Project – Linear capture

Exercise 1 Sensor linear capture: Objective – to demonstrate the difference in the way that a digital sensor captures light information compared to the eye or film.
Using CaptureNX2, I converted this file to from RAW to a 16bit TIFF using  the save options dialogue box:

I applied the curve to the histogram and saved the image:

Here are the two histograms from the saved images demonstrating the difference between the processed and unprocessed image:

Unprocessed image	Processed image

Following on, I have applied an adjustment curve to the linear image to bring it back roughly to the processed file and it can be seen that the curve is the reverse of the adjustment I made to the tiff image. This exercise has also made clearer how to interpret and use the information provided by the curves histogram.

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Project–a sequence of actions

Exercise 1: Your own workflow 1
Objective: Devise and then put into practice a workflow that suits you personally for a specific short assignment and make notes of your experience of this in your learning log.
Assignment:  Produce photographs of a National Trust property suitable for publication in a tourist brochure or information sheet. (had this been a professional assignment I would have contacted the National Trust. I checked their photography policy and as student assignment, I treated this as a “not for commercial use” exercise)

My own workflow for a time limited assignment:

Before leaving home:

• Check Camera and lenses are clean, charge battery and spare

• Check and format SD Cards - Use in rotation

• Check camera bag for equipment, lens tissue, blower brush, SD card cases
• Notebook, pencil, mobile phone

• Drive to Location

On arrival at location: (2 hours 1300 – 1500)

• Final check on camera settings, exposure mode, white balance, image quality (RAW +JPEG)
• Check light quality and direction in relation to the subject
• Walk around the location to find suitable viewpoints. Make a note of the ones you want to use
• Commit a few images to SD card to check for exposure (highlight and shadow clipping from the histogram) Adjust exposure compensation accordingly
• When the light is right, shoot the chosen locations.
• Allow time for the sun to move to highlight areas of the scene if necessary
• Record SD cards used and store in cases
• Return home  to edit images

Image Editing

• Transfer images to PC

• Perform technical edit

• Select satisfactory images from those remaining

• Make first selects

• Find several of the best images

• Review your best selection
• Process images (see personal workflow here)

• Choose two images for submission

I chose to use this exercise in combination with Exercise 4 (Editing). Click the link to see the images.
Conclusions:  I designed the workflow in light of my experience with the Art of Photography assignments that involved a specific project (i.e. Liphook Carnival) and I am pleased to say it worked very well. There is nothing I would change and the only problem I had was waiting around for people to move out of shot and/or for the clouds to move away from the sun. Luckily the two hours I allowed, had some contingency built in for this reason.