Aesthetic Considerations when Photographing a Cultural Event
Lesson 3 from: Storytelling with Mobile PhotographyEd Kashi
Aesthetic Considerations when Photographing a Cultural Event
Lesson 3 from: Storytelling with Mobile PhotographyEd Kashi
Lesson Info
3. Aesthetic Considerations when Photographing a Cultural Event
Lessons
The Power of Mobile Photography to Tell Stories
17:32 2How I Define a Cultural Event
08:07 3Aesthetic Considerations when Photographing a Cultural Event
07:02 4Interact with People when Photographing a Cultural Event
06:22 5Capture a Portrait at a Cultural Event
18:52 6Edit and Share Your Images: Cultural Event
20:31 7Cultural Event Smart Phone Photo Critique
20:47 8How I Define an Intimate Event
11:53Aesthetic Considerations when Photographing an Intimate Event
11:50 10Interact with People when Photographing an Intimate Event
06:28 11Capture a Portrait at an Intimate Event
10:17 12Edit and Share Your Images: Intimate Event
24:38 13Intimate Event Mobile Photo Critique
15:09 14How I Define Street Photography
21:23 15Aesthetic Considerations when Shooting Street Photography
17:51 16Capture a Street Photography Portrait
15:02 17How to Create a Double Exposure
13:30 18Edit and Share Your Images: Street Photography
05:29 19Street Photography Smart Phone Photo Critique
11:35 20Skype Interveiw with Pei Ketron
14:27 21Where Mobile Photography Can Take You
03:25Lesson Info
Aesthetic Considerations when Photographing a Cultural Event
So we sort of talked about the aesthetic considerations, now I think we're gonna roll a video. We're here in Seattle to photograph the Sister Kate Dance Troupe, which is a local Seattle arts organization and cultural organization. And this is an example of photographing a cultural event. Now, they're not performing, they're rehearsing, but still, it's a chance to... There's a different set of skills and needs, challenges if you like, when you're photographing a cultural event. So I wanna understand, who are they? Why are they doing this? How does it fit into the local cultural scene? And then in terms of the pictures, because of the lighting conditions here, this is a good example with mobile photography of how, actually, this can be a tool with limitations. So you need to learn to work with them because the light level is low. But more importantly, or more germane to this is they will be moving. So in this case, I'm going into it thinking, I'm going to be working with blur, because my...
camera cannot freeze action in this light. I guess, this month we just want, like, one thing. So went to the Romeo and Juliet ballet. We went to the Libra Opera thing, which I'd recommend everyone go to, it was amazing. And then we went to Seaside Jazz Festival this weekend, which was also really fun. (upbeat swing jazz music) (dancers laughing) Sort of running with them shooting. You know, not, I know that they're going to be blurred, but that, again, that was what I was going for. (slow jazz music) We love props. Ooh. Ooh. Oh, right, sorry. (dancers laughing) Omen, actually it's the title of my next book, and it's a way of photographing that this sort of a scene really epitomizes where I'm, in some cases, very out of control, and there's movement. And I'm just looking for these sort of magic moments that I don't even see, actually. You know, as opposed to a much more precise way of photographing. (slow jazz music) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Is that you look like you're having fun. That you look, and I'm not saying, like, you fake it, but that, again, people pick up on your energy. And if you're being weird, or you're having a good time and then it makes them, it opens the welcome mat for you that much more. (muffled speaking) (dancers laughing) Us too. Yeah. I just realized. (drowned out by talking over each other) (laughing) Five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. (dancers laughing) One, and hold. (dancers laughing) Still doing the comedy routine? Yeah. (muffled speaking) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. (stomping) One, two, three, that's four. One, two, (drowned out by stomping) (dancers laughing) (choreographer drowned out by stomping) Aren't we? Alright. Which foot are we? We are doing this right before here. Yeah, that's weird. Yeah, it felt a little bit dippy. (laughing) It appears that we kind of should have. Yeah. Right? Both of those legs, right? Yeah. (laughing) Yeah, so I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go five, six, seven, eight. (muffled speaking) Eight, five, six, seven, eight. And to say that while I use an iPhone, everything we're talking about today is appropriate for Android users as well. And you know all of this, this class is not meant to be highly technical. I welcome any questions from the audience on technical stuff. But I really want this to be about opening your mind up to what the possibilities, the opportunities, and to inspire you to take your mobile camera and make pictures. (laughing) Oh. (drowned out by talking over each other) (stomping) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. (muffled speaking) (squealing) (laughing) Talk about one of the technical things, I use the ProCamera app, generally, to capture, because it gives you very high quality 17 meg TIFF. And there's functionalities that I really like you can trip the shutter by touching any part of the phone so there are ways that I can shoot much more freely. But when I'm in a situation like this, whoa, where there's a lot of rapid movement. And as I, I don't know if you noticed, in some cases I'm shooting almost like motor drive, well, thumb drive. Anyway, so the dance rehearsal is over, and as I suspected, the light was pretty rough. So I really tried to focus on either portraits and moments where the women were still or play with lots of movement and kind of crazy energy. Speaking of energy, one of the things I love about photography is that, in this case, I got to witness a group of women having so much fun doing what they're doing that it doesn't even matter whether they're good or bad, or it looks great or not. It's just the energy was so beautiful and it really, I got a contact high from it. Now I need to take a nap. (chuckling) So just to finish the point that when I'm shooting in a situation that's, where it's very rapid or I might be making a lot of pictures, then I'll use the in-camera, the in-phone camera. In the case of the iPhone, the camera that comes with it. Which is a great camera because that, while it still makes good quality photographs, it won't buffer. But with the ProCamera app, if I'm shooting rapidly, then it'll actually slow down because the image size is so large. So, again, with like any tool, you need to learn, as well as with the apps, what are its strengths? What are its weaknesses?
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Ratings and Reviews
a Creativelive Student
I was not interested in this class and just decided to tune in. This is one of the Best classes I have watched on Creative Live! I love his total "attitude" about how to treat people, what to do and not to do to engage in more courteous ways and polite ways. I found him inspiring and engaging, creative and providing lots of information in what I watched. (I did not watch the entire course.) I am certainly going to check out other classes he might produce in the future. I very much enjoyed what I did watch and found him a wonderful instructor! Lots of valuable tips as well. Thanks for allowing me to preview it today!
belinda leung
ed kasha did an amazing job taking us through his creative process. practical tips helped me immediately spot things to help improve my photos immediately. I downloaded and started using the apps he recommended right away. thanks creative live and ed kasha!
yomichaela
It was a real treat to hear insight from world renowned photojournalist, Ed Kashi. Watching him create images to reflect moments and stories was an eye-opener and seeing his genuine excitement for the craft was inspiring. This class is a must see for any photographer, mobile or otherwise. Thanks Ed & Creative Live for the great class!
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