

shutter speed 1/50

ISO 100

Photo 3

aperture f22

shutter speed 1/130

ISO 100

Assignment 2
The second assignment was a shutter speed assignment: set up a shot of a moving object on a tripod and take the same photo with the lowest aperture, medium aperture and highest aperture setting on your camera. I shot several different things and narrowed down to two sets. The first set is a good example of seeing the relationship between shutter speed and aperture, but I wasn't happy with the composition- too boring and busy:

Photo 1

aperture f1.4

shutter speed 1/400

ISO 200

Photo 2

aperture f11

shutter speed 1/8

ISO 200

Photo 3

aperture f22

shutter speed .4

ISO 200

On Friday (the day before the assignment was due, of course) I finally shot these three at the park across the street. The second one is over exposed- the sun was coming in and out all day- but I am happier with the composition:

Photo 1

aperture f1.4

shutter speed 1/3200

ISO 200

Photo 2

aperture f11

shutter speed 1/15

ISO 200

Photo 3

aperture f22

shutter speed 1/10

ISO 200

I think I have a good eye for composition, but most mistakes that I make have to do with lack of complete technical understanding of my camera. I know enough to know I don't know (if that makes any sense!). It's a learning process...and one that I am really enjoying!