And the Winners Are . . .

Spring Show 2017 concluded Saturday after great success!  Congratulations to all our School of Photography winners.

A little more on the Spring Show . . .

Each year, AA, BFA and MFA photography students submit their best work to the Annual Spring Show. A faculty jury selects the best images for exhibition alongside all other departments, and together we launch this massive event at a key location in San Francisco, attended by thousands of visitors. On opening day, selected students participate in a portfolio review, where industry leaders provide valuable feedback. Our past reviewers have come from PDN, The New York Times, and the Rolling Stone magazine. Industry guests then vote in numerous categories, and the School of Photography gives away brand new awards like cameras, printers, and lighting kits!

Visit more School of Photography videos on our YouTube page.

It may be that photography is for the birds.

by James A. Bowey

It may be that photography is for the birds.

At least that’s what I’ve concluded over the past year as I’ve presented When Home Won’t Let You Stay, a traveling photography exhibition and community conversation series about refugees in America that I began at AAU. As a documentary artist I’m interested in how images can be used to bridge divides on contentious social issues. But what can a photograph really do against the rising tide of cynicism and division that has engulfed contemporary political discourse?

Mohamed (2016)

Mohamed (2016)

Sattar (2016)

Sattar (2016)

This nagging question has compelled the development of my work and research, and I’ve designed a variety of venue-specific exhibitions and installations to explore how this project can engage audiences and prompt new understanding of the plight of refugees. These include a framed gallery exhibition, multimedia presentation, and intermedia projection installation. As I’ve studied audiences interact with the project, I’ve seen many viewers who question the acceptance of refugees suddenly turn to tears. One young viewer in Minnesota sent a message to her teacher: “Before attending the ‘When Home Won’t Let You Stay’ exhibition, I was dreading having to go. I had no idea that a 15-minute show would completely change my opinion of an entire group of people.” But why? What is the role of photography?

The intermedia projection installation is presented on 17 giant screens encircling a darkened auditorium-size room. A single spotlight illuminates an unadorned wooden box in the middle of the space. During the 15-minute looping presentation with an original music score, images, first-person stories and text appear on different screens around the venue. With each appearance of a new portrait and story, the audience moves unprompted and en masse across the space toward the images. I designed the installation so viewers would walk around in a simulation of migration, but this is something much more. Image after image, audiences move in silent unison as if they are coordinating their steps, in both a personal and shared experience. As I’ve watched this collective movement I’ve begun to understand the special power of images.

When a flock of starlings glides across the sky in beguiling murmurations it seems beyond comprehension. It is understandable that a bird would move in response to their neighbor’s movement, but how do hundreds of birds, separated by hundreds of feet, move as one? This question has vexed scientists for centuries, but they think they may have found the answer in cutting-edge physics. Through video analysis and computational modeling, researchers have discovered that starlings' movements can be explained as “critical transitions” in which systems transform instantly from one phase to another, such as from liquid to gas. Each starling in a flock, like sub-atomic particles, is connected to every other starling by a network of energy poised to change phase. When the flock shifts in unison, it’s a phase transition. Scientists believe that starlings may be a beautiful manifestation of an unexplained force that exists throughout nature.

As human beings we phase easily between connection and disconnection, love and hate; and it is reflected in the shape of our society at a given moment in time. Our photographs are holders of that mysterious force that determines the critical transitions of society. They are tiny quantum radiating empathetic energy that prompt the next interweaving phase of human connection and understanding. Our society ebbs and flows, accelerating and decelerating, toward different states of empathy and justice; and like a flock of starlings, we are all connected to one another, poised to take shape through the personal and shared experience of photographs. Inside the wooden box at the center of the projection installation is a stack of cards with a photograph and story for viewers to take, with a simple message: “We shape our world by the stories we tell of others.”

A flock of birds shows us how.

If you’d like to connect and talk more about photography and this project, you can reach me at jbowey@jamesbowey.com.

The Golden Section vs. the Rule of Thirds

by Natalie van Sambeck

All images are created by the author unless noted otherwise.

Sure we’ve all head of the rule of thirds.  It’s a basic composition principle intended to create more balance within your composition.  To do this we divide the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically.  This breaks up our image into nine equal parts creating four intersections points referred to as “sweet spots.”  These sweet spots are considered to be areas where the eye is natural draw to so the idea is to place the subject of focus either along one of the four intersecting points or along the grid lines.  As you can see in the image above, the legs and the rose are positioned along the lines with one of the sweet spots intersecting just above the knee.

While this is a common compositional principle in photography, have you ever wondered where it came from?  Technically speaking, painter, writer, and printer, John Thomas Smith, first coined the term in 1797.  Smith was commenting on some observations he made over Rembrandt’s painting The Cradle, which was two thirds in shadow and one third in light.  However, in my humble opinion the rule of thirds is really an over simplification of the Phi grid, which comes from the golden section.

Otherwise called the golden mean or the golden ratio, the golden section is an irrational mathematical constant that equals to approximately 1.6180339.  Plato was the first to discover this golden ratio, which he expressed in a line.  Looking at the image below we see line A is divided into B and C.  The golden section says that A is to B as B is to C.  In other words, Ais 1.618 times longer than B and B is 1.618 times longer than C.

The number 1.618, which I’m sure you all recognize as Phi, is responsible for the fibonacci spiral.  Otherwise called the golden spiral, the fibonacci spiral is naturally found throughout nature with a growth factor of Phi.  That means that every time the spiral turns a quarter of a circle, the spiral grows so that it is one golden ratio away from the center of the spiral.    

So what does this have to do with the Phi grid and the Rule of Thirds?  The fibonacci spiral can be constructed inside a golden rectangle and both the fibonacci spiral and the golden rectangle is constructed using the golden section.  Do you know that the closest aspect ratio we have to the golden section in photography is 3:2?  This should not be surprising since 35mm film and most digital cameras follow this aspect ratio.  That’s not to say that other aspect ratios don’t have purpose and meaning but that’s a topic for another day.

Now back to the golden section.  If you look at the illustration below, you will see the large golden rectangle and the fibonacci spiral.  Notice how the large golden rectangle makes a square with a new but smaller golden rectangle.  This new golden rectangle can then be divided into a new square and an even smaller golden rectangle.  This can go on and on just like the spiral does. The smallest golden rectangle in the illustration, located in the upper right hand corner, makes up one of the four corners that make up the Phi grid. 

The next three images below show the rule of thirds, the Phi grid, and both the Phi grid and the rule of thirds.  As you can see the two principles aren’t too far off from one another.  However, some would argue that the Phi grid creates a more natural and balanced feel to the rule of thirds.  I am personally inclined to lean towards the golden section over the rule of thirds.  In fact, I find that I naturally apply the Phi grid quite frequently in my compositions.  A case in point would be the self portrait illustrating the principles below.  As you can see from the second image, one of the Phi lines cuts right through my eyes.  I would like to say that I created this self portrait with Phi grid in mind, but the truth is that this was coincidental.   However, this awareness in my own work has led to my personal belief that the Phi grid is more natural that the rule of thirds.  This is of course my opinion.  You may disagree.

Did you know that Henri Cartier-Bresson, who was first a painter before a photographer, often applied these sacred geometry principles when framing his compositions?  What’s even more compelling is he refusal to crop any of his images.  Take a look at the following image below.  You can see where the 3:2 frame is slightly larger than the golden rectangle but you can also see how he used the the fibonacci spiral in his composition.

In closing I would like to leave you with one more idea to think about.  The Phi grid is just one of many compositional principles that stems from the golden section.   Principles such as the occult center, the golden section from the double square, rebattement, ricocheting, and symmetry with triangles are just some variations of the golden section that many of the painting masters as well as photographer’s have used to successfully compose a master piece…and they didn’t use the rule of thirds.

 

[1]  Harris, John R.  Who Wrote the Rule of Thirds. Web. Retrieved on November 28, 2016 from https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/who-wrote-rule-thirds%3F

[2]  Olsen, Scott.  The Golden Section: Nature’s Greatest Secret. Walker Publishing Company, New York, New York, 2006. Print.

NOTE:  Both illustration came from Scott Olsen’s book and the last image was taken from http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/11/28/objectivity-vs-subjectivity-what-makes-a-great-street-photograph

The Purpose of Mistakes

by Troy Colby

Since moving away from my hometown almost two years ago. One thing that I have come to love and embrace living in a college town is the access to a major university and world renouned art museum.  This allows for many opportunities to see works of art and attend many artists’ lectures that I could have never before.

This Friday night was one of those nights. British photographer Richard Learyod was speaking at the Nelson Atkins Museum. Lectures at the Nelson so far that I have seen are based more in an interview form vs. the typical artist following a PowerPoint that they have created.  Giving the interview was the head curator of the photography department, April Watson. 

Over the years I have seen a few of his images online and through my studies. I honestly had no idea of how the work was made or really anything about him.  I think that it is important to know how he came to do the work he does now.  Born in 1966 in a small mill town in England.  This was a town that was on the verge of extinction even when he was young.  He stated; “not much was ever really expected out of you coming from that town.”  Right out of high school he chose to go to art school, the first in his family.  During art school they gave you a studio space and pretty much told you to go to it.  Within this space he experimented with dabbing developer in blotches on the paper, the camera obscura and played with using direct positive paper.  In art school he found that the work can be very easily to be swayed in its outcome.

After school he left and became a commercial photographer.  “I found commercial photography very easy. It was a great life. I got to travel all over the world, just to take pictures.”  He stated.  Once digital came into place and the work became more and more polished which lead to the commercial life “killing” his passion for photography. So he ended up quitting.  Bellow his commercial workspace another large space became available.  He had no idea of what he was going to do with the space at first.  During this time he was teaching on the side.  He wanted to go back and do something with the camera obscura, since he really enjoyed it in the past.  So he built a wall in the middle of the space and had the intent to make still life images with this newly constructed camera.  The wall to this day is always changing.  “I like tearing it down and starting new all the time,” he stated.

It started with a few portraits and snowballed into three bodies of work: Portraits, Figure studies and still lifes. He tends to use a few models while his assistant finds others.  “It just wouldn’t look right having a 50 plus year old man trying to pick up someone to go back to my studio to take their picture,” he stated.  Agnes is one model that he has been using since she was 19.  “She has a timeless look. I don’t want you to be able to have visual clues or evidence of what time period the image was taken,” Richard stated.

image2.JPG

When asked about the technical side of the photograph he stated that it is important but it doesn’t make the image.  It does separate the work just slightly different from the millions of images taken daily but just this much. Holding up his hand showing a gap between the figures.  The process has the subject sitting in  one room alone and in the other room Richard will capture the image coming through the camera obscura on Illford chrome direct positive paper at an ASA of 3. In the end he stated, “most people don’t care about the process. They are just able to read a good photograph.”

In being in the room alone the model is given time to “decide who they are going to be in the photograph. Some people have what it takes to give themself to the process and others just don’t have it.” Richard stated.   This was vey insightful for I personally have stumbled into this in my years of shooting others as well.  It is tough to imagine a model sitting in a room all alone with no site of the photographer making the image. It is really a process in isolation. In showing a slide show there were a few other poses of one of the images in the gallery.  “Go back, go back those are terrible,” he said in a funny tone.  “No, You learn something from looking at peoples mistakes. So that is why they are there.”  I have been to a good handful of lectures and some show how one image might have lead to another image.  But none have really shown mistakes for the sake of doing so.  Even though you can tell he doesn’t really want to show them. It allows for an open discussion about the process and our ability to recognize what is good or bad in the end.  When asked about the color and tone of the images from an audience member asking more of a technical question he answered. “People are very accepting of the wrongs in photography.”  He understands that the color balance is wrong but it only furthers the images intent and it is a part of the process too that causes this. “Film in the UK vs. the US have different makeups, this combined with the camera obscura causes some of these shifts.”  I gather that Richard is very aware of what it takes to make a technically good photograph from his years of commercial photography.  I personally feel as if he cares about the technical side but is more concerned in the end about the image capturing the emotion and soul that the sitter is willing to give. 

The last question of the night I was an odd question that was directed to the curator of the show.  I felt it important to mention it for it was an odd moment.  Someone in the audience asked, “Do the size of the prints make you want to show the work?”  I got the impression that the viewer did not care for the subject mater in the work and might be a bit jaded on seeing it hanging in the gallery. Maybe I am wrong and it might be wrong for me to say so.   I felt as if it was a bit rude to ask but she gracefully answered it. “No,” she stated. Going on to explain that the process of the work is important but the subject mater of the human connection is more important.  The work “holds my attention and in the end that is what is important,” April said.  In the end is what Richard had ultimately tried to avoid the technical conversation of size and process.  For I feel he realizes that a photograph can be timeless with the right amount of emotion and passion put fourth in the work.  Many times throughout the lecture you gather that he is very humbled that the work has gained this much recognition as he sits in the lecture chair in a pair of average pants and white undershirt that looks well worn, while sipping on a glass of wine. 

In viewing the work up close they are so immersive that you become engulfed into the gaze of the sitter.  The work is simple in its exterior at first glance. Though the more you view it the more you become connected within the image and start to scratch what is really going on under the surface.

The work is up at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City from February 10 to June 11, 2017.

Watson, April. In the Studio with Richard Learoyd. 17 February 2017.

Images, by Troy Colby

1.     Agnes in Red, 2008
2.     Lecture Shot
3.     Agnes in Red, 2008 in back ground foreground,  Vanessa, 2013

 

Freedom in Creativity Through Limiting Choice

by Lindsey Welch

You should try photography with just a single prime lens, but not for the reasons you've probably already heard. Decision fatigue is a very real problem that many are unaware of as a danger to their creativity and creation of new work. This is something that has plagued me at various points in my photograph creation history. It’s something I have worked towards solving through intentionally limiting choice. This may sound like a step backward, but it bears a hidden freedom.

Image: Google, Source Unknown

Image: Google, Source Unknown

Like many new photographers, I began in photography thinking I needed all the gear, all the lens options, all the filters, everything one needs to make a perfect picture. In time, I learned many skills in visualization, composition and even concept development. As I began to turn to making images of the world out there, the landscape and environment, I took with me these many lenses, several cameras and myriad other selections. I had a lot of options to make pictures with, and a lot of choices to make before I made an image. “That pretty much sums it up: time spent figuring out your equipment is time that could have been better spent figuring out how to get the best photo.” Says Mark David in an article titled ‘How much camera gear do you need?’ [1].

Beyond the physical fatigue of hauling all this equipment to various shooting locations; and the maintenance, expense and awareness of its protection, is another kind of exhaustion. I am one who always tries to think through a choice for the best possible solution towards the best outcome, I also can tend to be paralyzed by choices when all options seem equal. Having these options before making an image would often time mean that I would waste valuable creation time choosing equipment before making the shot. Making all of these choices before even making the picture means I was exhausting my decision-making muscles.

Image: Mark David [1]

Image: Mark David [1]

I hadn’t realized at the time, but decision fatigue is a real thing, and it can be a real danger to creativity and productivity. In a 2010 study, University students found that decision making ability decreased with each act of deciding [2]. In result, one’s ability to make good choices can decrease as choices are made. It makes our willpower dwindle, it makes us more irritable, it makes us act rashly. It’s a simple matter of physical limits, there is a ceiling for choices made in a single choice making (read: creation of artwork) session. As translated into the creation of photography, having a plethora of decisions to make concerning gear options, and following likely options with subject matter and location (and before even making the images) can lead to poor images. Most optimistically, it can also lead to a lack of enthusiasm to make them, which can lead to missing details and opportunities, and even making it seem more like work [3]. This can cause the creation of new work to go from being rewarding and enlightening to being draining and exhausting, which in the long term can affect one’s whole portfolio.

Andreas Gursky. 99 Cent, 1999.San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), San Francisco

Andreas Gursky. 99 Cent, 1999.San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), San Francisco

In my case, it meant that I wasn’t going far enough, trying hard enough, doing as much as I could. I would spend more time making technical choices than I was making creative choices; never mind the physical strain of carrying these items, and thus missing images because I didn’t want to haul all that gear. One of the ways to combat this fatigue is to eliminate choice, to simplify and minimize. “Do I miss some shots due to my limited gear? Sure, but what I missed is easily made up by all of the other shots I get.” Writes blogger Dave Powell about choosing to minimize gear choices [4].

This is a tactic that many successful stories in the business world use every day. For example, Apple and Trader Joe’s limit customer choice. For the premium price tag, you have choice made for you in a curated fashion, thus buying into the quality of experience over the option of choice which confound you following all the other decisions of the day [5]. Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Steven Jobs and even Albert Einstein all wear the same basic clothing or outfit every day. This is an efficient tactic to simplify in areas that bleed away decision-making energy, as well we precious time [6].

Image: Reuters. [6]

Image: Reuters. [6]

For me, one of the first place to minimize was in my equipment. I have since gotten rid of all extraneous equipment and now work predominately with only one prime lens and one camera. My lens of choice is a 55mm f/1.8. I have one other 35mm f/2.8 lens that acts as a kind of safety net in emergencies, but it mostly lives in the car. I picked this focal length by examining my favorite images over several years. The choice to have this second lens was that it was so close to my main one. In effect, its only job is to save me if I cannot back up enough with my feet. This goes for zoom lenses too, as the infinite choice of potential perspectives means valuable time is wasted choosing them. Over the last few years, I have become convinced I needed to try working with additional lenses again. I buy them, and then become paralyzed by which to take with me when I can only take one, or which to use when the situation suites several. Every time I find myself back at a single lens, its relieving. There is no choice to make, I can just shoot.

My portfolio and metadata in Lightroom

My portfolio and metadata in Lightroom

It isn’t just in equipment options where decision fatigue can become a risk factor to success. Perhaps you have too many available plug-ins in Photoshop, too many kinds of film to choose from, or maybe too many options in lighting, filters, and even processes. The important point is to take a good look at your work flow and highlight where you make choices. Ask: how much time to you spend being hung up on that choice, and what option do you intuitively gravitate towards? Just try creating without thinking about those choices, consider them a given, and work within those parameters. You might find the lack of options to be freeing to your creativity as you spend less time thinking about technical and physical decisions and more time on the meat of the work: the ideas.

For more inspiration, check out “27 Frames” [7], which opened on January 12 this year. “It became more about what I chose to take a picture of, rather than how I took it,” explains Will Adler about using nothing but a disposable camera for the series [8].

Prints on prints on print. Credit: Matt Titone [8]

Prints on prints on print. Credit: Matt Titone [8]

[1] David, Mark. How much camera gear do you need? <http://www.mdavid.com.au/photography/howmuchgear.shtml>

[2] Danzigera , Shai, Levavb, Jonathan Levavb, and Avnaim-Pessoa , Liora. Extraneous factors in judicial decisions. 2010-2011 < http://www.pnas.org/content/108/17/6889.full.pdf>

[3] Tierney, John. August 17, 2011. Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue? <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/magazine/do-you-suffer-from-decision-fatigue.html>

[4] Powell, Dave. 10 Things I learned from daily shooting. <https://shoottokyo.com/daily-shooting/>

[5] Baer, Drake. May 14, 2013. Quick: End Decision Fatigue Before It Drains Your Productivity Reservoir. < https://www.fastcompany.com/3009641/leadership-now/quick-end-decision-fatigue-before-it-drains-your-productivity-reservoir>

[6] Haltwanger, John. November 14, 2014. The Science Of Simplicity: Why Successful People Wear The Same Thing Every Day. < http://elitedaily.com/money/science-simplicity-successful-people-wear-thing-every-day/849141/>

[7] MATT. January 8, 2017. 27 Frames Show Preview. < http://www.indoek.com/archives/22611 >

[8] Aschim, Hans. January 12, 2017. Here's What Happens When Pro Photographers Shoot on Disposable Cameras < https://creators.vice.com/en_us/article/27-frames-pro-photographers-disposable-cameras >

Essential Landscape Tools

by John Ewing

In the last installment I discussed tracking the weather and the methods I used to pick locations for my storm-driven landscape images.  This week, I wanted to start the discussion of capture techniques by talking about some of the basic tools that I use in creating my landscape work.  While some of the tools I describe can be emulated in post-processing, it is always preferable to get the initial capture as close as possible to the intended final print statement in-camera.  The less pixel manipulation in post-processing, the higher the quality of the final product.  I use the following tools regularly to help create the strongest initial capture possible, and feel they have a place in most landscape photographers’ kit.

Tripod, Tripod Head & Tripod Weight

I use my tripod on every landscape image that I shoot for two primary reasons.  First and most obvious is that when I need to use slow shutter speeds, such as in low light conditions, or if I’m wanting to capture motion, the tripod keeps the camera steady.  The other not so obvious reason is that it helps me to slow down and more carefully consider my composition.

When choosing a tripod, it is important to consider both the maximum working height and weight limits to ensure they meet your requirements.  It is also important to consider the type of tripod head you want to work with.  I prefer a ball head, as seen below, but the important thing is to use what you are most comfortable with.  One additional accessory to consider when looking for a tripod is a hook or loop that you can attach a weight to.  My tripod has a loop underneath that I hang my camera bag from to dampen wind-induced camera shake.  If you expect to shoot in windy conditions, consider adding the capability to weigh down your tripod, but make sure that you don’t exceed your tripod’s working weight limit.

Camera Level

Fixing your horizon line is fairly simple to accomplish in post-processing, but getting it right in-camera leaves one less adjustment you’ll need to accomplish in post-processing.  Many newer cameras now have electronic levels built into the viewfinder and/or the camera’s display screen.  These levels provide feedback on both the horizontal axis and the forward/backward tilt axis.  Simply pull up the level display, loosen the head, then move the camera into a level attitude using the visual prompts.  Tighten the head and you are good to go.  In the event that your camera doesn’t have the electronic level, you can attach a spirit level, also known as a bubble level, to your camera’s hot shoe and get the same results.  The image below shows examples of Canon and Pentax electronic levels, as well as a spirit level.

John Ewing, Tripod, Filter Set, Filter Holder on Camera,

John Ewing, Tripod, Filter Set, Filter Holder on Camera,

Filter Kit

Where your tripods and camera level are functional tools that help get the camera set up to shoot, filters provide flexibility in controlling light beyond shutter speed, exposure and ISO.  Ultimately, they provide the basic creative building blocks for making the final image.  As a brief refresher, human eyes have a functional dynamic range estimated to exceed 24 f-stops.  While we can’t correlate this precisely to a camera’s static dynamic range, DSLRs frequently have a dynamic range of 8-11 f-stops, our eyes can still perceive and appreciate large differences in value that a camera simply can’t match.  Use of specific filters can compress the range of values across an image to keep details in the shadows without blowing out the highlights, such as when shooting a bright sky and much darker foreground.  I frequently use filters to achieve a low- to mid-value contrast across an image.  To accomplish this, I carry a circular polarizing filter, a set of neutral density filters, and a set of graduated neutral density filters, as well as the associated holders and adapters.   

Polarizing Filters

Polarizing filters are primarily intended to decrease or eliminate reflections and glare from the surface of shiny objects.  This is especially useful in taking the reflective sheen off of water elements and giving it a darker appearance.  As an added bonus for the landscape photographer, they also add contrast and saturate colors to a degree.  I use a polarizer primarily for the way it creates depth in the clouds through the added contrast and saturation.  With clear skies however, and especially with wide angle lenses, it is important to be mindful of your angle to the sun or you are likely to end up with a dark vignette or an uneven color gradation across your sky (polarizers work best when you are shooting with the sun at 90 degrees from the image plane).  Also, there is a difference between polarizers used for digital work and those used with film.  If you are shooting digital, ensure you get a polarizer that is made for digital cameras.

Neutral Density (ND) Filters

The primary function of the ND filter is to decrease the amount of light hitting your sensor or film.  Because they filter the full spectrum of light waves, they do not affect color rendering.  They are available in a range of densities, and always require adjustments in aperture and/or shutter speed.  The densities are generally measured based on the f-stop reduction the filter provides (e.g. the set I use includes four filters rated at -1, -2, -3, and -4 f-stops).  If I’m in a situation where I can’t use a polarizing filter and need to decrease the value across the entire image, I’ll use a standard ND filter.  As a result, my shutter speeds are longer to compensate.  NDs are also perfect for controlling exposure while capturing motion (i.e. for waterfalls, streams, etc.).

Graduated Neutral Density

Graduated ND filters are without a doubt the workhorses of my filter kit, and can be used to functionally compress the dynamic range of an image.  Graduated ND filters transition from clear at one end to dark at the other.  Like the standard ND filters, Graduated ND filter ratings are based on the f-stop reduction of each filter, as well as how quickly the filter transitions from clear to dark.  They also come in a wide assortment of densities and transitions to meet virtually any requirement (see below for an assortment of ND and Graduated ND filters).   While there are circular, screw-in Graduated ND filters, I prefer to use rectangular “drop-in” filters using a dedicated filter holder.

As I mentioned above, these filters are my workhorses and it is rare for me to capture a landscape image without one.  Frequently, it is the value difference between the sky and ground elements that exceed a camera’s dynamic range and using one or more Graduated ND filter can bring highlights down to a manageable level.  Generally, the dark portion of the filter is used to cover the sky, with the transition line (when present) being aligned with the horizon line.  In some situations, such as sun reflecting off of water or snow, the dense part of the filter will be reversed to bring down the value of the foreground.  As with standard ND filters, Graduated NDs can be stacked to some degree.  It isn’t unusual for me to have a Polarizing filter, a standard ND filter and a Graduated ND filter in place for a shoot.

Camera Levels (Canon 5D Mark III, Spirit Level, Pentax 645Z)

Camera Levels (Canon 5D Mark III, Spirit Level, Pentax 645Z)

The Artist’s Voice: Speaking Our Own Truth

by Natalie van Sambeck

“To make art is to sing with the human voice.  To do this you must first learn that the only voice you need is the voice you already have”  This pearl of wisdom, which came from the book Art and Fear, reminds us that being an artist means we must speak our own truth.  But what is our own truth?  At its core, our own truth is intrinsically intertwined with identity, which begs the age old question “Who am I?”  We tend to define this in terms of physical characteristics, social roles, and personal characteristics but is that who we really are?

According to psychologist, Bruce Hood, we only exist through a pattern of multiple influences that shape our lives.  Pluck away at each influence and we cease to exist.  Think of all the external influences that have touched our lives such as parents, friends, teachers, hobbies, or work.  All of these aspects have made lasting impressions on us and once combined they form our whole sense of self.  These impressions are created through memories and experiences, which are then strung together to create a cohesive narrative; our own personal myth.

However, our own story isn’t actually grounded in any reality.  Instead, they follow a story line with our self as the star.  Being the writer of our own story becomes problematic because it leaves room for an abundance of self distortions.  We mold ourselves into what we think we should be, which is based by our external influences.  Meanwhile,  we conveniently leave out the parts that do not fit our idealized self.

What’s even more startling is that our own unique personal myths are not actually as unique as we lead ourselves to believe.  Our uniqueness is actually more common ground or average in the broader spectrum.  Yet we believe we are smarter, funnier, more attractive and nicer than the average person.

Don’t believe me? Take a look in the mirror.  What do you see?  Instantly we recognize that face as our own but we believe that this is just our external body.  Deep down we believe there is more to our self.  We feel it at our core.  If asked where this feeling of self originates from we would all probably answer somewhere in between and above our eyes.  This sensation has us believing we are unique and above average, that our body is just a vessel for the soul.

But what if that was all just an illusion perpetuated by the brain?  What if we are merely reflections of our external world?  This reflected self would be completely unaware that the self is an illusion simply because we can’t see that we change according to different external influences.

This is largely because we are bombarded by so much information that the brain would be overwhelmed if it had to process all of it.  Instead, the brain filters through what it deems as unnecessary and keeps what it feels is important.  This filtering mechanism is no different from the filtering software used in a google search.  A google search engine will yield different results for different users even when they use the same keyword to search.  The filtering system is based on a profile of variables relating to the specific user. In order to be able to sift through countless information, the software selects what it thinks we want to see.  The brain operates in the same way only the personalization is based off external factors that influence us.

While we aren’t as different as we think we are, that doesn’t mean that we are all the same either.  But we do all share a common thread that is truly undeniable.  Take a look at the OCEAN approach to assessing personality traits.  OCEAN stands for Openness (to try new things) , conscientiousness (self-discipline), extraversion (social interaction), agreeableness (willingness to help others), and neuroticism (self-centered worry).  Otherwise called the Big Five, this approach is the most commonly accepted personality assessment in psychology.  Studies reveal that our assessments change depending on the different situations or roles we assume, which supports the idea that the self is an illusion.  Even more startling is that when viewed in groups, the individuals were consistent in which factors were predominate when changing roles, and thus supports that we are not as different as we think we are.

I’m sure your reading this either in complete agreement or total denial, wondering what’s the point?  You thought I was talking about finding one’s voice as an artist and are now wondering how I ended up in a lengthy debate on how the brain creates a sense of self?  I’ll finally get to the point.  As artists we must create work that speaks our own “unique” voice and we can only do this by telling our own personal myth.  The more personal we are with our artwork, the more success we have in reach a larger audience.

Suddenly our work is more relatable when we voice our own unique narrative.  Why?  Because we aren’t as different as we think we are. Sure we have variations in our experiences, but they are more universal than we realize.  At the end of the day we are human beings that share a common thread holding us all together; the experience of existing.  So create meaningful art that sings us a song with your unique voice.  Speaking your own truth will inadvertently touch a larger audience on a deeper level.

Sources

[1]  Hood, Bruce. The Self Illusion.  How the Social Brain Creates Identity. Oxford University Press. Oxford, New York, 2102.  Print.

[2]  Bayles, David and Ted Orland.  Art & Fear. Image Continuum. Santa Cruz, CA, 2001. Print.

The Copyright Turmoil

by Demetrius Austin

As a photographic artist, whether commercial, Fine Art, documentary, journalist, etc, there is one area of the business that we all should be involved and aware of; copyright. Since the digital age has started, the copyright office, it’s laws, etc. have been exposed for how antiquated the technology platforms are and not keeping up with the social and technological discourse around the subject of protecting artist’s creations. “Even by the standards of the federal government, their digital operations are considered dismal and inefficient. [Forbes]”

In recent years, with the overwhelming amount of photographic data on the internet, the increasing number of photographers, increasing number of social platforms and photography contests having terms and conditions that amount to the photographer giving away all rights to their works, the copyright office has remained stagnant in their approach. In mentioning the Library of Congress above, it should be noted that the US Copyright Office currently sits under the management of the Librarian of Congress. Why does this even matter you might ask? Well, there is a new Librarian of Congress stepping into office and the head of the Copyright Office was essentially fired a little more than a week ago amid a number of different allegations stemming from performance, clashes with big tech firms like Google and the movie industry.

Either way, copyright reform is likely to happen and rather than staying away from the topic because it’s complicated is not going to help that reform. Be engaged. Be a part of organizations that have a seat at the table to lobby for copyright law that you believe in. This issue is not going away anytime soon, but yet it impacts EVERY ONE of us involved in the arts. Images below are of the new Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden and recently ousted head of the Copyright Office, Maria Pallante.

Washington Post. “Carla Hayden.” Sept 2016. Web

 

Fortune. “Maria Pallante.” Oct 2016. Web

What is in a Photograph?

by Marta Gaia Zanchi

Sharbat Gula, left on the cover of National Geographic in 1985, and then nearly two decades later, after she was featured in a story in the magazine about being reunited with the photographer. Credit: Steve McCurry/National Geographic Society, via Agence France-Presse.

Sharbat Gula was a refugee and a little girl with piercing green eyes in 1984 Afghanistan, when Steve McCurry took her photograph.

He did not know her; in fact, he did not even know her name. McCurry was walking around the Nasir Bagh camp when he heard the voices of many girls coming from a tent used as a school. Class was in progress, so he went in and started taking some images. It was not long until he saw twelve-year-old Sharbat. He was quoted to say, later in an interview: “She was curious about me as I was about her, because she had never been photographed and probably never saw a camera. After a few moments she got up and walked away.”

The image, known simply as The Afghan Girl, was published a year later and eventually became one of the most recognized photographs in the history of not just National Geographic, but of virtually any magazine. A symbol of the tragedy of Afghanistan was born. With those green eyes, all the dignity of the population of a war-ridden country shone brightest across the world. With those eyes, a little girl rose to instant recognition by millions. And with those eyes, Steve McCurry’s career as documentary photographer was launched.

There are a number of images in the history of photography that have caught the public imagination. What makes this one special, I argue though, is that it captured a minor - and was the start of a story of which she remains to this date the center of attention. Since that first meeting in 1984, National Geographic has continued to look for the girl and in 2002, found her and featured in a new article. On this occasion, the Magazine donated her a sewing machine, helped her family with some medical treatment, and funded her and her husband’s trip to Mecca on the hajj. Shortly after and inspired by this trip, National Geographic created The Afghan Girl’s Fund to provide educational opportunities for Afghan girls and young women. (The scope later broadened to include boys, and the name changed.)

Her story was brought back again to actuality last week by National Geographic, when Sharbat was arrested in Pakistan on charges of fraudulently obtaining national identity cards. Authorities said she had illegally obtained a Pakistani identity card in 1988 and a computerized identity card in 2014, while retaining her Afghan passport, which she used in 2014 to travel to Saudi Arabia for the hajj. She faces up to 14 years in prison and a fine of $3,000 to $5,000 if she is convicted.

What is in a photograph?

The story makes me pause, for many reasons. I am full of questions. Was it right to photograph a minor in full face without her parents’ permission, and catapult her to worldwide recognition? Was it right to start a decade long search for her in her adult life, prompted by the success of that one image? Does the global awareness of the tragedy of Afghanistan that this picture helped create make it right? Or, does the material support offered by the Magazine in a moment of need in her adult life make it right? Or, maybe the Fund justified the mean? And what responsibilities, if any, does National Geographic must feel now that she has been arrested? How does she feel in all this?

As a parent, I make decisions for and with my children all the time. I am struggling with one, at this very moment, which is whether to focus my MFA Thesis on my children’s photography.

So I can’t help but wonder...

What is in a photograph, for the children who are in them once they grow up?

Group Exhibition: Identity

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by Brian Kyle

High school seniors find themselves at a crossroads, over the course of just a few months they are asked to make many decisions that will fundamentally alter their futures. The decisions they make at this point in their lives are arguably some of the most impactful and life-altering decisions they may make in their life. It is a time of introspection and soul searching, where they must not only identify the qualities and beliefs that make them who they are now, but also make decisions that set them on a course towards who they want to be.

These photos are portraits made of high school seniors who have found themselves thrust into this period of tumultuous introspection and decision-making.

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Home Is Where The Heart Is by Natalie van Sambeck

Home is very much a state of mind. Whether we define this in terms of people, places or inanimate objects, it makes no difference. Home is our sanctuary. A place where we can go to for comfort, peace, or even solitude. We are greeted by our self every time we connect to home and it is here that we begin to get a sense for who we truly are.

My home is a sacred place nestled in the forest just off a slightly beaten path behind my family’s house. This place is where I spent most of my childhood days hunting for frogs or crayfish, building forts in trees, stomping on skunk cabbage, or looking up and counting all the stars when night began to fall. I’ve shed some tears and revealed some of my deepest secrets with these woods. It holds my hopes, my dreams, and even my fears. In essence, my self is imprinted within this place; a sacred space I call home.

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Reality by Demetrius Austin

One thing that all can agree on in photography and design is the distinction of color. Each color on the wheel has a distinct color name and number assigned. We use those elements to find compliments and analogous friends among a few. However, in society, all of that logic and understanding is thrown to the wolves and where race is concerned, one of the most divisive and polarizing topics.

In this project, Reality, I explore the question of what's your reality with regard to racial discourse. Is this family truly the color black or white? What reality do you identify with and what is the rationalization behind the logic. The depictions in this mini series explore how I interpret the associations of how race is thought of in society. My desire is to slap the viewer with absurdity and force a mental reset on race categorizations. Likewise, there is a subtext of the battles a mother and father of "interracial/mixed and/or minority" kids deal with in preparing them for the world outside their control.

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by Karineh Gurjian

“Researchers at the University of Kansas found that people were able to correctly judge a stranger's age, gender, income, political affiliation, emotional and other important personality traits just by looking at the person's shoes.”

We can look and examine the style, cost, color of the condition of the shoe; we can guess personal characteristics. Some things are very obvious, for example, expensive shoes belonged to high earners, flashy and colorful footwear belonged to extroverts and shoes that are not new but appeared to be spotless belonged to conscientious types.

But there are other things that we can notice, functional shoes belong to agreeable people, ankle boots fit with more aggressive personalities and uncomfortable looking shoes are worn by calm personalities.

We can also say liberal thinkers, who wear flip-flop can be considered hippies.

"Shoes convey a thin but useful slice of information about their wearers,"

As we walk down the street, we can see a variety of styles, brands, looks, and functions. So this is why I feel that they are very individual based and they carry a lot of information about the person wearing them.

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I am where I live by Jody Lepinot

My home is a living being. We have a spiritual connection. There are places in my home that let me be deeply myself, where I feel especially comfortable or energized or peaceful. I’m drawn to these places every day.

In the morning I sit in my front window when I need to connect, looking out beyond my house to feel part of the neighborhood. My bathroom is a peaceful, quiet retreat. The collection of laboratory glass displayed in the window recalls happy memories of my former life. On my kitchen chest I keep the special cards Mom and I receive. I look at them and re-read them to feel my family with me. Each time I walk through my den I stop and breathe in the mystery of the window. The sheer curtains seem to float, partially concealing the personal stories told by the vases and statuettes on the sill. Windows and shelves and chests become the aediculae that give me comfort, energy and peace. They are like altars to my everyday life.

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Alter Ego by Santosh Kumar Korthiwada

One has a conscious self that is more outward and meant for the rest of the world. In this photographic series I’m exploring the ‘other’ self that is more inward and more personal. That other self is nothing but an “Alter Ego”; an ego that is genuine, independent, and brutally self-critical. As human beings, we deal with many internal and external self-inflicted conflicts and contradictions; the more contradictions, the more questions arise and more we grow. Like nature, “it” changes, develops and transforms our identity in ways that are inexplicable.

This ongoing series is inspired by the words of W.E.B Dubois. He coined the term 'double consciousness' with regards to African American peoples’ identity in America...but I think the idea of double consciousness is applicable to identity in general. It is a sensation or feeling that one's identity is divided into several parts and is impossible to have a unified identity.

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by Brooks Fletcher

‘Identity’ is ground by this ideas that there are facts associated with what a person or thing is. But what if those facts are vague or unclear? Can we still accurately identify the person or thing in question?

In this mini-series, To Be Identified, pedestrians and their shadows are partially captured in scenes that are composed of few visual elements. Flattened space and lines contribute to the unidentifiable nature of each scene, peaking the viewer’s interest just enough for them to question not only the identity of these people, but the characteristics of the scene itself.

Each image was created on Fujifilm Provia 100F color reversal film using a Zeiss Ikon SW Rangefinder Camera fitted with a 35mm f/2.8 lens and a 35mm optical viewfinder. This minimal, essentials-only capture process allows me to focus on discovering, dissecting, and rendering these instances into still images, but affords a level of clarity that contributes to learning more about my identity as a photographer.

In the end, these images are just as much about me and my disposition as an artist as they are the pedestrians and scenes in them.

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by John Ewing

While there are certain immutable elements that form our basic self-identity, such as the physical attributes we are born with, our identities are not static. It is generally agreed that how we identify self evolves over time as we grow, learn, and experience life. Growing up, the more significant influences on our identity include familial, social, and spiritual affiliations, along with our educational experiences. As adults, our chosen vocations become a primary driver of our sense of self. In a sense, we identify ourselves based on what we do.

Since retiring from the military after twenty-seven years of service, I’ve struggled with my personal identity. In the military, my identity was closely tied to the many roles I filled. The uniform I wore was a clear signifier of both my self-identity and my identity within the military, and the community at large. Leaving that way of life behind at retirement has forced me to consciously decide how I will define my new identity. This photographic series explores the struggle of creating a new sense of self in my post-military reality using self as subject juxtaposed against a deserted landscape.

Image titles:

  1. Leaving the Known World Behind
  2. Lost
  3. A New Path

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by Sarah Sloneker

When approaching the assignment on identity, I thought of the quote from Aristotle, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Meaning, when the individual parts are connected together to form one entity, then they are worth more than if the parts individually. For example, a “Pen” is not the ink alone, is not the cap alone, is not the tip alone … the “Pen” is the whole of the sum of all its parts.

To that idea, I am not my hands, I am not my eyes, or my feet, or my chest. My identity and soul comes from the whole of the collective, that is who I am.

The Photographic Experience, Part III: A Photographer on Fire

 

by Brooks Fletcher

Did I get your attention? Good!

This NPR image is of 27-year-old Tibetan exile Janphel Yeshi. He lit himself on fire in protest of, then Chinese President, Hu Jintao’s visit to India in 2012. Yeshi was protesting against Chinese occupation of the disputed territory.

Now, there may not be a direct parallel between photography and the cultural genocide that has taken place in that region for centuries, but, figuratively speaking, photography has become art’s ‘overly’ occupied territory.

Parts I and II of this series were the manifestation of thoughts and ideas regarding the state of photography and the culture surrounding it. Each article was grounded by the idea that everyone is now a photographer. As a fellow classmate pointed out, this is a hot-button issue that might stir things up “a little bit too much.” Well, that is sort of the point.

Whether we believe it or not, the fact remains that everyone can and is taking photographs. Notice, I used the word ‘taking’ and not ‘creating.’ Unfortunately, the large majority of photographers don’t know the difference between the two, which has caused this occupation and dispute of territory.

This is a problem because most are either oblivious to this shift in the medium or are fine with it as long as their own personal and/or professional progression isn’t interrupted by it. However, this leads to a bigger problem: The ‘informed’ sitting back while the ‘uninformed’ dilute a territory rich in history and tradition. Ironically, this ‘problem’ has helped me realize that the solution will only come from doing what we truly desire.

Even as a military photojournalist, I never considered myself a professional. This made it easy for me to abandon everything I thought I knew about photography when I started this MFA program. Now that I’m here, I am more comfortable as a student than I ever was as a ‘professional.’ I find a great deal of satisfaction in bending to the will of this medium and learning more about what it is I desire. I suppose, then, my real concern is that I wish every ‘photographer’ would do the same, setting themselves ablaze in protest of those who see it otherwise and raising hell until there’s heaven.

In the next article, “The Photographic Experience, Part IV: Several Cameras Later,” I’ll assess my photographic journey up until this point and my plans for foreseeable future.

 

When A Project Receives New LIFE

by Demetrius Austin

Like many of you, I have been working on my thesis project for a while now. I thought I was brilliant in the fact I wanted to create something personal, something that pushed me both creatively and technically and something that would benefit me professionally as well since I am actively doing commercial work. From the start of the project I pursued technically complicated imagery with subjects that looked great on the camera and of course were great
physical specimens. The final creations demonstrated a pretty decent control of lighting,creativity and Photoshop prowess. The subjects were relatable and passionate about being healthy.

Austin, Demetrius. “Technical Analyst”. July 2015

From cycling, working out in the snow and rain, the project was moving forward even though there were hiccups. I was even able to successfully sell the idea of the project a lot easier with a more refined abstract, sample images that had been reviewed by both faculty and my peers and an end game I believed had the depth necessary to move forward both academically and professionally. Until October 2015, I could and would have continued moving forward with that trajectory and ultimately happy. However, the life of this project became a bit more life altering. Meet Dustin, a man with a very fascinating story along with a passion for being a professional athlete that is unquestionable and made me look at this project in a different light.
 

Austin, Demetrius. “Dustin S.” October 2015.

At the age of 17, Dustin was a star football player with a full life ahead and likely looking at a few scholarships to play at a top level college. In an instant, everything changed. He was in a car accident that placed him on a surgical table where he died twice. Afterwards, he had to learn how to do everything over again, to include walking. His motivation was and is to defy the odds and not only learn to walk, but to live life with no limitations. Dustin went on to finish college, play in the arena football league, fight in the MMA all while working in highway construction for his parent’s company. Dustin’s story has heightened my pursuit to find people that not only have a passion for their sport and/or health, but have had life altering experiences in order to operate at the level they do today.

Essential Landscape Tools

by John Ewing

In the last installment I discussed tracking the weather and the methods I used to pick locations for my storm-driven landscape images.  This week, I wanted to start the discussion of capture techniques by talking about some of the basic tools that I use in creating my landscape work.  While some of the tools I describe can be emulated in post-processing, it is always preferable to get the initial capture as close as possible to the intended final print statement in-camera.  The less pixel manipulation in post-processing, the higher the quality of the final product.  I use the following tools regularly to help create the strongest initial capture possible, and feel they have a place in most landscape photographers’ kit.

Tripod, Tripod Head & Tripod Weight

I use my tripod on every landscape image that I shoot for two primary reasons.  First and most obvious is that when I need to use slow shutter speeds, such as in low light conditions, or if I’m wanting to capture motion, the tripod keeps the camera steady.  The other not so obvious reason is that it helps me to slow down and more carefully consider my composition.

When choosing a tripod, it is important to consider both the maximum working height and weight limits to ensure they meet your requirements.  It is also important to consider the type of tripod head you want to work with.  I prefer a ball head, as seen below, but the important thing is to use what you are most comfortable with.  One additional accessory to consider when looking for a tripod is a hook or loop that you can attach a weight to.  My tripod has a loop underneath that I hang my camera bag from to dampen wind-induced camera shake.  If you expect to shoot in windy conditions, consider adding the capability to weigh down your tripod, but make sure that you don’t exceed your tripod’s working weight limit.

Camera Level

Fixing your horizon line is fairly simple to accomplish in post-processing, but getting it right in-camera leaves one less adjustment you’ll need to accomplish in post-processing.  Many newer cameras now have electronic levels built into the viewfinder and/or the camera’s display screen.  These levels provide feedback on both the horizontal axis and the forward/backward tilt axis.  Simply pull up the level display, loosen the head, then move the camera into a level attitude using the visual prompts.  Tighten the head and you are good to go.  In the event that your camera doesn’t have the electronic level, you can attach a spirit level, also known as a bubble level, to your camera’s hot shoe and get the same results.  The image below shows examples of Canon and Pentax electronic levels, as well as a spirit level.

John Ewing, Tripod, Filter Set, Filter Holder on Camera, 16 October 2016.

Filter Kit

Where your tripods and camera level are functional tools that help get the camera set up to shoot, filters provide flexibility in controlling light beyond shutter speed, exposure and ISO.  Ultimately, they provide the basic creative building blocks for making the final image.  As a brief refresher, human eyes have a functional dynamic range estimated to exceed 24 f-stops.  While we can’t correlate this precisely to a camera’s static dynamic range, DSLRs frequently have a dynamic range of 8-11 f-stops, our eyes can still perceive and appreciate large differences in value that a camera simply can’t match.  Use of specific filters can compress the range of values across an image to keep details in the shadows without blowing out the highlights, such as when shooting a bright sky and much darker foreground.  I frequently use filters to achieve a low- to mid-value contrast across an image.  To accomplish this, I carry a circular polarizing filter, a set of neutral density filters, and a set of graduated neutral density filters, as well as the associated holders and adapters.   

Polarizing Filters

Polarizing filters are primarily intended to decrease or eliminate reflections and glare from the surface of shiny objects.  This is especially useful in taking the reflective sheen off of water elements and giving it a darker appearance.  As an added bonus for the landscape photographer, they also add contrast and saturate colors to a degree.  I use a polarizer primarily for the way it creates depth in the clouds through the added contrast and saturation.  With clear skies however, and especially with wide angle lenses, it is important to be mindful of your angle to the sun or you are likely to end up with a dark vignette or an uneven color gradation across your sky (polarizers work best when you are shooting with the sun at 90 degrees from the image plane).  Also, there is a difference between polarizers used for digital work and those used with film.  If you are shooting digital, ensure you get a polarizer that is made for digital cameras.

Neutral Density (ND) Filters

The primary function of the ND filter is to decrease the amount of light hitting your sensor or film.  Because they filter the full spectrum of light waves, they do not affect color rendering.  They are available in a range of densities, and always require adjustments in aperture and/or shutter speed.  The densities are generally measured based on the f-stop reduction the filter provides (e.g. the set I use includes four filters rated at -1, -2, -3, and -4 f-stops).  If I’m in a situation where I can’t use a polarizing filter and need to decrease the value across the entire image, I’ll use a standard ND filter.  As a result, my shutter speeds are longer to compensate.  NDs are also perfect for controlling exposure while capturing motion (i.e. for waterfalls, streams, etc.).

Graduated Neutral Density

Graduated ND filters are without a doubt the workhorses of my filter kit, and can be used to functionally compress the dynamic range of an image.  Graduated ND filters transition from clear at one end to dark at the other.  Like the standard ND filters, Graduated ND filter ratings are based on the f-stop reduction of each filter, as well as how quickly the filter transitions from clear to dark.  They also come in a wide assortment of densities and transitions to meet virtually any requirement (see below for an assortment of ND and Graduated ND filters).   While there are circular, screw-in Graduated ND filters, I prefer to use rectangular “drop-in” filters using a dedicated filter holder.

As I mentioned above, these filters are my workhorses and it is rare for me to capture a landscape image without one.  Frequently, it is the value difference between the sky and ground elements that exceed a camera’s dynamic range and using one or more Graduated ND filter can bring highlights down to a manageable level.  Generally, the dark portion of the filter is used to cover the sky, with the transition line (when present) being aligned with the horizon line.  In some situations, such as sun reflecting off of water or snow, the dense part of the filter will be reversed to bring down the value of the foreground.  As with standard ND filters, Graduated NDs can be stacked to some degree.  It isn’t unusual for me to have a Polarizing filter, a standard ND filter and a Graduated ND filter in place for a shoot.

Camera Levels (Canon 5D Mark III, Spirit Level, Pentax 645Z), 16 October 2016

Filter Holder & Adapter Rings

The last portion of the filter kit includes the rings, holders and adapters that allow you to use the tools we’ve covered.  There are many manufactures and styles of filters, each with their own mounting hardware, so I’d recommend taking a look at what is available.  My kit is set up so I can use one set of filters on all of my lenses by using adapters.  For my circular polarizer and Graduated ND filters, I use the Cokin P-Series filters and holder.  The holder mounts onto an adapter ring, the polarizer drops into the first slot, and Graduated ND filters load in the second and third slots.  (see above for an image of the filter holder on my camera with polarizer and Gradated ND filter).  I have rings for each of my lenses so I can pull the holder off and reattach if I change lenses.  My standard ND filters are screw-on and work with my largest diameter lens, and I have step-down adapters for each smaller lens.  In the event that I need to use a polarizer and/or Graduated ND filter with a standard ND filter, I can put the Cokin adapter ring directly onto the standard ND filter and hang the Cokin holder there.

While this filter set-up may seem a little confusing at first, taking some time to experiment with each of them, as well as stacking them, you’ll quickly develop a feel for the flexibility they provide in allowing you to control the light for your own creative purposes.

Sources

“Cameras VS. The Human Eye.”  Cambridge in Color.  2016. Web http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/cameras-vs-human-eye.ht