kris_denkers

<p>I have been going to online photography school now for almost 3 years.. I started as a full time student but had to drop down to part time because it was suffering due to a new job and my already photo work that I was doing. A bit about me, I have been in the photo business now for 10 years, I have been published as well, but I wanted that degree. Now after 3 yrs of not learning a damn thing, teachers being more of a moderator, I am at my wits end. I don't want to be in the hole for education more then I already am, if I just self teaching myself, I am paying all this money to have someone teach me. I get frustrated because what little time I have to shoot, it never seems to be enough time to do anything for school and I feel my assignments come out half assed. If you want to go to school for photography, do it in a classroom.. this online stuff is for the birds, look at me if I stop now that I am 30k in the hole and no degree.. or i could go on be even more in the hole with a degree. The decision is up to you in the end, but I wouldn't continue school and dig yourself in further just to put off loans..</p>

<p>Hello,<br>

I am not new to photography by any means, but I am new to the class room aspect of it. I have been shooting for years now, but I decided to go and get my degree in photography, and here lies the issue. I have never been exposed to the terms and tech speak.. so I get confused often.. and the majority of the time I am completely over thinking it.. <br>

So when put into technical language, I have a real hard time wrapping my brain around exposure, stops, shutter speed and whatnot.. I don’t know how many times I have written things down, studied, practiced and when I read something new or instructions it all just flies out the window.<br>

I am taking a lighting class now (its online school so it really sucks, basically self taught and I think that is the real problem, I am more of a hands on person and I learn by being spoken too and shown things). My assignment is below: <br>

Assignment Description<br>

In this assignment, you will use tungsten lights to photograph a subject in a studio. The photograph should communicate character. What is character? Is it just age, texture, or something that communicates wisdom acquired over years of experience?<br>

Assignment Step-by-Step Instructions</p>

<ol start="1">

<li>Find a relevant subject to photograph.</li>

<li>Set your camera to manual mode.</li>

<li>Use the concepts and tools of artificial-light quality, direction, and ratio to communicate your subject's characteristics.</li>

<li>Use incident metering on your light meter and transfer those settings to your camera. Make sure there is a 3-stop difference between the highlight and shadow luminance values.</li>

<li>Take photographs of your subject.</li>

</ol>

<p>I have an L358 light meter, which I have never really used before either.. so lots of new thing with this class all together. What I am not understanding how to do or need to have put in plain English with an example is #4. How do you make sure there is a 3 stop difference between the highlight and the shadow?<br>

For example if I am shooting at F5.6, 3 stops up is F2 or F16 I get that part.. but then what would your shutter speed be and how can you make sure what the shadows and highlights are? Most likely I am over thinking this in a huge way.. sigh<br>

Thanks for any help.<br>

Kris</p>