Art 261: Assignment 2, Motion and Depth of Field

 

Assignment 2:  Photograph motion in three different ways.  

• Blurred motion (slow shutter speed, subject is blurred)

• Stopped motion (fast shutter speed, subject in motion is frozen)

• Panned motion (slow shutter speed, follow subject with camera, background is blurred).  

Then illustrate the extremes of the depth of field that can be achieved by adjusting the aperture. Two shots, same scene, large and small apertures.

My original intention was to use dancers as the subject in motion for all three types of shots.  The USC Dance Company happened to be rehearsing for an upcoming performance and they allowed me to sit in on their rehearsals to get some photographs.  After a 36 and 24 exposure rolls of film, all I had accurately captured was blurred motion.  The light was too dim and I was too far away to get the other images.    Beautiful blurred motion... but still after a couple of 4 hr rehearsals I was short a couple of negatives for the assignment.  

These are the two prints I made from all the dancer images I had.  There were several other negatives that also look like they would be really nice when printed, but I only had patience for these two.

  

 F8, No. 4 Filter, 19 sec exposure

I lowered my expectations considerably when choosing my next motion subjects... but still I created some somewhat interesting compositions.  Panned motion was especially difficult, so I had Matthew walk across the yard with the wheel barrel.   The exposure was a little dark.

 

For stopped motion I had him throw the leaves into the air.  I thought there was a real 'American Beauty' plastic bag feeling there....

The second part of this assignment was exploring the relationship between aperture and depth of field.  We were to photograph the same scene with the aperture wide open and closed, compensating the exposure with shutter speed.

 

f22, (small aperture), greater depth of field

  

I think this was set at f 5.6, larger aperture, reduced depth of field.  

A word on printing film and photographs: PATIENCE.  Much patience is required.  Multiple test prints are required.  I feel like so much of it is trial and error.  Every step requires patience and it is a virtue that our society has let fall by the wayside.  I am trying my best to find the grace in the process.