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Assignment: Motion
As we saw last week, we use to reciprocal methods to control the amount of light that enters a camera: aperture (the size of the opening) and shutter speed. Shutter speed determines the length of the exposure—how long we let light into the camera.
But varying the shutter speed does more than effect exposure, it also can effect the sharpness or blurriness of an image. Extremely fast shutter speeds can freeze action, make things that are only a blur to the human eye sharp and clear, as if they were frozen. Conversely, slow shutter speeds can lead to blurred images if the subject moves while the shutter is open (or if the camera moves). However, this is not always a bad thing; in fact you can create some pretty cool images by intentionally slowing down the shutter speed.
Assignment
Produce a group of five or more photographs that demonstrate motion. At least two of the images should use a fast shutter speed to freeze a rapid moving object. At least two images should use a slow shutter speed to show motion. The fifth is up to you.
Specifications
- Size: largest allowed with a medium jpeg quality
- Resolution/format: medium quality jpeg
- Deliverables: five digital images
- Due: next week.
Procedure
- Canon: Turn the settings knob to "Tv." This will give you shutter speed ("time") priority. Click the right and left-arrow buttons on the jog wheel to increase or decrease the shutter speed from 1/2000 of a second all the way up to 15 seconds. The camera will automatically set the the aperture to compensate.
Kodak: Turn the settings knob to "S." Rotate the jog wheel located in front of the camera, below the shutter release, until the shutter speed number is highlighted (a little arrow should point to it). Press the jog wheel (one or two little blue arrows should appear). Now rotate the jog wheel to change the shutter speed from 1/1000 to 16 seconds. Press the jog wheel again to save the setting.
- Go out and photograph objects & scenes that demonstrate motion. Be creative. Remember the rule of thirds. Don't just photograph any old thing; look for images that are interesting, beautiful, unusual, thought-provoking, challenging, etc. Be daring. Be experimental. Be artists!
Hints:
- Use a tripod, or place the camera on a firm surface for long exposures to minimize camera shake.
- Turn the flash off for long exposures. Keep it on for fast exposures in-doors.
- Press the shutter half-way to focus on a particular spot, then reframe the image with your finger still on the shutter release to hold the focus.
- Choose your five favorite images to present to the class.
- Put the five shutter speed images in a folder with your name on it, and turn it in to me via jump drive.
- Important: save these images, you will need them later in the quarter!
Examples
Fast: One | Two
Slow: One | Two