This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (28 Jun – 4 Jul ‘09)

Weekly Assignment

This week’s assignment was f/16. The goal was to create images with a very large depth of field and we saw some really good uses of it. Our winner this week was Cadira’s lampshade. The lampshade had a very abstract quality that we liked. The details are nice and crisp and it shows how well f/16 works with close up shots. Our first runner up was rt80639’s firework shot. A good firework shot is always impressive, and it’s very timely for this weekend! It provides a great example of how f/16 can work really well when shooting fireworks. And last, but not least was Keikyu’s Lily of the Nile. This shot had an almost x-ray quality to it, but it’s also another great example of how f/16 works well when you’re close to a subject and want to capture all of the details.

We also started our B&W Portraits assignment. Whether it’s a self portrait or a portrait of another person, whether it’s high key or high contrast, show us your black and white portraits. As always, a few rules for submitting pictures for this mini-contest. First, your photo must have been taken between 24 June – 8 July 2009. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: B&W Portrait” and the date the photo was taken. And finally, your EXIF should be intact and it’s useful if you can include the main points. Check out this week’s assignment to learn what our next assignment will be.

Hot Threads

• What f/number is best for portraits?: When taking portraits, you’re often told to focus on the eyes. But you may also be told to use a wide aperture to make sure that the background is blurred. So what is the right aperture for taking portraits? Is there a standard aperture? Or is it something you just have to learn through trial and error?
• Weddings… Dress code??: As a wedding photographer you’re there to take pictures. But there’s no uniform, so if you’re just starting out you may be left wondering how to dress so you don’t stand out from the crowd but are still comfortable enough to do your job. Come share your experiences and opinions in the forum.
• Define non-pro camera: One of the more confusing rule for venues is that “non pro” cameras are not allowed. While more often than not this means no cameras with removable lenses, sometimes the definition varies. What have your experiences been with bringing non-pro cameras into venues? And how can get permission to bring in a better one?
• What Would You Do: Come join us in our weekly post-processing thread where you get the chance to edit the photo of one of our forum members. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve just downloaded Gimp or you’re a pro with Photoshop, you’re welcome to participate. Any level of skill and any post-processing program will work. Come join in the fun!