MMS 173: Blog 1

So far, my experience in this course was entirely made up of being fascinated by new knowledge. As someone who was never really that into taking pictures, for once, the intricate process of taking pictures really got me interested in learning more about techniques and taking pictures often recently.  

Regarding the expectations I had which I described in my self-introduction. I can say that I am learning a lot of strategies in taking pictures especially for Unit 2 topics such as the proper usage of the ISO. Initially, I thought that ISO is just some random number which when raised, it’s just going to add some sort of dimming or lighting to the image. Well, I was very wrong with that part. Turns out, ISO is something that we can utilize during low-light case scenarios. The higher ISO value is best used during low-light scenarios whereas the lower value ISO. I really think that I can make better use of this in my next picture taking sesh at night time or in nook angles. Aside from ISO, there’s also shutter speed though this one, I have somehow a general understanding how it works. Shutter speed is something I see being used by those train enthusiasts in Japan where they literally try to capture a bullet train in a single frame picture. I was also corrected about my initial perception about Shutter speed being best used to capture highly mobile subjects but turns out it was a vice versa case. Another thing I notice in tweaking this setting in my phone is that, it also affects the light or brightness of the image at bigger value shutter speed.  The best thing that I plan to master later on for my picture taking attempts would be how to make the best out of Aperture. This technique is best used to highlight a certain subject in the image to further emphasize the main “topic” in a sense or what’s being showcased by the photographer. I’ve been having some ideas as to how I’ll incorporate this in my next attempts as well.  Special mention for the Bokeh effect as well, it was something I never knew I was doing all the time in my life. I’ve took pictures like that but it was lost alongside my first ever phone back in the 2014s and it was my favorite effect in any picture I take. These three techniques stated in the module is something that was never new in experience but the knowledge and its utility is what made it “new” to me. Maybe at some point, if I were able to master these three, I’ll be able to deliver a satisfactory output that even I wouldn’t be able to believe I managed to pull off such a feat.

The techniques that are mentioned in Unit 2 was something that I noticed to be used by some of my course mates in their output and I find it impressive and also intimidating somehow. Intimidating in a positive way that I really need to step up in order to at least be on par on their level of expertise in taking an image while bearing in mind all those aspects from Unit 1-2. In order to be able to at least contest their quality, I may need to take a thousand shots or even more than that as I believe that experience is the best way for me to accumulate expertise in taking photos. I am not trying to be pessimistic about myself but checking out my own works so far, I may need more time really in order to pull off what the others can do in their photography skills.

I’ve read about the Game Photography and unfortunately wasn’t able to join in the fun last time due to other responsibilities to accomplish and I really wish I could’ve attended that one. Most of the people I asked about how it went told me it was really fun and you, Prof, was very cool with the interactions and I would certainly want to join the next zoom session like that too, if ever there’s one like that again. I’m looking forward for another one, hopefully though.

Lastly, another self-reflection of myself for what’s yet to come. The Final Project specifically, I am feeling a mix of anxiousness and excitement about it. All I can say is that I aim to be a better photographer, not necessarily someone who could literally outshine everyone else but at least someone who can take a picture out of my own style while still being able to stay true to the concepts I have studied so far in the span of the course we have tackled.

This blog summarizes what I have thought of for the past weeks and peer output checking I’ve done in the last couple of days.