Week 6 - Reading Notes

http://photo.net/learn/basic-photo-tips/correct-exposure/

Exposure Basics: Correctly Expose Your Photography Bryan F. Peterson (August 2008)

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http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/2832/the-differences-between-civil-nautical-and-astronomical-twilight/

The Differences Between Civil, Nautical and Astronomical Twilight
by David Peterson

Any photographer knows that the middle of the day casts the harshest and most unflattering light. It's the light just before and after sunrise and sunset that we covet. But, if you go to a weather site and look up when sunrise and sunset are set to occur, you might be scratching your head since they list three different twilights. So, to make things easier on you, let's set the record straight and delve into the differences between civil twilight, nautical twilight and astronomical twilight.

Civil is when people are still out and about enjoying the remaining light. 

Nautical is when the sailors can no longer rely on the horizon to guide them.

Astronomical is for astronomers and adventurous photographers who have the equipment and patience for capturing the moon and the stars.

Civil Twilight

Civil twilight in the morning starts when the geometric center of the sun is 6° below the horizon. Evening civil twilight begins at sunset and ends when the center of the sun reaches 6° below the horizon.

The evening civil twilight is otherwise known as dusk. This is when the brightest stars will be visible under normal atmospheric conditions. You can capture a variety of images during civil twilight because the light changes so rapidly. Don't think that this is the end of good light though. Nautical twilight offers plenty of photo ops, too. Only the brightest stars appear during the civil twilight. You'll also get to see some planets, such as Venus. 

During this period there is enough light from the sun that flashes or other lighting sources should not be needed. You can always adjust your ISO to 400 or even 800, if needed, during this time, but as you'll read below, there are some limitations to this.

Nautical Twilight

Nautical twilight is the time when the center of the sun is between 6° and 12° below the horizon. 

During nautical twilight the illumination is such that the horizon is still visible even on a Moonless night, allowing mariners to take reliable star sights for navigational purposes, hence the name. At the beginning or end of nautical twilight, under good atmospheric conditions, vague outlines of ground objects may be distinguishable, but details are not likely. 

The end of this period in the evening, or during its morning start, is also the time when traces of light near the sunset or sunrise point of the horizon are very difficult if not impossible to discern. It's often referred to as "first light" before civil dawn and "nightfall" after civil dusk. You'll definitely need to increase your ISO during nautical twilight.

Astronomical Twilight

Darker than civil or nautical, astronomical twilight occurs when the center of the sun is a full 18 degrees below the horizon. 

As its name suggests, this twilight period is of most interest to astronomers. There is no color in the sky during astronomical twilight. A popular type of photograph during this time is the star-trail, since it will register some background glow near the horizon during this time. But, even die-hard nature photographers will probably have called it a night by then. When the moon is full, they'll come back out with their tripod, however.

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http://freshome.com/2015/01/06/10-architectural-photography-tips-to-get-the-ultimate-shot/

10 Architectural Photography Tips To Get The Ultimate Shot
by Shelley Little, 2015

1) Always have your camera and location ready

If you really crave the best photograph, then perhaps you should consider carrying your camera with you everywhere— you never know when inspiration will strike. 
If your location is already chosen beforehand, then be sure you are prepared for that particular location. If the building is a business, check to see what hours they are opened. 

You should also check with the owners of the building or property, or possibly the city to see if you need a permit to take photos. Not knowing could get you into trouble, impeding the opportunity to get your dream photo. 

Lastly, take a look at the weather report for the location you are heading to. Depending on the type of shot you want —sunny, cloudy, rainy, stormy, clear – the weather could ruin your day. 

2) Invest in the Right Photography Equipment

When it comes to architectural photography, a wide-angle, fish-eye or ultra-wide angle lens is the best option. 

These types of lenses allow you to get a dramatic composition, and provides you with the ability to fit the entire frame of the building into one shot. However, not all buildings will fit into every shot. This is where a camera with panoramic format can be beneficial. 

3) Don’t Rush Perfection

One of the biggest tips for shooting amazing architectural subjects is to take your time. 
Make sure you have a large block of time set aside in your schedule for the shoot, possibly days. 

Not only does this give you enough time to get the shots you want, but it allows you the opportunity to explore the building. You want to give yourself enough time to walk around and look at all sides of the building to discover which area will give you the best —and unique — shot of the architectural structure.

4) Shoot in Different Weather Conditions

You may be surprised to find that the best photos are taken when a storm is brewing overhead, and the sky is overcast. The swirling clouds, rain misting down, and possibility of a rainbow can really intensify the atmosphere and increase the quality of the photo. 

It’s a great idea to return to a location several times during different weather conditions to give yourself enough shots of the building to figure out just which one results in the ultimate shot. 

5) Pay Attention to the Light

You might be surprised at how different a building and its surroundings can look when the sun goes down at night, or disappears behind a cloud. Take shots during the day from different angles of the building to see how they look. 

Then, return at night and see what has changed about the building and it’s environment. You will find that as the sun sets, different shadows appear and the building may even look a different color or take on a new appearance or facade. 

Furthermore, the direction of the sun compared to you and the building can make a difference. It can create shadows and reflections, and increase textural elements, as well as contrast. For instance, if you want to create a silhouette as the sunsets, you want to make sure the building is between you and the sun. 

6) Photograph from a Different Perspective— A Bugs-Eye View

Just like the light can have an effect on the way the building looks, so can your position while taking the shot. Again, here is where time comes into play as an important factor. You want to make sure you have the opportunity to move around the building, shooting as you go. 

You also want to get as close to the building as possible, shooting straight up, for a different perspective. Pretend you are a bug or ant crawling on the ground—No one really looks up at a building from this angle, but it just might make the most amazing photograph you’ve ever seen. On the other hand, getting as far away or as high up from the building as possible, to include the entire structure in one shot, could also create a unique shot. 

Play around with the perspective at which you shoot to really allow yourself to create amazingly unique photography. Collect this idea.

7) Embrace Photography Software

Once the shot is completed, there are some things you can do to really enhance the photos to make them even more spectacular (and it’s not cheating—lots of professional photographers use these tools). This can be done through the use of photography software programs. 

8) Black & White or Color?

When it comes to architectural photography, color is often the most important feature of the structure that you would want to highlight. Therefore, shooting the building in color might just be the best option. 

Conversely, if you are merely after a very graphical shot or one that highlights the structural lines of a building, you might be better shooting in black and white only. It allows the contrast to be much more present in the finished product.

9) Don’t Forget Post Processing

Post processing normally consists of color correction, sharpness, and increasing the contrast. However, to get the ultimate shot, you will want to do a little extra post-processing. Mostly, you will want to think about lens distortion that may have occurred while you were taking the photos.

You could also use PTLens, which works to provide not only corrections to lens distortion, but also to chromatic aberration, vignetting, and perspective.

10) Look For A Unique Location

There are many famous architectural locations around the globe that have been photographed many different times, in different light, and in different weather conditions. Perhaps this is why they are so famous. Does that mean that’s where you should go? As a photographer looking to create the ultimate shot, perhaps you should find your own location. 

Find someplace that no one has been, a building that isn’t usually photographed, and give yourself the challenge of turning it into the next spot that architectural photographers are dying to go. 

Perhaps the most important photography tip is to take your time. You need to give yourself time to look at the building, and give yourself time to see the building in different weather conditions—day and night. Once you have the basics down, allow your creativity to flow. Take shots from different angles on the ground looking up, far back shooting straight on, and even getting on higher ground.