Photos from my Final Project last semester

angry hampster · Feb 10, 2008

I had 15 images for my final project last semester in my beginning photojournalism course. For the project, I went all over eastern Iowa shooting the interiors of ornately decorated churches. With this, I shot over 500 frames of 35mm film, killed around 150-200 sheets of RC pearl photo paper, and spent about $200 on gas to travel to the different locations. I loved the project, and would love to do something similar in the future. I met interesting people and got to know my camera gear very well.

Anyway, here are my favorites. I apologize for the dust, they've been sitting on a shelf since December and I didn't clean the scanner prior to scanning them. Critiques are encouraged

Fardringle · Feb 11, 2008

I like 3, 5 and 8 a lot. They really capture the atmosphere well for me.

2 and 6 would be really good shots as well but it almost looks like the camera was focused on the benches instead of on the windows so the details in the stained glass aren't visible.

I know it's not an easy option to switch when you're shooting film, but I'd really love to see the rose window in #3 in color. I think rose windows make some of the most dramatic photos, particularly when the intricate colors add so much to the pattern (this isn't the best example, but something like this). It's still a very nice shot, though.

I'm no pro, so please take these comments for their professional value (almost nothing

), but I enjoy looking at great photos almost as much as I do taking them, so I hope you don't mind if I share my opinion...

rudder · Feb 11, 2008

Did you have to use film? Last year I took a class at the local community college. The only requirement was to have a SLR. The school said it didn't matter if it was digital or film. Now I regret taking the class with my Canon 20D at the time instead of my 35mm rebel.

Those are great shots. When I was taking the class and had projects assigned I found myself not really having to think about the variables of the shot. I could bracket the exposure or simply look at the LCD and adjust. Part of the reason I did not use file was because it would have been costly and I didn't have time to run and get slides developed every week.

I recently found some unused film so I think I am going to dust off the 35mm this weekend.

corkyg · Feb 11, 2008

It is very gratifying to me to see that the art of using film has not been lost. That includes all of the processing involved.

Color would have been nice for this mission since a lot of the art in churches depends on color. But - if you are processing film, that adds another dimension as well as cost for paper, etc.

You had a great mission, and my favorites were in this order: 5; 3; 8; 7; and 1. #s 2, 4, and 6 suffered from backlighting problems. When photographing stained glass windows in a church, you really need to expose on the window itself.

Tri-X film is ISO 400 without pushing the processing. That may have been a bit fast for the windows.

I really liked #5 - great lighting and definition of texture. #3 would have been super in color - but it was interesting as it was.

Congratulations on completing the photo mission. Once you master film and processing, digital is easy.

angry hampster · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks a lot guys

I'm actually quite glad it was a film class. I've been shooting film for 5-6 years and digital SLR for a little over 2 years. If I had to do it over again, I still wouldn't use my 20D.

fuzzybabybunny · Feb 11, 2008

I really like the shots as well. In this day and age everyone's trying to do HDR or bring out the details in the shadows or avoid highlight clipping at all costs. But sometimes you just need some strong light and dark, yin and yang, high contrast, whatever. I myself have been trying to do this, but it's just so hard for me to purposefully adjust the image so detail is lost, albeit while making the image more dramatic.

Good stuff, although I don't understand this thing... what is it? Oh yeah... f-i-l-m??? Weird......

*hops away*

Jawo · Feb 12, 2008

The pics are really nice....especially #3 and #8....I would have liked to see the pictures in color (especially #3), but I know that would have made it much more expensive. Very intersting perspective!

OdiN · Feb 12, 2008

1 - This is a good shot. However, it is slightly angled which isn't good. Lighting is good.

2 - Seems a bit overexposed to me, but just a bit. Tough lighting in any case. Not as fond of the actual photo as #1.

3 - I really like this shot. Exposed and lit well. I think I would try to sharpen it up just a bit.

4 - I don't like this shot - again it's slightly crooked. Also it is out of balance with the large windows on the right and very dark on the left - I don't like that. I like the lighting down the aisle and the glow from the front windows. I think framing this shot differently would have worked much better.

5 - Interesting shot - could use more contrast, it's a bit flat.

6 - I like how you attempt to lead someone's eyes into the photo on this one. However, it leads you to the windows/doors which are a bit out of focus - perhaps trying to show DOF here, which it works as that but as a composition I don't like it. The rim lighting is cool though.

7 - This one is too busy for my tastes. I'm not sure what your subject is supposed to be here. Just a lot going on. Definitely showing the ornate design, but I'm just not feeling this angle/shot.

8 - I like this shot. Maybe a bit wider FOV would be interesting as well.

Overall good job!

In a beginning course I would probably give these 80/100 for final product, 90/100 on developing - looks like you did a very good job in the darkroom for a beginning class.

ucdbiendog · Feb 14, 2008

#8 is my favorite. excellent composition and values. only suggestions I would have is to perhaps dodge the stained glass window on the left to get some of the detail in it (is there detail on the negative?) and crop the sides so that it is perfectly symmetric. Also, did you crop anything off the bottom? If so, I think it would be better suited to have the full bench height in the foreground.

#7 is pretty neat, very busy. its got a good range of values and a lot of texture. shot with small aperture?

#1 is very good, using a red filter on the enlarger might make it a bit more dramatic. Also might try cropping a tiny bit off the left to make it perfectly symmetric.

#3 very cool, little disorienting which i like. only thing that i might try is doing something about that dead space on the top left, maybe tighter cropping or something...

#5 is awesome, maybe try a red filter to enhance the shadows on the statue of (mary?) since she already has the light cast form one side, would be cool to get one side of her face light and the other much darker

#4 im not quite sure what to think of. its symmetric, but on one side you have windows and the other you dont. the lines point to the alter, but there is nothing there (lost in shadows). this would have been awesome if there was something in the glare on the aisle, like a person walking etc.

#2 and 6, eh im not such a fan of these. windows too washed out, but in your defense, this is tough to expose on film.

Edit: just read Odin's post, lot of the same comments/suggestions haha

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Photos from my Final Project last semester

angry hampster

Diamond Member

Fardringle

Diamond Member

rudder

Lifer

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals

angry hampster

Diamond Member

fuzzybabybunny

Moderator<br>Digital & Video Cameras

Jawo

Diamond Member

OdiN

Banned

ucdbiendog

Platinum Member

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