A resource for students of Community Education Lewisham, and a showcase of some of their published work. Copyright of all images exclusively retained by individual students of CEL.

20/11/2008

Term Photoshop Composite Exercise 1

Photoshop composite by images from John and Len.

SATPIX 08 COMP
  • Open background.
  • Open foreground.
  • Lassoo head from foreground.
  • Copy.
  • Paste into background (new layer created).
  • Adjust blackness of background layer to match remains of pasted black in new layer:-
    (Levels, and then Burn tool set to shadow mode.)
  • Flatten image.
  • Resize for web.
  • Save as.

28/10/2008

Autumn term 08 Week 5. Projects

HALF TERM PROJECT 1.
Portrait project against a flat dark background, with a even light on the face.

In practical terms this means using a couple of lamps to light the face - trying to make sure that you don't also light the background.
Moving the model as far in front of the background as possible will help.
Otherwise, do the shot in the garden against the night sky with flash.
Like the model in this shot.

Photoshop Composite Exercise

Metering. Spot (where possible)
Meter from the midtones on the face by placing the centre spot over the area, half-depress the shutter, and still holding the shutter, recompose your shot and take.
ASA Din - 400 (recommended)
White Balance:
Indoors with room lighting - tungsten/incandescent balance.
Outdoors with flash - automatic.
Spot Metering

Flickr examples

Face 1

Face 2

Other sorts of silhouette...

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HALF TERM PROJECT 2.
'The Last Rose Of Summer'

Either literally or metaphorically. Any symbol of survival against the odds. The last estate agent in the High Street. The last wasp on the windowsill.

Ossie.
Last Rose 1

Last Rose 2

Last Rose 3
Noelle
Last rose Noelle08

Cody's Guide

13/10/2008

Autumn Term 08. Week 3. Silhouette Project.

This project is intended to make students familar with photographic metering. measuring the light in different parts of the image to increase or reduce detail where necessary.
In the case of these images, the desired effect was a correctly exposed sky, with a bold, black form in the foreground.
Students used a 'centre weighted' or 'Spot' metering setting.
The desired effect was achieved by placing the centre of the viewfinder on the brightest part of the sky, half-depressing the shutter, and recomposing before capture.
This is the first part of a 3 part project which culminates in the use of basic Photoshop composition techniques.

Beryl:
Silhouette Project 1

Silhouette Project 2

Silhouette Project  5

John

Reflection

skyline

Margaret.

margaret 01

margaret 02

margaret 04

Jan
jan 1

Jan 2

Jan 3

jan 4

Pearline

Pearline 2

Pearline 1

Autumn Term 08

Warm up session.

Beryl

BERYLSHOTS 01

John

Skylight

22/09/2008

Course Health & Safety Notes

COMPUTER SAFETY & THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Working with computers may not seem dangerous, but there are significant hazards.
Ignore the following guidelines at your own risk.

THE 30 MINUTE RULE
Now that computers are more powerful than ever, and operators no longer have to wait for their machines to process certain complicated operations, it is vital to remind yourself to STOP from time to time. Time spent away from the task is not wasted. Apart from keeping your body moving, helping your blood circulation to the brain and therefore helping you concentrate, it also gives you time to assess the progress of the job you are working on and gain some perspective.

POSTURE
The risk of lower back strain due to poor posture in inferior operator chairs is probably the greatest problem. All operators should ensure that chairs are of European safety standard, with adjustable heights with arms to support the wrist during extensive keyboard and mouse operations. In operation, the user should have a clear, slightly downward view of the computer monitor, with the arms of the chair supporting the hands above the keyboard or mouse. Feet should be supported in order to not constrict the flow of blood at the knees. Slouching or using an unsuitable chair will hinder concentration and WILL cause back problems which will threaten both health and income. Even if it is your grandfather’s bent-ash chair in which he used to dandle you on his knee, throw it on the bonfire before using it to work in.

REPETITION
Performing the same physical operation over and over again can cause Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). This is often associated with long periods of keyboard work using poor technique, or pressurised use of the mouse - again with little or no support for the arms. Joints and tendons may become inflamed, and, again, you may find yourself unable to work.

COMFORT
While working, always ensure that as much of your body is supported by the chair as possible. If you find yourself having to stretch or twist to perform operations such as using the mouse or striking keys, adapt your seating. Computer operation is not physical work, and you should be as relaxed as possible. The problem with this is that if you spend long periods doing nothing, you become extremely unfit. Injury or strain are not the only bad physical effects of long term computer use.

LIGHTING and VIEWING CONDITIONS.
Care should also be taken to ensure that lighting in the workplace is suitable.
The use of flourescent tubes should be avoided in conjunction with computer monitors as they both ‘flicker’ and this can be irritating and can cause headaches, nausea and other problems. Tungsten lighting with daylight coloured bulbs are the better substitute for natural light.

EYESIGHT.
Focusing for long periods at one plane will impair eyesight. Regular ‘focusing breaks’ should be taken during desk time in order to exercise the eye muscles. For this reason it is unwise to face a wall while working.
For correct colour perception, office walls should be painted in neutral shades. Bright, dark or intensely coloured paintwork will effect the way you see colours on screen.

VENTILATION
Breathing the ozone produced by laser printers all day is not healthy. You may start getting headaches and nausea. Some people have experienced worse. Ensure a constant source of ventilation in your workroom.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Taking photographs in public places can be problematic. The nature of digital photography is such that published images are effectively permanent, as opposed to the ephemeral nature of newspapers or magazines. They are therefore more possessive of their images than in the past. They therefore require a correspondingly higher degree of respect from photographers, and a more co-operative approach than has been the norm.
The street is also a dangerous enough place for the unwary pedestrian. When taking photographs anywhere, beware any possible hazards.

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MAKING THE MOST OF THIS COURSE