Traces Assignment

The first 10 photographs were taken by my grandfather in the 50s and early 60s. These photographs are very sentimental to me. They tell a story about my family and where my roots are. My grandfather had a old wooden box full of old developed film that no one has seen for about 60-70 years, even more incredible is the fact that my grandfather has no idea they still exist. I have put hours into scanning film rolls and i have not gone through even half of them. When i first saw these pictures i was truly amazed. So many familiar faces all grown up now. My grandfather really had an eye for composition and now i am making my pictures to give out the same aura as my grandfather's pictures, the sense of happy memories and love for one another. It is hard to really understand the meaningfulness of these photographs if you haven't lived them, but i also know a lot of people who lived these memories and who will understand it. I will carry on scanning my granddads old film rolls and i will be making a album for my grandfather for Christmas, until then this will still be a secret that only a few know.

 My grandmother and my grandfather's sisters husband and their son.

 Young granddad in the middle.

 Grandfather's sister Aili.

 My grandmother and my mother, in the construction site of their first house. (They still live in that house to this day)

 Granddad Ants on the right. (Probably taken in Kihnu)

 My mother as a little girl, picture is taken in Pärnu.

 My grandmother's fabulous sister at the construction site of my grandparents home.

 This is my grandfather today.

 My grandmother's sister, riding her bicycle in their childhood home.

 My sisters son Mairon who will be turning two years old in the upcoming summer.

 My uncle looking for bees nests in the trees in my grandmother's childhood home.

 My grandmother in her childhood home near Pärnu.

 My grandmother Ruth and her sister Maimo in their childhood home. (Ridalepa, Lasna Talu)

The history will go on and so will go on the making of new memories. Family is important and so is the love we share with each other every day and i will never forget that.

Analog Unit

Learning to use a soviet analog camera (FED2) was quite the challenge for me, but in the end i learned a lot. It is really an art to develop film and a great pleasure to look at when finally finished. It took me a few attempts to get the final result, it really was rocky road of frustration, adventure and joy at the same time. I will definitely be doing a lot more with my analog camera, it gives a sense of adrenaline into an already busy photography students life and i am a about that. I am grateful for this opportunity that i have been given.

Here are all the test task materials that i managed to save. I did have to through away some of the text prints as i accidentally tore them apart after they got stuck together while being wet. You can see on the picture below that i managed to save the photogram, contact sheet, local exposure control (burning in) and also the processed film which is not included in the picture below.

For me the most interesting part was making the photogram, which i plan on doing more of. I feel it is a creative way to ''take a photo''. All in all i think analog is an essential part of learning photography as you have to put in a lot more time and effort to create a photo and that really makes you appreciate modern technology a lot more.

Using Flash in Daylight

Using flash in daylight really opened my eyes to a whole new way of taking photographs. I enjoyed this task and have already started to use it more often. Flash can really make or break the final outcome of your picture. I feel pretty good about how my first set of pictures came out with using flash, of course there is a lot more to learn. Flash is really an important element for a photographer.

What i used to get this pictures? 

Camera model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F-stop: F/18
Exposure time: 1/200 sec.
ISO speed: ISO-400
Exposure bias: -2 step
Focal length: 40 mm
Flash mode: Flash, compulsory, red-eye
White balance: Auto

Portrait Analysis

The first photo is by Lee Jeffries. The aspects that make this photo look satisfying to look at are most definitely the bright eyes of the old man and all the details in the face. Dark tones and shadows bring out the important parts of the face and make the emotion pop. Front light highlights the mans face making sharp contrasts which make the face appeal more to the viewer. The model is in a natural position so the photo feels stress free.

Second photograph is by Steve Mccurry. The most appealing part of this photo is the little girls sad eyes, bringing out lots of emotions in the observer. Dull tones really make the sadness in the girls eyes come out while the colorful dress makes them pop even more, adding the vinjet makes the photo even stronger. The light spreads evenly meaning it was probably a cloudy day making the right conditions for the perfect picture. The little model seems scared and stiff but also tired. The sadness of photo makes the the viewrer feel sorry for the girl. 

Next up is a painting by Franoise Nielly. The color palette of this painting is very bright, at the same time the woman's eyes in the painting are in a rather neutral color causing them to stand out. The eyes make you feel as if they were looking right through you causing a powerful emotion within. The light is hitting the model from the right side while the other side of the face is in the shadow balancing out the harsh colors and making it good to look at. The model seems a bit sad but in a rather neutral state.

Considering all the aspects from the previous pictures, here is my attempt to making a good portrait photograph. I enhance the eyes as in all the portraits the eyes were the main focus of the picture. I also tried to make the emotion visible as she looks natural and at ease. The light is smooth and goes together with the models calm vibe. I amped for more neutral tones maybe a bit too neutral but i am actually quite pleased with the end result.

What i used to get this pictures? 

Camera model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F-stop: F/4
Exposure time: 1/250 sec.
ISO speed: ISO-100
Exposure bias: 0 step
Focal length: 29 mm
Flash mode: No flash, compulsory
White balance: Auto

Using Different Lenses

The focal lenght of lenses determinises how magnified the objects in the image will be. The focal lenght increases along with physical distance from the subject, while maintaining the framing.

This is my attempt to create this effect.

The fact what different lenses can do is really interesting, even though i did not quite manage to create the smoothest transision i understand more how and what focal lenght to use when taking portraits. I enjoyed doing this exercise, i think it helps to develop spatial thinking.

 17mm

 40mm

 75mm

 105mm

205mm

What i used to get these pictures? 

Camera model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F-stop: F/4
Exposure time: 1/200 sec.
ISO speed: ISO-1600
Exposure bias: +2 step
Focal length: 17-205 mm
Flash mode: No flash, compulsory
White balance: Auto

Kõrvemaa

Portraits with different lighting

So the exercise was to shoot 4 portrait pictures - backlight, sidelight, frontlight and one picture with a reflector. I did 3 as i did not have a reflector on hand. 
I had lots of fun shooting these pictures, it was a great bonding experience. I did not really take it as an exercise, i rather shot the pictures hoping to get something out of it in the end. The photos themself  came out nice, but you can not really tell which one is which. I know that in the future when i have to work with clients i have to plan my actions a lot more. I think it would also be great to look at other photographers work or inspiration. 

What i used to get these pictures? 

Camera model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F-stop: F/5
Exposure time: 1/200 sec.
ISO speed: ISO-200
Exposure bias: -1 step
Focal length: 170mm
Flash mode: No flash, compulsory
White balance: Auto

Landscapes of Kõrvemaa

The point was to make two landscape pictures, one with a lot of depth and one with light depth. I found it rather hard to do this exercise as it was difficult to get inspired. It was not easy to capture images that i would have been pleased with. For me it was more difficult to get the light depth photo, i was struggling with the lack of inspiration, feeling bored with the empty landscape. 
I definitely have to practice landscape photography more. I think that traveling and seeing around other places will surely help me get more creative.

What i used to get these pictures? 

Camera model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F-stop: F/4
Exposure time: 1/400 sec.
ISO speed: ISO-200
Exposure bias: -0.7 step
Focal length: 80mm
Flash mode: No flash, compulsory
White balance: Auto