Marissa's Commercial Photography Blog

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

File formats and lossy versus lossless

RAW vs JPEG

RAW Files:

Advantages

1. Complete data from camera

2. Higher in dynamic range

3. Gives more control over how the image looks

Disadvantages:

1. Takes up a lot of space

JPEG Files:

Advantages:

1. Readable by any program

2. Small file size

3. Immediately suitable for printing, sharing, or posting on the internet

Disadvantages:

1. Lower in dynamic range

Why photographers would shoot using RAW

1. A RAW file captures and preserves all of the data.

2. The photographer can change white balance, contrast, highlights, shadows, colors, and saturation.

3. The photographer need to consider the facts that not all cameras have the ability to make RAW images, RAW files are significantly larger and the fact that a RAW file can be converted to a JPEG, but not the other way around.

4. An aspiring professional photographer would need to shoot in RAW format because it offers more flexibility and processing options that are necessary in the professional world.

Image File Formats

1. I have previously used .jpeg, .png, and .nef file formats.

2. Raster files are composed of pixels, while vector files are composed of lines and curves.

Lossy vs Lossless

JPEG: Lossy

TIFF: Lossless

PSD: Lossless

NEF: Lossless

Common uses

JPEG: Internet and immediate printing

TIFF: Photograph standard in printing business

PSD: Creation of complex images with layers, shading and gradients

NEF: Editing

Can my Camera create this type of file?
JPEG: yes
TIFF: no
PSD: no
NEF: yes

Friday, January 6, 2017

Famous Paintings

The Oath of Horatii

1. The light is coming from the mid left side, out of the frame.
2. I can duplicate this light by taking the photo at a later time of day, or by using an adjustable lamp or studio light.
3. I will need swords, a spear, and some chairs/benches.
4. The painter used a center angle to capture the entirety of the scene.
5. I will need some togas, capes, sandals, helmets, and fabric to hold hair back.
6. Some good models would be an even mix of pale men and women, the men being around the same height.
7. The women will need to appear to be lounging and gossiping, while the men need to be preparing for a battle or melee.
8. The most difficult things to duplicate will be the setting, the authenticity of the clothing, and the poses (so that it looks natural).

The Mistress and Maid

1. The light is coming from the mid left side just outside of the frame.
2. I can duplicate this light by using an adjustable lamp or studio light.
3. I will need a table, paper, pen and a decorated box
4. The painter angled the painting in order to capture the mistress's profile and the maid's face.
5. I will need a dark brown dress with a white collar and a yellow dress with black and white spotted trim, a ribbon to place in the bun, and pearl necklace and earrings.
6. Good models would be a short, stout woman and a dainty looking woman.
7. The "mistress" will need to look thoughtful, as though she is pondering something, but her pose shouldn't be too difficult. The "maid" will need to appear as though she is only doing her job, and her pose shouldn't be difficult either.
8. The most difficult things to duplicate will be the yellow dress, the black background, and the lighting.

The Astronomer

1. The light is coming from the visible window in the mid to upper left side of the painting.
2. I can duplicate this light by placing the window in the same place.
3. I will need a globe, table cloth, papers, wardrobe, books, drapes, table, chair and a painting.
4. The painter chose a side angle to show the environment in which the astronomer works.
5. I will need a blue, baggy robe.
6. A good model would be a semi-tall person with long hair.
7. The astronomer is standing up slightly in order to move the globe and the the wardrobe is only half in the light.
8. The hardest things to duplicate will be the setting, holding the pose, and getting the exact lighting.