2. Practical & Technical Problems
Equipment- Having two cameras means if one was to fail I’d have a backup ready and waiting. The experiment will be testing both out before
production and finding out which will be the preferred option going into production. Using and testing different tripods to help keep the camera
stable during the shoots.
Finding and choosing the right lens for that photoshoot (Nikon Camera) if the bigger or normal lens go missing having the Cannon and its incredible
zoom ready and there to be used but that would mean changing the idea of using one camera for the whole process.
Techniques- After completing research I had looked into ISO numbers, Depth of Field, Golden Hour, Exposure Triangle.. So I need to learn how to use
these techniques on my camera and go out and take pictures using these techniques but I also need to make sure I understand how to find that
setting on the cameras, taking the best possible pictures then making sure they have worked.
So for ISO numbers I’ll need to look into what the lowest and highest setting of the Cannon and Nikon and then start testing out the different settings
but also keeping a note of which settings I have available and which ones I think work best after taking pictures using them.
Testing out everything else I research will have to be done otherwise the research ends up been pointless so I need to as I test and try keep track on
what I'm doing and how successful and helpful I think it can be.
Storage and Backup- After every photoshoot making sure the pictures from that day are saved and placed into a folder on OneDrive to make sure
they are kept safe and easily accessible but also make sure they are backed up onto a secondary device like a memory stick so if the original backup
was lost you have that stick filled with all the pictures from the day or the past photoshoots. Having that physical backup is sometimes the better
because you don’t have to worry about the internet failing, your work been unable to save or be opened.
Ability- The ability to work through the techniques I have learned and read about is unknow because some techniques may be easier to understand
and work with than others.
I’m not going to straight away be taking photos like a full blown photographer but testing and planning could begin the process.
The higher quality I can manage the more my ability is shown and the more I can understand the different the techniques and really apply them to my
work I have the best chance of proving the ability.
3. Theoretical Problems
Location- The location could cause issues because of the time of year and the ground in that area been unable to walk on, you may only be
allowed to access the site between certain hours so more planning is then required.
Transport- This links again into location because if the location is close walking or cycling is the simple answer if the weather is okay but if
travel is needed then the car, bus or train become the choice. Timing also plays a role because buses and trains run between certain times and
follow a timetable. Petrol costs so that links into costs because if your getting lifts everywhere then it seems only right you pay some fuel
money toward the journey.
Photographing Outside- The weather is something that is completely out of your control so not planning to shoot on a certain day means you
can easily readjust to a new plan and day if your original day is completely damaged by weather and you can’t travel or manage to take any
quality pictures. Depending on the theme the weather could be used to your advantage but your camera would need to work well in those
conditions.
Lighting- Natural lighting is the main thing so making sure I know the times of sunrise and sunset so I keep figure out when the natural light
would be at it’s best and when it would be at it’s worse and wouldn’t be suitable to go out and take pictures. Also knowing where the sun will
be at certain times and how that light could either make the pictures better or effect them for the worse.
Temperature- Again out of your control but photography is something where you can still battle out to capture those moments and sometimes
those cold chilly morning bring out the best sunrise because you can capture the chill with that warming yellow light. Key thing would be
making sure you have gloves, jacket and a hat if heading out in the early hours.
Refreshments and Toilets- This again comes down to location because if your in the middle of completely no where your not going to have
cafes and nice toilets around you. So been prepared and taking bottles of water with you means your prepared to grab your backup and
explore with making sure you keep hydrated and have snacks for the time your out. Toilets, well in the wild outdoors you do have the freedom
but it isn’t really the most brilliant thing.
Health and Safety- Again a lot depends on your choice of location because if your just in a park then it’s mainly watch out travelling and then
when there watch out for kids playing and so on. If your more out in the open in fields be careful of farmers and their equipment, be careful on
any sheer drops, avoiding traffic and cars. Making sure your giving others their space and not causing any issues trying to get set in the best
possible position.
Equipment- Having two cameras is obviously the easy solution to any problem but that means making sure if the preferred one does fail your
ready with that backup and your plan can be changed to more suit that camera and what you can access and achieve with it. So that means
having both with you during the photoshoots to ensure your not having to lose time because you lost the camera during the shoot.
4. Photography Experiments
To help me I have to make sure I understand the settings on the cameras and that I also know how to access
the settings like changing the exposures settings, ISO numbers.
Comparing the cameras would allow me to see the differences between the two and give me the chance to
further understand how I can approach the two and test them out over different days and begin testing the
different techniques and so on.
I want to test on different cities to try capture the differences in different cities but also trying to find maybe
small similar features.
5. My Camera’s: Canon SX740 Vs Nikon D3400 Settings
Canon
Focal Length
4.3 – 172.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 24 – 960 mm)
Zoom
Optical 40x
ZoomPlus 80x
Digital approx. 4.0x (with Digital Tele-Converter
Approx. 1.6x or 2.0x2)
Combined approx. 160x
Maximum f/number- f/3.3 – f/6.9
Shutter Speed- 15 - 1/3200 s
Image Size
4:3 - (L) 5184 x 3888, (M) 3648 x 2736, (S) 2432 x 1824
16:9 - (L) 5184 x 2912, (M) 3648 x 2048, (S) 2432 x
1368
3:2 - (L) 5184 x 3456, (M) 3648 x 2432, (S) 2432 x 1616
1:1 - (L) 3888 x 3888, (M) 2736 x 2736, (S) 1824 x 1824
Nikon D3400
Focal Length
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):
27-83mm
Focal Length (actual):18 - 55mm
Zoom and Aperture
Zoom Ratio:3.06x
Aperture Range:f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - 38 (T); 7
diaphragm blades
F/number- f/6.3
Shutter Speed- 1/4000
Image Size
(L) 6000 x 4000, (M) 4496 x 3000, (S) 2992 x
2000
7. Canon Zoom Vs Nikon Large Lens
These pictures taken while walking along the Bar
Walls in York show the quality of the Canon single
zoom compared to the Nikon which had its bigger
lens fitted. The images at the top are from the
Canon and they were taken from the opposite side
of town to the minster and yet the zoom gets you
almost all the way to it (while still been in full
focus) where as the bigger Nikon Lens trying to
capture the Water tower doesn’t get as close
(again while been in full focus)
So looking at zoom quality and keeping the focus the
Canon is clearly the better choice. Canon 1-0 Nikon
8. Differences Between the Two
The Canon is more compact in size meaning carrying it around is made a lot easier so when it comes to actual
production if the Canon is the camera I decided to move forward with walking to and from or getting on
transport I don’t have to worry about having a large camera bag because the SX740 can fit into a pocket of a
jacket or coat.
The main thing that separates the two is the zoom quality on the Canon and how far you can zoom in with the
frame still been in full focus.
The Canon does also seem to be clearer even at shorter distances which is for me a big thing because it has the
ability at short distance but also using it’s 40X optical zoom which really allows you to take outstanding close
up pictures even when your at a giant distance from your actual target in interest.
The Nikon does hold some positives, it comes with two lenses meaning you have a variety and a choice in how
you are going to use the camera. It comes with a strap around the camera meaning you can hold it around your
neck meaning the chances of losing it or dropping it are lower. It comes with a shade meaning you can shield
the lens and allow yourself to block out the sun and capture the best picture.
9. Canon SX740 modes and settings
Canon ISO Numbers
ISO 8O, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISI 800, ISO 1600, ISO 3200
I have never used ISO numbers so looking into how to use them effectively before testing them out in a real
photoshoot. Understanding how they work and which setting is best for certain settings.
The number either brighten or darken a picture so if your taking pictures on a dark day knowing you can brighten the
picture to a certain level then on a bright sunny day you can reverse that effect and go the other way. The canon does
come with 7 different levels of ISO numbers ranging from ISO 80-ISO 3200.
ISO 80 not really showing a big difference but as you move through the range you can begin to see the difference and
how the image becomes brighter and if you then drop the level down how it gets darker again. The canon does come
with an auto setting which is a standard setting of ISO so that doesn’t change the basic level of brightness from the
natural picture.
To access the ISO settings on the camera
On top of the camera there is a wheel with all the different settings/modes that camera can use, by selecting the P
(Programme AE), then pressing the Func Set button and scroll down to ISO and the settings will then open and you
can scroll through the 7 seeing how they affect the current image then you again press the Func Set button to confirm
that ISO setting and off you go.
10. Processing and Editing Pictures Experiment 1
This experiment was to take an original image and begin changing the brightness levels, the vibrance levels, the exposure and
the shadows. You can see the original image on the left of the blossom tree with the peak through and it been an okay picture.
Then the experiment started. I first checked the levels to see how much black and white light exposed the picture and that of
course was not a lot so I instantly made the brighter so the gorgeous pink of the blossom tree could be more visible and your
eyes are drawn straight away. I then began trying to sort the brightness of the sun’s peaking glare because you can see with the
original that the lower left is brighter than the lower right because the sun is peaking through that side of the tree but changing
the setting allowed the entire picture to brighten while still looking real and not completely fake.
11. Processing and Editing Pictures Experiment 2
When it comes to actually creating the exhibition I want to
have a selection of pictures, some been in there normal
form, some in the good old black and white and some using
these effect in the picture to the left.
The previous slide explained how I used the levels to check
out much black and white is in the picture, then changing the
brightness (but not contrast), vibrance and hue/saturation.
These are definitely the 3 settings that I will using the most
when I am processing the pictures I believe need that extra
bit of life just to take them to a new level and really help me
grab the attention but the most important thing for me is
making sure I keep the pictures looking real because if I go
too far and begin looking fake then no one will want to look
at the rest of the exhibition because they will think they all
are silly and don’t relate to the theme I have picked.
12. Layout Experiments
Before I start properly thinking about the booklet and it’s layout but I think getting
an understanding of a simple booklet could provide me a base point to then later
build on when I have everything completed and ready to be put straight into a
booklet. So I began looking into different websites where you could create free
layouts for books and I found one that just gave you a simple 10 pages of white
space and allow you to do whatever so I began creating a simple cover of a black
page with white text reading the title of the booklet ‘Nature Vs Man’ the I just
went through page by page adding in a singular picture so it was only one per
page. I want to get an understanding for would this work when it comes to the
final piece, could I think of any other ideas, would my pictures actually look good
enough to be use.
All these things are important to test out before I actually have everything set up
and ready to be changed and created for real.
