Part 1: Abstract Photography for Students, All of my Mentees from Westlake High School

Abstract smoke photography Austin

Part 1: Abstract Photography for Students

All of my Mentees from Westlake High School.

Abstract Photography for Students is a challenge. I thought it was time to assemble all of the educational photographic projects I have done with my senior students of the Independent Study Program at Westlake High School over the last 8 years. I was surprised when I went back into my photography archives to see some of the projects that I have forgotten about. I am doing this in 5 Posts so the reader does not get overwhelmed. This first post is about our Abstract Photography exercises. So here we go.
When I agree to teach a student, I tell them that my approach to teaching is to expose them to as many different genres of photography as possible, so they can learn how to leverage the settings on their cameras, read natural light, learn how to control flash and strobe light, how to work with humans who hate to have their photos taken,  and evaluate the environment for challenges.
The photography genres I like to introduce them to are:
ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY:
My first student 8 years ago was Elena. With her I learned how difficult shooting rising smoke is. We learned that having a flash at 90 degrees to a smoking piece of incense was better than having two flashes, one in each side. The contrast within the smoke was better and made it easier to identify an interesting moment within the otherwise chaotic  billowing smoke. Then we edit the image mostly by eliminating surrounding smoke that did not lend itself to the formation we identified. More often that not (and this goes for painting too) we tend to identify with abstract formations that remind of some variation of human forms. Here are Elena’s images:
I had forgotten about this image, and today it is one of my favorite. It is whimsical and requires some time to process its intricacies.
Elena's Abstract Smoke by Austin fine art photographer Johnny Stevens

Elena’s Abstract Smoke by Austin fine art photographer Johnny Stevens

This one I called Wisp of Elena. It clearly has some alien life forms that attract the eye….
Elena's Abstract Smoke #2 Alien formation by Austin abstract photographer Johnny Stevens

Elena’s Abstract Smoke #2 Alien formation by Austin abstract photographer Johnny Stevens

My mentee Nolan shot this smoke image. Very often the way smoke rises and curls, it tends to show formations of vertebrae and human bones.
Nolan smoke abstract photography austin

Nolan smoke abstract photography austin

And this one from my mentee Morgan;
Morgan abstract smoke photography by Austin photographer Johnny Stevens

Morgan abstract smoke photography by Austin photographer Johnny Stevens

For Jake’s Abstract Smoke Photography exercise, he created 2 edited versions from this first raw file.
Jake's original raw file of smoke rising

Jake’s original raw file of smoke rising

Final edit of abstract smoke rising photograph abstract photography

Final edit of abstract smoke rising photograph

Final edit 2 of abstract smoke rising photograph abstract photography

Final edit 2 of abstract smoke rising photograph

My mentee Krishan and I tested our reflexes at shooting water drops in a glass.
Krishan's composition of 4 drops of water abstract photography

Krishan’s composition of 4 drops of water

After an hour of gruelling timing to pull the trigger at the right time we learned that we could not get the effect we were looking for which is achieved by buying a Pluto Valve Drop Regulator. It releases drops timed exactly with the shutter of the camera, but more importantly it releases 2 consecutive drops so that the upward splash of the first drop smashes into the one coming down and creates a beautiful mushroom effect. As seen in these two examples:
water drop 1 by fstoppers abstract photography

water drop 1 by fstoppers

waterdrop 2 by 500 px blog abstract photography

waterdrop 2 by 500 px blog

To introduce my students to compositing in Photoshop, I will often give them the task of taking a series of images and composite parts of them into a master image. In this case I gave Nolan these images from my Mannequin folder of images to create a composite:
Mannequin for abstract photoshop compositing lesson Johnny Stevens Austin Photographer

Mannequin for abstract photoshop compositing lesson Johnny Stevens Austin Photographer

mannequin image for abstract composition
mannequin image for abstract composition
mannequin image for abstract composition

mannequin image for abstract composition

 

mannequin image for abstract composition

Final composite by Nolan

Final composite by Nolan

 

 

 

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Simple Video settings for Canon 60D

Recently I drilled through the Canon 60D to provide my client with some setup Simple Video settings for Canon 60D instructions that the staff could carry with them for shooting video with this camera. It is a wonderful camera for shooting video. Here you go.

Canon 60 D SLR camera

Canon 60 D SLR camera

Simple Video settings for Canon 60D

SHOOTING VIDEO

Automatic:

These Automatic notes apply to shooting photos in AUTO as well:

  • You get no control over any settings like, shutter speed, white balance, f stop, ISO or focus.
  • However, if you have had a margarita and don’t want to deal with settings AUTO mode will give you acceptable video quality.
  • The only concern you may have is not having control over focus unless you set the lens to Manual Focus and focus the lens manually by zooming in to the subject, focusing and then zoom back out to wherever you like.

Shooting Video on AUTO

  • If you have a lavaliere mic, clip it onto the subject and plug the mini jack into the mic port on the under the rubber flab on the left side of the camera. Otherwise sound will be recorded from the camera mic (not great sound quality). The lav may need a micro mini adapter to fit the mic in port.
  • Power up camera (left thumb)
  • Turn Main dial above power switch to the video camera icon. (last one)
  • On the lens select AF (Auto Focus)
  • On the lens select stabilizer OFF if you are on a tripod. ON if you are hand holding .

If nobody has messed with the camera settings these should stay in place for AUTO. But if you want to double check these AUTO settings:

MENU

  • SCREEN 1
    • Movie exposure – AUTO
    • AF Mode – Live mode (lets you see the image on the camera window.)
  • SCREEN 2
    • Movie REC Size 1920 x 1080 / 30p is fairly standard HD video. 24p is best for cinematic footage.
    • Sound Recording – AUTO

You can start shooting now

  • Focus on subject by placing the square in the middle of the window on the subject and press the shooting tigger button (right forefinger) half way to set focus. (or press the AF ON button with thumb.)
  • Increase or decrease exposure by rotating the Thumb Wheel.
  • Push camera icon by viewfinder to start recording.
  • Push again to stop recording

Shooting VIDEO on Manual

Rotate top dial to the video camera

Press Menu (there are 3 VIDEO screens for settings. Select them with the wheel on the top right on  your right forefinger)

  • SCREEN 1
    • Movie exposure – Manual
    • AF Mode – Live mode (lets you see the image on the camera window.)
  • SCREEN 2
    • Movie REC Size 1920 x 1080 / 24. This is the most cinematic setting.
    • Sound Recording – Manual. Adjust the sound level so that it is not hitting 0 Just above 12 is fine.
  • SCREEN 3
    • White balance. For indoor office setting choose SUN – Daylight.

(Most of these menu items can also be accessed from the Q button (Quick Menu). Move up and down these icons by pressing the top and bottom of the outer ring on the SET button.

Then you can set your shutter speed, aperture and ISO just like you would if shooting photos.

  • Set your shutter speed to 60
  • Adjust your f stop to get a good exposure.
  • Adjust your ISO up if you need more light.
  • Press the i button to get the histogram to see your exposure
  • Focus on subject
  • Press the camera icon to start recording.
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Professional Austin, Texas Architectural Photographer, Johnny Stevens specializes as an architectural, real estate, portrait photographer  and fine art photographer. Johnny travels around the nation photographing and filming interior and exterior architecture, aerial drone photography, commercial student housing, and multi-family developments. He is also well seasoned in family portraits and business head shots. Over his career Johnny has developed a broad artistic versatility that sets him apart from other national photographers. He is skilled in studio portraiture as well as natural light photography, and is and expert in Photoshop compositing and architectural spot lighting. As one of the nation’s best photographers, Johnny’s  photographic approach is uniquely artistic, as seen in the galleries on this site.

Johnny Stevens, Professional Austin Architectural and Real Estate Photographer and Videographer

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