Installing Zig

Used brew install zig. Got this error:

Error: Could not symlink lib/sigc++-2.0/include/sigc++config.h
Target /usr/local/lib/sigc++-2.0/include/sigc++config.h
is a symlink belonging to libsigc++@2. You can unlink it:
  brew unlink libsigc++@2

To force the link and overwrite all conflicting files:
  brew link --overwrite libsigc++@2

To list all files that would be deleted:
  brew link --overwrite --dry-run libsigc++@2

Not sure if it’s relevant yet. The zig build run seems to be working though.

iPhone photography

SkillShare class by Dale McManus

  • Photography is more about visualizing what the image is going to look like rather than simply looking through the lens
  • Photography needs to tell a story; put some effort into it.
  • This class uses the iPhone for examples

Setup

  • Turn off “Live Photo”
    • It creates a three second video so that you can choose frames
    • Good for long exposures though (covered later)
  • Turn on “HDR”
    • high dynamic range: it takes three images at different exposures
    • It’s called “smart HDR” in settings
  • Turn on the grid
    • Useful for composing images and leveling images
  • Focus and exposure controls
    • iPhone will use autofocus by default
    • Tap a subject on the screen to focus and expose for that object
    • You can also change the exposure by sliding finger up and down
    • Tap and hold to engage AE/AF lock
    • Don’t use digital zoom (pinch gesture); always use true zoom, if you have the additional lenses.

Shot composition

Composition is the difference between amateur and professional photographers. Good composition makes it easy for viewers to find the subject.

  • Perspective
    • low angle
      • camera is below the subject; camera is pointing up to subject.
    • high angle
      • camera is shooting down on subject
    • lateral movement
      • changing shooting position to place the subject left, right, or center (or anywhere in between)
    • first person POV
      • adding the photographer’s arms or legs in the shot to give the illusion that the viewer is the photographer
  • Vantage point
    • point of focus created by leading lines
    • leading lines can be geometric or organic
    • leading lines start from the edges of the frame and travel inward to the subject
  • Rule of thirds
    • “Remarks on Rural Scenery” by John Thomas Smith, 1797
    • partition the frame with three vertical lines and three horizontal lines
      • the three vertical lines are usually more important
    • place primary subject at one of the vertical lines and a second subject on the other vertical line
    • this brings the background into the viewer’s focus and allows you to show what the primary subject is looking at
  • Dead space
    • space in the frame that is free of distractions, allowing the viewer to focus on the subject
    • dead space is usually a background that is monotone, empty, or “far away”
    • you can use dead space in the rule of thirds as well

Creating depth

Depth in a photograph is created by visual cues that show the distance between the viewer and the subject. This cue is usually the ground, so show the ground to add depth. Shooting in portrait is a common way to do this and creates an additional physical dimension.

Surrounding light

Shooting into or away from the sun adjusts the exposure of your subject. The best time to utilize the sun is during Golden Hour(s), which is the time close to sunrise or sunset. This is when the sun has a softer light, comes from a single point source, and is closer to the horizon.

Filling the frame

Filling the frame typically means adding other minor subjects to the sides of the frame in order to draw attention to the subject. It can also eliminate dead space.

The filler will usually be in the foreground in order to highlight the subject in the background, but the foreground and background can be swapped. The filler can be anything: buildings, plants, people.

Storytelling

Example stories: hero vs. the world, I’m cool (silhouette), follow me. You can combine different composition tactics to create the story.

Long exposure

This effect is achieved by leaving the shutter open longer. Objects in motion will blur. Common long exposure subjects include lights or running water.

iPhone can achieve this using Live Photo and the long exposure effect by swiping up on the photo.

Macro photography

Typically done with a macro lens that allows you to position the camera very close to the subject. If you have an iPhone Pro, use the zoom lens. Otherwise, you can crop the shot later to help the subject fill the frame.

Panoramas

The iPhone has a pano mode that allows you to create panoramas from a series of images. This can be used in landscape or portrait. The trick is to not use the full range of the panorama because the resulting image will usually be too wide. Just use a fraction of the full range by tapping once to begin, moving iPhone slowly, and tapping again to finish the panorama. Newer iPhone’s also have wide angle lens that can be used instead of pano mode.

Editing photos using Adobe Lightroom

Lightroom allows you to save versions of your edits. When you’re done with an edit, click the version tab to save.

Lights

brightness, contrast, highlights, shadows. The instructor doesn’t really use whites or black; he uses highlights and shadows instead.

Color

Color correction adjust the whit balance. The temperature parameter adjusts the blueness and redness of the picture and can be used to cool down a warm image, like a sunset or artificial lighting.

Saturation, but prefers vibrance.

Color mix can be used to adjust parameters for each rainbow color. Color grading can adjust the color in different parts of the image. For instance, a “filmy” look can be achieved by adding red to the shadows.

In Lightroom, you can press and hold to see the unedited photo. Releasing brings back the edited photo.

Effects

Texture sharpens the image. Clarity (preferred) sharpens and adds some contrast. Vignette darkens or lightens the corners of the image. This is useful for portraits. Midpoint, feather, and roundness can be used to adjust the vignette.

Noise reduction can help clean up low exposure photos.

Color presets

Presets can give you a cohesive style across images. Make adjustments to your photo, click the ellipsis in the upper right of the app, and create a preset.

Editing portraits

It’s always good to start with an already good photo.

Lightroom adjustments: Adjusted exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows (down). Vibrance (up). Clarity (more chiseled, down), vignette (down). Sharpening (up).

Final words

Professional photographers usually have some plan about the location, what kinds of shots they intend shoot, props, wardrobe, etc. Practice a lot with the guidelines in this course and understand how each part affects your shot. Study other photographers’ works and try to understand what they did too. Lastly, use these as guidelines that will typically point you in the right direction. Breaking guidelines is ok and is part of finding your own style.