New Basic Assignment #4: Perspective

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   Here's a back-to-basics topic assignment #4.  This is a three-part assignment on perspective, and the different perspectives created by different viewpoints and angle of view.  

If the expected results of these exercises are second nature to you, then try to do something a little out of the ordinary within the scope of the excercise - play with it - find subject matter that's exceptionally appropriate or unusual.  

This assignment is best done using a tripod, but it's up to you.  I suggested photo size guidelines of 400x600 because the assignment involves quite a few photos and a small photo ought to be good enough to judge perspective, but you can feel free to deviate there. You're expected to do the three parts in the order provide, i.e first A, then B and lastly C. You can put them all in one post or build it up in 3 steps. It's your choice. 

Part A.  "Telephoto Compression"

Using a longish telephoto lens, ideally at least 200mm, but whatever you have, take a photo of something that's a bit far away to illustrate "telephoto compression" (i.e. making objects appear close together).  Now, assuming you're using a tripod, leave the camera in place, remove the tele lens and replace it with a moderate wide angle (20 to 28mm or whatever you have).  If not using a tripod, try your best to shoot as if you were (aim at the same subject from the same position).  It's probably best to lock exposure between the shots for this exercise so the exposure on the second isn't influenced by parts of the scene that weren't in the tele shot.  Download the shots, resize the tele shot to, say, 400x600.  Then crop the WA shot so that the field of view is the same (so you get the same picture edge to edge) and resize it to 400x600.  Compare (post) the results.  

Part B.  "Zoom with your Feet"

For this one, you'll need a wide, normalish, and tele lens.  Recommendations are 18-24mm for WA, 28-35mm for normal and 70-100 for tele; primes, zooms or any combination, and feel free to use different FLs if you don't have anything in one of those ranges.  

Find a scene that contains subject matter that's not too distant - measured in feet or yards.  Standing in one place (or using a tripod) take a shot (with camera approximately level, not aimed up or down) at WA, normal and tele.  Remember the framing/subject size you saw with the WA and tele shots (easier: bring them up on the LCD for review when you need them).  Put the normal lens on the camera and walk straight toward the center of the shot until you get a field of view similar to what you saw with the tele lens.  Shoot it.  Now walk straight backward until you get a field of view similar to what you saw with the WA lens.  

Download & resize all to 400x600.  Post for comparison the WA shot versus the shot taken with the normal lens from farther away.  And post for comparison the tele shot versus the shot taken with the normal lens from close.

Part C.  Hide and Seek

Pick a moderate FL that you enjoy ... moderate wide to short tele.  Be ready to shoot ... find a subject that you want to shoot and as soon as you find it, STOP.  You should be standing up with the camera at eye level.  The only composition you're allowed to do is aim the camera to put the subject where you want it in the frame (centered, along a thirds intersection, whatever).  If there's a tree or a sign sticking up behind a persons head; a piece of garbage in the foreground; anything else you don't like, tough - just shoot !  Now, study the rectangular scene that you can capture with that particular lens.  Look at distracting elements or look for elements that might be interesting that were hidden from view.  Improve on your first shot by moving the camera position up, down, left or right ONLY - not forward or backward (and not changing lenses or zooming).  Download, resize and post before & after shots.

Have fun !

General Assignment Rules

The general rules for the assignments are as follows :

- clean slate, all “old” assignments will be locked (over time as the new ones are created)

- no mining, shots must be specifically taken for the assignment (we trust you )

- only one assignment at the time. Once started you can only take the next assignment after having passed.

- one dimension crop and minor straightening allowed (to allow different aspect ratios, but don’t crop in both directions)

- max 2 pics per post/try

- you can do the assignments in any order, and repeated as many times as you want

- at least one moderators or admin will comment on every post and determine fail/pass. This might include general C&C as well.

- all members of Dyxum can also leave comments on the shots posted 

- id of members that passed will be kept in a "pass post"

- specifically good pictures or good examples of assignment passes will be kept in a new "assignment gallery"

- instructions for specific assignments will generally stay as is (and we'll have to write new ones for new assignments). 

- shots posted for the assignments are eligible for selection in the weekly exhibitions

Edited by pegelli - 24 March 2010 at 07:00