In my Advanced Photo class this quarter, we have worked on several projects that have built on each other, but this one (project five) and the last one (project four) were the most intertwined.

If you didn’t read about my work on project four, I have posted about it, so check that out before reading this. It will make way more sense, trust me.

So, in project four, I shot all the photographs for project five, which would be my final collection. Or, so I thought. When I saw that my images didn’t compliment each other the way I had hoped, I was back to square one.

Luckily, for project five, I was allowed to shoot more in order to fill in the gaps for my project five. The guidelines for project five are also very open ended.

For the quantity, we needed “A minimum of five and a maximum of eight.” and for quality, we needed assistance of our professor.

We showed him at least two options of each print for sharpening and he helped us pick which sharpening settings we needed and how to adjust the images to make it fit the best.

My last shoot with Liza and Kurt was amazing, and I loved the image of the two of them against the off-white brick wall by the windows. This shot became the center of my project. This print was printed with output sharpening in photoshop and I also had to do some masking to prevent a halo effect on the subjects. I also masked out some magenta which was coming through on the print on Liza’s pants, and added more sharpening to their eyes.

As the weeks progressed, I had redone a shoot with Mariah and Savion downtown to match this vibe, and those images worked better with the aesthetic I tried to capture. I chose to include this image of Savion in my final collection. In the editing process, I ended up sharpening the image and masking his watch and gold chain to minimize the effect it had on the eye.

I also did a shoot with Allison. While this photo wasn’t against the brick, it. did have a very clear backdrop, creating an image that was consistent with the others but also added some visual variety. This shoot was amazing and I really loved how it turned out. I added an ellipse tool to smooth out the sharpening and only focus it more toward the center. That helps draw the eye in toward her and focus on her instead of the other visual elements.

On the same day I shot with Allison, I also shot with Sienna. She wore clothes that fit the neutral aesthetic I was going for, and I loved how I was able to capture her expression to match the word on her shirt, “Attitude.” In this one, I sharpened it. but then added a mask on her face to dull the effect on her faux freckles so they looked less obvious and you saw her instead of just her freckles.

Lastly, I shot with Harrison. I styled him in a gray shirt and light wash jeans with white converse, and posed him against the brick wall. The images turned out better than I could have imagined, and I loved them so much. I ended up sharpening it and adding a mask to the wall beside him so he would be the main focus of the image.

After this, the final part was matting. This process took me three hours and was honestly pretty difficult to create. The measuring was the hardest part for me, but it turned out great. The matting adds about three inches on each side of the print, but it really elevates the collection.

Overall, I think the thing that I learned in this class that was the most helpful for my business will be the matting. I was really challenged by it, and I enjoyed the process, especially the final product.

In my Advanced Photography class this quarter, we had a lot of projects, but they all built on each other. Project two was establishing ourselves as a photographer. Project three was all about picking a paper that works best for our photographs.

Now, for the fourth project, we are working to start creating our final collection of images, which would be our project five.

The goal of project four was to make sure we had shot all the images we would need to use for project five. We had two weeks to shoot all of our images for it, and then for project five we would be perfecting those images and creating prints that work best and matting them.

I originally thought that for my final collection of images I wanted to shoot couples. Since for project four we needed to turn in at least five images, I assumed it would be the same for our final project. Due to this, I thought I should shoot two couples and do one photo of each couple together, and one of each person separately, totaling to six images.

I scheduled shoots with two of my favorite couples, Mariah and Savion, and Liza and Kurt. I planned to shoot in Sumner, Washington over my long weekend with Mariah and Savion, and then shoot with Liza and Kurt once I returned to Walla Walla during the same long weekend.

I shot with Mariah and Savion first. It was a fun shoot, and their outfits definitely fit with the location, but it was raining and that made the shoot more difficult. Never the less, the images turned out very nicely.

Once I returned to Walla Walla, I shot with Liza and Kurt downtown. Their shoot had a totally different vibe to it, and it worked out super well. The weather, however, was also very challenging where we were at, but in different ways.

The lighting was super challenging due to the fact that it would go between harsh light and soft light at the drop of a hat, making it hard to shoot consistently, and to get shots without Liza and Kurt squinting due to the bright sun. It was a great shoot though, and we had a great time getting the shots we needed.

Once school started back up again, it was time to turn in my images. The assignment guidelines for project four were very broad, and stated we needed to turn in “a minimum of five images.” So, since I am indecisive and I loved a bunch of images, I turned in twelve. Two of each couple, and two of each individual.

Mariah and Savion

Liza and Kurt

As you can see, the vibes of these two shoots are totally different, and since the locations were different, I had new challenges to address in my project five. I thought that shooting couples in urban settings would be similar enough, but I was incorrect.

Still, I did learn a lot from this experience, and I did have two successful photoshoots with couples that loved their images.

This quarter in my Advanced Photography Class, our third project of the quarter was all about testing paper. I have done printing in all of my other photo classes, but we didn’t really get to pick the paper other than chose between the matte or glossy papers chosen by the professors for us to use for the class.

For this class, however, we had the choice of what we wanted to print on. We were printing on an Epson Stylus Pro 4900 printer and using it to print 8×10 images, which meant we were only limited to sheet paper that had a color profile we could use for this printer.

We had to report on six paper types, select one paper that we wanted to order and print on, and then later print on four papers that were ordered by us and our peers. The report, which contains the name, brand, paper type, media setting, ICC profile availability, and description, is below.

1. Canson Platine Paper
   Brand: Canson
   Type: Fibre Rag Fine Art paper
   Weight: 310 gsm
   Media setting: Paper Premium Luster 260
   ICC Profile available: Yes
   Desciption: “extremely high Dmax and exceptional grey tones make it the product of choice for the more discerning black and white as well as colour photographic prints”
2. Canson Infinity Baryta Prestige Gloss Paper
   Brand: Canson
   Type: Fine Art paper
   Weight: 340 gsm
   Says to use the setting in the ICC profile
   Media setting: Premium Photo Luster 260
   Description: “Unlike traditional glossy paper, Canson Infinity Baryta gloss paper is smooth and doesn’t have the hard surface that is common with other gloss papers”
3. Inkpress Media Metallic Gloss
   Brand: Inkpress
   Type: Premium Photo Glossy
   Weight: 255 gsm
   Media setting: Paper Premium Luster 260 
   ICC Profile available: Yes
   Description: “allows you to print vibrant & stuning prints that could have only been achived previosly in darkroom. The metallic high gloss surface on this 10 mil, 255 gsm photo paper results in orints that are sharp, vibrant and exceptionally rich looking. This paper provides the perfect way to make portraits, commersial display prints, and competition prints taht stay out. Th einstant dry, scratch-resistant surface of Inkpress Metallic Gloss paper makes it practical for everyday use in busy studios.”
4. Epson Ultra Premium Luster Paper
   Brand: Epson
   Type: Luster paper
   Weight: 240 gsm
   Media Setting: Premium Photo Luster 260
   ICC Profile available: Yes
   Description: “This instant drying paper produces vivid, lifelike images that rival those of traditional silver halide prints. Premium Luster Photo Paper delivers highly saturated prints by offering maximum ink coverage and a high D-Max for true photographic reproductions.”
5. Epson Legacy Platine
   Brand: Epson
   Type: Fibre paper
   Weight: 314 gsm
   Media Setting: Premium Photo Luster
   ICC Profile available: Yes
   Description: “This paper combines the look and feel of the revered silver halide F-surface with a true cotton base. It has an industry leading microporous inkjet receptive layer that produces deep, rich blacks (Dmax), expanded color gamut and gentle tonal gradations and will provide outstanding image permanence and durability.”
6. Epson Legacy Baryta
   Brand: Epson
   Type: Baryta paper
   Weight: 314 gsm
   Media setting: Premium Photo Luster
   ICC Profile available: Yes
   Description: “There are two barium sulphate coatings with an industry leading microporous inkjet receptive layer that produces deep, rich blacks (Dmax), expanded color gamut and gentle tonal gradations. This paper delivers the look and feel of the revered silver halide F-surface darkroom papers and will provide excellent image permanence.”

After this, we needed to shoot and print an original image on 4 types of paper. This was the image I shot with my friend Lexi, who has been featured here many times before.

Then, after printing, we needed to do a report on the 4 papers we tested out. That report is included below if you are interested.

1. Canson Platine Fibre Rag was my favorite paper that I tested. This was the paper that I chose and I have used it before, and after testing it with these other papers, it really outshined the others. I love the way the colors are translated and since it is pure white I do not have to be concerned about how people’s skin tones are translated. I think I could afford to potentially be more vibrant with the colors due to this as well, which I would enjoy the possibility of exploring that idea in the future. 
2. Canson Infinity Baryta Prestige Gloss Paper was the runner up here. I did like it, and while I do feel it would add a nice warm feel to landscapes due to the warm tone, I do believe that the warm tone isn’t something I want in portraits due to the way it could mistranslate the skin tones of my models. Overall, I think I would print on this again, but I would not reach for it over the Canson Platine. 
3. Harman Professional Inkjet Gloss Baryta Warm Tone was the next paper I tried. Easily ranks third of the papers I tried. I liked that it was a glossy paper, because I think glossy paper fits more with my photography in general. I think the colors were presented fine, but I don’t like how flat it feels in comparison with the Canson Platine, or even the Canson Baryta, which both have a bit more texture to them even though they are a glossy paper. I also was not particularly in favor of how light this paper was. I like a more sturdy paper for my prints because in my opinion it tends to feel higher quality and more tangible. 
4. My least favorite paper I tried was the Inkpress Metallic Gloss paper. This may be because the ICC Profile was not correct, but I am just not a fan of the physical paper itself. I hate the tones that were presented here, and how muddied the skin tone looks, but again that may have been due to the ICC profile, so I will set that aside and continue on by explaining how I feel about the physical paper. I was not keen on the fact that tge paper is so light weight. As I previously stated, I tend to gravitate more toward thicker papers because I personally feel that they seem higher quality, but I knew I needed to push myself to try something new. I tried it, and I am not a fan. The print itself seems like it has been softened and is not as clear and sharp, and the paper is glossy with no texture whatsoever. Having a slight texture to the gloss is what makes the print more interesting. I mean, if I wanted to view a perfectly smooth image with muted textures, I would look at my images exclusively on iPhone 4 with a glass screen protector. Overall, this was my least favorite paper and I will not be reaching for this again.

Then, we needed to pick our favorite paper, and adjust our print to be the best it could be for that paper. I used output sharpening settings in photoshop, and the final image was adjusted by dodging and burning the leaves behind her, sharpening her eyes, and also using output sharpening settings on 80% with radius of 1.8 pixels and threshold of 12 levels. Here is what the final image looked like.

Overall, I think this project was a great way to help me be more intentional about the printing process and sent me down a path of learning the best way to get a good print for each photograph on an individual basis.

Hello all!

I apologize for not being as active on here as I originally intended to be, but its been a busy year, and. a crazy busy quarter. There will be some announcements coming soon, but for now, I want to talk about one of the things I was doing this quarter.

I started taking another photography class this quarter, and one of the projects we did, Project 2, was all about analyzing our vision as a photographer.

For me, this project was a very interesting way of getting to know. myself as a photographer and a creative professional, as I have never tried to put my goals as a photographer into words before.

The assignment guidelines were to analyze what my “purpose” is as a photographer. It also asked, “What makes you tick? What is important to you as an image maker?”

I had never really considered this until I had class, but it honestly is something to consider. It is important that in addition to focusing on that “decisive moment” in our photoshoots, we are also decisive when it comes to why we are shooting and what our goals are as we are shooting.

In the assignment, we had to respond to the following: Define yourself; Define sources of inspiration; Find your voice; Know your goals; Know your market; Know your identity; What is your toolkit?; Establish a community; and Identify your gifts.

These were more clearly described in our textbook, but I want to share with you what my responses were.

1. MYSELF: I am a photographer with a passion for capturing the emotions of others and my view of the world. I strive to communicate through my images. My limiting factors are my general understanding, my personal bias based on life experience, and the vision I have versus the image of others. 
2. SOURCES OF INSPIRATION: I am inspired by many things. I am inspired by the falling leaves and snow, someone’s smile, the feeling I get when I have a good feeling about a shoot. I am inspired by the way I feel when I know I have captured the perfect shot. I am inspired by seeing the joy on people’s faces when they view my photographs. I am inspired by the people I love and those who love me, by the kindness of others, and the work of my peers.
3. VOICE: My voice is still being discovered. I have ideas in my brain that change over time and throughout shoots. I am still trying to discover my distinct style and voice when it comes to my images, but the tone throughout the vast majority of my portraits is the same, and that seems to be prevalent in the way I capture the joy on the faces of others simply enjoying the moment they are currently living in their lives. 
4. GOALS: My goal is to be a portrait photographer and capture the smiles of others. I want to be continuously growing and learning in my craft as an photographer, whether that be learning different styles, techniques, technology, formats, or many other things. Every element of photography, whether or not it is my chosen style, is able to teach me something new that I can implement in my work in some capacity.
5. MARKET: As a photographer, I cater more toward the demographic and age bracket I am currently in, which is the general college age population (18-24), however I do tend to maintain a style that can be classic enough for adults to resonate with as well, broadening my audience to families and parents with an interest in capturing memories as well. 
6. PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY: I am a portrait photographer that currently presents most of my work on Instagram, as it is a good way to contact my key demographic of people 18-24 years of age. While trying to broaden my audience, I am creating a website to share more of my work with the public in a clearer and more professional standpoint. I want to present my work in an interesting yet professional capacity so that I will be taken seriously by the adult demographic while still maintaining a fun personality that encourages college students to work with me.
7. TOOLKIT: In my toolkit I have a Nikon D5300 and a variety of lenses. I need to learn more about those lenses other than how to use them properly (which I already know). I have purchased a 45 in. round reflector I am still learning about and a tripod. I soon will also have an Olympus Trip 35 to add to my camera bag, which means I will be able to shoot 35 mm film, and that requires me to become more familiar with different films and shoot more. I have shot in black and white film exclusively, and would now like to branch out further into color film and figure out which color film profile will best fit my photography style. 
8. COMMUNITY: Outside of class, I have worked with several different photographers. I have one in particular on Instagram that I admire very much, and she and I have corresponded several different times on each other’s work and the possibility of interning under her. I respect her work and drive to own a small business as a woman and I have learned a lot from her. On top of that, I have also connected with other photographers who have work I admire. Outside of them, I have a family who shares my enthusiasm for photography, and this has helped me grow immensely and created an environment that makes it easy for me to learn lots about everything I can. 
9. GIFTS: I have been told I have a natural eye for photography that has only grown more prevalent with learning more about the craft each day. By sharing my images and commenting on other’s work, I am able to give back to the community by offering pointers and general tips to other photographers. I will contribute my personal outlook on the world through my photography, as my original goal when I began photography was to share my view of the world with others. 

After we had written this report, we needed to go out and shoot our first assignment of the quarter with NO EDITING, which was so incredibly hard to do. Once we had shot, we needed to analyze the shoot in a report and turn in our top 5 images from the shoot.

Here is my report, and my images are included. The one on the left is the unedited, and the one on the right is the edited version (which was not turned in for my project, but I wanted to include on the blog because I love the edits I made.)

For this photoshoot, I decided I wanted to do it in the snow. The model I chose, Lexi, has always told me that she wants to get married in the snow simply because of how clean and magical the photos are. The irony of this is Lexi is a Californian and hates snow and the cold in every other form, other than in photographs. When I shot this day, Lexi and I created a look together that would slightly pop against the snow without being too distracting. The simplicity of her makeup is contrasted with the bright red lipstick and the red scarf pops against her light gray and white sweater peeking out from under her white jacket. 

            As far as location, we wanted it to be a little more whimsical, with very little in the background. I loved the look of the images we shot with essentially nothing in the background but the hill covered in snow. It almost gives the images a studio-shot feel, but with the snow in her hair and in front of the lens, it gives it that real outdoor touch, keeping the viewer captivated. 

1. Lexi standing with hands on jacket and scarf looking down (half close-up)

This image of Lexi shows her more serious side. I posed her according to what I believed would convey a more serious side to her. With her looking down and her hands holding her scarf near her heart, and her jacket edge as well, she seems more guarded, which is how Lexi tends to be when she first meets new people. This image may not work in my final set of images due to its somber nature, however I do think it will be nice once it is edited.

2. Lexi standing with hand on scarf looking down and smiling (close-up)

This image shows Lexi as she starts to warm up. She is still a little guarded, but the smile on her face is genuine. Her eyes are crinkled with laughter and her demeanor is more relaxed. This is very similar to the first image, however this one captured her genuine personality more. I think this one could be included in my final images, but it depends on if it fits in well with the other images I create this quarter. 

3. Lexi standing holding coat open looking straight ahead (midrange shot)

This image shows Lexi being a little more comfortable again. She is posing and strutting her stuff. She is smiling at nothing, but I have a feeling this would be fun to include in my final images because it really captures her as a person and me as a photographer

4. Lexi smiling looking down at the snow in her hair (close up)

This shot shows Lexi being herself and smiling because she is genuinely excited about how her hair looks with the snow in it. I think this shot is the most “Lexi” shot I captured that day. She loves her look, loves the snowflakes and how cute they look, and enjoys the way she looks in that moment, and I think that is what I want to capture in these images.

5. Lexi falling while throwing snow

Lexi is Californian and has no idea of how to play in the snow. I asked her to play in the snow for these photos, and she had no idea what to do for this. She went to throw snow at me, and fell over, but in the process, I captured her genuine smile as she was filled with joy and I think this would be great to capture and include in my final images if it fits in with the rest of my images seamlessly. 

In the end, I think this project went pretty well overall. This photoshoot was also one of my favorites from the whole quarter, so I am glad that I finally have a place to share all five images with you. Also, I think it is kind of cool that I was able to show the before and after. Let me know if that is something that you would want me to do more of in the future!