Exercise: Higher and lower sensitivity

The objective of this exercise is to demonstrate the use of the third element available to the photographer for the control of exposure.  It is this triumvarate which needs to be used to determine the appropriate exposure for the subject.

Aperture and shutter speed have been dealt with in previous sections, here we are looking at the sensitivity setting which is commonly expressed as ISO.  

When shooting film, the sensitivity of the film was likewise expressed in ISO, though frequently referred to as the film speed, and typically one selected the film to be used for a particular shot depending upon the subject and the environmental conditions.  Once loaded, you were stuck with that film and that setting, however there were workarounds which could be used.  With 35mm film, I preferred to wind the exposed film back into the cassette, remembering to leave the tail out.  I would then choose an alternative film.  If I did not happen to have a different film type in my bag, then all was not lost as alternative techniques could be used.  It is possible to use a technique referred to as 'push' processing to increase the effective speed of films.  Although it was referred to in this way, and the ISO could be set to, say 400 or even 3,200, what this actually did was to apply additional development to the underexposed areas so enhancing what was recorded on the film.  However, conversely, highlights would now be blown out and prove impossible to print.  This technique was fine when there was a narrow dynamic range, but care needed to be taken when there were a lot of highlights.  I referred to an excellent book in order to refresh my memory; published by Ilford / Focal Press and written by Jack H Coote Hon FRPS, called Monochrome Darkroom Practice.

The medium speed films such as Ilford's FP4 was not as good as the faster films, rated at 400 ISO, such as Ilford's HP5 or Kodak's TRI-X when push-processed.  Using the Ilford developer, Microphen, it was possible to push these to 800, 1,600, and even 3,200 ISO.

Apart from the downside referred to previously, typically, 'push' processing increased the size of the grain giving a gritty appearance to the print, which worked extremely well for some subjects and was quite popular.

So what is the relevance of my meander into the analogue world.  Well it shows that use of ISO to enable shooting in poor light conditions has always been a consideration and it had its downsides.  This is no different to today where I use different ISO settings in order to provide an appropriate shutter speed for difficult light conditions, or simply to achieve the shutter speed I require when photographing fast moving subjects such as jet aircraft.  Increasing ISO brings with it increased 'noise' in the digital world, which like in the analogue world is not always desirable.  When shooting at high ISOs then conversion to B&W is frequently desirable as some of this noise can be visually eliminated or disguised and it starts to emulate analogue images.  Sensor development, on which I am not going to write here, has enabled elimination of this noise with stunning effect, so at 400, 640 and 800 ISO, there is frequently not much call for concern particularly when using the latest full-frame cameras.

Moving on to the images which I have taken to illustrate the use of higher and lower sensitivity.  The first image is one which illustrates the use of high sensitivity to cope with poor light conditions.

Westland Lysander - ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/250 sec

The photo of the Lysander was taken shortly after 8pm early in May, and as it was overcast, the light level was very poor.  The only way to achieve a photograph without undue camera shake was to increase the ISO setting to ISO 1600 from the "normal" one which I would use, ISO 200, to photograph aircraft in flight.

Greenwich market - ISO 100, f/4.0, 1/15 sec

The shot above, taken in Greenwich indoor market, really stretched the limits for hand holding and camera shake is visible at 1/15 sec.  This isn't really acceptable, so the solution, again, is to increase the ISO setting, this time to ISO 800.  The result is shown below:

Greenwich Market - ISO 800, f/6.7, 1/30 sec

Though still not absolutely sharp, it is a substantial improvement on the previous shot, and I could have easily increased the ISO to 1600 or even 3200.  With sensor technology improving seemingly each year, high ISO speeds are now producing very acceptable results.

Greenwich Market - ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/8 sec

 A further photo taken in Greenwich Market.  The first one, above is taken at 1/8 sec and shows considerable camera shake, whereas the one below at ISO 800 is much improved and is almost acceptable.

Greenwich Market - ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/60 sec

Use of higher ISO in order to assist with shooting hand-held is not restricted to indoors, but when shooting in shade outdoors, for example as shown in the images below.

The first pair of images is that of the sign outside the "Up the Creek" comedy club in Greenwich.  This sign has always amused me so it was just too tempting not to include it here.

Left: ISO 100, f/11, 1/10 sec  Right:  ISO 400, f/11, 1/60 sec

The small images above look fine, however differences are very marked when viewed full size as shown in the pair below.

The thinking man

The left hand frame visibly suffers from camera shake, whereas that on the right, helped by shooting at ISO 400, is much more acceptable.

There is a price to pay when using higher ISO.  This is true using film, but technology has made huge steps forward in sensor development, so much so that in the latest generation of sensors, coupled with the onboard processors, high ISOs such as 3200 or 6400 produce images with little in the way of noise, resulting in very acceptable images.  Even my EOS 5DII, which is several years old, has acceptable high ISO performance.  Below is an attempt to illustrate this:

Ballerina, Covent Garden
Top Left:  ISO 200, Top Right:  ISO 640
Bottom Left:  ISO 1600, Bottom Right:  ISO 3200

At the size shown above, there is very little difference between the images, though it is possible to see less definition in the shot at ISO 3200.  Differences are more visible full size as shown below:

Top:  ISO 200, Bottom:  ISO 6400

In the bottom image it is possible to see "grain" or noise, particularly in the dark facial area, though noise is also visible in the light colours of the building wall.  This noise is not particularly intrusive and could be easily dealt with by smoothing in Lightroom.

Exercise: Measuring Exposure Part 2

For this exercise we were asked to take 5 or 6 different photographs, and for each make 5 exposures arranged around the measured exposure.  The measured exposure was done using evaluative metering and the intervals were at 1/2 stop, providing a sequence of –1, –1/2, 0, +1/2, +1 stop.  In the sets below, this sequence is maintained, so for the portrait format, left to right, is –1, –1/2, then measured in centre and left to right bottom –1/2, –1.
For landscape format, then on left top is –1, left bottom –1/2, then measured in centre and right top +1/2 and right bottom is +1.
None of the images have been edited, as, for the purpose of this exercise I wanted to show these “as shot”.  They have been hand-held, so there are slight differences between individual images.

Above is a view of the old Naval College at Greenwich and the towering office complexes across the river at Canary Wharf.  I chose not to make a symmetrical view here, wishing to locate the office towers centrally between the clock towers of the college as I wanted to maximise the difference between old and new.  The measured exposure probably works best here, though the exposure at +1/2 stop also works.
 
This sign outside the Cutty Sark pub, along the river to the East of the Cutty Sark and the College, provided an opportunity to demonstrate the effect of meters adjusting black to a shade of grey.  For me, the best exposure is the one exposed at –1 stop as this gives the best black, though the grey brickwork is now slightly too dark.  In processing this image, I would retain the grey brickwork at the originally metered exposure.

An anchor provides the source of this subject.  Here, the most effective exposure is that given –1 stop compensation.  In the metered exposure, the shadow areas affected the calculation, allowing the brightly lit areas to be overexposed, losing detail in those areas.


Looking through the pillars of an old wharf at the office complexes in Canary Wharf, again, the measured exposure provides the best balance between the shadow and brightly lit areas, though the photograph taken at +1/2 stop provides slightly more detail in the shadow areas, but the highlights start suffering and the sky takes on a slightly washed out appearance.

Here, in this photograph of the Provost training aircraft from the 50’s, my preferred exposure is that indicated at –1/2 stop, though it actually looks brighter than the metered exposure.  The light was changing due to fast moving clouds and differed enough to cause this change of exposure.  I did not notice this at the time of taking, but I decide to leave this in as it still illustrates the purpose of the exercise.  Nevertheless, I was “caught out”.

Colourful pillars and geometric patterns at Stratford DLR station, provide the inspiration for this photograph.  The exposure with –1/2 compensation to me is the best one with the colours having improved saturation, without damaging detail in the shadows.

Exercise: Measuring Exposure Part 1

Lighter or darker

For this exercise we were asked to produce between 4 and 6 photographs which are deliberately lighter or darker than average and to explain why these were shot in that way.  Metering for these images was all in camera using evaluative metering.

ISO400, f/4.5, 1/30 sec +2 stops

I just loved the way that these two ladies, travelling on London’s DLR, maintained a separation between themselves and each maintained a totally disinterested “blank” look.  Both are protective of their bags, and also keeping to themselves with their encircling, joined hands denoting their space.  There is tension between them, clearly wishing to maintain the space between them.  I gave a +2 stop exposure here because of the bright daylight behind them, but I also wanted to burn out the view out of the window to give a starkness to the background which eliminates any distractions.

ISO 200, f/4.5. 1/180, +1 stop

These fun mannequin heads, I found at an outdoor market in Greenwich.  Here I needed to compensate for the backlighting, hence the additional exposure given of +1 stop.

ISO 100, f/8, 1/350, +1/2 stop

This and the next image I found by chance in Greenwich, but they were ideal to illustrate the point regarding the need to compensate positively or negatively depending on the subject.  The light meter is designed to work to an 18% grey average, so where there are tones which are at either end of the scale, then they will both tend towards a grey.  The Curlew Rowing Club plaque is light, almost white in colour, so standard exposure rendered it a murky grey.  I overexposed initially by 1 stop and then by 1/2 stop, selecting the latter as I lost detail in the higher compensation value.

ISO 100, f/8, 1/250, –1 stop

Here the plaque for the Globe Rowing Club, was a dark slate and the standard metered exposure rendered it a light grey, which it was not.  Applying compensation of –1 stop, brought it closer to how it was.

ISO 200, f/9.5, 1/125, +1/2 stop

Another backlit image, this of the MS Stubnitz, which is a converted East German freeze and transport vessel of the GDR fishing fleet, built in Rostock.  It is now, surprisingly an arts and music venue using the three converted cargo holds.  As it was backlit, even on a dull day, an extra 1/2 stop was of benefit, particularly in keeping whites ‘white’.

ISO 400, f/4.5, 1/180, –1 stop

A black monument to Chopin on London’s Southbank.  As it is black, the meter tends the exposure to a standard grey.  Even though I gave –1 stop compensation I feel this was not enough in order to achieve the rich black, however reducing the exposure further was likely to result in loss of detail.

ISO 1600, f/13, 1/30, +1 stop

The skateboard park in London’s Southbank.  I love this place, the graffiti is so vibrant and it is certainly not static.  Here I wanted to give greater vibrance to the graffiti and lightness in the dark areas at the expense of the outside, where I am comfortable that the spectators are reduced to light shapes.

ISO 200, f/6.7, 1/45, +1 stop

Stratford station.  Although overcast, this was very much like being inside a giant light tent and I wanted to keep the colours vibrant.  The silver of the train and the light grey skies, were pushing the standard meter reading to an underexposure, hence I applied a full 1 stop overexposure.

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