DPP - Assignment 1 - Workflow

Assignment 1 - Workflow

This assignment requires a devised theme on a topic that interests me in the field of photography. I need to use what I’ve learnt so far in the earlier exercises to construct an effective workflow through to the final set of images

I've edited this to insert my tutors feedback and comments:

Tutor Feedback:

I decided to choose the second of the ponds at Cannop in the Forest of Dean for my shoot location.

My plan was to use my Nikon D80 which has been converted to Infrared with a 665nm IR filter. I’ve started an interest in IR photography and have been experimenting with IR images converted to IR. I had noticed that during a previous experiment that toning the mono image I could create an image that appeared to be one taken under moonlight with frosted foliage.

Whilst IR images are more commonly taken during hot sunny days the assignment would be taken in the Autumn but I did wait for a bright sunny day with skies that were mostly clear.

My pre-shoot workflow has now evolved to the following:

I now appear to have an ingrained habit of setting my camera back to the normal settings and reformat the SD card so that the camera is all ready for the next shoot. However I never take this for granted and always double check this as part of pre-shoot workflow before I set off.

For this trip I was pretty light taking just my D80IR camera and a small protective case to protect it during transport. The camera strap has a small pouch with lens cleaning cloth; I find these invaluable and prefer to have these attached the camera strap to ensure I always have it handy and not left in a bag at home. 

I refreshed my IR knowledge a few days before scanning through a book Digital Infrared Photography by Cyrill Harnischmacher. There is a distinct lack of quality / good IR photography books and there is definitely a big opening here for someone to take if they have the knowledge, ability and contacts. If I develop my knowledge and skills who knows, maybe I could have a tryJ.Cyrill mentions a low ISO setting and consideration to white balance but because I shoot in RAW this is less of an issue. However I am aware that setting the correct white balance for jpegs in camera can be achieved by using a an area of brightly sun lit grass instead of the traditional 18% grey card I might want to use on different cameras.

So at this point I set my expectations of what I want from this shoot:

-       Images containing water

-       Images containing water with sun reflection

-       Images containing the sun e.g. shot directly into the sun

-       Images containing trees

-       Images containing tranquil landscape, I wanted to with IR to simulate almost frosty, moonlit and peaceful images

-       Images containing all the above.

My mid-shoot workflow has now evolved to the following:

As part of my mid shoot workflow I’ve looked to integrate foreground into my compositions, varied camera height and looked at different angles and through using the histogram tried to incorporate images of contrast and ensure I was getting good exposure and whether I need to consider exposure compensation.

I’ve completed the shoot with about 46 images excluding some that I have deleted during in camera image review.

Until this DPP module I’ve not fully considered work-flow at this level and I certainly have not documented anything before for IR WorkFlow. I will use my core workflow then adjust for IR including the post processing changes I want to make.

My post-shoot workflow has now evolved to the following:

So returning home I transfer the images from my camera card onto the PC via Bridge. All images on my PC are backed up to the cloud on a daily basis and to an external hard drive on a weekly basis. I then check the camera is at its starting position, return the card to the camera and format the card ready for a future shoot with the camera

Within Adobe Bridge I tag all the images to confirm elements such as location, type of image etc

I’ve then rated the images giving a start rating of between 1-5 (5 being highest) based on my view of the stronger and weaker images. I can then sort and start processing based on this order.

The assignment brief calls for a final selection of 6-12 images. I learnt from TAOP that when producing the assignment images to try and produces images that appear to be part of a set rather than individual images.

I will use the workflow above and in addition amend this for my IR processing. I intend to process all the images for this submission roughly the same. I will therefore talk through my post processing work flow of one individual image in the knowledge the same will be applied to all the images subject to the specific detailed adjustments which may vary.

I’ve opened the image in Camera Raw and initially checked for shadow and highlight clipping, there is some clipping in the highlights of the suns reflection on the water. I’ve made an adjustment in Lens Correction for the specific lens I’m using:

I’ve then created a channel mixer adjustment layer to swap the red and blue channels.

I’ve created a levels adjustment layer to slightly bring in the whites to the edge of the histogram.

I’ve then saved this with layers as a PSD document in case I wish to adjust at a later date

I’ve then flattened the image and opened a filter in SEP2 to convert to mono with some adjustments then toned the image with cyanotype.

I’ve used unsharp mask to sharpen the image and then finally cropped the image to remove some of the water at the bottom.

Whilst there is some highlight clipping of the sun’s reflection in the water I think this adds to the image in terms of what I want to create, the appearance of a landscape with water lit by moonlight.

I shall now repeat this workflow for my other images and then begin the process of:

-       First selects

-       Group and Review

-       Final Choice

My first selects I’ve made by selecting only images I’ve ranked 3, 4 or 5 stars via Adobe bridge.

This initial selection was based on my first view of quality and how well they matched my brief. Having started this degree I’ve now adopted a slight change to my work flow where I know try to fulfil my brief, pre-visualisation etc and then when I have my key shots I then experiment attempt some further creativity. I suspect this may be how many photographers work but particularly wedding photographers where the standard set of images is likely key to the wedding album.

I have been back through to review those given 1 or 2 stars in case of mis-judgement etc but on this occasion I’ve made no further change.

I’ve then processed per my work flow above around 16 of the best images and grouped these for final selection.

For my final set I’ve made 10 selections however after having a break and reviewing again I’ve dropped two images which I felt didn’t match the level of the others.

My workflow may differ from others based on what elements I personally find key to what others may find key. Some elements of my workflow have been introduced as a result of previous mistakes e.g. using a camera with settings remaining from a previous and shoot and taking some time to realise, forgetting to replace the memory card from the card reader back into the camera and also not formatting the card ahead of the shoot. Each has had differing impacts.

As mentioned above I try to fulfil the initial criteria of my shoot and my pre-visualisation of how I want to do this. However this doesn’t prevent me from making changes and adjustments as conditions change. In addition I like to attempt something creative almost pushing what I may have completed already but adding a different dimension to the image. This may be something as simple as changing perspective or camera angle

My experience and understanding of Photoshop may be limited compared to others who may know more or see more things that need correcting with in the image, or perhaps simply be able to be a bit more creative with the image to get achieve their objective or visualisation. I find know that my pre-visualisation can also include my post processing approach e.g. it doesn’t stop at taking the image.

In terms of infrared some elements of IR workflow may be similar to others but I wonder if other elements are perhaps not so common or unique. IR is a fascinating subject and photography is about capturing what the eye does not see as much as what it does. I suspect that this it self cold be a good discussion point. The ability to manipulate a digital image is much more accessible now than it was to film photographers.

Images 

Tutor Feedback:

My tutor continues:

Image 1:

Image 2:

I agree that this image is cluttered. I think I've become carried away with capturing the filigree of the fallen tree and forgotten basic composition. Perhaps a much closer crop so that the tree filigree dominated the image would have worked better

Image 2 edit:

Though the image could still appear to be cluttered in this crop the subject of the image is more clear though perhaps this should not have made my final selection

Image 3:

Again I've tried to keep the original framing of the image but have left in elements which might be less interesting to the viewer e.g. foreground water and sky which offer little to the overall image. I couldn't however see the banding that my tutor refers to bit his eye will be much more expert at seeing this than mine. My edit below has the image cropped and again making the subject of the image much more obvious and in hinsight landscape format suited this image much btter than how I initially framed this:

Image 4:

Image 5:

Image 6:

Image 7:

Yes the blown-out element middle left does give a flat tone on the water and I agree that its not displaying typical IR characteristics, that say image 8 below does. In this instance I've become more focused on the framing and have I think a) forgotten my self imposed brief of IR images b) not successfully process the over exposed element of the water

Image 8:

Key Learning’s  

a) A disciplined workflow can be very time consuming   

b) I need to  study further post processing techniques and gain a greater understanding of Photoshop

c)  I need to investigate further ways I can batch process images, this may speed up some elements of pp process

d)   I’m thinking a lot more about workflow from the pre shoot to the final image

e)  I think I may need to study my images with a more skilled eye to determine some key elements / areas for adjustment. This is a skill I look forward to developing

f)    Using a screen calibration tool is key for helping to ensure consistency of images when viewing at different light levels. I’ve now learnt about what LUX is

Tutor feedback and comments:

Thank you tutor for the kind comments and epecially the suggested links within the feedback and the suggestion to contextualise my work.

I was disappointed with my marking of 54 for the TAOP assessment but looking at my feedback I received just 5/20 for Context. This reduced my overall mark significantly however it also correctly informs me that I have a significant weakness in this area and so this will be an area to focus on. I look forward to contextualising my work which my Tutor also suggests and I wonder what influences this will have or perhaps I will find that I seek photographic artist's work that further develops my own ideas - both I expect. Importantly though it will give me better awareness, ideas to explore.