First Assignment - Objects and People

This assignment required 5 images to be captured at different ISO settings. The camera had to be set to manual exposure and focus. Only ambient light could be used, no flash. The final image had to be in a 'square' format.

"Chocolate Fingers"

ISO 100, Speed 3s, Aperture F5.6

Taken indoors under room lights hence the sharp shadows. I chose ISO 100 for this image to give the clearest picture for a relatively long exposure time.

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"Mobile Phone Box"

ISO 200, Speed 1/320s, Aperture F4.0

Because the ambient light was poor and the sky was a flat grey, I tried not to over expose the image so that the pale telephone box did not blend into the background. The focal point is the girl holding the phone.

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"Driving Rain"

ISO 400, Speed 1/50s, Aperture F4.0

I used ISO 400 here to keep the shutter speed reasonably fast for the light conditions. I wanted to have a shallow depth of field, the steering wheel being the focal point and the object of exposure. The skin detail is slightly over-exposed, but alone with the person being on the periphery this helps to focus the viewer to the wheel.

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"Head For Rugby"

ISO 800, Speed 1/320s, Aperture F5.0

I used a high ISO because the ambient light was poor and the person had to hold the ball steady, so I wanted to keep the shutter speed up while using a large aperture to reduce the depth of field, making the ball the focal point of the image.

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"Ghost"

ISO 1600, Speed 1/100s, Aperture F5.3

The ISO 1600 speed was used to give an 'eerie', grainy feel to the image. A fast shutter speed freezes the flame.

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What I want from photography

Although I have worked in a photography environment for over 20 years now, most of the work I carry out is of a very technical nature. I would like to expand my horizons now and learn more about the artistic area of photography as well as gain some recognised qualifications.

I have studied the City & Guilds Photo Imaging structure and would like to build up to the Level 3 Diploma in Professional Photo Imaging. My intention is to start with Unit 211, Presenting Images and Unit 305, Photo Image capture and progress from there.

Brief introduction

I was born and brought up in the very south of Somerset. At the age of 21, I left my family home and joined the Royal Air Force as an aircraft radar technician. I spent time at Cosford, Finningley, Sealand, St Mawgan and Bruggen, during 15 years of service.

Since leaving the Air Force in 1990, I have been employed mainly in the aerial survey business, apart from a short time teaching Microsoft Office products in London.

I have been interested in photography ever since I was at senior school, and my first SLR was a Zenith E that I got for my 21st birthday. My first brush with professional photography began in the Air Force, when my trade group became responsible for all aerial cameras. I was working with the Nimrod aircraft at the time, which was fitted with both large format (10"x10") roll film and handheld medium format cameras.

Since working in the survey industry, I have used large format aerial cameras, medium format roll film cameras such as Rollei, Hasselblad and Pentax and recently started using the Canon EOS 1Ds digital (35mm equivalent) camera. Most of the work I carry out is for industry or government projects. I do not take pictures of your house and then knock your door trying to sell you a £50 print!

A typical aircraft used for aerial survey. This is a Britten Norman Islander, BN2, based at Coventry Airport.