Tomas Mendoza Photography

Film used to come color-coded or labeled as ‘Night’, ‘Sports’ or ‘Day’. However, once loaded we had to shoot the whole film before being able to shoot indoors or in low light. Well, those days are gone now that we have the ability to change ISO Settings from one frame to the next until we obtain the desired effect.
On our fifth meeting we get to review and critique our ‘Shutter Assignment’ and see what we can learn from this experience. We also define ISO and how changing the ISO Settings could improve some of the pictures previously shot. On the equipment discussion we review how the higher ISO sensitivity offered by a model can in turn make it more expensive.

ISO refers to the sensor sensitivity to light. On our sixth meeting we got to play with the ISO Settings on the camera and compared several pictures. A lower ISO number (or setting) reduces sensitivity to light hitting the sensor and helpful to create Quality Portraits. A higher ISO Setting increases the sensor’s sensitivity to light but also creates ‘noise’. Useful when shooting in low light such

f2.0, 1/160 sec, ISO 1600, 50mm

What camera should I buy? Is Canon better than Nikon? What about Sony? …Pentax? …Olympus? As if brand was easy to choose, we have to pick the model. Canon offers DSLR from $700 to about $12K. Well, if they are the same brand why the difference in price? In one word: Features.
On our seventh meeting we get to review and critique our ‘ISO Assignment’ and get to see if we have begun noticing some ‘qualities’ or ‘limitations’ of our cameras. We get to compare Camera Models and I get to show-and-tell about my main camera, backup and past models. Hmmm, I guess I’ve been around

I remember ordering a Light Meter because I couldn’t figure out what the proper exposure was. By the time the package was delivered I had ‘discovered’ my camera came with a built-in light meter and also included Exposure Compensation. On our eighth session we get to discuss the Trinity of Light and how the harmony among ISO, F-Stop and Shutter Speed can be manipulated to free our creativity and convey meaning to an image.

f1.8, 1/50 sec, ISO 1600, 50mm

As mentioned before, Photography is the art of painting with light. Light (whether ambient, flash, strobes, or ‘hot lights’) can be modified, reflected, enhanced or decreased even made harsh or soft. Not just that but flash or strobes can be used to turn day into night or create a sunset at midnight.
On our tenth meeting we get to play with flashes and strobes, umbrellas, reflectors, ‘gobos’ and discuss different features including wireless. Most of the fun comes from bouncing our on-camera flash and balance it with ambient light also known as Key shifting.
We get to discuss and practice Rembrandt lighting, a two-light technique

f4.0, 1/25 sec, ISO 400, 28mm, Window Light reflected of the wall

f4.0, 1/100 sec, ISO 800, 38mm, On-Camera flash with diffuser