Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Art of Seeing 17 slides Copyright © 2003 - 2009...

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I..

Art of SeeingArt of Seeing

17 slides17 slides

Copyright © 2003 - 2009 Kenji TachibanaCopyright © 2003 - 2009 Kenji Tachibana

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IArt of Seeing: Don’t ask your camera to do impossible things…Art of Seeing: Don’t ask your camera to do impossible things…

AArt of…rt of…

1.1. SeeingSeeing – look beyond your expectations, prejudices, and – look beyond your expectations, prejudices, and the desire to be good or to fit in.the desire to be good or to fit in.

2.2. InterpretingInterpreting – use the camera, light, subject, prop, – use the camera, light, subject, prop, foreground, and background to MAKE your story.foreground, and background to MAKE your story.

3.3. PresentingPresenting – make sure you tell the story that you – make sure you tell the story that you intended by using your team and class feedback on:intended by using your team and class feedback on:

a.a. Story – keep it simple and personalStory – keep it simple and personalb.b. Technique – listen to your cameraTechnique – listen to your camerac.c. Composition – crop tight but with 10% marginComposition – crop tight but with 10% margind.d. Lighting – shoot with plenty of light (30Lighting – shoot with plenty of light (30 thth sec @ f/4) sec @ f/4)

Don’t ask your camera to do impossible things…Don’t ask your camera to do impossible things…

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IArt of Seeing: Required skillArt of Seeing: Required skill

AArt of… rt of… seeing without filtersseeing without filters

a.a. All of us view the world through rose-colored ‘filters’ All of us view the world through rose-colored ‘filters’ which helps us to survive and prosper by feeling which helps us to survive and prosper by feeling competent and comfortable. In that sense, filters are competent and comfortable. In that sense, filters are essential for our mental and spiritual health.essential for our mental and spiritual health.

b.b. On the other hand, they keep us from seeing reality On the other hand, they keep us from seeing reality ‘as it is’ and that isn’t good for an artist. As an image ‘as it is’ and that isn’t good for an artist. As an image maker, you must consciously learn to remove the maker, you must consciously learn to remove the rose-colored filter from your mind’s eye. Some of the rose-colored filter from your mind’s eye. Some of the filters that can get in your way are:filters that can get in your way are:- Expectation – we all have themExpectation – we all have them- Prejudice – negative and positivePrejudice – negative and positive- Desire – hidden desires are the most dangerousDesire – hidden desires are the most dangerous


AArt of… rt of… seeing on automaticseeing on automatic

Your internal system is already running on ‘Automatic’.Your internal system is already running on ‘Automatic’.- Your eye continually adjust for brightness by Your eye continually adjust for brightness by

controlling the size of the pupilcontrolling the size of the pupil- Your eyes continually adjust the colorYour eyes continually adjust the color- Your eyes also continually refocusesYour eyes also continually refocuses- Your brain scans and evaluate all in coming data Your brain scans and evaluate all in coming data

for dangerfor danger


AArt of… rt of… seeing on manual 1 of 4seeing on manual 1 of 4

First you must come to realize and accept the fact that First you must come to realize and accept the fact that you have filters and they are set to full auto. And that you have filters and they are set to full auto. And that may or may not be easy for you.may or may not be easy for you.

The assignment critiques are designed to give you the The assignment critiques are designed to give you the “filter Off” point of view. That is, others in the class will “filter Off” point of view. That is, others in the class will help you to see your own work through their eyes help you to see your own work through their eyes which are free of your particular filter set.which are free of your particular filter set.



There are also few technique you can use to see There are also few technique you can use to see without filters but they will take practice to master.without filters but they will take practice to master.

1.1. Easiest is to view the scene through squinted Easiest is to view the scene through squinted eyes. The slightly blurred and abstracted scene eyes. The slightly blurred and abstracted scene will reduce the filter affect.will reduce the filter affect.

2.2. Next might be to add a ‘hand frame’ to the Next might be to add a ‘hand frame’ to the squint-viewing.squint-viewing.

3.3. Cinematographers often set up their shot using Cinematographers often set up their shot using a viewing scope which is very similar to squint-a viewing scope which is very similar to squint-viewing but would bankrupt most of us.viewing but would bankrupt most of us.



Another aspect of filter-seeing is for our brains to see in terms of Another aspect of filter-seeing is for our brains to see in terms of symbols:symbols:

At the primal level… At the primal level… Is it safeIs it safe At the economic level… At the economic level… Is it profitable (rewarding)Is it profitable (rewarding) At the social level… At the social level… Is it friendly or notIs it friendly or not

At the spiritual…At the spiritual… Is it blessed or evilIs it blessed or evil

All of these ways of seeing has nothing to do with All of these ways of seeing has nothing to do with seeing things as seeing things as they are…they are…


AArt of… rt of… seeing the Things-as-isseeing the Things-as-is

In some ways, seeing things ‘exactly’ as they are is In some ways, seeing things ‘exactly’ as they are is very difficult. We are unlikely to ever get to the ‘so very difficult. We are unlikely to ever get to the ‘so called’ truth of things. It’s very difficult to see from the called’ truth of things. It’s very difficult to see from the outside when we are in the inside,outside when we are in the inside,

That’s probably why history is written by people who That’s probably why history is written by people who come after us. The function of the story teller is to come after us. The function of the story teller is to share the ever elusive truth of things. share the ever elusive truth of things.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IRequired Skill: InterpretationRequired Skill: Interpretation

AArt of… rt of… interpretation:interpretation:

PoorPoor and and goodgood lighting example sets with ‘normal’ and ‘simulated’ squint-view examples. lighting example sets with ‘normal’ and ‘simulated’ squint-view examples.

Warning: Warning: In this situation, the poor or good lighting is a matter of turning the subject In this situation, the poor or good lighting is a matter of turning the subject away from or towards the light. The light source remains stationary. Therefore, the away from or towards the light. The light source remains stationary. Therefore, the describing the lighting as being poor or good is somewhat over-simplified.describing the lighting as being poor or good is somewhat over-simplified.

Poor Poor lightinglighting Lost important facial detailLost important facial detail Good Good lightinglighting Improved facial Improved facial detaildetail

Normal 1Normal 1 Simulated squint viewSimulated squint view Normal 2Normal 2 Simulated squint Simulated squint viewview


AArt of… interpretation: rt of… interpretation: Interactive slideInteractive slide

Look at the ‘Look at the ‘Norma 1Norma 1’ and squint your eyes until it starts to look like the ‘’ and squint your eyes until it starts to look like the ‘Squint-viewSquint-view’ ’ when your eyes are not squinted. Do the same with the ‘Normal 2’ set. Practice this when your eyes are not squinted. Do the same with the ‘Normal 2’ set. Practice this simple exercise until it can be done quickly and consistently.simple exercise until it can be done quickly and consistently.

This is what you need to be doing every time you look at your photographic scene or This is what you need to be doing every time you look at your photographic scene or subject. And make the necessary lighting, subject, or any other changes before you take subject. And make the necessary lighting, subject, or any other changes before you take the shot.the shot.

Normal 1Normal 1 Squint-viewSquint-view example example Normal 2Normal 2 Squint-view Squint-view exampleexample


AArt of… interpretation: rt of… interpretation: Exposure (brightness)Exposure (brightness)

1.1. Skin tone reference with black to while dynamic range scale.Skin tone reference with black to while dynamic range scale.

Too lightToo light Just rightJust right Too darkToo dark

Besides looking ‘believably bright’, this slide is about ‘separation Besides looking ‘believably bright’, this slide is about ‘separation of the tones’ in the dynamic range scale. In both the light and of the tones’ in the dynamic range scale. In both the light and dark versions, the tonal scale does not fully separate for dark versions, the tonal scale does not fully separate for different reasons. In the light, the light tones are blown out different reasons. In the light, the light tones are blown out (washed out). In the dark, most of the separation become (washed out). In the dark, most of the separation become murky or too dark.murky or too dark.


AArt of… interpretation: rt of… interpretation: Exposure (brightness)Exposure (brightness)

2.2. Histogram – exposure expressed as a graph.Histogram – exposure expressed as a graph.

Too lightToo light Just rightJust right Too Too dark dark

Don’t Don’t do do this this to to your your self.self.

Don’t Don’t do do this to this to your your self.self.

Do this Do this insteadinstead..


AArt of… interpretation: rt of… interpretation: LCDLCD

Most digital camera LCD (liquid crystal display) screen Most digital camera LCD (liquid crystal display) screen tends to be too Contrasty, Saturated, and Cool (Cool to tends to be too Contrasty, Saturated, and Cool (Cool to Warm) in color. The laptop and tabletop LCD screens suffer Warm) in color. The laptop and tabletop LCD screens suffer from the same distorted image problem.from the same distorted image problem.

There are LCD screen that produce accurate tones and There are LCD screen that produce accurate tones and colors but they cost $2,000 or more. That is way too costly colors but they cost $2,000 or more. That is way too costly for most of us. The traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) for most of us. The traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors were more true to reality. Even the CRT’s came in monitors were more true to reality. Even the CRT’s came in the mass production and specialty designer qualities.the mass production and specialty designer qualities.


AArt of… interpretation: rt of… interpretation: Light meter standard and factsLight meter standard and facts

1.1. Image brightness is a relative thing in the real- world, Image brightness is a relative thing in the real- world, camera LCD, viewfinder, computer screen, and the print. camera LCD, viewfinder, computer screen, and the print. So, the idea of correct exposure is a combination of So, the idea of correct exposure is a combination of science and art (this has already been discussed).science and art (this has already been discussed).

2.2. Science – light meter has been based on the 18% gray Science – light meter has been based on the 18% gray for over 50 years. And there are two kinds of light meters. for over 50 years. And there are two kinds of light meters. The reflected type (on your camera) and the more The reflected type (on your camera) and the more accurate incident type (used in the film industry).accurate incident type (used in the film industry).

3.3. Classic Standard – Center Weighted metering was the Classic Standard – Center Weighted metering was the culmination of the old metering technology before culmination of the old metering technology before computers. It performed with 90% or better accuracy.computers. It performed with 90% or better accuracy.


AArt of… interpretation: rt of… interpretation: Light meter standard and factsLight meter standard and facts

4.4. The center weighted reading measured only the The center weighted reading measured only the 12% circle area at the center of the frame. 12% circle area at the center of the frame.

5.5. The new computer assisted Matrix metering is The new computer assisted Matrix metering is based on measuring 12 or more sections of the based on measuring 12 or more sections of the frame. And all the scene lighting information is frame. And all the scene lighting information is processed by the micro computer built into camera processed by the micro computer built into camera to arrive at the correct exposure.to arrive at the correct exposure.

6.6. For the novice user, I recommend the computerized For the novice user, I recommend the computerized ‘default’ Matrix Metering mode. ‘default’ Matrix Metering mode.


AArt of… interpretation: Tones (values)rt of… interpretation: Tones (values)

You’ll be working with one or more of these You’ll be working with one or more of these images to improve your skill working with the light images to improve your skill working with the light meter and in seeing tones from black to white.meter and in seeing tones from black to white.


SSummary:ummary:

High story telling skill is a must for strong image making. High story telling skill is a must for strong image making. Although it must also be supported by high skill and craftsman. Although it must also be supported by high skill and craftsman. And to do that, the ability to see ‘what is’ is extremely vital.And to do that, the ability to see ‘what is’ is extremely vital.

My PowerPoint shows classified as ‘Case Study’, ‘Stages’, or My PowerPoint shows classified as ‘Case Study’, ‘Stages’, or ‘Steps’ are designed to help you see and to improve you ability ‘Steps’ are designed to help you see and to improve you ability to see through the use of direct progressive comparison to see through the use of direct progressive comparison images.images.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

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Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Art of Seeing 17 slides Copyright © 2003 - 2009...

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