Blog 22: 3 Column Chart

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtzNQcbGftxgdEptb3FMMG85OXp3NTdaT2lIUEw3S2c&usp=sharing#gid=0

Blog 21: Independent Component

Literal

a)      I, Austin B, have completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

b/d) Since there was a blend of two distinctly different forms of photography, I pulled           information from multiple sources.

1.      The first came from http://www.spacedex.com/lyrids/locations/lyrid-usa-california.php which gave me information about how full the moon was, background information about Lyrids meteor shower, and showed information based on the country you live in followed by region which was extremely helpful. Now the moon is obviously brighter when it is full and therefore caused trouble for me when I wanted to photograph the stars and Lyrids meteor shower. The shutter speed, depending on the settings, allow for more or less light to enter, but because the moon was 78% full on the night of the shower it made it difficult to set the shutter speed and f-stop to an appropriate balance. The sky was lit from the moon and the longer I let the shutter go the more light entered and washed out my photos. I do not have any fancy equipment which also affected the quality of my photos. Anyone with a 18-200 mm lens can replicate this which is nifty. The camera I used has a 18-55 range so the distance between my subject (the moon) and my lens is limited. My camera troubles are my fault because this site gave great information to prepare. The peak time was from 11:30-4:30 am which took a lot out of me but the sky was beautiful and although I did not capture any meteors on my camera I saw dim beams of light.

2.      With http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml I knew that there would be poor conditions for viewing the meteor showers. Where I live is far from street lights, since there is not one light on my street it I pitch black. This made for ideal viewing conditions but the weather called for the opposite. The moon being near it fullest and brightest was going to affect photographing from the roof of my house but I have no control over the weather.

3.      As I said before, adjusting the shutter speed to the appropriate settings with the odd lighting from the moon is difficult. It is even harder to do in the city, so thank goodness I live just far enough from the street lights. This website gives not only tips for photographing at night but also the math to backup the adjustments of the shutter speed which was neat http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/how-tos/digital-photography-101-how-to-photograph-meteor-showers.html . One tip it mentioned was having the use of a tripod. When I was taking pictures I was not able to get a hold of one so I set my camera on a ledge and used books to prompt the lens up in any direction. It was not as secure as a tripod and it shows in the pictures with the oblong shaped moon. The other great thing about this site was that it referred me to other sites that they felt were a good source of information.

4.      On top of doing research for space photography, underwater photography tips needed to be researched as well for the other part of my component. http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/underwater-photography-basics gave good beginner tips for amateur photographers like myself. Lighting is important with every photo and the same is true for photographing underwater. Mentioned in the guide is an extremely important fact that water absorbs warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows. Using external light sources is a must for a better photo or bright natural lighting depending on deep you would be photographing. I try and show how different colors appear in different lights.

5.      http://justbreezingwatersports.com/underwater-photography-explore-mysteries.html was my other go to source for underwater photography. They gave similar advice to the last source but they mentioned a key word: refraction. Because of the special housing an underwater camera must be in while submerged, some photos may appear vague. It points out this problem and gives a simple solution of how to prevent it. I did not have to worry about this problem with my camera because the whole camera is water tight not just the housing that would a hold a much better quality camera.

c) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtzNQcbGftxgdFQ0a0s2MGRqMlQ0bUI4eXJUMER0YVE&usp=drive_web#gid=0

 

Interpretive

I completed taking photos of the sky and identified the moon and stars and also tried to identify constellations. I also demonstrated how lighting changes the quality of underwater photography which will help me teach my two hour presentation by showing examples of what I teach. Light affects photos underwater as well as in space. I have photos to show each and on top of this I have hours with my mentor to make the background for prom which will be shown to everyone on May 4.

  

The difference is clear between these two photos. The one in brighter light on the bottom  shows sharper details in the butterflies wings. The low quality is partially due to the 5 megapixel camera but the lighting plays a huge part in the quality as well.

 

This photo does not look like anything but one star. I like this picture because if you zoom in the star is a beautiful shade of blue. Even looking at it with a naked eye you can see that this ball of gas has a different hue compared to other stars.

 

Here you can see the blue star with the moon in the upper right corner. You can also see smaller white stars towards the left of the photo.

 

Applied

During my project I want to discuss underwater photography, astrophotography, and microscopy. All have to deal with current technology that allows sight where we once could not see. My independent component has allowed me to show what basic technology can accomplish and value the more advanced equipment. Not thinking about it until now, it did help me shape my answers in a more structural way.

While taking photos of the sky I realized that you can see so much from where we stand on Earth. Famous astronomers like Copernicus used advanced technology for the time to distinguish his heliocentric ideas. That is great but the sky is something we can always look to and we can see that the moon moves and that the solar system is alive with movement. Making space photography my best answer would not do my other answers justice.

            Underwater might as well be whole new world next to space. The feeling of being underwater is a feeling all its own. By trying to show the varying colors in different lights was difficult to show because my camera is a sport camera which is alo and auto focus camera. This means the camera adjusts itself to whatever settings it thinks will produce the best image which is not always the best or what you want. The buttlerfly appeared blurry because it was so close to the lens and it could not focus on such a close subject.

            Going underwater is something we can do naturally. Each person can go to different depths and with goggles we can see clearly. Seeing this is not the special part, it is capturing it that is. This would be in the running to be my best answer if I was talking about deep sea photo technology because we cannot get there on our own. However the technology in general is not enough to make it the best current technology in photography.

            My independent component helped me to visualize my answers more and try to determine the better of the best in photo technology. Photography on a microscopic level is something truly amazing and without my independent component I would have chosen special photography as my best answer.

Moon Photos

Part of my Independent Component. Unfortunately I did not catch any meteors but that was expected because I don't own the right equipment to be able to see that far out.

 

I know it's facing the wrong way. For picture purposes only.

I phone app helps me locate constellations to view through telescope and locate for my camera.

 

4/19/2013 Senior Panoramic Pictures

 

I helped set up and take down equipment. I wasn't so much help getting people in order but I left that to the teachers.

3/30/2013 Family photos

 

 

Today we photographed a family of 36 people! The picture shows the grandparents of the family and Jack setting up equipment. Trying to get their attention was no easy task with ages ranging from 1 to 80 things became a little hectic.

Blog 20

Name: Austin Betancourt          House: North   Topic: Photography
THREE COLUMN LOGIC CHART
Essential Question: Currently, what are some advancements in photography?
Best Answer: Scientific photography including both medical and space photography because both have further advanced exploration and understanding.
Statements	Reasons	Verification
1) EQ: Currently, hat are some advancements in photography?	1) Given	1) XXX
2) Advancements meaning further progression of technology eveolving from older advancements in photography.	2) We need to know what kind of advancements are being talked about.	2) Dictionary.com
3) Currently meaning the time period of the advancements	3) we need to know when the advancements are taking place and whether they have already happened or are currently happening.	3) Dictionary.com
4)Photography in this case meaning technology steming from the advancements in photography eading to medical and scientific photography.	4) Relating to the advancements in photography	4) Nationalgoegraphic.com
5) The set up of a telescope and the use of reflecting mirrors is similar to the inside of  camera.	5) Supports the idea of expanding technology based on original concept of photography.	5) Hubbletelescope information site
6) Underwater photography has allowed for further discoveries of underwater animals.	6) Leads to advancements in technology to be able to go in the water	6) Nationalgeographic.com
7)Answer 1: Underwater photography has allowed for further undersea exploration.	7) More discoveries lead to further understanding of undersea life.	7) underwater photography
Answer 2: Medical photography allows for better understanding of the body.	8) To document and learn from pictures to better understand and document the body.	8) Medical photography
9) Answer 3: Scientific photography allows for further exploration of space and allows us to identify objects from afar.	9) The further advancing technology allows for better imaged of spce and better understanding.	9) space photography
10) The best answer would a combination of space and medical photography both falling under the category of scientific photography.
	IF: medical and space photography both fall under scientific photography,
	THEN: photography for scientific purposes are two advancements happening and progressing now.

Blog 19: Senior Project and ESLRs

1. What ESLR have you excelled in most in your senior project?
I think out of all of the ESLRs, the one I have excelled the most in has to be communication.

2. Please explain why you think you have excelled in this ESLR.
I can honestly say that senior year has been a drag so far and I haven't really excelled at much, but if I had to pick one it would be communication.

3. Provide evidence from your senior project to support your claim (evidence is a photo of something you are doing, photo of something you made, etc).
In my mentorship I must act professional because I am working with customers and I represent someones business. During R.O.P I help the students when they have questions and I have to effectively communicate to them how to achieve what they want.