Ansel Adams .. .. ..Was the -=best=- *weak stomach warning*
March 18th, 2010The zone system was an intricate explaination of a system that Ansel Adams used to expose film. I have read it. I don't understand much of it.
It is too complicated for me. I like simple. Simple is easy to understand.
I want to teach you something VERY SIMPLE, it is so simple, but it requires practice, and discipline, BEFORE you can feel comfortable using this method.
it works with any film with the possible exception of "transparency film" becuase this type film requires exact exposure to within 1/2 stop.
but once you UNDERSTAND how and why and with practice, this is also included, I have the results to prove it on this web site.
My expertise is with one film: Kodak Vericolor Professional Film typs S
now I will be truthful with you. I do not know what the word professional is refering to here.. the RESULTS? or the type people that this is designed for ?
I once read these words in a book: Pick one film stick with it. LEARN how to USE that film. That sentence seemed very logical since there are just so many different types of films available by many different manufacurers.
Vericolor film is in my opinion is the most fantastic film Kodak has ever "developed " (pun intended). This is.. as far as I know.. the ONLY FILM that is made to MATCH the original subject with Exacting colors.
I like to think of Veri-color film as a "biblical" film! Jesus always used the words,, "Verily Verily" (truely truely) when He spoke to people..
Jesus is said to be "Very forgiving!" Veri-color film is the exact same way.
Vericolor has such a wide lattitude, unsurpassed by any other film to the best of my knowledge, but then again, I haven't purchased any film in a lot of years and I have never ever tried Vericolor III.
When using Vericolor film, it is so forgiviing you can be 3 stops over or under exposed and still get FANTASTIC results.! Kodak has phampets showing the difference and it is quite impressive to view.
Well now just maybe that is the reason this works..?? But using any film
(color) go outside and take a friend. PUT THAT FRIEND on a park bench.
in bright sun w/distinct shadows. Take all the light readings you want. of the face, clothes, sky, ground etc. wirte them all down and LOOK. Now step back ten feet and shoot 250 F 8 100 ISO EV 15
Where did I get that number from ? Inside the carton of film. it is called a STARTING point. but they use a different number 125 @ F 11 EV 15
Take a challenge.. go out and shoot a roll of film at some park, in bright sunlight USING YOUR LIGHT METER and the "METHOD' that you are comfortable with, because you need these to be perfect.. for PROOF of what I am trying to explain.
NOW.. do the same thing.. agian.. but turn off your light meter. FORGET IT.. now these images ARE NOT GOING TO BE EXPOSED with the same precise method you used before. your uncomfortable using this method.
YOU DON'T KNOW YET... what is going to happen! WHY ? only because you havent paid attention and written EVERYTHING down, spent time looking at the photos with the exposure values etc.
Because if you did.. YOU WOULD SEE something simillar.. with the DATA!
Now do the same excercise but no light meter and take all the photos using the data supplied inside that box, and open f stop when necessary and close f stop when necessary . just by looking..
when you compare those two rolls of film.. I bet.. you will see one roll has negatives of different density and the other roll where you just "guessed" has all the same density all throughout the entire roll.? hm ? !
That is exactly how Kodak knew which numbers to put in side that box of film.
NOW.. this takes practice, and OBSERVATON.. before you will become COMFORTABLE USING THIS.
A professional newspapper reporter doesn't take the time or have the time to adjust, tinker, fiddle, etc. IF he / she is any good at what they do.. THEY HAVE LEARNED.. through experience.. how to shoot.."from the hip"
If you have to tinker, fiddle, focus,adjust, etc.. YOU WILL MISS THAT once in a lifetime shot! but as you are walking down any street.. camera in hand.. looking at the light /shadows on that street, fingers on the aperture ring,.. someting is about to happen you LOOK, quick flick open f-stop 2 stops.. its more than 30 feet away.. flip lens focus ring over to infinity bring it up compose and shoot! you have that shot.!
BUT YOU WILL LOOSE that shot if you have to fiddle about etc.
now we have auto focus; auto expose; auto out-think... you can't adjust.
let the camera do it all.. YOU WILL NEVER GET ANYPLACE IN THIS FIELD.
Learn how to open your eyes. and look at "values"
try this, you have nothing to loose, but so much to gain, I never take but one exposure when I am out taking "candid' photos and most of them sell.
that is my #1 aim.. to make $$ from photography! So I can buy more equipment for my 4 sons. I don't shoot no more. I am disabled and blind.
for all practical purposes. But my sons continue to shoot using the same methods I have taught them.. THIS IS ALL THEY KNOW.
subject matter quick.. polar bear out on the ice bright sun distinct shadows you got 1/ 2 second to take the pic! oh.. ! oh well..
A kid with no experience.. just some words, his daddy taught him!
-=click=- and a small chart in his pocket to look at. he has NO LIGHT METER.. .. -=click=- EVERY SHOT .. consistently exposed.. BECAUSE HE IS DOING THE SAME THING over and over and over again. USING A METER you will be always doing what that meter tells you what to do!
Instead, I just walked up 250 @ F 11 -=click=- and move on to the next shot! I only shoot one frame, and move!
what would you take the time to meter in this scene? and "why ? I am already half a mile away..
".. .. Just like the barber said.. ... .. NEXT !"
http://majikimaje.com/JJ.JPG
http://majikimaje.com/pbear.jpg
but if your walking around with your camea set to what you need to use it at under the light conditions your viewing, then you know which way or what to do with the aperture ring BEFORE you compose that shot to -=click=- just by PRACTICNG THIS .. it won't be long before you feel very comfortable using this method..
THEN YOU CAN START: to learn. how to do the same thing. for cloudy days overcast days and raining days. Light is light & dark is dark. you either open your aperture or close it BASED ON YOUR STARTING POINT.
BEFORE you ever get that camera up to your eyes to make the shot.
I didin't learn this overnight.. but if you are ever going to LEARN how to SHOOT FROM THE HIP" then this is MUST TO LEARN!
IT IS SIMPLE, it is foolproof, but it takes TIME to PRACTICE! & it takes time to LOOK and observe that "light", because it is changing all the time.
Our photographs.. are sold in over 40 different countries, around the world, every year.
I think I can say with some authority.. LEARN THIS METHOD!
People .. .. ... like what they see.. and they pay for it. and take it home!
that in itself.. says it ALL.
Otherwise, all your good advice (and it is good, if you can get to the point of it) gets lost.
There are two sides to every equation. You need to make sure you're coming across clearly to others, just as much as others should be able to read.
Now this optimal value isn't often right. Consider the scene with heavy shadows and a few bright spots. The "correct" exposure will be way to dark so if you go about and set your camera at 1/125 f8 and click the light metre should read ~1EV overexposed.
Using consistent settings like this is also a very good way of learning exactly how your light metre responds to different scenes.
and "perfect" is the exact word to use for this "difficult exposure"
Thank you so much for your comments!
At least ONE PERSON knows what I am talking about! thank you so much.
I have taught this method to 4th graders and very elderly people and no one has ever had a problem picking this up and using it with XCELENT results.
and I included two different images taken years apart with the exact same setting.. 250 @ F 11 I know every exposure value I have shot at, just by looking at the image!
2. The OP's original post had way too many WORD EMPHASISES, and was unreadable. Every OTHER word "seemed" to have some sort of *marking* or CAPITALIZATION to emphasize it... don't do that!
3. I shoot digital, so only part of what you said made sense, but many many pros are throwing away light meters man... it's not news!
Just to correct a misconception.
Viewers are not now seeing the original picture posted which did have a lot of blood and assorted goo.
We also put up warnings if something is not work safe or whatever.
this is just politeness, not censorship ...
The photo you show now, with the guy holding the skin of a bear, does not seem to illustrate a need for speed. I mean, he is just posing there, and if you want to take another ten shots or use your light meter to measure his shoes, I think he would agree ?
Apparently you originally posted the other image, with the just-killed bear and the shooter (is that right?) just next to it.
Even there, one might wonder why the need for speed. Can you elaborate on this? Now you might come with a technical talk about blood that has to be taken out or whatever, but I suspect there is something else.
what bothers me so much a LOT is people murdering babies for no apprent reason what so ever. to me that just doesn't make any sense.. when people put animals above human life!
this bear had to be taken down or hundreds of childrens lives were at stake.
I stated he was the best.. and that I found his system too much for ME to understand..
if you understood it ,go for it.. I couldn't relate or understand that.. YOU ARE TRUELY a much more patient man that I was and much smarter, cause YOU COULD understand.. what did he know anyway? THE MAN WAS BRILLIANT!
don't put down his brilliant work please, with your childish sarcasim!
You need to relax and allow other people to have their opinions without considering them an attack on yours.
So, to the very best of "my ability" I try to put one thought, on one line>
THEN MOVE ON.. to the next thought. stop & absorb.
I am trying to explain a simple principle.. of course this is difficult
BECAUSE NOBODY USES THIS METHOD!
ha ha! hey everyone. hey I got a better way to expose film! and once you learn this .. you will NEVER LOOK BACK!..........."hundreds of people"... have made the same statment when coming back to my hobby darkroom..
Ansel Adams had a "method" and he was the best of the best there ever ever was. I am no way ever compaing my self to that GIANT.. I am a mere pebble.
He wrote books. .that DEMAND reading if you want to become.. BETTER..
than you ever thought possible with YOUR abilities!
I wanted to be the "best"! I was / am obsessed! with photography!
and I was very very very fortunate to have enough money to print case after case after case after case of color paper with "bricks" of Vericolor film" to play with and PRACTICE.
I have the PROOF to offer.. and I post.. "my images".. as proof.
I have magazine articles, newpaper articles, books etc etc etc etc.
ALL THAT DOESN'T MEAN SQUAT TO ME...
you want to know what I really think,, means a LOT to me..
I wish.. I could see the smile . on YOUR FACE.. when this ALL FINALLY SINKS IN!
then I want to see the spectacular images that YOU CREATE.. !!!
that will make me smile!!
I want to teach EVERYONE.. 4 things only
HOW TO EXPOSE FILM
HOW TO PRINT KILLER IMAGES
HOW TO MAKE BIG BUCKS
HOW TO RETIRE!
I am sure you will agree on my point there. YES YOUR 100% correct. when looking at the first two images, there was no need for "speed" as an issue. but.. if something did happen.. I am PREPARED.. I know exactly what to do and the results I am going to get.. THUS... I only need one frame.. for that "composition" or creation I am trying to capture at THAT moment in time. of course I keep shooting.. "DIFFERENT".
Now if I am in say a forest with scattered light.. THE same thing applies.. you only have a very limited range of F-stops for the correct ev value based on your surroundings.. so 4 stops open and I am right where I want to be.. in COMFORT!
So lets go to different places and look at some images I dug up
taken 27 years ago.. Archive quality is impressive .. .. so far.!
Spirit Lake one week before the volcano Mt. St. Helens blew up.
In fact: when that volcano blew.. one week later, all the people in this location were killed!
this was not taken by me, but by a friend of mine who owned a mamiya RB 67.. he had no
idea whatsoever to do. He only knew one set of values 125 @ F 16 in bright sun distinct shadows
he knew what those words meant and that is all he knew... .. in the begining! Nice shot, but the computer
http://majikimaje.com/spirit_lake3.JPG
monitor doesn't do justice to the incredible sharpness and detail in the depth of field in this image. BUT for a "rookie"
it is a splendid example of how to shoot from the hip.
Lets go to the East coast on a partly cloudy day at the beach. I am sitting there camera with me of course and I see the lady in blue arranging her friends and she pulls out a small tiny snap shot camera.. I jump up and walk over and say.. Please.. put your camera away and jump into the photo and I will take your photo.. she hands me her camera.. I bring out my Mamiya from behind my back.. I said put that toy into your hand bag and let me take you a wonderful photograph.. no charge! I asked the gentlemen.. where can I send the finished images.. for free.. a place of work perhaps.. or to some friend perhaps.. i dont want your address but a place to send the finished prints.
She finally agreed & jumped into the image. I look all around me it is partly cloudy.. 125 @ 16?No.. @ f11 ? F 8 ! yes! -=click=-
http://majikimaje.com/beach2.JPG
Always one frame, if I have any doubts.. and at first I had many doubts. but then i fine tuned .. MY EYES.. to see, have I seen this before. this situation ? These images are beat up with folds kinks and dirt. but after 27 years.
Oh yes! Vericolor for EXACTING COLORS.. that Match the original!
I sent them a dozen 8x 10's! I am sure.. when they opened that package.. they were all smiles!
DONT be afraid to practice this. AND after you shoot a few rolls, of pure candid photos, your going to TRUST your eyes. based on what you have for images to INSPECT and LEARN FROM.
BTW the last two links in your last post seem broken.
Bless you for your sense of humor, AD. :thumbup: This thread needed it! :)
That, and a little tolerance all the way around, would be a beautiful thing, people. Thanks!
There will not be another one. Keep it on topic, take anything else to PM please.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Thanks for the nice tutorial.
I find it disturbing that people start complaining about a dead bear, while still having a pound of meat as dinner. Is there a forum rule here to avoid pictures of dead animals? To me it sounds like they just trying to **** you off. In the Netherlands there recently was a national commotion when a small bird was shot down in a sportshall where they were setting up a new record count of domino tiles, as they had no other way to catch the bird. I think that all unnecesary harm to animals should be avoided if possible, but anyone being serious about this please get vegetarian first, and stop watching movies with bloody murder every 10 minutes or less...
A question: do you think your way of exposure setting is useful with the current digitals? Consider that film is much more tolerant for overexposure, while digitals have a maximum exposure above which *everything* is lost. Secondly, the auto exposures are so good (multi-area exposure check) that I so far never ran into problems by having it set automatically (if chosen the correct (multispot) mode :er: ). Final exposure tweaking (making the exposure a bit lighter) can be done pretty well in the digital darkroom using the raw photos. Finally, having a good automatic exposure saves you valuable time that might be the difference between having captured or missed the event.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY THIS: I mean absolutely NO OFFENSE TO anyone.
but .. in all my posts.. I notice ONE THING that consistentlly comes to light.
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE GOOD READING SKILLS! WE now live in a 'visual age"
and the lack of reading skills is very apparent when i see these questions, when the answer is right above located in my post.
No.! vericolor is still made.. "I HAVEN'T TRIED VERICILOR III . YET!
this only works on sunny days? "After you have LEARNED how to shoot in the sun.. then learn how to use this on cloudy days and rainy days.
Do I use this for all exposures? OF COURSE NOT! please re-read about opening and closing of the aperture SLOWLY .
I want to teach people how to "shoot from the hip".. I do not want to TEACH YOU HOW TO READ. Please,,.. slow down.. read it again if you have to.. but slow down.. THAT IS THE ONLY REASON some people are MISSING what I am trying to show you. your rushing.. thinking the next sentence will give you the answer when you have forgotten what you just previosly read.
I have said this many times in many places.. "who am I" ? NO BODY. NOTHING.. I am Just an electrican.. that wanted to learn photography.
I have never had any classes, I have never been to any schools or anything of that nature. BUT I DO KNOW HOW TO TEACH.. based soley on what I have learned from READING.
Everyting I have posted here.. all over this site.. I have learned from READING BOOKS.. only..
I could never print "killer" images. something was WRONG. I knew it. I just didn't know what to do to correct this problem.
BUT ONCE I READ THESE WORDS IN A BOOK.. I understood IMMEDIATELY WHAT I HAD TO "LEARN' HOW TO DO.
THIS was the actual sentence that changed how I printed and how I became so successfull in my "hobby"
......"it would often take Ansel Adams as many as 30 sheets of paper to make one print.
that is the entire sentence. STOP.. I ran down to my darkroom BECAUSE I KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD what that sentence meant!
In the (old style darkrooms).. chemicals & paper.. ( I dont' know anything about digital and I am not going to pretend I do.)
you have to use your "hands" between the enlarger lens and the paper.!
INSTANTLY.. I KNEW WHAT TO DO... but not how to do it.. THIS .... is going to take.. .."practice"!
I suggest to some.. Practice re-reading my post SLOWLY.. !
then I will answer EVERY QUESTION .. to the best of "My Ability"!
dead animals? being cut to pieces ??? I don't want to see that either.
WHERE? that sentence implies something that is not true.
I did censor myself but no I didn't, I merley provided a link and used a more appropriate photo to ILLUSTRATE a difficult exosure. -=click=-
National Geograhic uses PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS. they have LEARNED.. from experience.. !
I am trying to pass on experience to you.. in a simple manner.
I use this metod: inside / outside in any type of weather.. day time or night time.
I work in a very disclipined TRADE. electrician.. I cannot afford to make a mistake when connecting high voltages to equipment. If I make a mistake I just created a BOMB! and someone is going to get hurt! I have to take my time. I have to understand WHAT I am reading and how to apply what I am reading to make this equipment work properly. Some times, many times, there are NO INSTRUCTIONS.. and I have to take the time.. to think!
before I can teach you what I have LEARNED about COLOR PRINTING.
FIRST I want to teach you how to EXPOSE FILM "consistently" so that every frams.... has the same DENSITY!
I sincerly doubt many people can afford to use 30 sheets of paper to create a killer image. I was lucky.. I could afford to do this in color.
I didn't purchase Color paper by the 100 sheet box or the 25 sheet pack
I purchased it by the Cases! several at a time. And when I first started to learn how to print using what I had absorbed in that one sentence. then it took me 50 sheets to come up with one EXCELLENT KILLER IMAGE.
once I learned that techique and got the first print EXACTLY the way I wanted it to look, then the next sheet (for that same image) just required one sheet of paper.
BURNING AND DODGING..! i REMEMBER READING THOSE WORDS.. and what they meant! .. thus my "sig"
We also put up warnings if something is not work safe or whatever.
this is just politeness, not censorship ...
Thank you. I was starting to feel attacked by the fact that I don't like to see dead animals.
Without going into a 100,000,000 word reply like others do, I simply asked for a warning as a.. warning. Then I can decide for myself what I want to see. Is this not allowed?
I respect different cultures and their way of life very much.
However, I also have respect for animals.
Pictures of dead humans would require a warning.. if it could even be posted. So is it too much to ask for a warning about dead animals.
It's not the bear that bothered me. It's the death. I have a personal issue with death and simply would've prefered to have been warned about it.
if that would be more appropriate !
Many people don't understand our way of life. We do not hunt the polar bear, but when we have to defend ourselves we have to take that bear down to protect innocent lives.
Polar bears are now on the endangered species list. We will always do our best to get that bear back out on the ocean ice and out of town if we can.
Last week a mother and 3 cubs entered our village looking for food. We were very lucky that no one was harmed and we safely got that mother out of town with her children.. back to the ocean ice.
a few weeks earlier the outcome was not the same.. at different times during the week.. 3 different bears came into town.. they had to be taken down. To save the people in town. When a bear heads for the inside of any house.. we have to take that bear down immediately.
Polar bears are not soft cuddly creatures, they are extemely dangerous and unpredictable. I lost a very close friend in dec 1990 who was eaten by a polar bear in Point Lay Charles Stalker Jr. III. He was my apprentice.
That bear was going after his pregnant girl - friend.. Charles 5' 2"
distracted that bear away and then attempted to take the bear down with a knife. Charles Lost.! sob.
Many people do not know that even after a polar bear is killed.. that bear can still kill you very easily.. TOO MUCH VITAMIN A
GET SOME on your skini.. your DEAD! ALL "bears" are left handed!
I stated he was the best.. and that I found his system too much for ME to understand..
if you understood it ,go for it.. I couldn't relate or understand that.. YOU ARE TRUELY a much more patient man that I was and much smarter, cause YOU COULD understand.. what did he know anyway? THE MAN WAS BRILLIANT!
don't put down his brilliant work please, with your childish sarcasim!
Censorship is something that is covered in the Bill of Rights dealing with freedom of the press. It doesn't relate to private enterprise. It relates to government. Government is now allowed to censor the press.
This is a private forum, owned and operated by individuals, not by a government. As such, the forum can censor or delete anything desired. No need to be disturbed. Be disturbed when the government engages in censorship. There is no such thing as censorship by private individuals - at least in terms of rights.
If this were my forum, I would have deleted the entire thread, especially my own post in it.
I will try your method, because I've often thought about this, and now that I'm shooting digital it will be easier to try. I figured that after long enough shooting with the meter, I would learn to measure light with my eye, and to some extent that has been the case, but I can see how someone would learn a lot faster if they disregarded the meter.
I'm sorry about your friend. I can't imagine living in an area that is terrorized by polar bears. Where I live, we have wolves, which we are not allowed to kill. No human fatalities yet (only animals), but it's scary to see them when you're walking around alone late at night.
It only works for sunny days. What Majik Imaje uses is basically the good old 'Sunny f/16 rule' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule).
He posted a link to his same image and a warning was added to the title as a gesture of consideration to those who may have been caught off guard by a graphic image they weren't expecting. Consideration to all members is expected. Thanks for understanding.
It does bother some people ... ALOT
Thank you
USING NO LIGHT METER AT ALL.
GRAB a roll of YOUR FAVORITE FILM.. I use Kodak only .. for a "reason"!
I had very bad expeiences when I tried using other brands, kits, etc to print color. I could NOT get consistent results. and my thinking was/is
Kodak is perhaps the Oldest.. and certainly the best.. in MY opinion (only).
They produce & manufacture CONSISTENTLY.. film, paper, chemicals etc.
These products, when directions are followed to the exact details. PRODUCE startling results. Gorgeous Color.. everone today is "spoiled" with the digital revolution. I mean no offense. let me explain.
the technology you have now. today.. I first read about it in Camera 35 magazine in 1974 . and I was furious! when I saw that pic (illustration) of a computer a camera and a printer. -=click=-
I had to study and work work work and I failed miserably year after year afer year. 1969 -1973...Then .. I read a simple sentence! and EVERYTHING changed!
I have no reason to lie to you or to try and deceive you whatsoever.
I had a huge hobby darkroom. It was the size of a two bedroom apartment. 20' x 40 '
I put an add in the newspaper. Color Printing Classes, Learn how to Print your own color enlargments. 8 week class, one night per week, 200 $ paid in advance. when the student paid me 200$, I would hand them 8 rolls of film. Load one in your camera.. turn off your light meter, read the words in the package and do what that says only.. and go to a park or the beach or an open area and shoot one roll only!
INSTANTLY I had 25 students .. so I could practice my method of teaching. Each student went to my class only ONE NIGHT per week.
What did they get for $200 ? About 60 8 x 10's color 20 11 x 14 color & 5 - 16 x 20 color enlargments.. well worth the price!
I now have $5,000 to "play with"
Kodak Paper by the case(s) and EP2 & C-41 chemisty from Hunts.
Ten cases of paper..10 cases of chemicals in 3 1/2 gallon sizes.
A couple of "bricks" of vericolor film" 35mm for the students. I have 5 different students, 5 nights per week.
After the third class.. they dont even need me in the darkroom any more.
they know what to do; and why to do; what they are doing!
Now you can step back.. in time and come to my school.. for free.
I don't want your money. I want you to THINK. about what I am taking the time to put here for a "REFERENCE" to LEARN.
so with the same words; I say to you.. here.. (a roll of film) go outside..
THIS IS DAY ONE: lesson one. GET OUTSIDE in the sun. and take CLOSE UP photos fill that frame with detail..and use 100 ISO for this test.
I personally use 250.. shutter speed because I know from experience..THAT I CANNOT hold my camera steady at that shutter speed, (125) BECAUSE I am using a Mamiya RB 67 with a 360 mm tele lens.. ! I have to use 250 for a shutter speed. You can use 125 or 60 or even 30 maybe ? I can't or wouldn't attempt it.. BECAUSE I want Razor sharp AS MUCH "dof" as possible.
so go out and snap, create, take photos, compose images whatever you want to call it.. go -=click=- ! all over the place. and take notes.
how else are you going to REMEMBER every light situation you encountered.
As you move the camera up to your eye. and LOOK.. is it darker / lighter than my surroundings ? open or close to suit what you SEE. just one stop.
are you casting a shadow when you move in close ? pay attention. if there is a shadow.. that you cast.. open 2 stops. or 3 THIIS IS PRACTICE ONLY. this is your first roll. LEARN TO LOOK OPEN / CLOSE that aperture based soley on what you see. in that VIEWFINDER. but you should already know.. before you get that camera up to eye level and adjust that f-stop ring either 250 @ F 11 or F 16 or F22 or F32.. NOW.. THERE are only so many combinations here to work with on this side of the Aperture ring.
and we know or should know that we will not be using 22 or 32
not when I am using 250 for a shutter speed. I keep my shutter constant.
so with 11 being the center starting point we can open two stops
and close two stops on the other side of the center mark or point of F 11 to include F 8 and F 5.6
5 f-stops, ONLY FIVE! we are still in the sun.. shoot into the sun.. 5.6 I Know that from EXPERIENCE. YOU WILL LEARN the same things as my students did.
ONE THING I will never ever understand... and I mean this with all sincerity. with over 200 students.. how come those students that had MINOLTA cameras.. their photos were far superior to anything that anyone else was using. ?? Every camera brand was used with the exception of Leica. I will never ever understand why!
I have stated 125@ f16 is Ev 15 = 100 ISO
250 @ F11 IS SAME EV different depth of field only.
These are the two settings you will probably be using in the field.
and we all can agree I think. that only 3 things happen when you press
that shutter. too dark, too light perfect!
now you approach something.. anything.. it is in the sun.. you move in closer to crop and is THAT SUBJECT lit from the front? the side ? if that subject is BACK LIT you have to open to 5.6 (starting point)
FRONT LIT. side lit casting shadows.. -=click=- that was my exposure when i saw this lady.. I only had a split second to capture this moment
As I am brining up my camera to expose ONE FRAME OF FILM ONLY. I notice the VALUES SURROUNDING HER. and I open one full stop 250 @ f8
-=click=- http://majikimaje.com/read3.JPG
I HEAR SOME NOISE, I turn around I am looking into brighter sunlight, INSTANTLY I CLOSE ONE STOP. I am always watching the values all around what I am going to crop & compose. -=click=-
http://majikimaje.com/twins2.JPG
It was after I clicked the shutter, that I contiinued to stare at those two women, through the viewfinder. What am I looking at? am I seeing double? blink blink! ha this is funny.. what a pose.. to catch two people in.. split second timing -=click=- I followed those women around for hours. at a great distance. As they walk into the shade I open 2 F-stops and look, they walk back into the sunlight.. close 2 stops.. I am ready.. FOR ANYTHING TO HAPPEN... ! I only expose.. one frame of film for each composition, or creation, or image. YOU will make mistakes, I did, many of them. UNTIL I learned how / when.. to open that aperture, or close it.
VERICOLOR film will cut down on your mistakes BIG TIME. it is a wonderful film for vibrant " EXACTING COLORS".... that MATCH the original subject.
Those are Kodak's words.. not mine! -=click=- 250 @ F 11
http://majikimaje.com/AapaNAakaweb.JPG
I OPENED one stop because of the grass.. if it had been snow I would have closed one stop. If I move in very very close I will open another stop. only one frame of film was exposed for this VERY IMPORTANT photo.
A Pastor and his Wife. the two oldest living people in the village of Point Hope! Donald & Lilly Oktollik
My sons.. GREAT.. greandparents! 1990 I wish you cold see this 40" x 60" print that was made from this negative. "gasp"!
Oh yes! the heading of this post ?? ?? I will tell you the whole true story of this incredible discovery at the END of this thread!
"I was able to retire just form the $$ we make from this one image only! And the computer monitor does not do any justice what so ever to this image."
I thought you said you declined the offer for that particular image, wasnt it about 100K but your friends told you not to do it..? Now your saying you retired off it? Please explain I am confused !!
http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/anim_bs2.gif
and thanks for letting me know about the two broken links, they are fixed.
the need for speed. when you see something happen around you and to bE able to turn and shoot instantly.. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
To capture that image! There are times when I don't have time to get that camera up to my eye level I just shoot anyway.. "from the hip"!
My "favorite" all time image was shot from the hip I didn't have the time to get that camera up to eye level.. her expression would have been gone by then. I was able to retire just form the $$ we make from this one image only! And the computer monitor does not do any justice what so ever to this image.
http://majikimaje.com/dellafay.jpg
Practice this, and you will soon gain confidence, when you begin to see the results.
And I hope some of you, picked up on a very easy way to make a lot, an awful LOT of money, just by teaching YOUR SKILLS, in your area!, out of your home or garage.
People want to learn!! No matter which part of the world you live in.!
Please keep the thread on topic without exchanging barbs, guys.
Thanks, all.
"I was able to retire just form the $$ we make from this one image only! And the computer monitor does not do any justice what so ever to this image."
I thought you said you declined the offer for that particular image, wasnt it about 100K but your friends told you not to do it..? Now your saying you retired off it? Please explain I am confused !!
I didn't put him or his work down, you did. I'll trade you my childish sarcasm for your blowhard arrogance. Fair enough?
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