Assignment 2A - Aperture and Shutter speed

For Assignment Two, we were instructed to show in our pictures how different aperture sizes and shutter speed can be used to portray different effects.

Larger aperture size would create a shallower depth-of-field while a smaller aperture size would create a deeper depth-of-field. I found out from surfing a local photography forum that the effect of shallow depth-of-field is also known as "bokeh" (apparently derived from a Japanese term).

A fast shutter speed can also help to freeze action, and this is especially crucial sometimes in sports photography in order to show atheletes' expression and action clearly. Slow shutter speed on the other hand, can be used for panning or used on its own to create motion blur.

"When we were young" - Shallow depth-of-field

Technical specifications:

Aperture (f/4.2), Shutter speed (1/100), ISO 200, 18-70mm (35mm)

Self critique: 8/10

I like my pictures to be able to tell a story or depict a certain scenario, and I think the caption of a picture plays an important role in bringing out the "feel" of a picture.

For this picture, a shallow depth-of-field was created by using a larger aperture size. ISO setting was set at a minimum to ensure image quality and a slightly slower shutter speed was used as the picture was taken under the shade of trees.

This picture aims to remind us of how we all, as kids, used to enjoy playing on the swings. Even today, some of us still enjoy the occasional "play-time" on a swing. The swings in this picture have already been in use for quite some time, thus some wear-and-tear can be seen on the swing in focus, representing the "time" (when we were young) which has left us, as young adults.

"Singapore skyline" - Deep depth-of-field

Technical specifications:

Aperture (f/22), Shutter speed (15s), ISO 200, 18-70mm (25mm)

Self critique: 7/10

A tripod was used for the creation of this picture. Aperture size was kept at a minimum while the shutter speed was increased by quite a bit to allow the camera sensor to "take in" all the available light in a rather dark environment. The small aperture size also allows for a deeper depth-of-field to keep all the buidings in the skyline in focus.

This picture actually looks a bit like the kind you might find in postcards in Singapore which are made for tourists haha... I must say that it doesn't really have a story to tell, but it does depict the CBD (Central Business District) as a economic "power station" and shows the economic development of Singapore.

"Singapore skyline (II)" - Deep depth-of-field

Technical specifications:

Aperture (f/18), Shutter speed (25s), ISO 200, 18-70mm (18mm)

Self critique: 8/10

A tripod was similarly used for the creation of this picture. This picture aims to do the same as the previous picture "Singapore skyline", which is to represent the economic prosperity and wealth of Singapore.

However, the previous picture had the Esplanade Bridge spanning across the picture from the bottom right-hand corner of the picture. This version effectively removes the potential distraction of the Bridge. The clouds and darker sky also provide a better backdrop in which the focus on the buildings can be brought out.

The reflection of the lights off the surface of the water in the Singapore River also help to improve the aesthetic feel of this picture.

"Freekick" - Freeze motion

Technical specifications:

Aperture (f/4.5), Shutter speed (1/80), ISO 800, 70-300mm (85mm)

Self critique: 7/10

"Freekick (II)" - Freeze motion

Technical specifications:

Aperture (f/4.5), Shutter speed (1/80), ISO 800, 70-300mm (85mm)

Self critique: 6.5/10

This series of two pictures attempts to capture the moment at which the football player strikes the ball. "Freekick" depicts the moment just before he strikes the ball, while "Freekick (II)" depicts the moment just after he strikes the ball. This motion of the football player is "frozen" into stages.

I thought the background was a little cluttered for both pictures but unfortunately that's the backdrop of the location where the match was being played, the Padang. I'll see if I can come up with a better idea for the theme of "freeze motion".

"The Merlion" - Motion blur

Technical specifications:

Aperture (f/22), Shutter speed (5s), ISO 200, 18-70mm (48mm)

Self critique: 7.5/10

At first glance, one may wonder "where is the motion blur being depicted in this picture?". Well, the motion blur is not depicted by the movement of the Merlion in any manner in this picture, but more of the water that comes out from its mouth.

As seen from this picture, the water that comes out from the Merlion's mouth has quite a "soft" feel to it. The water seems to come out as mist rather than as a continuous stream. This effect was acheived mainly by the usage of a long shutter speed, which is compensated by a very small aperture size to prevent overexposure (the lights that were cast on the Merlion were pretty strong).

ISO sensitivity was kept at a minimum to ensure image quality, and it also explains for the longer shutter speed required, since the camera sensor's sensivity towards light is reduced.

"Indon highway" - Motion Blur

Technical specifications:

Aperture (f/22), Shutter speed (20s), ISO 200, 18-70mm (50mm)

Self critique: 7.5/10

This picture was taken from an overhead bridge which spanned across a highway. The motion blur effect depicted in this picture was captured by using a long shutter speed with a conversely smaller aperture size. ISO setting was also set to the minimum to ensure image quality.

The problem faced with taking pictures of this nature was that one can't really control how people drive their cars. So, at least 15 attempts were made to capture a shot in which there were cars travelling on all lanes of the road. A lens hood was also employed to block off the lights which were coming from the street lamps along the road, which could cause lens flare. However, I thought the end-result came out rather well.

I named this picture "Indon Highway" because this picture resembles (to some extent) the state flag of Indonesia hahaha...