attempts at aperture priority

[bernieheise]

Hi, I took so many shots trying to get the blurred background down and here are the two that worked out the best. I submitted the first one, which I thought was the better of the two, but lost marks because it looked too much like a test shot. Oh well, live and learn.

[wanda]

Hi there, I'm not much of an expert, your second shot looks a little out of focus so #1 was probably a good choice. The Tutors do prefer your photos to be things that you would naturally take when out and about, you will soon get used to doing it this way. Well done anyway, look forward to seeing your work posted here as you progress

[bernieheise]

Thanks Wanda. Now I need some good weather so I can get out more!

[mickncrispy]

Hi Bernie, it looks like you have Av worked out, well done! I lost points on the same assignment for exactly the same thing. I look forward to seeing your work as you progress through the course.

[bernieheise]

Thanks Lisa. Same to you.

[kinetic]

To Bernie and Lisa…ask your tutors this question…what is the assignment about a finished product photo or an assignment about depth of field.
I lost marks for the same thing but regained them after I put up this question…that nowhere did it state that the assignment asked for a finished product style photo.
I demonstrated the use of depth of field as required in the assignment. Don’t accept the loss of marks because the assignment fails to mention this.
I think if this is what is required for the assignment it should me made more clear, I made mention of this at the time, but from what you say nothings been changed.
Mark

[traceybarnes]

ok.....so Im about to take my photos for that lesson, and Im a bit confused as to what its supposed to be of? as to not loose points for....what exactly is a "finish product style photo?"

[admin]

Assignment 4 does not have any subject defined. The point is to show you can actively work with the Depth of Field. One photo should have a large DOF, another one small DOF. It does not have to be a product photo, you can do this with a portrait, flower, still life, pretty much anything where the DOF change is obvious and also where your tutor can tell for certain that it was the photographer who's in control of DOF, not the camera meter.

[kinetic]

Hi Tracey hopefully admin has put you on track with what is required.

When I say a finished product photo…I am referring to a photo that you would take… say a nice pot with flowers, or some still life you have set up.
Something you would be taking a photo of to show to others, a more deliberate photo you intended to take.

What I took a photo of was a bench in the fore ground with some trees and shrubs in the background.
So nothing exiting and not maybe the kind of shot you would hang on the wall.
But nevertheless, I fulfilled the assignment showing the bench in focus and the background out of focus in one photo...
and in the other showed both fore ground and back ground in focus thus demonstrating the use of aperture and depth of field.
But I was marked down because the photo was deemed to be more of a test shot than a more finished product photo,
I did regain the points lost when I explained to the tutor that this was not made clear in the assignment.

I am glad that admin has now viewed this post and seen three people that were marked down for this.
I am sure Peter will have a word with the team to point this out.
Maybe an additional line or two explaining that the shots taken doesn’t have to be a finished product style shot,
but of anything you choose as long as you are demonstrating the use of aperture and are in control of the DOF (depth of field).
Mark

[sanbizweb]

Hi, I took so many shots trying to get the blurred background down and here are the two that worked out the best. I submitted the first one, which I thought was the better of the two, but lost marks because it looked too much like a test shot. Oh well, live and learn.

Thanks for posting this. Comes in handy for when I get to that lesson.

Thanks for sharing.

[jerryph]

I see a lot of people either really not understanding DOF or are simply overthinking it.

The assignment is not designed to have people show some magnificently technically perfect photo of something blurred, but whether you understand what DOF is and how it works.

You then have to basically prove that you understand. I was very clear on what DOF is and how to control it, and to prove the point, all I did was send in 2 really simple, almost childish photos that clearly showed this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2089/2229823445_bb83fde52f.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2379/2230616818_813c6220fc.jpg

Sometimes the hardest assignments are the ones with the easiest solutions. Honestly, how more clear a manner displays one's understanding of DOF control than the 2 photos above?

Easy-Peasy!

[pipedesign]

Thanks for the great clarification Kinetic.

I like the pics too, they demonstrate the letter of the Lesson. Taking the harder approach of making it a 'normal' pic makes it harder. Maybe that is where the lesson is?

From my perspective, getting maximum points is less important than understanding the subject (in this case Aperture). Either way it is interpreted, we are learning - and that is why we all enroll.