PH222: W2A1: Set Up


Discussion Assignment
Assignment 1: Portrait Exercise
Assignment Overview
There are many types of portraits to take in the studio. This week you looked at several examples and read about the techniques used to produce such examples. Two of the most common are portraits in which your subject looks directly into the lens and when your subject looks off camera.

Students are required to re-review the "Posing or Framing", "Key, Fill, Edge, and Background Light", "Using Color or Black and White" portions of module prior to starting assignment.

Students are encouraged to read Chapters 3 & 4 from "Portrait Photography Course" prior to starting this assignment to learn more about classic headshots: information in terms of composition + posing + lighting is covered in this chapter.

Students are required to review the post in the Week 2 Problems and Solution section titled "W2A1 - Emotions in Photographs".
Assignment Description
In this exercise you will be using 1 strobe with an accessory to photograph a new subject plus a reflector as fill.

In one of your final top photographs, the subject should be looking directly into the lens. In the other photograph the subject should be looking off camera (not directly into the lens). While the subject in the photographs is the same, the final results should evoke two different responses (emotions) within your audience. You will also be photographing your overall studio set up, the lighting equipment, stands, and the background support system using the light available; these images will go in your contact sheet.
Assignment Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Choose a new subject to photograph that you have not photographed for this class yet.
    • Students are encouraged to choose someone 16 and up.
  2. Set up your studio with your key light (Studio Strobe), a plain paper (or muslin) background with the stands/crossbars, and a chair (or stool) for your model.
    • You're required to shoot soft lighting for this assignment; you may use either a shoot-through umbrella or a soft-box to create this type of light.
    • Position your model at least 5-6 feet in front of your background. When working in a tight space, you may need to re-arrange furniture, move your backdrop or even, shoot through a door in order to create this distance between your subject and background.
    • Positing the key light 1 1/2 - 2 feet away from your subject's face sitting on a chair (or stool) or standing.
    • Position your reflector opposite your key light and experiment with the angle at which you hold it. Ensure that the light is reflecting back onto your subject.
  3. Determine your manual exposure settings with your handheld light meter:
    • Determine your ISO: Given the bright nature of your strobe light, an ISO of 100 is suggested. 
    • Determine your Shutter Speed: Given the fact that you're shooting with a strobe light, you want to avoid shooting with an shutter speed faster than 1/125th of a second. (Otherwise you'll see dark bands on the sides of your images with a faster shutter speed.)
    • Plug in your ISO and Shutter Speed information into your handheld light meter. Then, place the meter under your subject's chin and take a reading to determine the best aperture to shoot with. Take a photograph of your handheld light meter in use and include this image in your contact sheet. This image will be included in your contact sheet. Image should be similar to the shots below:
    •  

      Please note: If instructor is not able to read the information on the screen of your handheld light meter, you will not receive points for using it.
  4. With your DSLR camera, using a wide-angle lens, shoot an image of your entire setup using the available light in the studio. These images will be included in your contact sheet; ensure that your image shows a clear view of where the key light (strobe w/ softbox or shoot-through umbrella) was in relation to the subject.  Your image should also include your model within the shot and show where s/he was standing.  Ensure that your image shows where your lights were in relation to your subject:

    • Please note: If your image is not in focus, not exposed properly, or does not clearly show where your light was positioned in relation to your subject, you may not receive points for this portion of the assignment.
  5. Take 20 different photographs of your new subject with the initial exposure settings that you determined in the "preparation" portion of this assignment.
    1. If you find that your images are a little too dark or a little too bring, adjust the exposure by bracketing your shots!
    2. Take 10 images of the subject looking into the camera and 10 where the subject looks above or off camera.
    3. Practice capturing different emotions; give your model clear directions on how you want them to express their face. 
  6. Be sure to vary your angle of shooting slightly (move from side to side), framing, and composition for the best results.
  7. Choose two top images; one of your model looking into the camera and one of your model looking away from the camera.  Use the following naming convention for your final images:
    • PH222_W2_A1_lastname_firstinitial_intocamera.jpg
    • PH222_W2_A1_lastname_firstinitial_offcamera.jpg
  8. Create a contact sheet according to course standards of all your photographs and label it PH222_W2_A1_lastname_firstinitial_contactsheet.pdf.
  9. By Week 2, Day 4 submit the contact sheets, your studio setup, and the final photographs in a ZIP file named PH222_W2_A1_lastname_firstinitial.zip to the Discussion Area and answer the following questions regarding your images:
    • What portrait do you feel is stronger? The one in which the subject is looking directly into the camera or where the subject is looking away from the camera? Why?
  10. By Week 2, Day 5 comment and respond to 2 of your peers' portraits.
Assignment 1 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Submitted an overall shot of the lighting setup using required equipment and two portraits in which the subject is looking at the camera and one where the subject is looking above or to the side of the camera that:
  • Have correct exposure and demonstrate technical knowledge of camera and lighting control.
  • Exhibit creativity with angles and framing (moving camera and subject frequently to explore the angles).
  • Attention to line and other compositional design elements.
  • Followed instructions and requirements for assignment.
20
Answered the question and provided an explanation that used appropriate vocabulary, examples, and references from the text, the lectures, Web sites, or other reference materials.
10
Provided substantive feedback to at least two of your peers. Commented on the composition, subject, and lighting decisions in their photographs.
10
Total:
40
For assistance with any problems you may have when completing this assignment—OR—to offer your assistance to classmates, please use the Problems and Solutions Discussion area located through the left side navigation link.



    Arrow Use the Respond link to post responses and materials that pertain to this assignment. Use the Respond link beneath any existing postings to respond to them.
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